Locum doctors are medical experts that fill in for other doctors on occasion. The healthcare agency may use a locum tenens doctor to fill in for a permanent doctor who is absent for any reason. Based on the demands of the client, short-term locum positions might last for 2-3 days to 1-2 weeks, while lengthy locum positions can endure for many months. Locum roles are available for a variety of purposes, such as covering for yearly, maternity, or sick leaves; stepping in for open roles until a permanent employee is recruited, or offering more healthcare professionals to ease backlogs of patients.

The duties and position of a locum doctor might differ greatly due to the large variety of various health experts, such as locum GP jobs. There is a chance that locum doctors will practice abroad, which might be a great opportunity for travelling. From a surgeon or a general practitioner to an anaesthetist, locum doctors can demonstrate expertise in many different areas of medical practice.

Benefits and types of locum work

There are numerous benefits to working as a locum tenens, such as the freedom to work when and where you please; the opportunity to work in a wide range of health facilities and treatment centres; the possibility of earning more funds; the ability to merge locum work with numerous different jobs beyond medicine; special preferences or charitable causes work, and the ability to temporarily work whilst you explore your professional choices and potential work locations. Working as a locum general practitioner is starting to become a very widely accepted trend in Australia.

In the past, healthcare facilities and clinics used locum tenens to cover unforeseen last-minute shortages. Due to the present skills shortage, hospitals and clinics are now increasingly using locums to cover longer roles.

Short-term locuming

Doctors typically take on 2–3 day locum postings to assist a hospital or health centre in need or to supplement their income. As you will need this to blend in with your existing employment and be a highly particular position that will work for you in terms of the schedule, covering the duration to get there, make sure you choose an organisation that has a lot of opportunities available. In other short-term locum cases, doctors typically fill in for 1–2 weeks to help assist, earn additional income, take a paid vacation, or use it as a “try before you buy” opportunity.

Long-term locuming

This is more of a shift in a way of living; doctors typically fill in for extended periods of tenure to assist in areas of necessity and significantly improve a neighbourhood. Other typical justifications for longer-term locum tenens include taking a break, taking a professional vacation, decompressing, or exploring a new location you're considering moving to.

Requirements for Registration

Despite the present prevalence of their use, locum tenens employment tends to be temporary and time-limited, and they are not typically viewed as a sustainable labour option. Additionally, many people view locums as a fast fix when a gap needs to be filled due to an unanticipated occurrence. On these grounds, setting up a locum arrangement for anybody who could need one of the specialised registrations offered by the Medical Board of Australia, where specific supervision criteria may have to be proven to be in place, is often not practicable.

In reality, a shortage of supervisory figures is frequently the driving force behind the search for a locum. Therefore, this essentially implies that foreign medical candidates cannot often find a locum tenens post. Nevertheless, there have been a few rare instances in which it has been achieved. In most cases, this has used general practice deputising solutions, where medical recruiting companies themselves have set up a business and basically hire the IMG physician.

Steps to becoming a locum doctor

You typically need to acquire a master's degree and obtain a General Medical Registration in order to work as a locum doctor. Upcoming employers often favour candidates with expertise in working in several healthcare disciplines. You can also seek a specialist registration, which is not necessary but can open up more employment opportunities for you when you want to become a locum tenens physician.

Get your master's

The most common route to a general medical license is typically to earn a master's degree in medicine or surgical intervention. A master's degree in medicine or surgery will help you build the skill set that will be essential to your success as a locum tenens physician. Some of the practical talents you can develop by earning a master's degree include executing intricate procedures and authoring medical study articles.

Normally, it takes up to five years to finish a master's degree in healthcare or surgery. You may learn more about the various career options available in the medical field by pursuing a master's degree. A recognized institution is the most typical place to get a master's degree in medicine or surgery. Typically, a bachelor's degree is required to enter a master's program.

Internship

You can gain useful job knowledge with an apprenticeship, which normally lasts a year. Junior physicians may find that clinical internships are an excellent way to get expertise in a variety of health-related disciplines. As a medical intern, the three primary specialities you could encounter are surgical, general medicine, and emergency medicine.

The accomplishment of a master's degree is often required to operate as a medical intern. You can choose to specialise in a clinical discipline, like the surgical procedure for your upcoming internship. This specialised work falls under the category of a speciality practice, which is necessary to become a specialist.

Get registered

The minimal qualifications for being a locum doc are typically finishing an internship and getting your general license. The Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) oversees healthcare registrations. To apply for general registration, you must provide documentation that you have successfully completed an approved medical internship. Being registered as a specialist is not necessary to work as a locum tenens doctor.

Nevertheless, by developing your knowledge and widening your skills, you can make it easier for you to get employment. If your line of work is regarded as a speciality practice, you are eligible to apply for specialist registration.

Apply for a locum career opening.

You can begin looking for employment as a locum doc after your medical license has been granted and your education is over. Being a locum tenens physician might mean that the majority of your job is transitory and only lasts a few weeks. A healthcare recruiting agency is typically used by medical groups searching for locum tenens physicians.

You could have a ton of material to put in your CV and cover letter when you seek a job as a locum tenens physician. Given how long it usually takes to become a locum tenens physician, you may have amassed a sizable body of information and professional expertise. It's crucial to adequately represent all of your abilities and talents on your CV when applying for jobs.

Skills to develop as a locum professional

There are many different talents that might help locum practitioners do their job. There are frequently many intricate methods used in the healthcare sector. Intellectual abilities that are most likely acquired via education and training in the medical field are often needed to operate these medical devices and carry out surgical operations. Furthermore, a locum doc can benefit from developing a variety of soft competencies and character attributes over time.

?       Organizational skills

?       Communication skills

?       Technical writing skills

?       Empathy

?       Professionalism attributes

?       Problem-solving skills

In conclusion,

In contrast to locum practitioners, permanent doctors frequently work extra hours with little or no relaxation. The opportunity to go to distant and local regions of the world is another possibility for locum doctors. Although it may take a lot of time and effort, being a locum doctor has the ability to be a fulfilling profession. A compelling case might be made to acquire a fellowship before choosing a locum position. However, some doctors have developed excellent lives as locum tenens. There is currently a huge need for locums, especially for locum general practitioners, but there has never truly been a moment when having some locum doctors supplement those in stable positions has been vital.