Locum anesthesiologists can help keep the health industry going by supporting other medical professionals, especially during increased parent surges.
Their work is crucial before, during, and after surgeries to ensure all procedures go as painlessly as possible.
However, despite graduating from the same school, a locum anesthesiologist’s career path can be very different from a permanent one.
If you’re reading this, you may have already found an opportunity to work as a locum tenens anesthesiologist. If that’s the case, you’re in the right place.
Key Takeaways
- Locum anesthesiologists temporarily cover positions due to high demand or staff shortages.
- They perform the same duties as regular anesthesiologists, including patient assessment and monitoring.
- Locums earn more per hour but lack employer benefits like retirement plans.
- Advantages include networking, reduced burnout, and the opportunity to travel and explore.
Table of Contents
What Is a Locum Anesthesiologist?
A locum anesthesiologist is a healthcare professional who temporarily works in a medical institution. The word “locum” is short for “locum tenens,” which is Latin for “substitute for” or “hold the place of.”
Locum tenens anesthesiologists don’t replace regular anesthesiologists; they temporarily cover for them in one or more of the following situations:
- Increased patient demand
- Excessive burnout
- Vacations and paid leaves
- Diseases and sickness
- Work in rural areas where there is a shortage of healthcare staff
That being said, a locum anesthesiologist has the same job description as a regular one, which means they’re responsible for:
- Pre-operative assessment: evaluating the patient’s medical history, current health status, and allergies to determine the most suitable anesthesia plan.
- Anesthesia administration: selecting and administering the appropriate anesthetic agents to block pain and induce temporary unconsciousness, relaxation, or numbness.
- Monitoring vital signs: While the patient is under the effect of anesthesia, their heart rate, blood pressure, oxygen levels, and other vital functions are all constantly monitored by the anesthesiologist.
- Managing pain: providing pain relief after surgery through various methods, like medication or nerve blocks, to make the recovery a bit more bearable.
- Leading the anesthesia care team: supervising and coordinating the work of anesthesia providers, such as nurse anesthetists and anesthesia technicians.
Related: What Is Locum in the Medical Field?
How Much Does a Locum Anesthesiologist Earn?
According to ZipRecruiter 2024 data, locum anesthesiologists in the United States earn an average of $189 per hour. That’s slightly higher than the $160 per hour that regular anesthesiologists earn.
Of course, the numbers vary according to the location, skill, experience, demand, contract, etc. However, locums, in general, tend to earn more per hour than their peers with a permanent position. This is to compensate for the lack of benefits that most locum contracts have.
While they may cover the relocation and temporary residency expenses, locum contracts typically don’t have sign-up bonuses, insurance coverage, or compensation toward retirement plan forms like 403(b) or 401(k).
What Are the Advantages of Being a Locum Anesthesiologist?
Besides the increased hourly payment, there’s more to look forward to if you’re planning to work as a locum anesthesiologist.
1. Networking and Experience
One of the biggest advantages of becoming a locum is getting to know more people and learning more about your field as an anesthesiologist.
While medical practices are usually the same across the United States, the variations in patient approach in different medical establishments will enrich your knowledge.
The different locations you work in will also expose you to other physicians with diverse backgrounds and more patients with varying types of conditions.
The knowledge you acquire will increase your proficiency, and the people you connect with can open further work opportunities later on.
2. Reduced Burnout
A 2022 study was conducted on 43,026 different medical practitioners (physicians, nurses, and other clinical and non-clinical staff). The study found an alarming 49.9% overall burnout rate among the participants.
This percentage highlights the increased instances of burnout in the medical sector, which results from the constant pressure and increased patient demand.
Working as a locum can reduce long-term burnout instances, as locum contracts tend to range from a few months to a year (sometimes more).
Once your contract is over, you have the choice to spend some time outside the medical sector while securing money from a less stressful side gig. This can lead to a better work-life balance.
3. Traveling and Exploring
This one isn’t exactly medically relevant. However, some people thrive on changing their residency and work environments and can constantly generate motivation through traveling and exploration.
Traveling can reduce the symptoms of anxiety and depression, as it’s been linked to reducing stress, boosting mental health, and improving brain function.
If you’re among such people and you don’t like routine life, a locum tenens lifestyle can be especially rewarding.
Related: What Is Locum Tenens? Meaning, Pros, and Cons
Situational Considerations to Keep in Mind
In most cases, the three advantages mentioned above are guaranteed. There are, however, situational ‘coin flip’ considerations that may or may not be in your favor.
1. Being on Call
Some locum assignments can have you work fixed hours every day, letting you have free time that you can allocate to your personal life. Other assignments may have you on call in case of emergencies.
For example, a locum dentist is more likely to fall into the former category, as instances of life-threatening emergencies in the dental sector are far fewer than medical ones.
Unfortunately, locum tenens anesthesiology jobs will mostly fit in the latter category, as medical emergencies in need of anesthesiologists can happen at any time.
2. Work Environment
When you apply for a locum tenens opportunity, you’d have either done that through agencies like LocumTenens or by directly receiving an offer from a healthcare establishment.
However, some locum tenens misjudge their work environments and may end up working in one that’s worse than expected.
This is especially true if you are applying to work in a rural area with reduced medical staff and increased patient populations.
3. Misinformation
Some locums don’t do enough research about locum anesthesiology jobs before starting their career path. For some people, the lack of benefits and employer-assisted retirement plans may not matter much.
On the other hand, those who don’t know better may spend a considerable amount of time working locum tenens before they realize that their retirement plan is overdue.
You Need More Information, and We Can Help
Financially navigating the medical industry in the US is already too complicated as it is. Some of the problems you need to deal with right off the bat are student loans that you need to pay off and the confusion as to where you should have your first contract. Then come the various major living expenses you can expect.
Becoming a locum can add more pressure; without employer-based benefits, planning your retirement is now 100% your responsibility. If you’re not careful, you may struggle for years before reaching financial stability.
We can help you shortcut your way through these complexities. Physicians Thrive is a team of physicians of various specialties who have already gone through everything you’re worried about right now.
Contact us to get started, let us know your specific situation, and let us take care of the best possible plan to secure your future while you pursue your professional goals.
