Sumo Medial Staffing

Many retired physicians, NPs, nurses, and other healthcare pros decide to work part-time as locum tenens. The benefits to them are many: a sense of purpose. The chance to see different areas of the country. The extra money. 

The positives for hospitals and other medical facilities also are numerous: experienced practitioners who work only when needed, probably is the top positive aspect of bringing on retired locum physicians. 

But there are cons, some real (a professional who worked at one hospital system for years may take longer to learn YOUR system) and some perceived (they will be the “newbie” at your facility and may not take well to being “told what to do”). 

Yet with the shortage of physicians and other experienced healthcare professionals that the country is now experiencing, hospitals and other medical facilities need to find innovative staffing solutions and using retired healthcare pros as locum tenens could be an answer. 

Pro: Incredible experience and skills

Retired locum tenens doctors bring an incredible amount of experience and knowledge as they’ve spent actual decades in these important roles. 

This type of expertise can be invaluable to medical facilities, particularly where the facility is experiencing critical staffing shortages. 

Con: Potential pushback when working with new processes and technologies

While many older adults can – and often do – learn new tech and medical procedures easily, it’s also true that they may balk at “having” to do so. They may have experience with electronic health records, telemedicine platforms and advanced medical diagnostic tools, but the longer they’ve been retired the less “up-to-date” on the latest tech may mean they need some training to get up to speed. 

It’s also human nature: we tend to feel embarrassed when taught new things by those younger than ourselves. 

Pro: Flexibility and dependability

Retired healthcare professionals have plenty of flexibility in their time/availability. They’ve probably achieved financial stability and have released themselves from the demands of a full-time career, so they may be more willing to take on assignments other locum physicians may not want: filling in during peak season, working in understaffed departments, etc.  

Con: The possibility of burning out more quickly

Retirement as a concept in the U.S. is one of relaxation/leisure. Some retired healthcare pros therefore may need some time to adjust to new work environments and workflows, potentially leading to fatigue and even burnout. 

Those hiring retired locum physicians for temporary positions may want to take proactive steps that will help ensure that retired professionals can access necessary support systems/resources to help them maintain their well-being. 

Bottom line: the decision to hire retired healthcare pros for locum tenens assignments overall is a good one. Implementing appropriate support systems can help you access a truly valuable pool of highly talented, experienced professionals, helping you deliver great care to your patients when faced with a staffing shortage. 

Learn more about how SUMO Staffing can help.