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Substitute Doctors

Friday, May 11 2007
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Susan Davis

A recent article in Medical Economics explains why you might need a locum tenens -- a substitute physician who can cover for an absent member of your practice. As the author points out, it can be costly to hire this sub, but not hiring one can cost you more. Whether you're in a solo practice or part of a group, not offering the usual availability for your patients while a doctor takes time off can be risky. You could lose the trust -- and potentially the patronage -- of your patients.

This article explains how the locum tenens system tends to work, and what you can expect to pay.

Latest Comments in  posts

It's very true that hiring a locum tenens doctor can be expensive, but most practices find that the benefits are much higher. It's also good for expanding your practice during the time when your patient flow isn't high enough for another full time person but you're looking to hire another full time physician in the near future. Finding a good locums doctor is a little more difficult, the best was is to go through a trusted locums staffing agency like Linde Healthcare (you can check them out at www.lindehc.com )...it's the best way to find a quality physician. Linde will also cover the doctor's malpractice insurance and travel arrangements.
By: Lauren Haman on 5/11/07 at 2:26 PM
Substitute Doctors
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