In the past, locum tenens coverage has had a negative connotation, mostly centered around cost and patient experience. Today, however, that connection is not quite so clear. Time (and a pandemic) have shifted thinking across the industry. Below, we explore the modern hospital mindset where locum tenens is one tool to tackle staffing burdens.
Why Locum Tenens Became Appealing
The COVID-19 pandemic put tremendous strain on the hospital labor force. Many hospitals reported critical-level staffing shortages during the course of the pandemic. As the increasing incidence of COVID-19 infections surged, demand for staffing services increased dramatically.
Alongside this, the pandemic put extreme stress on the healthcare workforce causing them to face burnout and mental health struggles thereby causing many to leave the industry.
To add to the problem, hospitals have struggled to recruit new physicians, nurses, & CRNAs to meet the growing care demands of an aging population—both inside and outside of the hospital walls. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), around 500,000 nurses will retire over the next few years.
Also, more than two of every five active physicians in the U.S. will be 65 or older within the next decade. Additionally, according to a report by the American Association of Nurse Anesthetists, 47% of full- and part-time CRNAs are over the age of 50 and 23% are over the age of 60.
This translates to forecasts of staff shortages of around 21,000 to 77,100 nonprimary care specialties by 2032, according to the Association of American Medical Colleges.
What all this means is that healthcare staffing woes are not expected to be going away anytime soon, spurring hospitals to find solutions, like locum tenens positions.
How Locum Tenens Addresses Labor Shortages
To combat the staffing shortages outlined, hospitals are increasingly looking to recruit locum tenens physicians and advanced practice providers as a solution.
The locum tenens staffing type segment is now being seen as a beneficial means of hiring for the following reasons:
- Increases patient access to care.
- Allows the hospital to do more cases.
- Creates the ability to fill previously unfilled positions.
- Eases pressure on permanent staff.
- Enables staffing flexibility.
Locum tenens physicians and CRNAs are vital to healthcare. In addition to helping fill critical roles when a provider leaves, they can also help to take the place of a staff member who takes a vacation, goes on family leave, or takes a sabbatical. Locum tenens workers also offer extra support during times of peak need, like during a public health emergency.
Eighty-eight percent of healthcare organizations reported that they used locum tenens physicians or other locum tenens providers during the last year. This figure was up 4% from 2019. Amongst these temporary staff, anesthesia providers were the most utilized type of locum tenens professionals coming in at 28 percent. Fourteen percent of facilities used temporary certified registered nurse anesthetists (CRNAs), while an additional 14 percent employed temporary anesthesiologists.
What’s Next?
The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that 43,950 nurse anesthetists are practicing in the United States. They project that nurse anesthetist employment will grow 40 percent between 2021 and 2031 with anesthesia demand remaining strong.
Despite this, hospital executives are reporting that the most difficult positions to staff have been at the technician level, including anesthesia. Over seven in ten facilities said they plan to expand their advanced practice provider coverage in the future. According to Business Wire, the locum tenens staffing type segment is anticipated to witness the highest growth from 2021 to 2028. This is owing to the cost-effectiveness of hiring temporary employees and an increase in the trend of physicians opting for becoming locum tenens.
If your facility is struggling with staffing issues, you should explore using locum providers for assistance. Similarly, if you are looking to take the next step in your career, you can look to locum work to provide varied experiences and an improved work-life balance.
Interested in learning more about locum tenens opportunities? Contact Radar Healthcare Providers for more information.
