Editor’s Note
Control shows up in different ways across this issue, but it starts with how physicians define stability. The lead story makes the case that flexibility is not something you stumble into; it’s built through structure and deliberate choices. How you handle your time, select assignments, and plan ahead shapes how manageable your work feels over time.
That same principle carries through the operational side of locum tenens work. Tax planning, multi-state licensure, and credentialing are more than background tasks. These essential pieces of the locum experience influence how quickly you can move and what stays within reach. When they’re handled consistently, assignments tend to come together more smoothly and with fewer surprises.
Work environment plays an equally important role. Belonging, team support, and turnover patterns influence how sustainable an opportunity is, whether you are stepping into a short-term contract or considering something longer. Across these stories, the common thread is clarity, understanding how a site operates, what support looks like in practice, and whether the structure in place actually holds.
– The Locumpedia Editorial Team
Lead Story
Locum Tenens and Why I Chose It Over a Traditional Medical Career
March 27, 2026 | Barton Associates
A pediatric emergency physician working locum tenens walks through the moment she stopped confusing stability with rigidity, then rebuilt her practice around control of her calendar, her workload, and her bandwidth outside the hospital. What she describes is less about leaving traditional employment and more about redefining what a sustainable career looks like. The shift comes down to ownership of time and the ability to make deliberate choices about when and how to work.
Assignments can run from a weekend to several months, with agencies coordinating licensing, travel, and logistics. The structure is straightforward, but the flexibility shows up in how those assignments are selected and sequenced. One of the biggest misconceptions is geographic. Locum tenens work does not always mean constant travel. Local assignments and telehealth can offer flexibility without requiring time away from home.
Autonomy does not happen by default; it requires structure. Clinicians need to build availability around real constraints, plan for variability in scheduling, and take responsibility for benefits and long-term financial planning. The advantage is control. Consistency with paperwork, responsiveness, and scheduling puts clinicians in a stronger position to choose what comes next.
Your Locums Prescription
Smart Tax Strategies to Strengthen Your Financial Future Year-Round
March 26, 2026 | Hayes Locums
Locum tenens work often comes with variable income and shifting schedules, which makes consistent tax planning essential. This overview focuses on building a structured approach, starting with estimated quarterly payments and a reliable system for tracking expenses throughout the year. Setting aside a percentage of each paycheck and planning ahead can help avoid large, unexpected tax bills.
Working across multiple states adds another layer of complexity, as each assignment may require additional filings. An accountant with experience in multi-state taxation can help ensure everything is handled correctly and efficiently. Establishing a repeatable routine, including tracking travel, licensing, and other work-related expenses in real time, helps keep finances organized and reduces last-minute stress.
Interstate Medical Licensure Compact States List and Guide for 2026
March 18, 2026 | CompHealth
The Interstate Medical Licensure Compact (IMLC) streamlines the process of obtaining licenses across multiple states. As of 2026, 42 states plus Washington, DC, and Guam participate, giving physicians broader access to opportunities without repeating the full licensure process each time. The compact maintains consistent standards while creating a faster path to approval.
The IMLC provides an expedited route to multi-state licensure, but physicians still practice under the authority of the state where the patient is located. For locum tenens work, that flexibility can make a meaningful difference in how quickly clinicians can move between assignments. It also supports more continuity in scheduling across locations without adding unnecessary administrative burden.
6 Things to Know About Credentialing and Licensing for NP and PA Locums
March 16, 2026 | Weatherby Healthcare
Credentialing, licensing, and privileging are distinct but interconnected steps required to start a locum contract. Credentialing verifies qualifications, licensing provides state authorization, and privileging grants approval to work at a specific facility. While these processes can overlap, each must be completed before an advanced practice provider can begin an assignment.
These steps do not always move in a straight line, and delays in one area can affect the overall timeline. Staying organized and responsive is essential, including keeping documents current and returning requests quickly. Treating each step as active until fully approved helps NPs and PAs avoid unnecessary delays and keeps locum tenens opportunities on track.
AI on Call
- AI is being used across specialties like radiology, pathology, cardiology, oncology, and dermatology to support diagnosis, improve workflows, and expand access to care.
- Health AI regulation remains fragmented, with states leading efforts to set rules around disclosure, safety, and use while federal oversight continues to evolve.
- AI systems that surface uncertainty could reduce diagnostic errors by prompting clinicians to gather more data or seek specialist input when confidence outpaces evidence.
- Health systems are pushing to move AI from experimental to operational use to reduce administrative burden and give providers more time for patient care.
Wellness Retreat
Physicians Who Feel They ‘Fit In’ Experience Less Burnout and Entertain Fewer Thoughts of Quitting or Cutting Back
March 30, 2026 | Health Exec
A sense of belonging at work is tied to lower burnout and stronger retention. In a survey of 14,000 physicians, 60% reported feeling it strongly, and 80% said they could rely on their teammates. Higher levels of connection and team support were associated with lower odds of burnout and reduced intent to cut hours or leave.
Locum clinicians cannot control a facility’s culture, but you can screen for it. Ask how teams handle coverage gaps, conflict, and onboarding, then listen for clear, specific examples. If a site cannot explain how it supports providers under pressure, that is useful information. Fit is a retention strategy, and it starts before you sign.
Why Resilience Is Not the Cure for Physician Burnout
March 30, 2026 | KevinMD
Burnout is often framed as an individual issue, but this perspective points to system-level causes. The piece describes it less as a lack of resilience and more as a response to sustained pressure, unrealistic expectations, and a culture that discourages speaking up. When those conditions persist, the burden shifts to clinicians to keep pushing through rather than addressing the root problem.
Locum tenens work can offer some protection from the most challenging environments, but it does not eliminate broader system pressures. When evaluating an assignment, ask how the organization manages workload, communication, and support in practice. Clear answers matter, and fit influences how sustainable a role is over time.
Burnout May Lead Family Doctors to Leave Medicine
March 30, 2026 | Weill Cornell Medicine
Burnout is linked to physician turnover, not just short-term strain. Among nearly 20,000 family doctors surveyed, 44% reported burnout, and those clinicians were nearly 1.5 times more likely to change practices or stop practicing within the following year. Physician loss was also associated with downstream patient disruption, including increased emergency room use.
Locum providers often step into the gaps created by that turnover. When permanent primary care staffing is unstable, coverage needs can become more urgent and less predictable. That can mean more short-notice requests and shifting schedules. If you’re entering a site with high turnover, prioritize clear onboarding, defined expectations, and a support structure that reflects how the team actually operates.
Doctors’ Notes
Top 10 States for Retiring Physicians: Where Part-Time Practice, Licensing Flexibility, and Lifestyle Align
March 23, 2026 | Conexiant
Retirement does not always mean stepping away from clinical work. Many physicians are looking for ways to scale back while staying active, whether through part-time practice, locum tenens work, or seasonal coverage. Key factors include licensing flexibility, tax environment, cost of living, and access to a stable healthcare market.
Planning a late-career shift requires looking beyond lifestyle appeal. State-level requirements can shape how manageable part-time work actually feels. Licensing rules, taxes, and cost of living can offset the benefits of lighter schedules. Build a shortlist, then verify the administrative details before committing to a new pattern of practice.
What Will Turnover Be Like in Your First Physician Job?
March 24, 2026 | American Medical Association
Turnover is a consistent feature of most physician workplaces and can shape day-to-day experience more than many early-career clinicians expect. A 2025 benchmarking report shows a median physician turnover rate of about 7%, with similar levels reported each year since 2020. Rates are often higher in first jobs, where nearly 60% of physicians leave within three years and more than a quarter consider leaving within the first year.
Locum tenens work intersects with this in two ways. Attrition creates coverage needs that become assignments, and it also signals how an organization functions. When evaluating a role, ask why physicians leave, how onboarding is handled, and how teams manage turnover. Organizations with frequent departures may also place added strain on those who remain.
How Clinical Informatics Training Can Augment Your Career
March 31, 2026 | YouTube
Dr. Nisha Mehta speaks with Dr. Chethan Sarabu about how clinical informatics connects medical practice with technology and data-driven decision-making. The conversation outlines what the field involves and how physicians can pursue training through fellowship pathways. It also highlights the growing role of informaticians in shaping how healthcare systems use data, tools, and emerging technologies.
The episode explores how environmental and clinical data can be combined to support more personalized care and improve outcomes. It also touches on broader considerations, including the role of AI and its real-world effects on climate and resource use. For physicians considering nonclinical or hybrid roles, clinical informatics offers a way to extend your scope while staying connected to patient care.
