Insights From Wapiti

Since Wapiti Medical Staffing opened its doors in 1996, we have been at the forefront of witnessing the evolution of locum tenens rural healthcare. Let’s take a quick trip back to the beginning. Evidence suggests that the concept of traveling physicians existed as early as ancient Greece. By the mid-1800s, physicians were already embracing what we now call travel medical jobs for physicians, joining the Westward movement to care for settlers and soldiers across the United States. However, it wasn’t until the 1970s that locum tenens became a formally recognized need, largely due to efforts by Utah’s Health Systems Research Institute. Their ROLE program provided funding for clinical staff, equipment, facilities, and physicians to support underserved rural communities—marking a turning point in the modern history of rural healthcare staffing.

For decades, the majority of the demographics of locum tenens had been retired Physicians who wanted to:

• Stay active
• Earn extra income
• Travel with a flexible schedule
• Engage in the community

In the last decade, the environment has started to change. The locum tenens rural healthcare workforce is diversifying. Physicians range from early in their careers to mid-career with a desire to be more proactive in their careers. These types of physicians are wanting change due to physician burnout. They want flexibility, a change of environment, and to experience more than just a monotonous job.

Wapiti Medical has taken pride in having and securing some of the best Physician/APP coverage across lines of business, predominantly in rural hospitals (ER, hospitalist, Clinic, Urgent Care, and Anesthesia), as well as working with an amazing system of medical facilities in rural healthcare areas all over our nation. Our team of recruiters and account managers personally engages with all of our members. That’s why we at Wapiti call everyone “The Wapiti Family”.

Since the pandemic, things have changed, and maybe even for the better. Less populated areas are being provided with exceptional care through the new advances in rural healthcare communities. These new generations of locum tenens that are eager to explore and make a difference. Technology has helped in bringing new specialty services to helped decrease staff and physician burnout.

Next year will be our 30^th anniversary, and we are even more excited to see what the next 30 years will bring!  Thank you to all of our Wapiti family and to our upcoming family – let’s connect!