Editor’s Note
As locum tenens becomes an increasingly core part of how care is delivered, providers have new opportunities in a system facing persistent shortages. As demand grows, more clinicians are weighing locum work earlier in their careers, rethinking traditional paths, and seeking practical ways to build sustainable, adaptable professional lives.
We lead this issue with new data from the American Medical Association on which specialties rely the most on locum tenens coverage. While locum opportunities exist across medicine, data show particularly strong and durable demand in specialties such as anesthesiology, pediatrics, emergency medicine, and hospital medicine. For clinicians, understanding where locums are most embedded helps clarify where opportunities are likely to remain strong and how locum work can fit into both short-term decisions and long-term career planning.
Elsewhere in this issue, we explore how physicians are responding to this shift, from using locum tenens earlier in their careers to rethinking burnout, time away, and financial decisions that affect long-term flexibility. Together, these perspectives reinforce a central idea: as locum tenens becomes a more permanent part of the workforce, clinicians have greater opportunity to shape careers that are sustainable, intentional, and aligned with their priorities.
— The Locumpedia Editorial Team
Which Specialties Have the Most Locums?
January 20 | The American Medical Association
Locum tenens physicians are no longer used only as short-term coverage. New data shows they are now a routine part of staffing strategies, especially while organizations search for permanent hires. In 2024, healthcare employers used locum tenens in about 16% of all clinician searches, reflecting steady growth and signaling long-term demand.
However, reliance on locum tenens varies sharply by specialty. Anesthesiology leads by a wide margin, with about 65% of searches using temporary coverage. Pediatrics, urgent care, hospital medicine, and emergency medicine also rank high. These specialties tend to face constant coverage pressure and prolonged vacancies. More than 60% of anesthesiology searches remained unfilled after a year, with pediatrics and emergency medicine close behind.
Surveys show locums now work across nearly every specialty, with strong demand in primary care, psychiatry, hospital medicine, and radiology. Younger physicians are increasingly choosing the practice alternative for flexibility, mobility, and career exploration. In many high-need specialties, locum work is becoming a core staffing solution. As more specialties move to a temporary staffing support model, opportunities for locum providers to earn more and create a flexible lifestyle will continue to increase.
Your Locums Prescription
6 Tax Tips for Locum Tenens APPs
January 15 | CompHealth
What locum APPs need to know:
Tax season can be challenging for locum advanced practice providers new to contract work. A recent CompHealth article breaks down six key tax basics locum APPs should understand, including the difference between W-2 and 1099 income, what tax reimbursements cover, how to establish a tax home, and why organized recordkeeping matters. It also encourages working with a tax professional and reviewing your tax plan throughout the year.
Why it matters:
With facilities expected to rely more on locum APPs in 2026, many providers will be navigating self-employed taxes for the first time. Contract work can create opportunities to lower taxable income through deductions, but it also brings additional responsibilities, such as self-employment taxes and quarterly payments. For APPs coming from permanent roles, these details are easy to overlook. This practical primer helps locums avoid surprises, stay compliant, and make smarter financial decisions year-round.
Is Locum Tenens a Smart Move Early in Your Career?
January 16 | Wapiti Medical Staffing
What new providers need to know:
Many physicians still assume locum tenens is something to consider later in their careers, but the data tells a different story. More than half of locums begin within their first 10 years of practice, and nearly one-third begin within their first five. For early-career clinicians, locum tenens is increasingly viewed as a sustainable, strategic career choice.
Why locum tenens is a good early career move:
Early practice years are often defined by rigid schedules, productivity pressure, and limited control over time. Locum tenens can offer relief from those constraints while providing new professional experiences. For providers who feel clinically confident, that variety can accelerate skill development and clarify long-term goals. The key is intention. Providers who do best in early-career locums are clear about what they want to gain and why it matters to them.
AI On Call
- Experts predict that in 2026, healthcare AI will prioritize workflow efficiency, lower administrative burden, faster access to care, and stronger support for physicians.
- Mass General Brigham’s Care Connect program, which uses AI and remote clinicians to deliver care 24/7, is set to expand.
- Tandem Technology, a healthcare AI startup that simplifies prescription processing, has reached “unicorn” status with a $1 billion valuation.
Wellness Retreat
The Benefits of Sabbaticals and How To Take One
January 16 | KevinMD
Why sabbaticals can make a difference:
After watching Dr. Robby take a three-month sabbatical on “The Pit”, Dr. Christie Mulholland decided she wanted the same reset. What she quickly discovered is what many physicians already know: extended time off is hard to secure, especially during an ongoing care crisis. Rather than abandon the idea, she took a different path, stepping away for three months of unpaid leave. That decision reshaped how she thinks about medicine, work, and sustainability.
What physicians can learn from an extended break:
With roughly 43% of clinicians reporting burnout, waiting for institutional solutions is not always realistic. Dr. Mulholland outlines practical ways clinicians can design their own sabbatical, including planning ahead for lost income, setting clear goals, building structure into the time away, and creating a thoughtful reentry plan. Support matters too. Without intention, she notes, time off can feel like an anxious vacation rather than true recovery. For her, the space created by a sabbatical led to clarity, renewed purpose, and the launch of a coaching business.
Why Self-Care Isn’t Enough To Fight Burnout
January 14 | AMA STEPS Forward
What the podcast covers:
In this AMA STEPS Forward podcast, emergency physician and Chief Wellness Officer Archana Shrestha, MD, explains why burnout cannot be solved by self-care alone. She describes burnout as a mix of emotional, mental, and physical exhaustion and outlines a three-part well-being framework that includes a culture of medicine, practice efficiency, and individual support. Dr. Shrestha also cites evidence that professional coaching can reduce burnout, improve quality of life, and increase physicians’ intent to remain in practice.
Why it matters for providers:
For those who feel stuck waiting for system-level change, this discussion offers a more immediate path forward. Coaching reframes burnout as a structural issue rather than a personal failure and gives clinicians tools to process emotions, rethink ingrained habits, and regain control over their work lives. The message is simple but powerful: physicians are not broken, and with the right support, sustainable careers are achievable.
Why the Cure for Medical Stress Isn’t Just Resilience
January 13 | Medical Economics
How the system creates burnout:
Work stress is not an inevitable part of medical practice. According to Dr. Sanjeeb Khatua, it is largely the result of systems built without physician workflows or limits in mind. He argues that individual coping strategies, such as mindfulness or simply pushing through, don’t address structural problems effectively. One common example of the work-life barrier breaking down is “pajama time,” when physicians log back in after hours to finish documentation, eroding personal time and recovery.
What changes would help:
As clinician attrition rises, healthcare leaders are paying closer attention to the root causes of burnout. In response, Dr. Khatua points to shared governance, smarter workflows, team-based care, and greater career flexibility as practical solutions. These changes give physicians more control over how care is delivered, reduce unnecessary workload, and support well-being. The result is not only a better experience for clinicians but also improved patient outcomes and lower long-term costs for healthcare organizations.
Doctor’s Notes
5 Common Interstate Medical Licensure Compact (IMLC) Questions Answered
January 6 | Hayes Locums
What the IMLC is:
The IMLC is an agreement among participating states that streamlines the licensing process for physicians who want to practice across state lines. While it’s a great tool for locums, many have questions about how it works. To help, Hayes Locums shared a guide that breaks down which states participate, how to apply, the benefits for locum tenens clinicians, and more.
Why it matters for locum tenens:
For locum tenens providers, licensing speed can directly affect job access and income. While the IMLC is not required to take out-of-state assignments, it can make physicians more competitive and prevent delays that lead to missed opportunities. This is especially valuable for clinicians planning to work in multiple states or move between assignments quickly. As demand for mobile physicians continues to grow, the IMLC offers a practical way to reduce administrative friction while maintaining licensing standards.
Why Most Common Debts Are Unnecessary for Doctors
January 17 | The White Coat Investor
Why some debt may not make sense for doctors:
Dr. Jim Dahle critiques what he sees as unnecessary debt among doctors, including car loans, credit card balances, long student loan terms, and extended mortgages. He argues that many high-income professionals (including doctors) carry debt out of habit rather than need and that attempts to manage debt for investment gains rarely pay off. Instead, Dahle points to behavioral patterns showing that most financially successful physicians prioritize paying off debt quickly.
What physicians could do instead:
Debt can quietly restrict career flexibility and add pressure over time. Long-term financial obligations may limit the ability to scale back work, change practice settings, or pursue nontraditional paths like locum tenens. The article reframes debt elimination as a means to gain control and optionality, rather than as financial austerity. Clinicians who want long-term freedom and stability are often better served by eliminating debt rather than learning to live with it.
Physician Side Gigs Launches “Inside the Doctor’s Lounge” Podcast
December 19 | Physician Side Gigs
What it’s about:
Physician Side Gigs has launched a new podcast, “Inside the Doctor’s Lounge”, hosted by Dr. Nisha Mehta. The show features candid conversations with providers and industry experts who have pursued nontraditional paths in medicine. Topics include work-life balance, side work, entrepreneurship, and the realities of building a sustainable career in today’s healthcare environment.
Why providers should pay attention:
If you’re questioning the traditional career track, this podcast offers perspective and reassurance that alternative paths are increasingly common. The conversations reflect how many clinicians are thinking about flexibility, longevity, and professional fulfillment, not just compensation or titles. For physicians exploring locum tenens, side gigs, or portfolio careers, the podcast provides real-world examples and language to help articulate what they want from their work and why it matters.
