More companies and organizations are realizing the value of locum tenens physicians and nurse practitioners (NP), and they’re not just hospitals and clinics. Our account managers are seeing increased activity from companies that are not traditional locum tenens clients. The assignments range from a two-day job performing hernia exams at oil rig sites to staffing the medical tent at a cancer walk. Physicians and NPs who have been thinking about doing locum tenens to earn extra money should know that there are opportunities available beyond simply taking extra shifts at another hospital. Non-traditional locum tenens assignments are a great way for doctors to travel and practice medicine outside of the hospital. Here are a few of the non-traditional locum tenens assignments the Barton Associates account management team has recently been asked to fill.
Screenings
More companies are turning to locum tenens agencies to fill positions for special health screening events. For example, a company is currently looking for locums tenens dermatologists to perform free cancer screenings at locations across the country. At these events, dermatologists perform an 8-10 minute scan of each person. If they discover anything that looks questionable, they fill out a form and instruct the patient to see his or her local dermatologist. Similarly, a Barton locum recently worked with a company that performs complimentary hernia screenings for people in jobs that require heavy-lifting. Much like the cancer screenings, physicians examine each person for signs of hernia and direct them to a local specialist if they find a problem.
Medical tents
Charity walks, triathlons, and marathons are all required to have a doctor or NP on-site in the event of a medical emergency. More event organizers are turning to locum tenens to staff the medical tents at their events. Our account managers said that these assignments are easy to fill because they are desirable to locum tenens providers. Many of the events occur in big cities such as New York, Chicago, and Boston, so locums typically make a weekend trip out of the assignment and enjoy the city.
Disability exams
States require people to undergo multiple medical examinations when applying for disability benefits. If the state agency wants another opinion on a particular claim, they contract with a company to perform an exam on behalf of the state. These companies typically turn to locums for help with staffing. Performing disability exams is a great weekend opportunity available to locum physicians. The assignment is typically for the two weekend days, and the locum physician can see up to 30 patients in a single day. Assignments like this are perfect for family practice physicians who typically work Monday through Friday and want to earn extra money on the weekend.
