Locums CME is a bi-weekly roundup of recent news that matters to locum tenens providers. Stay in the loop on what’s new in the locums industry, and make the most of the locum tenens lifestyle with our fresh finds. Here’s what’s in store for you in Locum CME #11:
- Doximity Study Sheds Light on How Work Stress Impacts Physician Compensation
- CHG Healthcare Report: More Physicians Working as Locum Tenen
- 4 Advantages of Accepting Out-of-State Locum Tenens Assignment
- The Top 10 Most In-Demand Cities for Locum Tenens Physicians
- 4 Career and Financial Growth Tips for Locum Tenens CRNAs
- All Locum Tenens Providers Should Have These 3 Skills
- Yoga as a Remedy for Physician Burnout
- Mind, Body, and Medicine: The 2023 Physician Health and Well-being Conference
- AMA: Empowering Physicians to Shift the Narrative on Seeking Help
- Socially Speaking: Social posts of note from AMN, Weatherby, Hayes, Floyd Lee & more
- Breaking the Silence on Non-Compete Clauses in Medicine
- Primary Care Providers Advocate for New Payment Models
- Specialty Residencies Remain Popular Among Future Doctors
Doximity Study Sheds Light on How Work-related Stress Impacts Physician Compensation
(From Business Wire, 3/23/2023)
Doximity, the leading digital platform for medical professionals in the United States, has released its annual Physician Compensation Report for 2022. The report includes data from over 190,000 physicians spanning six years and over 31,000 full-time physicians in the past year alone. The report reveals that the average pay for doctors declined by 2.4% in 2022.
Healthcare workers in the U.S. are currently facing significant challenges. These challenges include economic strains, a growing physician shortage, and high rates of work-related burnout. Furthermore, after two decades of flat payments, physicians will experience a 2% Medicare payment cut.
Gender Pay Disparity Among Physicians
The report highlights a substantial gender pay gap among physicians, with men earning nearly $110,000 more than their female counterparts in 2022. Even when controlling for specialty, location, and years of experience, there was a 26% gender pay gap. The report suggests this disparity may contribute to a higher burnout rate among women physicians.
Physician Staffing Trends
Doximity’s tech-enabled healthcare staffing firm, Curative Talent, enriched the Compensation Report with physician staffing trends. Primary care specialties such as family and emergency medicine, psychiatry, obstetrics, and gynecology were some of the most highly recruited specialties on Doximity in 2022. According to Pete Alperin, MD, Vice President of Product at Doximity, “While the average compensation for U.S. physicians stalled in 2022, the demand for physicians across the U.S. remains high.”
Physician Job Demand Across Metro Areas
The report analyzed tens of thousands of job postings in 2022 to assess physician demand by metro area. Tallahassee, Florida, and Springfield, Illinois, topped the list for the highest number of physician job postings overall and the highest number for locum tenens physicians. Seven out of the top 10 metro areas with the highest number of physician job postings also appeared on the top 10 list for locum tenens physicians, suggesting a considerable need for physicians in these areas.
Physician Specialties with the Largest and Smallest Gender Pay Gaps
The gender pay gap between male and female physicians decreased from 28 percent in 2021 to 26 percent in 2022, according to the Doximity report. It lists the five physician specialties with the largest and smallest gender pay gaps. Emergency medicine had the smallest gender pay gap, while cardiology had the largest.
Tackling Physician Burnout
More than 86% of US physicians reported being overworked, with more than one-third considering early retirement, according to a recent Doximity survey. Burnout among healthcare workers has reached crisis levels, according to the US Surgeon General, who issued an advisory in May 2022, calling for urgent measures to address it. Frenzied work conditions during the COVID-19 pandemic contributed to burnout among clinicians, according to a 2022 study in JAMA Health Forum. A federal surveillance system that analyzed levels of clinician and healthcare worker outcomes could address burnout and dissatisfaction.
While the demand for physicians across the US remains high, the average compensation for US physicians stalled in 2022. Doximity hopes this report increases transparency and empowers physicians to make more informed career decisions. Doximity maintains one of the largest physician compensation data sets in the US, with over 80% of US physicians as members, making it the leading digital platform for medical professionals in the United States.
Your Locums Prescription
(From Staffing Industry Analysts, 3/22/2023)
According to CHG Healthcare’s 2023 State of Locum Tenens Report shared by Staffing Industry Analysts, there has been a significant rise in the number of physicians choosing locum tenens. In the last year alone, around 7% of physicians (50,000 physicians) have taken on at least one locum tenens assignment, representing an 88% increase since 2015.
The report also shows that 43% of physicians working locum tenens currently work full-time, an increase from 30% in 2019. Healthcare organizations use locum tenens to maintain access to care for patients and fill temporarily vacant positions when clinicians are on family leave or vacation. Additionally, more organizations use locum tenens to meet rising patient demand during peak periods, such as flu season.
The report found that the largest segment of the current locum tenens workforce is mid to late-career physicians over 45. Although more physicians are seeking locum tenens engagements earlier in their careers for work/life balance, 59% of physicians with locum tenens experience reported taking their first assignment within 10 years of completing their medical training.
Seventy-one percent of physicians reported having a positive impression of locum tenens. Additionally, 79% of administration staff and 76% of physician colleagues stated they accepted locums physicians, with 16% and 13% of those groups embracing the model.
The report emphasizes the importance of a strategic, proactive approach to temporary staffing and flexibility. CHG Healthcare CEO Scott Beck states, “Locum tenens provide a crucial safety net for continuing patient access to care while also giving physicians facing burnout a flexible way to continue practicing.” A strong, caring staffing partner is essential for success.
(From All Star Healthcare Solutions, 3/11/2023)
In a recent blog post, All Star Healthcare Solutions highlights how locum tenens work outside one’s home state offers healthcare professionals an unparalleled chance to broaden their horizons. By accepting temporary positions in new communities, these professionals can gain a more authentic experience of the location than a typical business traveler or vacationer. Healthcare professionals can gain a glimpse into the diversity of American life, thereby enhancing their understanding of healthcare across the country.
There are numerous personal and professional benefits to accepting out-of-state locum tenens contracts, including:
1. Exploring Various Practice Environments
The country has a variety of terrains to explore, including beaches, mountains, rivers, lakes, plains, and deserts. Accepting a contract in a different state could introduce you to the wonders of different geographies and associated activities.
2. Embracing New Communities
Every town has a unique personality that can be experienced by living there for several days to weeks or months. Locum tenens professionals can learn from co-workers and residents about the community, get insider tips on what to do and see around town, and explore local landmarks and lore.
Different areas of the country are home to various population enclaves that celebrate cultural influences. Taking on a short- or long-term contract out of state is a chance to experience multiple heritage and cultural traditions, such as attending festivals, shopping in ethnic neighborhoods, or appreciating local art.
3. Savoring the Flavors of Each Region
Living in a new community serves up a menu of regional cuisine. Each region has its flavor palate, such as the varying barbecue sauces between North Carolina, Kansas, and Texas, the unique flavors of Louisiana Creole ingredients, or the Scandinavian influence in the Upper Midwest.
Locum tenens professionals can ask for restaurant referrals, especially to locally owned eateries, or exercise their culinary skills by visiting farmers’ markets or interesting grocers for local ingredients.
4. Discovering Different Healthcare Approaches
Out-of-state locum tenens positions to provide a new view of healthcare. Locum tenens professionals will work with peers who may approach cases from a different point of view, and patients’ responses may vary from what they are used to receiving at home.
Healthcare professionals who work in another state need to obtain a license from that state’s licensing board. Joining the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact (IMLC) can expedite the licensure process. Physicians eligible for the Compact and from a member state can apply for licensure through the Compact instead of each board. Each state board is responsible for issuing the license.
(From Becker’s Hospital Review, 3/24/2023)
As outlined in our top story above, Doximity’s recently published “2023 Physician Compensation Report” tracked physician pay trends across the United States. The report revealed that many cities are in considerable need of physicians, as evidenced by the fact that they are also posting jobs for locum tenens physicians.
The report also identified the top 10 cities with the highest demand for physicians and the top 10 with the highest need for locum tenens physicians. Interestingly, seven cities appeared on both lists.
Here are the top 10 cities with the highest demand for locum tenens physicians:
- Tallahassee, Fla.
- Springfield, Ill.
- Albany, N.Y.
- Trenton, N.J.
- Harrisburg, Pa.
- Raleigh, N.C.
- Lansing, Mich.
- Des Moines, Iowa
- Fort Wayne, Ind.
- Richmond, Va.
(From Aya Locums, 3/10/2023)
To help locum tenens providers maximize their earning potential, Aya Locums offered four financial and career tips for new and experienced locum tenens CNRAs in a blog post published in March. Like other providers, CRNAs can benefit from locum work, which provides the freedom to choose schedules, exposure to diverse healthcare settings, and higher income opportunities.
1. Assessing Rural Locations & Seizing Opportunities
The most lucrative locum jobs for CRNAs may not necessarily be in major cities. Half of U.S. rural hospitals use a CRNA-only model for obstetric care, putting CRNAs in high demand. It’s vital to assess pay structure, benefits, and medical direction at each location and consult with a recruiter to learn about specific expertise the facility seeks.
2. Working With A Distinguished Agency
Partnering with a reputable locum agency can simplify finding and securing ideal locum tenens assignments, allowing CRNAs to focus on providing quality patient care. Locum agencies handle logistics, such as payroll, benefits, housing, and transportation.
3. Navigating the Independent Contractor Life
To work as a locum tenens healthcare professional, it’s essential to understand the business aspects of independent contracting, including managing finances and being prepared to relocate for a designated period. Working with an experienced locum agency can guide legal and financial requirements, find suitable assignments, and negotiate fair compensation and benefits.
4. Cultivating Strong Connections in Locum Work
Having a support network of peers is vital for CRNAs working as locum tenens providers, as it can help them adjust to new locations and feel more connected to their work. CRNAs can consider joining professional associations, networking with other locum tenens professionals, or partnering with a locum agency that offers ongoing support and guidance throughout their assignments to build a support network.
(From MPLT Healthcare, 3/24/2023)
MPLT Healthcare recently published a blog post highlighting the essential skills needed to succeed in locum tenens work, whether you are currently in the field or looking to start your journey. These are the top three skills MPLT believes you should possess:
Adaptability
As a locums provider, adaptability is vital since you will encounter diverse healthcare settings requiring various skills or immediate changes. Navigating different locum tenens assignments and upholding professionalism throughout your career is critical.
Whether you work in a larger hospital or a small practice, you will be exposed to various healthcare techniques, tendencies, and technologies. Being open-minded and adaptable will help you navigate the challenges and situations you face while also enabling you to learn about new health environments.
Communication
Effective communication is crucial for a locum tenens provider since you interact with various healthcare professionals and patients daily. Your ability to communicate efficiently will significantly affect your performance and the quality of patient care, particularly as you find your footing in a new facility.
Strong verbal and non-verbal communication skills will enable you to take on different assignments at various facilities and become a productive team player.
Empathy
Having empathy is one of the most crucial skills you can possess as a locum tenens provider since you will work with diverse patient populations and individuals experiencing various medical concerns.
Expressing empathy in your interactions with patients and other physicians can enhance your career in numerous ways, including positive working relationships and improved patient satisfaction. This skill will assist you in establishing yourself as a compassionate clinician.
Physician Wellness Retreat
(From PR Newswire, 3/21/2023)
The American Meditation Institute (AMI) is a non-profit educational organization that teaches Yoga Science, AMI Meditation, and related disciplines. The AMI faculty is dedicated to advancing and training yoga science as holistic mind/body medicine.
The organization’s flagship event is the annual Heart and Science of Yoga conference, which will take place in October in Manchester, Vermont. The panel features eight accomplished physicians who have successfully integrated Yoga Science and Philosophy principles and tools into their medical practices and home lives. The comprehensive Yoga Science as Holistic Mind/Body Medicine training is accredited for 32 CMEs (34 for alumni) through the American Medical Association and will be offered simultaneously in-person and virtually as a hybrid conference.
In November 2022, a peer-reviewed clinical study of the AMI Meditation® curriculum was published in “Lifestyle Medicine.” Participants who were graduates of previous AMI physician conferences reduced their Burnout levels by 23.3%, reduced their Secondary Traumatic Stress levels by 19.9%, and increased their Compassion Satisfaction levels by 11.2%.
According to Leonard Perlmutter, the founder and curriculum developer of AMI, the curriculum of the conference is the oldest and most effective holistic mind/body medicine. It can help relieve and prevent burnout, manage addictive habits, balance life-work responsibilities, alleviate stress and inflammation, and heal disease. The conference offers lectures, panel discussions, and personal stories that support physicians in combating burnout and promoting resiliency.
The AMI faculty includes physicians specializing in internal medicine, nephrology, pediatrics, critical care medicine, addiction medicine, psychiatry, a psychologist, and an AMI faculty member. Each faculty member is dedicated to advancing and training Yoga Science as holistic mind/body medicine.
Dr. Renee Goodemote, a speaker at the conference, currently serves as Medical Director at the Saratoga Hospital Community Health Center and is Co-chair of the AMI Department of Medical Education. Dr. Goodemote shares her experience with Yoga Science and AMI Meditation and notes, “The curriculum of this conference should be a part of all medical education. It can help providers move through the stresses of patient care daily by turning inward to understand how creative we can be when we just allow the mind to rest and meet its capacity.”
The conference offers physicians a unique opportunity to learn how to integrate the principles and tools of yoga science into their medical practices and personal lives, improving their well-being and ability to serve their patients.
(From American Academy of Family Physicians)
The 2023 Physician Health & Well-being Conference takes place from April 25-28 at the Palm Springs Renaissance Esmeralda Resort & Spa in Indian Wells. This conference is a unique opportunity to prioritize your well-being and engage in a rejuvenating experience.
With over 50 interactive workshops facilitated by highly rated faculty, you’ll learn tools and resources to improve day-to-day professional satisfaction and identify areas of need to address chronic stressors within your practice.
By the end of the conference, you’ll be able to assess your current individual state of well-being and develop a personal action plan to improve, promote, and maintain a positive state of well-being. You will also have the opportunity to network with colleagues and learn about the five healthcare ecosystems that impact career satisfaction and physician well-being, ultimately connecting to improved patient outcomes.
Join AAFP for this four-day event and leave feeling revitalized with a renewed perspective on your well-being.
(From American Medical Association, 3/28/2023)
Physicians are currently facing a historically high burnout rate, negatively impacting their overall well-being and mental health. The American Medical Association is making efforts to reduce burnout, but a culture that stigmatizes seeking mental health care prevents many doctors from seeking the help they need. Experts agree that everyone in the industry must work together to reduce mental health stigma and ensure colleagues know help is available when needed.
Doctors and healthcare leaders can help reduce stigma by setting an example. Sharing their personal stories and struggles publicly can demonstrate that seeking care is acceptable. Data can also help people understand the prevalence of mental health concerns among physicians, and policy changes can be made to make it easier for physicians to seek care without fear of repercussions. For example, changing questions on licensing applications that discourage physicians from being honest about seeking help is important.
Reducing physician burnout is critical to the AMA Recovery Plan for America’s Physicians. The plan prioritizes resources highlighting workflow changes so physicians can focus on patient care. The tragic case of Dr. Lorna Breen, who died by suicide during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, is a prime example of why significant changes must be made.
Walk The Talk
To promote a culture of seeking help, it’s not only the leadership roles that should discuss mental health. Individual physicians should also proactively seek help and check in with their colleagues to see how they are doing. Helping healthcare professionals recognize that it’s okay to ask for help and that giving help when asked can also feel rewarding.
Revising & Revamping Policies
Individual physicians should not be afraid to seek help when needed. It’s essential that they also check in with colleagues about their mental health. This way, physicians can begin to realize that mental health is something they can talk about openly.
Fostering Open Communication & Connections
Dr. Murthy emphasizes that asking for help is okay, and offering support to others can also feel good. It’s not just the leaders’ responsibility to discuss mental health; all health professionals should participate in these conversations.
Socially Speaking
From LinkedIn
From Twitter
Doctor’s Notes
(From KevinMD.com, 3/15/2023)
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has called for public comments on non-compete clauses restricting physician mobility within the healthcare industry. These clauses are on the rise, leading to concerns about dissatisfaction, burnout, and reduced patient access. Non-compete clauses can also significantly impact physicians’ personal lives, as they may be forced to relocate to different cities or states, which can be incredibly challenging for those who have not yet paid off their medical training debt.
The Ripple Effect on Physicians’ Personal Lives
Employers in the healthcare industry know the effect of non-compete clauses on physicians’ personal lives. As a result, employers prefer hiring those with ties to the local community. States that support non-compete clauses or have “semi-support” laws are more likely to fight legal challenges restricting physician movement. Many employees lack the time, money, and stamina to engage in lengthy legal battles, which can result in them staying in unhappy workplaces.
What are the remedies?
The FTC can develop policies to improve workplace satisfaction and encourage physicians to remain in clinical practice. Some states have attempted to limit non-compete clauses in healthcare, but the majority still have full non-compete clauses on the books. Physicians can negotiate to remove non-compete language from their employment contracts, but this approach may not succeed.
Without a comprehensive solution, the healthcare industry will likely experience further problems related to physician burnout, dissatisfaction, and shortages of healthcare workers. Resulting in reduced patient access to medical care, significantly affecting public health. To address this issue, various policy options, including federal and state law changes, need to be explored to improve physician mobility within the healthcare industry.
Non-compete clauses are increasingly being used in the healthcare industry, and they can have a range of negative impacts, including reduced physician mobility, burnout, and dissatisfaction. The healthcare industry must explore a range of policy options to improve physician mobility, including changes to federal and state laws and employment contracts, to ensure patients have access to high-quality medical care.
(From Fierce Healthcare, 3/26/2023)
Nearly 30 healthcare provider groups wrote a letter to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) calling for a hybrid payment model for primary care physicians to bolster the primary care workforce, especially in disadvantaged and underserved communities. The hybrid payment system would combine fee-for-service and future payments to primary care doctors, applied to the Medicare Shared Savings Program, which pays providers on a prospective basis. The groups urge CMS to act quickly to implement strategies to strengthen the primary care workforce.
Although hybrid payments have been explored over the past decade, physicians find it challenging to transition to such methods, even with multi-payer models. The groups suggest that alternative payment models should have more substantial incentives to counter fee-for-service, and multi-payer participation can help achieve this.
CMS must embed health equity principles into the hybrid payment, a significant priority for the Biden administration. The hybrid payment must also offer cost-sharing relief from services covered by the per-beneficiary payment.
The groups suggest that CMS adopt the hybrid payment model across the country starting in 2025, with no limited window for new participants and no geographic restrictions on participation. This letter comes when the primary care workforce has struggled due to underinvestment and worker shortages. A recent primary care scorecard found that a chronic lack of support has strained primary care, and spending on such care has declined slightly across all types of insurance from 2010 to 2020.
(From Axios, 3/20/2023)
More medical school graduates are opting for specialties like orthopedics and plastic surgery rather than emergency medicine, causing concern for the field hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic and other health crises, such as the overdose epidemic.
This year, more than 550 slots for emergency medicine residents were left unfilled, up from 335 last year, and a considerable jump from 2018, when only 13 ER openings were unfilled, according to the National Resident Matching Program. The field was once one of the most desired for young doctors, with a 44.6% rise in ER residency slots between 2000 and 2010, more than any other specialty.
The trend is attributed to the pandemic experience, health system consolidation, cost-cutting, and the corporatization of medicine, “This is a challenging time for EM,” said the American Academy of Emergency Medicine and other professional groups in a joint statement. “As we focus on solutions, we continue to work hard to support trainees, residency programs, and faculty.”
ER medicine is now considered to embody professional burnout, with risks like patient violence, as practitioners tell it. “When students see us super burned out and dealing with a health care system that treats the emergency department like a release valve, they see the toll it takes on us,” said Jessica Adkins Murphy, president of the Emergency Medicine Residents Association.
The drop in interest in emergency medicine could also be part of a correction following a 2021 report predicting an oversupply of doctors in that specialty. On the other hand, disciplines like orthopedic surgery, plastic surgery, diagnostic radiology, and thoracic surgery are filled.
Despite the Supreme Court decision striking down Roe v. Wade, the number of obstetrics and gynecology residency slots remained stable, even as some future residents had to factor in which state a residency program is in when making their decisions.
“I’m in my interview season, tracking governor races in states where I don’t live,” a medical student told The Cut about his peers. “I had a vested interest in how people in Pennsylvania were voting because it determined whether having the foundation of my career there made any sense.”
There has been a freeze on residency positions dating back to 1997, leaving thousands of young doctors without jobs, a problem that the American Association of Medical Colleges has railed against as the U.S. faces a shortage of up to 124,000 physicians by 2034. Although Congress added 1,000 new slots to be phased in over five years starting this year, critics have slammed the addition, saying the rules attached to those new positions are “overly prescriptive.”
Emergency care could become even more critical as millions fall off Medicaid rolls with the end of the COVID-19 public health emergency and could lose access to vital preventive services. It is crucial to address the challenges in emergency medicine and attract new talent to ensure quality healthcare services.
