Locum Tenens Clinicians Experience Lower Burnout Levels than Physicians

As physicians and advanced practice providers (APPs) continue to struggle with burnout, 71 percent of contract physicians and locum tenens clinicians reported experiencing little to no burnout, according to a report from LocumTenens.com.

“The Future of Work: Redefining the Role of Physicians in the Gig Economy” report reflects responses from over 2,500 clinicians across different roles, specialties, and ages.

Among practicing physicians, 70 percent reported they were satisfied with their position, with compensation and schedules as the top two factors contributing to job satisfaction. Meanwhile, 19 percent of practicing physicians were dissatisfied with their current position, commonly citing being underpaid and poor practice or hospital leadership.

At least 61 percent of practicing physicians said they would likely look for a new position within the next year.

A handful of respondents were licensed but not currently practicing. Around one in five were under 40, 34 percent were in their 40s, and 24 percent were in their 50s.

Over a quarter of physicians reported burnout as the main reason they were not practicing. COVID-19 and contemplation of retirement were also factors leading them not to practice.

Physician burnout has been exacerbated by the pandemic. Four in ten clinicians self-reported that they were at least moderately burned out, with 17 percent saying they were significantly or completely burned out.

Permanent, full-time, employed physicians were most likely to report significant or complete burnout, while burnout rates were lower among part-time or full-time contract physicians.

Specialties also influenced experiences with burnout. Behavioral health physicians and anesthesiologists had the lowest burnout rates, while physicians practicing hospital-based medicine saw the highest burnout levels.

Contracts and locum tenens clinicians experienced significantly lower levels of burnout, with 71 percent of respondents reporting little to no burnout.

The majority of physicians experiencing burnout (88 percent) said that alleviating scheduling pressures would positively impact their burnout levels. Perhaps due to scheduling dissatisfaction, more physicians are open to working as locum tenens.

Among physicians not currently working locum tenens, 73 percent said they would be interested in local contract work, and 63 percent said they would be interested in a locum tenens position that required travel.

The desire to provide care virtually is also growing, with 55 percent of physicians agreeing that they would like to work more hours via telehealth.

“The rise of the gig economy requires adaptation and transformation when it comes to workforce planning and management,” Chris Franklin, president of LocumTenens.com, said in a press release.

“It’s no longer business as usual. Organizations that embrace flexible models that are augmented by technology solutions will be well positioned to attract talent and improve clinician satisfaction, which can only improve healthcare outcomes.”

The interest in local contract work was highest among physicians practicing in women’s medicine and diagnostic medicine. Over half of behavioral health physicians expressed interest in local contract work and locum tenens work.

Despite the historical stigma against locum tenens staffing, physicians’ perspectives are changing, especially as locum tenens clinicians have helped alleviate staffing shortages during the pandemic.

Most clinicians (96 percent) reported that they value the contribution of locum tenens clinicians in their workplace.

Data from AMN Healthcare found that 88 percent of healthcare facilities used locum tenens providers to help maintain care delivery amid staffing shortages in 2022. Specifically, facilities employed locum tenens behavioral health specialists, primary care providers, and nurse practitioners.