Editor’s Note
Dear reader,
Whether you spent the holidays working close to home or on an assignment that gave you a little extra space to rest and reset (and ultimately, more time with the people who matter most), we hope your new year is off to a strong start.
Welcome to Locums CME. You may notice this edition looks a little different. We’ve refreshed the format of Locumpedia’s free bi-weekly roundup to make it easier to scan, more practical on the go, and better aligned with how physicians and advanced practice providers actually consume news. Expect clearer sections, sharper takeaways, and insights you can apply whether you’re actively on assignment or simply tracking the market.
Our lead story looks at the ongoing physician shortage and what it could mean for locum providers as we move further into 2026. While shortages are affecting every region, some states and care settings are under significantly more strain than others. For locum clinicians, that reality points to continued demand, particularly in high-need specialties such as anesthesiology and neurology.
With that, let’s get into this week’s news.
The Locumpedia Editorial Team
What the Physician Shortage Means for the Workplace
January 6 | Medicus Healthcare Solutions
For physicians on the front lines, the national physician shortage is nothing new, but a recent Medicus Healthcare Solutions report adds clarity. The analysis breaks down which states are likely to feel the strain most acutely, which care team models may help offset staffing gaps, and how different employment and coverage strategies could shape the workforce in the years ahead.
According to the report, states facing the greatest pressure from hospital closures and service line reductions include Connecticut, Alabama, Mississippi, New York, and Kansas. To navigate these challenges, Medicus points to several practical steps for healthcare organizations, including expanding the use of advanced practice providers, strengthening workplace culture to improve retention, and building contingency plans that include alternative staffing models such as locum tenens.
For physicians, these trends may also create new opportunities. Practicing in states with more severe shortages could come with higher compensation and added incentives as facilities compete for talent. Locum tenens may also play a larger role, whether as a full-time choice or supplemental work. As more organizations incorporate locums into long-term staffing plans, physicians could see increased demand, greater flexibility, and stronger earning potential.
Your Locums Prescription
Building a Locums Life That Puts Family First
December 11 | Hayes Locums
How locum tenens enabled a family-first career:
After more than 25 years in academic medicine, Dr. Stephanie Goei and Dr. Julian Nussbaum turned to locum tenens as a way to remain clinically and academically engaged while building a lifestyle centered on family. What began as a post-retirement idea evolved into a sustainable locums arrangement that allows both physicians to continue teaching and caring for patients, often at the same facility.
Why flexibility matters more later in a career:
By coordinating schedules, travel, and assignments, the couple demonstrates how locums can support both professional fulfillment and personal priorities. Their experience highlights the flexibility locum tenens can offer clinicians who want to keep practicing medicine without putting life, relationships, or milestones on hold.
The Top 5 Locum Tenens Specialties for 2026
January 1 | Consilium Staffing
Where demand is rising fastest:
Ongoing physician shortages, combined with recent federal policy shifts, are expected to continue driving locum tenens demand in 2026. That growth, however, will not be evenly distributed across specialties. A recent analysis from Consilium Staffing highlights which clinical areas are likely to see the strongest locum demand this year, along with the types of facilities where those opportunities are most concentrated.
What that means for physician opportunity:
Anesthesiology is projected to see the highest locum demand, building on sustained post-pandemic pressure in surgical and procedural care. Family medicine and neurology follow closely, reflecting the impact of an aging population and persistent shortages in rural and underserved areas. Psychiatry and emergency medicine also remain high-need specialties as access challenges and burnout continue to affect permanent staffing. For physicians in these fields, 2026 may present meaningful opportunities to explore locum tenens work, whether as a full-time path or a more flexible complement to permanent practice.
IMLC in 2026: Expanding Opportunities
January 5 | Global Medical Staffing
How licensure expansion is changing mobility:
The Interstate Medical Licensure Compact (IMLC) continues to expand access to expedited physician licensure. As of January 2026, 42 states, the District of Columbia, and Guam participate, allowing eligible physicians to obtain licenses in multiple states through a streamlined application process that can cut timelines from months to weeks.
Why faster licensure matters for locums:
For locum tenens clinicians, the IMLC removes one of the biggest barriers to mobility. Faster licensure means quicker access to assignments, greater geographic flexibility, and more control over when and where you practice, especially in high-demand or seasonal markets.
AI On Call
- The AMA says physicians should lead the design and use of AI in clinical workflows.
- A new survey finds that patients prefer physicians for diagnosis but support AI as a cancer-detection aid.
- OpenAI launches ChatGPT Health, directly linking patient portals to the AI chatbot.
- Hospital systems are expanding AI programs to address the physician shortage.
Wellness Retreat
Strategies for Dealing with On-Call Stress
January 6 | KevinMD
Why on-call expectations are changing: 
In a recent KevinMD essay, Dr. Corinne Rao examines a source of physician stress that often receives less attention: on-call duty. She argues that call made sense when most physicians owned their practices and viewed it as a direct responsibility to their patients. Today, with the majority of physicians working as employees, on-call expectations often extend work hours without clear boundaries, making it difficult to ever feel truly off duty.
How physicians are reclaiming control:
Physicians are responding to on-call stress in different ways. Some are accepting lower pay for roles that eliminate call entirely, while others are stepping away from clinical practice. Another growing response is a shift toward locum tenens work, which can offer greater control over scheduling and availability. Dr. Rao ultimately encourages physicians to push for broader adoption of the hospitalist model, in which on-call responsibilities are formally recognized as work, structured, and staffed accordingly.
Physicians Trade Burnout for Intentionality in 2026
December 22 | MDLinx
Why “doing less” resonates in 2026:
Physician burnout has eased since the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, but it remains a widespread, systemic challenge, particularly among emergency medicine and internal medicine physicians. In response, some clinicians are rethinking their relationship with work and framing 2026 as the “year of doing less,” a shift focused on sustainability rather than productivity.
How physicians are redefining sustainability:
Doing less does not mean doing less work. Instead, it reflects a more intentional approach to time, including protecting space for rest, planning meaningful breaks, and setting clearer boundaries between on- and off-duty hours. Many physicians are also turning to technology to streamline administrative tasks and reclaim time during the workday. Others are adopting small, practical habits, such as scheduled pauses or brief moments of reflection, to stay grounded and reduce daily stress.
Doctor’s Notes
How Much Do Real Doctors Actually Save for Retirement?
January 7 | The White Coat Investor
How physicians are actually saving for retirement:
It’s often assumed that high-earning physicians are well-positioned for retirement. In reality, savings habits vary widely. A small survey conducted by The White Coat Investor found that participating physicians saved an average of 16% of their income, slightly below the 20% benchmark the author recommends. That average, however, masks a significant gap. While some respondents reported savings rates as high as 46%, roughly one-third said they were saving less than 10%.
Why saving strategy matters more than income:
These findings align with broader data from Medscape’s physician wealth survey, which shows a sharp divide between physicians who reach retirement with substantial assets and those who arrive with far less financial security. For physicians concerned about falling into the latter group, the author emphasizes the importance of consistently saving at least 20% and being intentional about how those dollars are invested. Strategic decisions, such as understanding when to prioritize a Roth 401(k) versus a traditional 401(k), can compound over time and meaningfully change long-term outcomes.
