Rural locums wear every hat possible in facilities, from caregiver to therapist to janitor. But for those with the right calling, they wouldn’t have it any other way.
Welcome to Locums CME 62, Locumpedia’s bi-weekly news roundup that helps physicians and APPs maximize their locum tenens lifestyle.
Our lead story: Rural locum tenens can be a challenge. These facilities are often in dire need of help, and physicians might have to go the extra mile and do whatever it takes to care for patients. Yes, it’s about practicing medicine. But it’s also about offering comfort, and sometimes mopping the floor when no one else is there. This variety extends to the community itself, and this connection can be incredibly rewarding for those wired for rural living. While rural locums might not be for everyone, for some, it’s the best of what medicine has to offer as a calling.
Also in this edition of Locums CME: One CRNA’s path from burning out to taking control of her career, how rural hospitals are teaming up to stay independent, and why physician-driven leadership is critical to fighting systemic healthcare issues. Plus, we dive into the 12 best cities for docs and dig into two perspectives on whether smart watches are a burnout-fighting tool or just hype.
Rural Locum Tenens: Wearing Every Hat in the Clinic
August 28 | Wilderness Medical Staffing
Locum tenens providers in rural communities rarely stick to a single job description. Instead, they move seamlessly between roles: diagnosing patients, starting IVs, offering emotional support, advocating for access to specialists, and even mopping floors when no janitor is available. It’s a demanding rhythm that pushes clinicians outside their comfort zones, but many describe it as rewarding work, rooted in adaptability, humility, and connection.
Beyond clinical care, rural locums often step into roles that larger hospitals reserve for other professionals. They act as therapists when listening to patients’ fears, as social workers when helping families find resources, and as teachers when sharing hard-earned lessons with younger clinicians or local EMTs. The job also keeps them in constant learning mode, whether reviewing the latest guidelines during downtime or navigating care without the safety net of nearby specialists.
The variety extends beyond medicine into community life itself. Rural providers often become trusted neighbors and end up attending community dinners, joining in conversations at the grocery store, and showing up when bad weather or supply shortages demand quick problem-solving. For patients, locums represent a lifeline, but for providers, these assignments are proof that medicine still means doing whatever it takes to care for people.
Your Locums Prescription
Fighting Burnout with Local Locum Tenens
September 2 | MPLT Healthcare
Before you can step into a new locum tenens role, you’ll go through credentialing, the process that verifies your training, licenses, certifications, and work history. Think of it as the facility’s way of confirming you’re qualified to practice there. It’s usually straightforward, but the catch is that it can take weeks or even months, depending on how quickly you provide complete information and how thorough the facility’s process is. Incomplete applications are the number one cause of delays, so having your paperwork ready is key.
Credentialing is just one piece of the puzzle. You’ll also need privileging, which gives you the green light to perform specific procedures at that facility, and payor enrollment so the facility can bill Medicare, Medicaid, or insurance companies for your services. Background checks are part of the process, too, usually pulled from sources like the NPDB and FSMB. It may feel redundant, but it’s what ensures patient safety and keeps everything above board.
While credentialing can feel like a paperwork marathon, many facilities now use software tools that speed things up and help track deadlines like license renewals. As a locum, staying organized and keeping your documents current can make each assignment smoother. The faster you clear credentialing, the sooner you can get to work, and the sooner you can get paid.
From Full-Time to Freedom: A CRNA’s Path to Locums
August 7 | Hayes Locums
After more than a decade working full-time in a trauma hospital, CRNA Rebecca Van Leeuwen realized she needed more say in her career. Locum tenens gave her that freedom. Instead of struggling to request time off or feeling locked into a rigid schedule, she now chooses assignments that fit her life, stays rooted in one facility at a time, and heads home each weekend recharged. For her, the flexibility of locums is nice, but the real key is having control over her career without compromising her patient care.
Rebecca admits she was initially uneasy about relying on a recruiter, but her consultant proved to be an ally who eased her transition into locums. Once on assignment, she found herself in the familiar but profound position of earning patients’ trust during anesthesia care. That trust, paired with the professional autonomy of locum tenens, deepened her appreciation for the responsibility she carries and the balance she’s gained.
Beyond personal benefits, Rebecca sees locums CRNAs as lifelines for rural hospitals where staffing is often thin. Without locum providers, she says, rural clinicians would face unrelenting burnout, and patients would struggle to access safe anesthesia care. For CRNAs considering the shift, her advice is simple: be adaptable, confident, and ready to hit the ground running. Locum tenens can give you a stronger voice in your practice while helping fill critical gaps in care.
The Pros and Cons of Life as a Locum Urologist
August 4 | Weatherby Healthcare
Locum tenens gives urologists the chance to step away from administrative burdens, earn strong pay, and set schedules that match their lifestyle. Physicians like Dr. Robert Biggers use locums to stay clinically active part-time, while Dr. Alisa Berger values the flexibility to balance family responsibilities. With high demand for urologists nationwide, providers often have their pick of assignments and can maximize their income in shorter work stretches.
For others, locums creates space to pursue personal missions. Dr. Saeed Akhter splits time between assignments in the US and running a hospital in Pakistan, while Dr. Theodore Ning uses the model to support nonprofit work. The flexibility and financial stability make it possible to give back while maintaining a clinical presence.
Challenges remain, including maintaining long-term patient relationships, arranging personal benefits, and managing business tasks such as taxes and credentialing. But for many, the flexibility, appreciation from facilities in need, and freedom to work on their own terms far outweigh the drawbacks.
AI On Call
Beacon Health Taps AI to Ease Physician Burnout
August 28 | Oracle
Beacon Health System in Indiana has turned to Oracle Health’s Clinical AI Agent to tackle one of medicine’s biggest headaches: paperwork. By using an AI voice assistant that records visits and drafts clinical notes directly in the EHR, physicians can now spend less time typing and more time with patients. The tool integrates seamlessly with existing workflows, making adoption smoother for busy clinicians.
Since its rollout in 2024, the AI assistant has helped Beacon providers save an average of 35 minutes per day, cutting active time per patient by 7%. For physicians already stretched thin, that reclaimed time means reduced stress and a chance to focus on patient care instead of screens.
While AI isn’t a cure-all for burnout, Beacon’s early results show its potential to lighten the administrative load that drives many providers to exhaustion. For locum tenens physicians, who often face steep onboarding curves with unfamiliar systems, integrated AI tools like this could make adapting to new facilities faster and less draining.
AI Scribes Help Docs Beat Burnout, One Note at a Time
August 21 | Health Day
New research published in JAMA Network Open finds that ambient AI “scribes” that listen to patient visits and draft notes are delivering major relief from physician burnout. At Boston’s Mass General Brigham, burnout dropped 21% after implementing the technology. At Emory Healthcare in Atlanta, rates dropped nearly 31%. Doctors praised the tools for giving them their nights and weekends back, freeing them to reconnect with the joy of medicine and improve face-to-face time with patients.
The AI tools generate draft notes for physician review, streamlining the often time-consuming burden of documentation. At Mass General Brigham, the program has grown from 18 physicians to over 3,000 using the AI scribes by 2025. Over half of surveyed users rely on the tech in at least half of their patient visits. Though some doctors cited added editing time, most found the tradeoff well worth it. One noted that even having half-completed notes makes end-of-day documentation “much more manageable.”
For locum tenens providers, especially those adjusting to new systems and documentation platforms on the fly, this technology could be game-changing. AI scribes not only improve workflow and reduce after-hours charting, but they also support better patient interaction.
Physician Wellness Retreat
AMA Road Map Links Physician Leadership to Lower Burnout
August 25 | American Medical Society
Physician satisfaction has climbed above 76% in 2025, but burnout remains a pressing issue. To address it, the AMA’s Joy in Medicine® Health System Recognition Program gives health systems a structured path to build physician well-being into their culture. The program sets bronze, silver, and gold benchmarks across six domains, including leadership, teamwork, and efficiency, requiring organizations to implement concrete strategies that reduce systemic stressors.
Leadership development is a key factor. Bronze-level organizations must at least run leader listening campaigns, while silver-level systems evaluate and share leader behaviors tied to well-being. Gold-level systems go further by creating individualized development programs for leaders, informed by feedback from their teams. These steps help ensure leaders not only support clinicians but also model behaviors that reduce burnout.
Examples like Ochsner Health show how the framework works in practice. After finding that physicians with 10 to 15 years of experience had the highest burnout rates, Ochsner introduced leadership retreats to help participants better understand themselves and their sources of fulfillment. Among those who attended, burnout rates dropped to 27%, far below the system’s overall 44%.
Smartwatches and Burnout: Helpful Tool or Systemic Distraction?
August 19 | Westworld and Medscape
Two recent studies examined whether wearable tech can chip away at physician burnout, a problem affecting nearly two-thirds of US doctors as of 2022. Research out of the University of Colorado and Mayo Clinic found that physicians who actively engaged with smartwatch data saw a 54% reduction in the odds of burnout over six months. By nudging users to recognize stress signals and adjust by resting, meditating, or prioritizing sleep, smartwatches showed potential as a personal resilience tool.
But critics caution against overselling the results. Yale’s Dr. F. Perry Wilson points out that the study wasn’t blinded and the improvements were modest. He warns that placing the burden on doctors to “self-care harder” misses the bigger picture. Burnout stems from systemic pressures: packed schedules, productivity quotas, prior authorization battles, and a workforce that increasingly feels more like labor than leadership.
The takeaway may be twofold: a smartwatch can be a useful personal aid for spotting stress patterns, but real relief requires structural change. No gadget can replace what providers truly need, namely, manageable patient loads, fewer administrative obstacles, and healthcare systems that value physician well-being as much as efficiency.
A Hybrid Concierge Model Aims to Curb Burnout and Revive Primary Care
September 2 | Physician’s Weekly
A new practice model blending concierge medicine with community care is being hailed as a way for physicians to escape the grind of traditional employment while still serving patients who can’t afford private care. In this approach, each concierge patient pays a $200 monthly fee, which not only funds their own care but also covers care for two low-income patients. Clinics operate as nonprofits, often staffed by community members and volunteers who help address social determinants of health like joblessness and cultural barriers.
The model creates financial stability without the constant battle against insurance paperwork or hospital administrators. Physicians see fewer patients, earn more, and gain freedom to structure visits however they choose. For many, it represents a way to step off the treadmill of production-driven medicine and rediscover the satisfaction of building deeper patient relationships.
The idea may not replace the flexibility of short-term contracts, but it shows what’s possible when practice design prioritizes both autonomy and community. By giving physicians more control and patients more meaningful access, this hybrid approach offers a glimpse of what sustainable, fulfilling medicine could look like and why models like it may shape the future of primary care.
Doctor’s Notes
More States Ban Physician Noncompetes, But Many Docs Are Still Stuck
September 2 | Medscape
Colorado’s physician noncompete ban came too late for Amy Glaser-Carpenter, DO, who had to leave her rural community just to keep practicing. Her experience mirrors that of an estimated 45% of group-practice clinicians who are bound by noncompetes. Over a dozen states, including Indiana, Montana, and Maryland, have recently passed laws restricting or banning these agreements to preserve care access. But most bans aren’t retroactive, leaving many physicians contractually tethered to jobs they’ve outgrown.
Hospitals argue noncompetes protect investments and care continuity, but lawmakers say they disrupt access, especially in underserved areas. Louisiana, for example, limits noncompetes geographically and expires them after a few years of employment. Legal gray areas persist, though, and some doctors remain locked into unwanted roles due to contract renewals or fear of costly lawsuits.
The FTC announced a proposed national ban in 2023, but it’s on hold amid legal challenges and political uncertainty. Still, momentum is building. The AMA now backs bans for employed doctors, and physicians burned by past noncompetes say they’ll never sign one again. State by state, the tide is turning.
Rural Hospitals Are Teaming Up to Stay Independent and Open
September 2 | NPR
Instead of selling out to hospital systems or shutting their doors, some rural hospitals are choosing a new path: collaboration. In North Dakota, 22 independent hospitals formed the Rough Rider Network to pool resources, negotiate better vendor deals, and maintain autonomy. A shared mobile MRI truck, for example, now gives local patients access to imaging services they’d otherwise have to travel 40 minutes for. These clinically integrated networks allow facilities to remain independent while embracing value-based care contracts and improving access.
Supporters say the model saves money and enhances outcomes. Cibolo Health, which helps create these networks, has launched similar efforts in five other states, with more on the way. Pilot programs show promising results: one network hospital saw a big uptick in preventive visits after partnering with a care coordination company to reach out to overdue patients. That level of outreach would’ve cost the hospital $300,000 on its own, which is a cost most simply can’t afford.
Not everyone’s sold just yet. A 2020 RAND report noted there’s little academic evidence proving these networks improve care or lower costs, but providers in the trenches say they’ve seen it firsthand. Beyond clinical benefits, leaders also stress the economic upside: rural hospitals are often the largest employers in their communities. For facilities on the brink, these collaborations might be the key to keeping care and jobs close to home.
When Can Physicians Finally Start Enjoying Their Money?
August 31 | The White Coat Investor
When high-income professionals like physicians ask, “When is it OK to enjoy my money?” Dr. Jim Dahle’s answer is simple: right now. You don’t need to hit financial independence first to start living a little. But he’s very clear that enjoying your money doesn’t mean ignoring your financial goals. In fact, the five pillars of personal finance (earning, saving, investing, spending, and giving) should all be done with intention and balance from day one.
Dahle defends the “live like a resident” approach as a smart way to build wealth early without feeling deprived. For most new attendings, living modestly for two to five years post-training can wipe out loans, fund investments, and pave the way for long-term freedom. A bit of lifestyle creep is fine, but it’s the full-on lifestyle explosion you’ll regret. He reminds readers that half of America lives on a resident’s salary for their entire careers, so a temporary $50K budget isn’t a tragedy.
Eventually, you can have the house, the vacations, the boat, and the freedom to cut back at work, but not all at once. Dahle encourages physicians to spend in moderation, meet key goals like retirement savings (aim for 20% of gross), and treat big purchases as luxuries, not entitlements. His practical litmus test? If you can’t buy it in cash and still hit your financial targets, maybe you can’t afford it.
Top 12 Cities Where Doctors Can Thrive in Work, Wealth, and Lifestyle
September 2 | MD Spots
Not all jobs and cities are created equal when it comes to practicing medicine. A new roundup highlights 12 of the best US cities for physicians to live, work, and earn, factoring in everything from salary and job opportunities to lifestyle perks and legal protections. Topping the list is Orlando, Florida, where award-winning health systems and nearby attractions offer both professional growth and family-friendly downtime.
Also ranked are cities like San Jose, California, the nation’s highest-paying metro for doctors, and Jacksonville, Florida, where high salaries pair nicely with 22 miles of beach. Other top picks include Austin and Houston, both benefiting from Texas’s no-income-tax policy, and Green Bay, Wisconsin, which has the lowest rate of disciplinary actions against physicians.
There’s a city for every kind of physician. The list rounds out with Cincinnati, Raleigh, and Salt Lake City. These offer affordable living, robust healthcare infrastructure, and access to the outdoors, making them especially attractive for locum tenens providers weighing their next move.
Permanent Telehealth Safe Harbor Gives Docs and Patients a Win
August 17 | Med City News
Buried in the One Big Beautiful Bill is a game-changing policy for physicians and patients alike: the permanent return of pre-deductible telehealth coverage for high-deductible health plans (HDHPs). This safe harbor lets employers offer low- or no-cost virtual visits without jeopardizing HSA eligibility. Originally a COVID-era flexibility, it’s now a lasting fixture, offering an easier path to essential care without front-loading costs.
Telehealth isn’t just for sniffles anymore. With half of Americans having tried virtual visits, this provision recognizes telemedicine as a critical part of modern healthcare delivery. For physicians, it means broader patient reach and continuity of care. For patients in HDHPs (over 20% of working-age adults), it eliminates cost barriers that often lead to delayed care or ER visits. Employers also benefit, as research shows that virtual care options reduce absenteeism and improve workforce health.
While the full impact of the bill remains to be seen, this policy has near-universal support from employers, health plans, and providers. It gives physicians a reliable channel for delivering care and allows patients to access it without financial whiplash. In an era of workforce shortages and overburdened systems, that kind of stability is rare and much needed.
Sponsored Content
Top-Paying Locum Tenens Specialties to Watch in 2025
August 24 | OnCall Solutions
Choosing the right specialty can make or break your locums career, and in 2025, the opportunities are big. A new report highlights the top in-demand specialties, driven by workforce shortages, shifting care models, and rising compensation. Family medicine, hospitalists, and internal medicine remain essential as primary care demand outpaces supply, while anesthesiology and CRNA roles continue to offer the highest hourly rates for APPs. Psychiatry, OB/GYN, and gastroenterology are also in high demand, thanks to burnout-driven retirements and care access gaps.
Emergency medicine and urgent care are seeing strong growth due to expanded urgent care centers and overwhelmed ERs. Telepsychiatry is making it easier than ever to work remotely while delivering much-needed mental health care. And for those willing to head to rural or underserved regions, the pay bumps can be substantial, with some gastroenterologists earning over $2,000 per day.
Locum providers across specialties typically earn $30 or more per hour than their permanent counterparts, with unmatched schedule flexibility and lifestyle control. Whether you’re after better balance, higher income, or clinical variety, the locum tenens market in 2025 is wide open and waiting.
