Locum tenens refers to the practice of physicians either briefly filling in for another physician at a practice, or serving temporarily in whatever clinic in a certain region needs them. This practice has allowed thousands of physicians to serve millions of people who would normally not have easy access to a doctor. Although locum tenens is a common practice today, locum work was not always available.
Locum Tenens and the Civil War
The historical roots of locum tenens are grounded in the American Civil War. Doctors who had been assigned to military forts decided to take it upon themselves to serve residents living in the surrounding towns during their service. These doctors spread healthcare and medicine to areas that were in desperate need of such services, and thus the idea of locum tenens was born.
Modern Locum Tenens
The modern start of locum tenens can be traced to the University of Utah in the 1970s. Two physicians who had met at the university, Therus Kolff and Alan Kronhaus received a grant from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation for a project aimed at bringing physicians care to rural areas in the western United States. They figured that if they could offer physicians a strong support system, and more freedom of control over their schedules, they could incentivize them to take jobs in these rural communities. Judging by the results, they were onto something.
Over the last 40 years, the locum tenens industry has experienced remarkable growth. Locum tenen workers make up a $2 billion industry with more than 25 companies working to service areas with poor physician support. Today, low-income urban areas are benefiting from locum tenens work as much as the rural areas targeted in the original program. At Preferred Solutions, we strive to match each physician with locum tenens work that fits their needs while also benefiting the community around them. Contact us today, and let us help you discover a beneficial and fulfilling job.
