Locum Tenens – the transient substitute performing the Physician’s jobs
The phrase Locum Tenens is a very well known term in the world of medical science. The exact meaning of the term is place holder or lieutenant. Shortly termed as Locum, they are the persons who fill the void in case of absence of the original placeholder at times of emergencies. In this case the responsibility of the locum tenens is to fill out the void created by the absence of the doctor performing the jobs which ordinarily the doctor would have performed.
While the Physician Positions such locum tenens occupy are highly transitory, they are still regulated by a number of rules and regulations governing their conduct. These types of substitute performers are quite common in Europe, Australia, North America and many other countries. A recent survey revealed that in UK alone on an average 3,500 locum tenens are working every day. These locum tenens are supplied mostly by the 21 registered agencies there. The scenario in US is not much different either.
On various occasions the regular physicians take up temporary assignments as locum tenens. While they are on leave or on some sort of off times, they may take up the assignment, of course under a specific written contract to do the alternative Physician Jobs acting as the locum tenens. Information on such temporary job opportunities are also available with the provider agencies and they can link you up for a temporary yet paying job of locum tenens if you so desire.