The holidays may slow some things down, but not the demand for locum tenens providers. As permanent staff take time off, facilities turn to locums to keep care moving, and often at premium rates.
Welcome to Locums CME 65, Locumpedia’s bi-weekly news roundup that helps physicians and APPs maximize their locum tenens lifestyle.
Our lead story: The holidays may seem like an off-season for healthcare, but for locum tenens providers, it’s a high-demand window. Facilities nationwide need coverage during peak vacation times, and many offer premium holiday rates. Surprisingly, some also report lower patient volumes, making it an ideal opportunity to boost income, pay off debt, or meet year-end financial goals without added clinical pressure.
Also in this edition of Locums CME: Why locum tenens can support your career from residency to retirement, what physicians really want from AI, and how to nail your next interview. Plus, we explore how locum providers are improvising in rural medicine and balancing motherhood on the move.
Why Saying “Yes” to Holiday Locum Shifts Might Be Your Smartest Move Yet
October 16 | Cross Country
It’s not too early to start thinking about the holidays, and this year, picking up a locum tenens shift might be the smartest gift you give yourself. Holiday shifts often come with premium pay, making them a smart option if you’re looking to boost year-end income, pay down debt, or pad your savings. With fewer providers vying for assignments, it’s also a great time to pick up extra work and open doors for future gigs.
While some fear chaos around holiday shifts, many providers report a slower pace this time of year. And with staff who are grateful for the coverage and patients who need a little extra compassion, working the holidays often brings deeper meaning to your day. Just because the holidays can have a tight schedule doesn’t mean you have to give up flexibility, either. You can plan your holiday celebration around your schedule, often taking time off before or after the crowds hit.
There are also strategic financial benefits to year-end earnings, especially if you’re self-employed or working through an agency. Tax deductions, retirement contributions, and hitting year-end income goals are all easier to manage when you’re working smarter instead of harder. And sometimes, that means picking up a shift when everyone else is signing off.
Your Locums Prescription
Why More PAs Are Choosing the Locum Life
October 6 | Weatherby Healthcare
For PAs seeking more control over their time, locum tenens work offers unmatched flexibility. PAs like Lauren Whitely say setting their own schedules and planning time off in advance makes a huge difference, especially in high-demand subspecialties like cardiac surgery. Locum PAs are creating space for a healthier work-life balance, with many reporting that the freedom to choose when and where they work is one of the biggest reasons they stick with it.
Locum tenens is also a great way to grow clinically. PAs gain exposure to diverse teams, new environments, and surgical techniques that help sharpen skills fast. According to Diem Dang, her varied assignments have given her a more competitive skill set than her peers in long-term roles. Whether assisting in ORs across the country or learning new systems, locum work allows providers to level up while staying professionally engaged.
And yes, the paychecks matter too. PAs say the competitive pay and full benefits make it easier to invest, save, and even consider early retirement. Add in agency support for logistics like licensing, travel, and housing, and it’s no surprise more PAs are leaning into locum tenens as a long-term career strategy.
How Locum Tenens Supports Your Career From Residency to Retirement
September 17 | Pacific Companies
Locum tenens doesn’t just have to be a side gig. In fact, locums can support you throughout your entire career. Early on, it’s a chance to explore different settings, build skills fast, and pay down debt without locking into a long-term contract. New clinicians gain real-world experience across systems, specialties, and patient populations while maintaining control over their time and income.
Mid-career providers often turn to locums to reduce burnout and reconnect with patient care. You can curate your schedule, focus on specific procedures or settings, and skip the administrative noise. Whether you want to work fewer nights, sharpen a clinical skill, or fund a personal goal like travel or caregiving, locum work lets you design your calendar with intention.
Later in your career, locums offers a smooth transition to retirement. You can stay clinically active with lighter schedules, skip the call shifts, and even return to familiar facilities on your own terms. It’s also a chance to mentor younger providers while preserving your identity as a healer. At every stage, locum tenens gives you freedom, purpose, and a way to keep practicing medicine on your terms.
How Locum Tenens Helped a Physician and Mother Reclaim Balance
October 16 | LocumTenens.com
For Dr. Dana Martini, returning to medicine after time at home with her son came with questions many moms in medicine ask: “Can I show up fully at home and in my career?” Locum tenens gave her a path to do both. After initially stepping away to raise her son, Dr. Martini found locum work offered the schedule control she needed without sacrificing her identity as a physician.
She’s not alone. Research shows nearly 23% of women physicians aren’t working full-time six years after training, compared to just under 4% of men. Many are seeking flexibility, not less responsibility. For Dr. Martini, locum tenens offered low-pressure re-entry, full credentialing support, and the ability to work when it fit her life. That freedom helped rebuild confidence and restore joy in her clinical work.
As demand for locum providers climbs, more women are using this model to shape careers that align with personal goals. For clinicians considering parenthood, returning after time away, or simply craving flexibility, locum tenens makes it possible to stay active, engaged, and fulfilled.
How To Make Agency Relationships Work for You
October 23 | Medicus Healthcare Solutions
More than just a job matchmaker, a good recruiter is a key part of making your locum tenens career more manageable and rewarding. When evaluating agencies, look for ones that take time to understand your preferences, communicate clearly, and follow through on logistics. The right fit should help you align assignments with your goals instead of just filling openings.
Frequent transitions are part of the locum lifestyle, but they shouldn’t feel chaotic. Stepping into new facilities and unfamiliar teams can be smoother when your agency checks in regularly and offers dependable support. Whether it’s confirming travel details, navigating credentialing hiccups, or troubleshooting housing, having a responsive point of contact can ease the mental load.
Building a sustainable locum career means thinking beyond the next gig. If a recruiter asks thoughtful questions about your work style, clinical interests, or long-term goals, that’s a good sign. The most valuable agency relationships can grow into trusted partnerships that help you focus on patient care while staying grounded amid constant change.
AI On Call
How Ambient AI Helped One Health System Cut Burnout and Reclaim Joy
October 21 | Healthcare IT News
At Endeavor Health, documentation demands were draining physicians’ time and energy, often spilling into evenings and threatening retention. In response, the health system chose to implement ambient AI to automate scribing. The result was a tool that listens to patient visits and generates structured notes in real time, reducing after-hours charting and restoring focus to patient care.
Clinicians now initiate recording via a mobile app and receive ready-to-review notes within a minute after each visit. The AI system integrates smoothly with Epic and has been adopted across specialties, from primary care to cardiology and psychiatry. Post-implementation surveys of 300 clinicians revealed a 40% drop in burnout, a 51% reduction in cognitive load, and a 60% improvement in documentation quality. Physicians also reported more face time with patients, with 83% saying they could now offer undivided attention during visits.
Endeavor’s results show how well-designed ambient AI can reduce onboarding friction, cut after-work hours, and support clinical satisfaction. Even seasoned physicians embraced the tool, showing that innovative technology can make practicing medicine feel sustainable again.
What Physicians Really Want from AI in Clinical Practice
October 8 | Medical Economics
As healthcare AI becomes more common, what do physicians really want from it? Medical Economics’ new article seeks to find the answer by focusing on seven survey results from real physicians. For example, clinicians are especially interested in AI tools that analyze large volumes of patient data and medical literature, offering quick insights that support diagnosis and treatment planning. In high-pressure specialties like radiology and oncology, AI is already improving diagnostic accuracy and reducing false positives. About 64% of surveyed physicians see promise in using AI for literature review and clinical data synthesis.
Administrative burden remains a top concern, especially as EHRs demand more screen time than patient interaction. AI-driven tools like medical scribes and automated documentation systems offer a solution, freeing up hours each week and restoring time for meaningful patient engagement.
Beyond documentation, AI can support scheduling, follow-up, and remote patient communication. Meanwhile, integrated chatbots and reminders can help manage chronic care and post-treatment adherence, while also reducing unnecessary in-person visits. While AI tools must comply with HIPAA standards and integrate smoothly with clinical systems, tech that supports flexibility, saves time, and complements clinical judgment will have potential for rapid provider adoption.
Physician Wellness Retreat
Why Physician Well-Being Is Patient Well-Being
October 8 | American Medical Association
Physician burnout is a growing crisis, with nearly half of US doctors reporting symptoms, like emotional exhaustion, loss of purpose, and declining quality of care. At its worst, burnout can even push physicians to leave the profession. With a worsening national physician shortage, the downstream effects are severe, including reduced access to care and poorer patient outcomes. The AMA has prioritized this issue for over a decade, addressing systemic causes such as administrative overload, insurance battles, outdated credentialing practices, and loss of clinical autonomy.
One of their standout initiatives is the Joy in Medicine® Health System Recognition Program, which promotes structural change within health systems. Over 160 organizations have been recognized for creating environments that support physician well-being. These organizations focus on reducing administrative burden, encouraging team-based care, and designing technology that streamlines rather than complicates workflows. The goal is to improve satisfaction while ensuring physicians can practice with purpose and sustainability.
For providers, working in systems that prioritize clinician wellness can significantly impact job satisfaction and performance. Programs like Joy in Medicine offer a framework for what supportive practice environments look like, and are a reminder that when physician health is prioritized, patients benefit too.
Balancing Duty to Patients and Parenthood
October 18 | KevinMD
After nearly 40 years in medicine, Dr. Francisco Torres reflects candidly on the tightrope walk between his identity as a physician and his responsibilities as a father. He and his wife, both doctors, made countless sacrifices to serve their patients and advance their careers. Residency was survivable, but the balancing act became more difficult as workloads increased. The emotional toll of missing his children’s sports games still stings, revealing the deep guilt many physicians feel for choosing patients over being present at home.
His wife made quiet but powerful decisions to protect their family’s time, sometimes shelving leadership opportunities to be more present with their kids. In hindsight, Torres believes their children’s success may have been shaped by the values they saw in their parents’ work ethic. Still, he wrestles with regret and wonders if striving for medical excellence has, at times, masked a deeper need to prove himself to his own father, a doctor who prioritized prestige over parenting.
Now nearing retirement, Torres calls for a reckoning in medicine. He questions whether the profession demands too much from its caregivers and challenges fellow clinicians to reflect on how they can better support one another in balancing work and family. His final message is that success isn’t only about what we achieve, but about how we live, love, and show up for the people who matter most.
Burnout Isn’t New, But It’s Demanding New Solutions
October 7 | Medscape
Five years into the COVID-19 pandemic, nearly half of all hospitalists still experience symptoms of burnout. Pediatric intensive care physician Dr. Amarilis Martin and hospitalist Dr. Michelle Knees point to frustration, unsafe workloads, poor communication with administrators, and extended hours as persistent contributors to emotional exhaustion. Documentation demands from insurance companies and limited autonomy only add to the burden, often pushing physicians to leave their roles or the profession altogether.
The pandemic didn’t invent burnout, but it made it harder to ignore. While many physicians have adapted, system-level issues remain. Some solutions are gaining traction, including creating a sense of belonging, open lines of communication between staff and leadership, and tangible efforts to reduce unsafe clinical workloads. Leaders must be willing to listen and support clinicians both professionally and personally.
Small daily supports matter, but larger structural changes are necessary to address the issue long-term. Reducing burnout must be treated as a patient safety priority, not just a wellness checkbox. Healthier clinicians mean better care, and hospitals must commit to supporting both.
Doctor’s Notes
Asset Location, Allocation, and Real-Life Lessons in Smart Investing
October 9 | White Coat Investor
In a recent podcast episode and accompanying article, White Coat Investor breaks down how to think about asset location and allocation without overcomplicating your investment plan. When deciding where to place different assets, the goal is to balance tax efficiency with long-term growth. Bonds and REITs usually belong in tax-deferred accounts, while stocks fit well in taxable accounts due to favorable capital gains treatment.
But what if your only tax-advantaged space is a Roth IRA? That’s where you have to make a tradeoff: either place lower-return, tax-inefficient assets like TIPS there, or use that space for high-growth stocks. The article also addresses whether a 100% stock portfolio is too risky before adding bonds. For investors with a high savings rate, a long horizon, and the emotional discipline to ride out downturns, the answer may be no, especially if they plan to diversify in the future.
Wrapping up, a locums psychiatrist shares how he paid off $400,000 in loans in four years while building a solid investment portfolio. His approach reinforces the power of consistency, strategic saving, and the flexibility that comes with locum tenens work.
How Physicians Can Stand Out in Interviews with Smart, Authentic Answers
October 13 | CompHealth
Physician interviews are about much more than credentials. Recruiters want candidates who show emotional intelligence, strong communication skills, and alignment with both the community and the position. To stand out, be prepared to answer common questions like “Tell me about yourself,” “Why did you go into medicine?” and “What interests you about our facility?” Answers should be honest, succinct, and tailored to the role, emphasizing motivation, teamwork, and patient-centered care over money or prestige.
Practicality also matters. Be ready to discuss your experience with EMR systems, how you handle pressure, and how you stay current with medical advancements. Questions about strengths, weaknesses, and difficult conversations with patients are designed to assess your bedside manner and professionalism. Recruiters are listening for humility, resilience, and a commitment to growth. And when you’re asked about salary, keep it vague early on to avoid pricing yourself out too soon.
Mastering physician interviews means blending clinical excellence with people skills. If you prepare thoughtful, genuine responses, you’ll prove why you belong on the team.
Rural Medicine MacGyvers: Improvising Care When Resources Run Thin
October 15 | Wilderness Medical Staffing
Rural providers routinely face the challenge of delivering high-quality care with limited resources, forcing them to improvise in real time. Whether it’s crafting a makeshift neonatal warmer out of a lunch bag or transforming welding gear into an oxygen source, these actions are calculated, grounded in training, and often life-saving. Improvisation in rural healthcare is about upholding the standard of care, even when ideal conditions are out of reach.
Transport is often as critical as treatment. Providers have used snowmobiles with dog sleds, pickup trucks packed with blankets, and even commercial fishing boats to move patients when traditional medevac options were unavailable. These improvised solutions prove rural providers’ creativity and strong community collaboration. Even unexpected situations, like treating an injured dog in the absence of a local vet, reveal the compassionate spirit that defines rural medicine.
The hallmark of rural care is readiness for anything. From trauma cases in the wilderness to rare infectious diseases, rural providers are trained to expect the unexpected. Their grit, adaptability, and deep commitment make them the true lifelines of remote healthcare.
Sponsored Content
How The OBBBA Simplifies Tax Compliance for Locum Tenens Providers
September 22 | The Doctor’s CPA
The One Big Beautiful Bill Act was passed in July 2025, easing tax compliance for small businesses and 1099 contractors, including locum tenens physicians. Previously, juggling multiple 1099s, state filings, and complex IRS rules made tax season stressful, with harsh penalties even for honest mistakes. The OBBBA aims to reduce that burden with streamlined forms, simplified reporting, and added protections.
Key features include a good-faith compliance clause that allows first-time filers to avoid penalties if errors are corrected promptly, and a forthcoming IRS support hotline for 1099-specific guidance. Locum providers are encouraged to keep thorough documentation, perform early tax reviews, and work with CPAs familiar with their unique needs, especially regarding multi-state income and deductions.
While the OBBBA doesn’t eliminate penalties entirely, it offers new protections for those acting in good faith. Physicians should update their systems, consult tax professionals, and monitor IRS announcements to stay compliant and reduce audit risk, ensuring they remain focused on patient care rather than paperwork.
Why Locums Oncologists Should Consider Forming an LLC
July 23 | Cancer CarePoint
Forming an LLC is a smart move for locum tenens oncologists seeking personal asset protection, tax efficiency, and professional credibility. Unlike W-2 employees, locum oncologists operate as independent contractors, meaning they’re responsible for managing liability, income, and taxes. An LLC creates a legal separation between personal and professional finances, protecting personal assets from business disputes or unpaid contracts.
Many full-time locums choose to have their LLC taxed as an S-Corporation, allowing them to lower self-employment tax burdens, especially for high earners above the 2025 wage limit of $176,100. LLCs are also easy and cost-effective to form, requiring minimal paperwork and lower fees than corporations.
While LLCs don’t shield providers from malpractice (insurance is still required), they do offer significant advantages over sole proprietorships. For part-time locums, an LLC without S-Corp status may be more practical to avoid double taxation. Overall, an LLC helps oncologists project professionalism, streamline finances, and navigate contracts more effectively.
