Locum Hospitalist: The Backbone of Hospital Care One Locum Tenens Shift at a Time

For a medical career that didn’t get its start until the mid-1990s, hospitalists have certainly gained a strong foothold in the medical community. 

While some may still remember a time when family physicians and internists made rounds on hospitalized patients, chances are, we’re all much more used to a visit from a hospitalist. Hospitalists, those physicians on a hospital staff who take care of patients during their hospital stay, were introduced to healthcare as a way of providing more efficient and assessable healthcare to patients while also helping hospitals lower costs.  

Their problem-solving and communication skills, along with their compassion, allowed these physicians (who typically train in emergency medicine or internal medicine) to care for the increasingly complex cases seen among hospitals’ inpatient populations.  

Popular Career Choice

It’s a popular career choice that is expected to continue growing – increasing by 26 percent through 2030. The demand is expected to be especially strong in the Southern region of the U.S. Plus, it’s a career that ranks high in job satisfaction thanks to the clinical autonomy and flexibility in scheduling it provides. 

Benefits

Locum tenens hospitalists reap those benefits as well as the benefits touted by most every locum tenens healthcare provider. While they enjoy flexibility in scheduling and a wide variety of locations to choose from, locum tenens hospitalists are there to provide exceptional patient care without any of the administrative duties expected of a full-time hospitalist. 

And, of course, there’s the pay. The average pay for staff hospitalist averages $259,674/year. But a locum tenens hospitalist makes $362,000 per year on average. 

Responsibilities and Skills

Locum hospitalists are a crucial part of our modern healthcare delivery system. While it would be easy to say, “they’re the doctors who provide care for patients in the hospital,” the truth is much more nuanced. 

Yes, hospitalists provide life-changing care. But they do so by coordinating with hospital staff across various departments, communicating with families, assessing, diagnosing, testing – and finally, providing treatment plans for patients requiring surgery or with injuries, illness, and infections. Truly, their work makes a difference and our hospitals would not be the same without them.  

If locum tenens hospitalist placement sounds like a good fit, SUMO Medical Staffing can help. We have a proven track record in helping healthcare professionals find locum jobs for their specific needs. Our staffing representatives are ready to discuss your career goals and future. Request a consultation with a locum tenens staffing specialist today.