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Have You Considered Locum Tenens Advanced Practitioners?

With the ongoing reports of the country's physician shortage, increased requests from hospitals and medical groups to augment their medical staff will affect the number of physicians in the locum tenens pool. As this number continues to decline, don't rule out the option of Physician Assistants or Nurse Practitioners providing locum tenens coverage.

The American Academy of Physician Assistants (AAPA) reports over 79,000 Physician Assistants in the country. And, according to the American Academy of Nurse practitioners, there are 125,000 Nurse Practitioners in practice. Although most have permanent positions, many prefer temporary assignments.

Should you decide to use locum tenens Advanced Practitioners during a staffing shortage, it is important to contact your State Board of Nursing or State Board of Medical Examiners to determine the protocol that must be followed. State rules and regulations will vary in two main areas:

• Can a Physician Assistant or Nurse Practitioner work independently or is it necessary to have a supervising physician?
  Obtaining the designation of supervising physician may prolong the process so consider the time involved in the added paperwork.
• Does your state issue a locum tenens license or is it necessary for the provider to already be licensed in your state?
  If a locum license is issued, be sure to note how long it is valid and if it can be renewed. A quick phone call can answer these questions.

With the flu season upon us, consider Advanced Practitioners for locum tenens coverage. They are able to perform history and physicals, diagnose illnesses, order lab tests, prescribe medications, and assist with patient education. This enables the physician to care for patients with more complex illnesses.

For more information about Advanced Practitioner locum tenens services, please contact us.