From Ancient Roots to Modern-Day Use: How a Medieval Phrase Transitioned from the Church to Healthcare
In the Beginning
In Latin, the phrase locum tenens means “to hold the place.” It was a commonly used term during the Middle Ages between 500 AD and the 1400s, primarily in the Catholic Church, to refer to priests who served in parishes lacking permanent clergy.
The church played a central role in daily life during the medieval and early modern periods. Continuous spiritual leadership was essential in these communities. When a parish priest was absent, a locum tenens cleric would step in to temporarily lead Mass, hear confessions, and provide pastoral care.
Priests, bishops, and religious superiors typically decided assignments, often guided by canonical law. Higher-ranking locums could also handle administrative duties and church governance.
These locum providers delivered continuity of spiritual leadership while bishops worked to fill the vacancy with a permanent clergyman. The term “locum tenens” didn’t find its way into the medical field until much later, most prominently during the 1970s.
Before we go forward, let’s quickly look back. In case you missed it during Locum Tenens Week 2023, here’s a recap of the history of locum tenens and some legendary pioneers of the American medical industry.
From Spiritual Care to Patient Care
In 1973, at the University of Utah’s Health Systems Research Institute (HSRI), Dr. Alan Kronhaus introduced an innovative approach to healthcare: sending physicians to rural areas for temporary medical assignments. Dr. Kronhaus wasn’t just the organizer of this initiative—he actively participated by recruiting physicians and taking on locum assignments himself, beginning his locum tenens career in Battle Mountain, Nevada.
In 1975, Dr. Therus Kolff joined the effort, taking on locums assignments in Hanna, Wyoming. Together, they carried out this mission for nearly three years until the HSRI disbanded.
Although the HSRI was no longer active, its legacy endured. In 1979, Dr. Kolff founded CompHealth—the first official temporary physician staffing agency. Dr. Kronhaus founded KRON Medical, which CompHealth later acquired, bringing the two doctors back together. Still, selling the idea of temporary doctors wasn’t easy. Local physicians were often wary of outsiders, having spent years building trust within those communities. Dr. Kolff also faced the challenge of persuading doctors to embrace the idea of temporary assignments. His key strategy was rebranding the concept under a new, more appealing name.
“‘Locum tenens’ was originally used for itinerant clergy in England and later applied to physicians,” he explained, “so the term was already well understood in the UK. It seemed natural to use it when we started.”
“‘Locum tenens’ was originally used for itinerant clergy in England and later applied to physicians, so the term was already well understood in the UK. It seemed natural to use it when we started.”
The Name of the Game
The term and concept quickly gained traction. Its success was driven by a solid business model providing financial benefits to physicians and healthcare facilities. Early pioneers of locum tenens, such as Dr. Ken Teufel of Interim Physicians, Jackson Coker of the Coker Group, Rick Jackson of Jackson Healthcare, and others, played a pivotal role in shaping locum tenens into one of the most successful healthcare staffing models today (and the only one that is still enjoying post-Covid growth).
While Dr. Kolff’s vision ultimately proved successful, his journey wasn’t without its challenges.
“The concept of marketing temporary doctors was tough in those early years,” he said. “‘Who would do that?’ ‘What’s wrong with them?’ The objections kept coming, even when we presented clinicians with great CVs and glowing references.”
While the term “locum tenens” was familiar in medical circles, its rarity in everyday American usage often led to confusion about how to use it correctly. Although it helped establish credibility within healthcare, it didn’t make it any easier for the general public to grasp.
Mastering the Meaning: How to Use “Locum Tenens” the Right Way
After diving into the origins of locum tenens and its journey into modern healthcare, it’s time to answer the question: how should this term actually be used? The good news is that it’s simpler than you might think.
The phrase “locum tenens” takes on various forms in healthcare facilities or the healthcare staffing industry. “Locum tenens” refers to a single provider or the industry as a whole, while “locums” is a more common plural shorthand, and “locum” is used as a singular adjective.
It can get confusing, which is why we’ll break it down further so that whether you use it in a job description, an email, a blog post, or just chatting with a friend or colleague, it will feel natural. Even seasoned professionals sometimes misuse the term, but we hope this quick guide will ensure you get it right every time.
Locum Tenens (adjective or noun)
One of the most frequent uses of the phrase is in reference to the “locum tenens industry.” In this context, “locum tenens” serves as an adjective (or compound modifier), describing the healthcare staffing sector specializing in placing temporary physicians, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants.
- “The locum tenens industry has grown into a $7.5 billion market, providing essential staffing solutions for healthcare facilities nationwide, particularly in underserved or rural areas.”
“Locum tenens” can also function as a singular noun, referring to the overall concept or practice of temporary healthcare staffing.
- “Locum tenens offers physicians the flexibility to work on their own terms while still meeting the staffing needs of healthcare facilities.”
Additionally, it’s used as an adjective to describe a clinician working temporarily in a healthcare facility.
- “As a locum tenens provider, you have the advantage of more flexible hours and higher compensation rates."
Locums (adjective or noun)
Locums is used as a noun in the plural form when referencing multiple providers.
- "Locums can earn higher pay rates than full-time physicians."
While “locums” is often used as a shorthand term for providers, it’s never used with the word “staffing.” But it is used informally as an adjective to refer to the temporary physician staffing industry as a whole.
- “The locums industry has seen rapid growth as healthcare facilities increasingly rely on temporary providers to meet staffing needs.”
Locum (adjective)
“Locum” is an increasingly popular singular adjective or noun, although “locum tenens” remains more common.
- “Locum physicians enjoy more work-life balance than full-time doctors.
Stop... Infographic Time!
Below is a handy graphic you can download and use as a guide to the proper usage of these terms when typing emails, creating sales material, writing blog posts… you name it.
What Not to Say
Now, let’s clear up some mistakes we often see with these terms.
Double Pluralization
Since locum tenens is already a plural phrase, adding another “s” is unnecessary and grammatically incorrect.
- Incorrect: Locums tenens are filling in at the clinic.
- Correct: Locum tenens providers are filling in at the clinic.
Using Locum Tenens Without a Subject
“Locum tenens” is used as a noun or adjective describing a specific role, such as physician, nurse practitioner, or CRNA. It’s similar to saying “temporary doctor.” It’s not an accepted practice to say, “We hired a temporary. ” So, locum tenens shouldn’t be used without specifying the provider type.
- Incorrect: The hospital hired a locum tenens.
- Correct: The hospital hired a locum tenens physician.
Common Misspellings
Over the years, the Locumpedia team has encountered plenty of creative misspellings, like “locum tenum,” “locum tenus,” or “locum tenans” (sometimes from recognizable industry figures who should, um, know better 😁).
It’s understandable—Latin is a dead language, and the term isn’t widely known outside medical circles or staffing firms. However, getting the spelling right is crucial for any staffing agency or professional who wants to maintain a respectable image when communicating with providers, clients, or employees.
A New Perspective on Locum Tenens
Though “locum tenens” has historical roots, its relevance today is only increasing. Originally, the term referred to respected members of the church who provided spiritual leadership. However, it sometimes carried a negative connotation when it transitioned to the medical field. Some struggled to understand why a physician would choose short-term assignments over a permanent role, and locums were unfairly seen as doctors who couldn’t secure full-time positions.
As we know today, that perception couldn’t be further from the truth. Many healthcare providers choose locum tenens for its flexibility, higher pay, exposure to diverse medical environments, and opportunities to travel and gain new experiences. Locum tenens providers are seen as essential pieces of a facility’s healthcare staffing strategies.
Now that you know the origins and best practices for when and how to use “locum tenens,” it should be easier to say or write the term with confidence. This newfound knowledge will hopefully come in handy the next time someone asks, “So, what do you do for a living?”
