Editor’s Note
Locum tenens providers today have more leverage and flexibility than at any point in recent memory. Ongoing physician shortages and sustained facility demand have shifted the balance of power, giving providers more control over where they work, how often they practice, and how they structure their income. For many clinicians, locum tenens has become a deliberate way to build a career on their own terms.
As this shift continues, early-career participation in locums is accelerating. The long-held image of locums as a near-retirement option no longer reflects reality. More residents and fellows are choosing locum assignments to explore practice settings, stay close to home, supplement income, or ease the transition into permanent roles. Our lead story from the AMA examines what early-career clinicians should understand before pursuing locums and why this model can be a strategic fit early in practice.
As shortages persist, physicians are gaining new ways to shape their careers, from improving work-life balance and experimenting with flexible schedules to using AI tools and strengthening long-term financial security. Together, these stories reflect a profession redefining success around control, sustainability, and choice.
– The Locumpedia Editorial Team
What Early-Career Clinicians Need To Know About Locum Tenens
January 13 | American Medical Association
Early-career providers are increasingly considering locum tenens as a first step after residency or fellowship, not just a late-career option. Data from AMN Healthcare shows a growing share of physicians starting locum work immediately after training, driven by a desire for flexibility and new experiences. For many, locums functions as a structured transition to full-time work after residency.
The appeal goes beyond compensation, though pay can be about 30% higher than in permanent roles. Survey respondents consistently cite better schedules, reduced burnout, and greater autonomy as top reasons for choosing locum tenens. Nearly all respondents say flexibility is one of the most rewarding aspects of locum work, and many clinicians use locums to supplement a permanent job.
While there are trade-offs, many new providers find early locum work worthwhile. The stigma around locum tenens is also decreasing in both academic and professional settings. For those who prioritize career freedom and control over their schedules, locum tenens is a strong early-career choice.
Your Locums Prescription
Must-Ask Questions for Your Locum Tenens Recruiter
February 6 | Era Locums
Choosing a locum tenens assignment is as much about the recruiter relationship as it is the role itself. This comprehensive guide outlines 20 essential questions providers should ask before committing, covering logistics, facility culture, recruiter advocacy, conflict resolution, and feedback. The questions span a wide range of topics, from credentialing timelines to exit strategies if expectations are not met.
Successful locum careers are built on transparency and strong partnerships. By asking the right questions upfront, physicians can avoid common pitfalls and ensure a successful experience before, during, and after the assignment. For both new and experienced locums, these questions serve as a practical roadmap for building sustainable, trust-based relationships with recruiters that support long-term career goals.
Answers to 5 Common Locum Tenens Questions
January 28 | Medicus Healthcare Solutions
For providers considering locum tenens, the model offers flexibility and control, but it also raises practical questions. This article covers five of the most common questions clinicians ask when exploring locum tenens, including how to find assignments, how pay works, and whether locum tenens can fit alongside a full-time role. It outlines the basics every locum should know, like what independent contractor status means for your financial and tax planning.
Licensing and preparation are also addressed, with locum roles following standard state licensing requirements and potentially involving the management of multiple licenses. Tools such as the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact and agency-supported licensing teams can help simplify the process. For clinicians new to locums, preparation, clear expectations, and reliable support can make the transition smoother, whether locum tenens becomes a side option or a longer-term career strategy.
Best States for Gastroenterology Locums in 2026
February 4 | LocumTenens.com
Demand for gastroenterology locums remains strong heading into 2026, driven by workforce shortages, rising procedure volumes, and burnout-related departures. With an estimated national shortage of nearly 1,400 gastroenterologists, many health systems are relying on locum coverage as a core part of their care strategies. For experienced GIs, this has created a favorable market with greater negotiating leverage.
Thirteen states are highlighted for especially high locum gastroenterology demand, including California, Georgia, Michigan, New York, Ohio, and Texas. Top-paying states are offering competitive rates, with assignments requiring advanced procedures like ERCP and EUS reaching up to $5,500 per day. States participating in the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact are also enabling faster start dates, making it easier for qualified physicians to access multiple high-demand markets.
AI On Call
- With an estimated 95% of generative-AI initiatives never progressing beyond the pilot stage, some experts suggest hybrid models are the future of AI in medicine.
- One health system’s use of AI scheduling agents has freed approximately 2 FTEs for the medical team.
- Epic recently released AI Charting, a built-in feature of Art, its AI for clinicians.
- Three in five healthcare employees use ChatGPT to reduce workload and help with burnout, but 14% feel emotionally dependent on it for tasks.
Wellness Retreat
Provider Specialties With the Best Work-Life Balance
February 2 | The White Coat Investor
Work-life balance in medicine is often discussed but rarely measured beyond salary comparisons. The White Coat Investor takes a data-driven approach, using verified clinician submissions from Marit Health to build a Lifestyle Balance Index across specialties. The index accounts for weekly hours, schedule quality, call burden, percentage of clinical time, and paid time off to better capture how much control they have over their time.
The analysis shows that specialties such as preventive medicine, dermatology, and allergy and immunology offer the best work-life balance, combining predictable schedules with limited call. At the other end of the spectrum, neurosurgery, OBGYN, and critical care rank lowest, largely due to long hours and unpredictable schedules. While higher pay often comes with tougher lifestyles, several specialties outperform expectations, implying that time may be a bigger factor than compensation in work-life satisfaction.
Why Cardiovascular Health Month Is Important for Providers
February 5 | Cross Country
Cardiovascular Health Month is a reminder that clinicians need to prioritize their own heart health, not just their patients’. With heart disease still accounting for about one in five deaths in the US, the stress medicine places on providers puts them at a unique risk. Many cardiovascular conditions are preventable, and small, realistic changes can make a meaningful difference, especially for those balancing demanding schedules.
There are provider-friendly approaches to heart health, including the growing use of wearables to monitor heart rate, plant-forward eating patterns, and reframing sleep as a core component of cardiovascular care. It also emphasizes manageable habits that are realistic to sustain over time. Protecting your heart supports longevity, resilience, and the ability to continue delivering high-quality care.
Study Finds Women Physicians Carry Greater Workloads and Burn Out Faster
January 28 | AOL
A long-term national survey shows that women doctors experience higher burnout rates and lower satisfaction with work-life integration than their male colleagues, with disparities more pronounced in medicine than in other professions. An analysis of survey responses collected between 2011 and 2023 found that women clinicians had about 33% lower odds of being satisfied with work-life integration compared with men, even after adjusting for age, relationship status, and hours worked.
The study also confirms that clinicians face a higher risk of burnout than non-physicians, driven in part by longer workweeks and substantial after-hours administrative work. Women in medicine are particularly affected due to greater time spent with patients, heavier documentation burdens, higher exposure to mistreatment by patients, and disproportionate household and caregiving responsibilities. Researchers and health systems point to systemic changes as the key to addressing this issue over the long term.
Doctor’s Notes
New Mexico Moves to Join Interstate Medical Licensure Compact
February 3 | Interstate Medical Licensure Compact Commission
New Mexico lawmakers have approved legislation that would allow the state to join the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact, aiming to streamline licensure for out-of-state physicians. Senate Bill 1 now heads to Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham, who has made the measure a legislative priority. If signed, the bill would allow qualified clinicians licensed in other compact states to obtain New Mexico licensure more efficiently.
Supporters say the compact could expand access to primary care, specialty services, and telehealth by reducing administrative barriers. New Mexico would become the 43rd state, along with Washington, D.C., and Guam, to participate. The bill is part of a broader push to expand interstate compacts for other healthcare professionals across the state.
How Doctors Can Avoid Bad Investments
February 9 | Medical Economics
Physicians often earn high incomes, yet many struggle to achieve long-term investment success. This disconnect is driven by structural factors, and as a result, some rely heavily on advisors, chase market trends, or prioritize short-term tax strategies over cohesive, long-term investment plans.
Doctors are not inherently poor investors. Instead, clinicians possess traits that can support strong investment outcomes, including analytical skills, data literacy, and discipline. Successful investing depends less on intelligence and more on education, self-awareness, and structure. By understanding common pitfalls and aligning investment decisions with long-term goals and risk tolerance, physicians can turn their professional strengths into financial advantages over time.
How Doctors Can Retire Early After Achieving Financial Independence
January 20 | Physician Side Gigs
Dr. Nisha Mehta speaks with Dr. Leif Dahleen, founder of Physicians on FIRE, about how clinicians can approach financial independence with intention and clarity. Dahleen, an anesthesiologist and well-known voice in provider finance, explains how his own career satisfaction ultimately collided with limited time for family and personal priorities, prompting him to rethink the role money plays in long-term freedom.
The conversation explores what financial independence means for physicians at different career stages, emphasizing that it is not synonymous with early retirement. Instead, Dahleen outlines how building financial flexibility can give clinicians more control over their schedules, career choices, and stress levels in today’s healthcare environment. The episode frames financial independence as a tool for resilience and autonomy, regardless of whether someone plans to leave clinical practice or continue working on their own terms.
