Resident LSU Health Shreveport Shreveport, Louisiana, United States
Disclosure(s):
Joseph G. Camarano, MD: No financial relationships to disclose
Introduction: Locum tenens (locums) is an increasingly popular employment method where physicians are temporarily contracted to provide unmet medical services. Still, little has been described about the locums neurosurgery experience. Such an understanding is essential for maximizing the benefits locums employment for hospitals, physicians, and patients. This study provides the first snapshot overview of the nationwide locums neurosurgery experience.
Methods: An electronic-based survey was distributed to a CSNS member registry. The survey included multiple-choice questions examining practice characteristics of respondents, extent of and satisfaction with locums experiences, motivations for pursuing locums, case volumes, agencies used, and compensation patterns. Free-response answers were also solicited on positive/negative aspects of experiences.
Results: 36/91 respondents had previously held a locums neurosurgery position. 92% of those who had worked locums had taken more than one position and 47% had taken more than 10. Physicians performing < 200 cases/year were significantly more likely to have also taken locum positions than those performing >200 cases/year (p=0.001). Common motivating factors for working locums were compensation, being “in-between jobs,” or transitioning to retirement. Average daily compensation for 69% of locums respondents was $2000-$2999/day and 16% earned >$3500/day. Nearly 78% of locums respondents were satisfied with their experience(s) and 86% would take another locums position in the future. Being in practice for >15 years was significantly associated with satisfaction with the locums experience (p=0.03). Reported flaws included unfamiliarity with hospital systems, limited continuity of care, burdensome credentialing processes, and inadequate travel compensation.
Conclusion : Locum tenens is utilized by neurosurgeons across multiple practice types and may serve to complement case volumes or “fill in gaps” between longer-term employment. Overall, locums neurosurgeons earn higher compensation than other specialties and the majority are satisfied with their experience(s). Inevitably, flaws still exist with locums employment, which may be the focus of organized efforts aiming to improve the experience.
