A locums physician, short for the Latin locum tenens, meaning “to hold the place”, is a fully licensed doctor who temporarily fills in for another provider. These physicians take on active clinical roles in hospitals, clinics, and other care settings when regular staff are unavailable due to leave, vacancies, or spikes in patient demand.
The locum tenens model has been used in the U.S. for decades. Originally created to address care gaps in underserved regions, it has since become a common solution for healthcare systems nationwide. Hospitals and practices rely on locum physicians to maintain continuity of care, manage coverage during transitions, and support staff during times of increased workload.
As staffing challenges persist in many areas and specialties, locum tenens physicians continue to play a vital role in keeping patient care uninterrupted and accessible.
Definition of a Locum Tenens (Locums) Physician
A locum tenens physician is a doctor who takes on temporary assignments to provide care in place of a permanent physician. Whether due to medical leave, retirement, job transitions, or seasonal spikes in demand, these physicians “hold the place” so patient care doesn’t fall through the cracks.
What Sets Locum Tenens Apart?
- Structured, Temporary Contracts: Unlike per diem roles or floating positions, locum tenens contracts are clearly defined. Each engagement has a start and end date, and outlines specific duties and expectations. Assignments can span from a single shift to a year or more, depending on the need.
- Gap Coverage Across Settings: Locum tenens physicians are frequently used when a facility has an unexpected vacancy, a provider takes a sabbatical or parental leave, or the volume of patients suddenly increases. They may step into roles like covering ER shifts during flu season, handling outpatient visits while a provider recovers from surgery, or supporting a team until a new hire comes on board.
- Broad Geographic and Specialty Reach: These physicians work across all 50 states and in more than 75 medical specialties. A cardiologist may take a short-term position in a metro hospital while a pediatrician fills in at a rural clinic. Many doctors who do locum tenens appreciate the variety and opportunity to serve diverse populations.
- Independent Contractor Model: Most locums physicians aren’t employed directly by the hospitals or clinics they serve. Instead, they work through staffing agencies that coordinate assignments, credentialing, and sometimes even travel and housing. This arrangement allows doctors to have more control over their schedules and work environments while still receiving administrative support.
- Agency-Handled Logistics: Assignments usually include paid travel and furnished housing, especially when the assignment is out-of-state. Some agencies also cover malpractice insurance and assist with licensing, making transitions between jobs smoother and more manageable.
This mix of structure and flexibility makes locum tenens an appealing option for physicians at many stages of their careers.
The Role of Locum Tenens Physicians in Today’s Healthcare System
As healthcare delivery systems grow more complex and patient demand rises, locum tenens physicians have become essential players in keeping operations fluid and reliable. They offer more than just short-term coverage; they serve as the built-in backup system of modern healthcare.
Key Ways Locum Physicians Support the System:
- Bridging Widening Provider Gaps: National projections point to serious physician shortages, especially in primary care, internal medicine, emergency medicine, and psychiatry. Locum physicians offer a scalable, immediate solution to address those shortages while long-term recruitment efforts are underway.
- Continuity During Absences: When a full-time doctor goes on extended leave, retires, or resigns unexpectedly, locum providers step in to maintain continuity of care. This means fewer disruptions for patients and no overloading of the remaining medical staff. For example, a locum OB/GYN might step into a maternity leave gap for six months, allowing prenatal patients to continue receiving consistent care.
- Scalable Staffing for Seasonal Demand: Many healthcare facilities experience fluctuating patient loads throughout the year. Emergency departments often see spikes during winter or flu season. Rather than hiring additional full-time providers for short-term demand, facilities bring in locum physicians to flex their workforce temporarily.
- Expanding Access in Underserved Regions: Locum tenens physicians are often the only way rural clinics and remote hospitals can offer specialty services. A neurologist, for instance, might rotate through several small-town hospitals that would otherwise have no access to that level of care. This model supports health equity by extending care to communities often left behind.
- Rapid Response in Emergencies: During public health emergencies, like pandemic surges or natural disasters, locum tenens doctors are among the first to be mobilized. Many hold multiple state licenses and are accustomed to jumping into high-pressure roles quickly. Their mobility and flexibility make them an invaluable asset for crisis response planning.
In these roles, locum physicians not only support patient care, they also protect the wellbeing of the full-time staff and help stabilize revenue by preventing lapses in service delivery.
Benefits of Working as a Locum Tenens Physician
From the physician’s perspective, locum tenens is more than just a job; it can be a career solution tailored to your goals and lifestyle. Here’s why many doctors are drawn to this way of working:
1. Flexibility and Lifestyle Control
One of the biggest advantages of locum work is the power to design your own schedule. Physicians can take time off between contracts, stack back-to-back assignments, or alternate between work and extended personal time. This level of flexibility is especially attractive to doctors with young families, travel interests, or side projects.
2. Strong Income Potential
Many locum positions offer pay that matches or exceeds permanent roles, especially for high-demand specialties. With travel, housing, and licensing expenses often covered, net income can be substantial. For early-career doctors paying off loans or mid-career professionals looking to increase earnings, locums can be a lucrative path.
3. Expanded Clinical Experience
Because locum physicians move between different hospitals, systems, and patient populations, they encounter a wide variety of medical cases and workflows. This can sharpen diagnostic skills, enhance adaptability, and expose physicians to innovations and protocols they may not encounter in one static setting.
4. Travel and Exploration Opportunities
Locum tenens work can take you anywhere, from small-town America to major metro hospitals. For adventurous physicians, it’s a way to see new places while making a meaningful impact. Assignments can also double as “trial runs” for doctors considering relocation.
5. Reduced Bureaucracy and Admin Load
Locum physicians typically aren’t involved in administrative meetings, long-term planning committees, or internal politics. Their focus is on direct patient care. This autonomy allows doctors to practice medicine without the red tape that often contributes to burnout.
6. Burnout Recovery and Career Longevity
Many doctors use locum work to reset their careers after burnout. With fewer administrative burdens, more autonomy, and flexible schedules, locum tenens can help physicians rediscover joy in their profession and extend their careers on their own terms.
How Locum Tenens Assignments Work
The Typical Process:
- Partner with an Agency: Physicians begin by registering with a reputable locum staffing agency. Recruiters gather information about your background, preferences, and availability.
- Explore Opportunities: Agencies provide assignment options that match your profile, duration, location, specialty, etc. You choose which one(s) to pursue.
- Credentialing and Licensing: Once selected, the agency helps you complete credentialing paperwork and acquire any necessary state licenses. This step can take weeks, but agency support speeds it along.
- Travel and Housing Arrangements: Most agencies coordinate flights, car rentals, and temporary housing near the facility, sometimes even including per diem stipends for meals or incidentals.
- Begin the Assignment: You arrive, integrate into the care team, and provide patient care as agreed in your contract. Locum physicians are expected to hit the ground running, so adaptability and professionalism are key.
- Wrap Up and Get Paid: You’ll be paid weekly or biweekly, depending on the agency. As an independent contractor, you’ll manage your own taxes. Once the contract ends, you decide what’s next: rest, travel, or another assignment.
Is Locum Tenens Right for You?
This model may be ideal if you are:
- Just out of training, and want to explore different work settings before committing long-term.
- Mid-career, and looking to reduce your hours, break from burnout, or try something new.
- Semi-retired, and hoping to stay active clinically without the commitment of full-time employment.
- A physician who values freedom, variety, and work that aligns with your life rather than the other way around.
It’s not for everyone. Physicians who prefer deep, long-term patient relationships or dislike frequent change might find the locum lifestyle less appealing. However, for adaptable doctors who enjoy challenge, learning, and autonomy, it’s often a perfect fit.
Locum tenens physicians are the healthcare system’s bridge during transitions, the buffer against burnout, and the boots on the ground when crises hit. They deliver care wherever it’s needed – ensuring hospitals and clinics can stay open, and patients aren’t left waiting. Whether you’re looking for lifestyle balance, financial growth, or a way to serve communities in need, locum tenens offers a rewarding alternative to traditional practice.
For doctors considering the path, the opportunity is wide open. This flexible model offers the chance to build a fulfilling, varied career on your own terms, while making a real difference in people’s lives. And that’s the kind of impact that defines not just a physician’s work, but their legacy.