In part one of this blog series, we discussed the many enticing benefits of locum tenens, ranging from greater schedule flexibility to higher earning potential. We also touched on travel, often the most attractive selling point for many healthcare providers.
Locum tenens jobs give you the chance to live and work in new places around the country. Depending on your interests and availability, you could opt to spend a few weeks at a surgery center on the North Carolina coast or take a long-term position in a hospital in the New York City area.
While travel has many perks, it also comes with its challenges. In the last installment of the series, we’ll provide practical tips from experienced providers to minimize stress and enjoy your locum tenens placement to the fullest.
Pack like a pro.
Invest in a durable carry-on suitcase and learn to embrace minimalism when packing. Bring versatile clothing items that can be mixed and matched in several combinations, as well as dressed up and down for different occasions. Pare down the number of shoes you pack, since they take up a significant amount of room in your suitcase.
Keep a complete toiletry kit and other travel essentials, like earplugs, a neck pillow, and an eye mask, ready to go in your suitcase at all times. Make a master packing list and refer to it before every trip so you don’t forget important items like your phone charger, medications, or work documents.
Get points.
Become a member of hotel, airline, or car rental loyalty programs, and keep track of the points you earn when you travel. When possible, use the same companies repeatedly to earn free hotel stays, flights, and rentals.
Some Radar Healthcare clients cover the cost of airfare, lodging, rental cars, mileage reimbursement, or meals for locum tenens providers. We recommend working with our travel department to find the best way to book, whether you take an all-inclusive rate and make reservations yourself to cash in on deals, or you provide us with your rewards information, so you accrue more points.
Keep a file.
Develop a habit of maintaining detailed notes of your travel expenses. Keep a folder or envelope of original receipts of everything you buy, and track expenditures in a notebook, a spreadsheet, or a smartphone app. Many clients will cover your expenses, so it’s important to be meticulous with your records.
Radar’s provider community portal allows you to quickly add or edit expenses, attach receipts, review expenses logged on your behalf, review old expense reports, and more. We then use this information to build an expense report to submit to the client, when appropriate. If the provider is responsible for the expense, then Radar makes recommendations accordingly.
Sign up for TSA PreCheck.
When you fly often, those little airport annoyances will soon become big frustrations. Register for TSA PreCheck, and save time and headaches every flight. Membership is good for five years, and you’ll get access to a special security line, and get to keep your shoes on and everything in your bag.
Learn more about locum tenens positions – contact a Radar Healthcare recruiter.
