Locum Tenens Hospitalist Jobs

Being a hospitalist is a very rewarding and taxing job. If you are a hospitalist considering locum tenens positions, Trusted Locum Staffing can help make the process easy and profitable!  

Trusted Locum Staffing takes care of everything; from helping you find the perfect locum tenens hospitalist job to assisting with housing and state certification. Read on to learn more about the benefits of a locum tenens hospitalist job, and why it may be the perfect next step in your medical career.

locum tenens hospitalist

Gastroenterology Locum: Skills, Qualifications, Demand, and Earning Potential

Credentials

A locum tenens hospitalist is a physician who works a temporary job in a hospital setting. To understand what a locum tenens hospitalist position is, you need to break it down into two parts — a hospitalist position and a locum tenens position. 

Simply put, a hospitalist is a licensed physician who practices exclusively in hospitals. Hospitalists can practice a variety of medical specialties such as oncology, gynecology, pediatrics, and internal medicine — but they only work in a hospital setting, no private practices or clinics. This career path is growing, as more and more hospitals and emergency centers open nationwide. 

The second part is a locum tenens position. Locum tenens is a Latin for “hold place.” In medicine, it is a temporary medical position created out of necessity and designed to support medical staff. Due to this, locum tenens positions are short-term and in high demand, so they tend to pay more than staff positions. Finding these positions can be difficult, which is why it is recommended to use a quality locum tenens staffing service, such as Trusted Locum Staffing.

locum tenens hospitalist

Locum Tenens Hospitalist: A Look at Skills, Qualifications, Demand, and Earning Potential

If you are already an accomplished hospitalist with years of experience, you can skip to the earning potential of locum tenens hospitalists. If you are considering becoming a locum tenens hospitalist, it is important to do your research. That’s why we have compiled a list of factors to consider before applying to locum tenens hospitalist jobs. 

Hospitalist Credentials

All hospitalists must begin their career in staff positions in order to gain the experience needed to practice and become established in their medical career. The first step is to become a licensed hospitalist, which is no small undertaking. 

Here is a brief outline of what it takes to become a licensed and practicing hospitalist in the USA: 

  • Earn a bachelor’s degree in a pre-med specialty: 
    • A bachelor’s degree from an accredited university is the first step for anyone who wants a career in medicine. It is important to major in a pre-med specialty, such as:
      • Physics
      • Inorganic Chemistry
      • Biology
      • Chemistry
      • Microbiology
  • Pass the MCAT:
    • The MCAT is the Medical College Admission Test and passing with a high grade is required for medical school admission. Many medical undergraduate programs begin preparing for this test during junior year. 
  • Earn a degree from a medical school:
    • After you have passed the MCAT, you can begin the admissions process to medical school. 
    • Medical school takes 4+ years to complete. Generally, the first two of those years are classwork, and the second two are clinical rotations in a medical setting. 
    • During the rotations portion, students can decide their specialty, such as oncology, pediatrics, etc 
  • Residency and licensing:
    • Medical school is far from the end of the educational requirements to become a locum tenens hospitalist. After graduating a residency in a hospital is required for all physicians to get real-life experience and training. 
    • Currently, hospitalists do not have a specific residency program like surgeons do. Instead, it is recommended that anyone who wants to become a hospitalist complete their residency in a primary care program that most interests them. These include:
      • Emergency medicine residency 
      • Internal medicine residency 
      • Pediatrics residency 
      • OBGYN residency 
      • And more
  • Board certification:
    • Residency time varies from 3-5 years depending on specialty. After completing residency, Physicians are licensed hospitalists, but most complete hospitalist board certification before getting a staff job. 
    • Board certification is not technically required to practice as a hospitalist, but almost all hospitals require their hospitalists to be board-certified. 
    • Hospitalists can become board-certified through the American Board of Hospital Medicine. 
  • Fellowship: 
    • Fellowship training provides specialized medical training beyond board certification and medical school. It is not required to practice, but fellowship training gives hospitalists a competitive edge in the workforce. Many hospitalists choose a fellowship program that can help them further their expertise, such as internal medicine or facilitating hospitalist fellowship. 
locum tenens hospitalist

Locum Tenens Hospitalist Demand

What does the demand for locum tenens hospitalists look like? According to The Society of Hospital Medicine, hospitalist jobs were predicted to grow 50% between 2014 and 2019, with more growth on the horizon. 

The Bureau of Labor Statistics does not currently track hospitalists specifically, but they predict the role to become more established and create more career opportunities in the future. 

The Association of American Medical Colleges has issued warnings about upcoming physician shortages as the current medical school graduation rate does not match the rates of physician retirement. This trend has the potential to open up a lot of locum tenens hospitalist jobs nationwide. 

Earning Potential

Locum tenens hospitalist jobs require a high level of education and training, and the pay reflects that. Locum tenens hospitalists often make upwards of $400,000 annually, depending on where and when they work. 
locum tenens hospitalist

Is a Locum Tenens Hospitalist Job Right for Me?

Many medical professionals are switching from their staff jobs to locum tenens positions. Not only is the pay higher, but a locum tenens position offers benefits that staff positions do not. Here are just a few perks of locum tenens hospitalist jobs:

  • Prevent burnout: Burnout is a big problem in the medical community, especially in a grueling hospital environment. Long hours, lots of patients, and the life-or-death nature of emergency medicine can take a toll on a hospitalist’s mental health. A locum tenens position is temporary, and that gives hospitalists more control over their schedule and opportunities for much-needed vacations, preventing burnout. 
  • Better salary:  All locum tenens positions are created out of necessity, and therefore tend to have better pay. And if they like working at that hospital, they may be considered for a full-time position. 
  • Job flexibility: Having to work the 12-hour shifts required by a hospital can be hard on hospitalists. A hospitalist locum tenens job allows you to choose how long you work and where. This control over hours allows hospitalists to achieve a better work-life balance. 
  • Networking & career opportunities:  By trying different locum tenens hospitalist positions across the country, hospitalists get to explore other medical centers and learn new practices. This can be great for overall education, as well as networking opportunities leading to career advancement. 
locum tenens hospitalist

Worried About Losing Staff Benefits in a Locum Tenens Hospitalist Position? Trusted Locum Staffing Has the Answer

Locum tenens hospitalist positions do have higher pay than staff positions, but that may come at the cost of staff benefits. If losing your medical, dental, malpractice, and other insurance benefits is preventing you from taking a locum tenens hospitalist job, Trusted Locum Staffing can help.

We offer a competitive benefits package, including top-notch medical insurance, dental insurance, malpractice insurance, disability insurance, and even mental health benefits! Not only that, but Trusted Locum Staffing can find you the perfect locum position, and even help you move into new housing with white glove concierge service. With Trusted Locum Staffing we take care of all the details, so you can focus on your career.

Learn More and Earn More With a Locum Tenens Hospitalist Job From Trusted Locum Staffing

Are you ready to start your locum tenens journey? Trusted Locum Staffing can help you find the perfect locum tenens hospital position and help you every step of the way. Reach out today to be matched with a recruiter. 
locum tenens hospitalist