Patients may never know the difference. But a locum tenens physician is essentially a temporary or substitute doctor. Generally, they have the same credentials as your regular doctor but do not have a regular panel of patients.
Definition
Locum tenens is a Latin phrase that means "to hold the place of, to substitute for." In layman's terms, it means a temporary physician. These professionals are still governed by their respective regulatory bodies, despite the transient nature of their positions.
Types
Locum tenens physicians, also known as "locums" can be found in all aspects of patient care including clinics, hospitals and urgent care centers. They are used worldwide to cover gaps in patient care. They may cover multiple areas or specialties in a single rotation provided they have the qualifications to do so. A locum doctor may work in a primary clinic one day, an emergency center the next and an urgent care center another. Locum tenens may also be used for projects to do medical record review or other background research and consulting or medical analysis.
Significance
The significance of a locum tenens doctor is immense. For a single practice physician, a sick day could mean canceling 20 or more appointments that day. This can be a serious concern in terms of patient care and the financial solvency of the practice. If you are faced with a locum tenens physician, feel free to question their training and credentials just as you would any new doctor before accepting their care.
Employer
Locum tenens physicians can be employed in several ways. Most work for a specialized employment agency where they may see patients for another doctor from anywhere to ½-day to an extended period of time lasting several months or more. General practitioners can also work as freelance doctors and may find their own work. Others may be employed on contract directly from a medical facility such as a hospital or medical provider.
Considerations
So long as a physician is adequately trained, properly credentialed and carries the requisite malpractice insurance, one should feel comfortable in receiving care from and employing a locum tenens physician. If you want to investigate the history of a locum tenens doctor you may access your state medical practitioner database for a listing of verified schooling, training and malpractice history at the national health care practioner database.
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