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.