Before I started practicing locum tenens as an Emergency Medicine Physician, I had a running list of reasons not to do it. They felt rational and responsible at the time. But looking back, every single one of them was fear dressed up as logic. And they almost stopped me from […]
Recent Posts
-
The Fears That Almost Kept Me From Practicing Locum Tenens
Alison Curfman | 14 May, 2026
-
Barton Associates Acquires LocumsCollective, Expanding Workforce Solutions Platform in Locum Tenens
Peabody, Mass. and Salt Lake City, Utah, May 6, 2026 — Barton Associates, Inc., a leading locum tenens staffing and workforce solutions organization, today announced the acquisition of LocumsCollective, a Salt Lake City-based managed service provider serving the locum tenens industry. The acquisition represents a meaningful expansion of Barton’s workforce […]
Barton Team | 6 May, 2026
-
Physician Burnout in 2026: What Mental Health Month Reveals About a System Under Strain
Each May, Mental Health Awareness Month turns a spotlight on clinician well-being. In 2026, that light lands on a workforce showing positive, if uneven, improvement — and a set of structural problems that awareness campaigns alone cannot fix. Physician burnout has edged down for the fourth consecutive year, with 41.9% […]
Barton Team | 5 May, 2026
-
How to Choose a Locum Tenens Agency
Choosing a locum tenens agency comes down to three factors: financial stability, malpractice coverage reliability, and operational support. Physicians should prioritize agencies with a proven track record (look for public review sites like TrustPilot), transparent policies, and full-service infrastructure that ensures they get paid, stay covered, and are supported from […]
Alison Curfman | 28 April, 2026
-
Starting a New Locum Tenens Assignment? The Skill Nobody Talks About
On one of my locum assignments as an emergency medicine physician, a kid came in with an epidural hematoma with midline shift. For a moment, I froze. But not for the reason you’d think. I wasn’t worried about the medicine. I’m a pediatric emergency physician. I’ve managed critically ill children […]
Alison Curfman | 10 April, 2026
-
The Credential Checklist For Locum Tenens
What credentials do locum physicians need? Locum physicians typically need a valid state medical license, DEA registration, board certification, malpractice coverage, immunization records, and a complete work history. Hospitals may also require references, background checks, and facility-specific privileging documentation. Dr. Alison Curfman breaks down the locum tenens credentialing checklist every […]
Alison Curfman | 3 April, 2026
-
Locum Tenens and Why I Chose It Over a Traditional Medical Career
When I left my full-time job as a pediatric emergency physician, most people assumed I was leaving medicine. My colleagues were confused. A few were worried. Some probably thought I was having some kind of professional crisis. But I wasn’t walking away from medicine. I was redesigning how I practiced […]
Alison Curfman | 27 March, 2026
-
PA Salary 2026: A Guide to the Highest-Paid Specialties
Physician assistants (PAs) are an integral part of the healthcare system, providing many of the same services as physicians.
Barton Team | 26 March, 2026
-
The History of CRNAs: How Nurse Anesthetists Reshaped Modern Medicine
For most of human history, surgery brought out tremendous pain. Before anesthesia, patients were often restrained while surgeons worked as quickly as possible. The speed of the surgeon mattered as much as their skill. Operations that might take hours today were compressed into minutes simply because the human body could […]
Barton Team | 23 March, 2026
-
Primary Care Shortage: One in Three Americans Lives in a Healthcare Desert
In more than 80 percent of U.S. counties, access to essential healthcare services is limited. According to research from GoodRx, more than 120 million Americans, roughly one in three people, live in a healthcare desert. These are communities where access to primary care, pharmacies, hospital beds, or trauma services is […]
Barton Team | 16 March, 2026
