If you have a dictionary from the 1970s, you probably won’t find a definition of “locum tenens.” That’s because the meaning of locum tenens didn’t become more commonplace until the 1970s.

The term “locum tenens” is sometimes misconstrued as the sound-alike phrase “locum tenants.” This is an understandable mistake since “tenens” and “tenants” sound quite similar and both stem from the common Latin word “tenēre,” meaning “to hold or possess.” In the case of a tenant, the person “holds” a temporary living space. Locum tenens (pronounced “low come ten enns”) is a phrase that comes from the Latin word “locus” meaning “place” and the Latin word “tenēre,” meaning “to hold.” The literal definition of locum tenens is “place holder” and the term usually refers to someone who fills temporary placements for a permanent healthcare provider.

Medical Locum Tenens

The first locum tenens physicians were hired to hold the places of other permanent staff physicians. In the mid-1970’s the Health Systems Research Institute offered educational courses for rural physicians at the University of Utah. Because the rural physicians were unable to leave their practices, they were unable to attend the courses. To allow rural practitioners to attend the courses, HSRI arranged for temporary providers to provide patient care services at the rural physicians’ practices so that rural physicians could attend the courses. Two of the locum tenens physicians working for HSRI liked the idea enough that they formed their own locum tenens companies to earn extra income. Dr. Alan Kronhaus formed KRON Medical and Dr. Therus Kolff formed Comprehensive Health Systems. Eventually, Comprehensive Health Systems changed its name to CompHealth and later purchased Kron Medical.

Since the 1970s, the concept of locum tenens has expanded to include most temporary medical staffing. Locum tenens staffing can occur in such specialties as internal medicine, emergency medicine, family medicine, NP/PA, and even dental coverage. Locum tenens providers may work full time or part time, but in almost all cases, locum doctors are independent contractors hired on a temporary basis. In some cases, however, locum tenens jobs may be a path to permanent employment.

How Long Do Medical Locum Tenens Assignments Last?

The duration of a locum assignment depends upon the reason that the provider is hired. In some cases, hospitals or medical practices may need coverage for only a week or two to cover a provider’s vacation or so that the provider can attend a medical conference. Locum tenens physicians may work for several months at an assignment if a facility needs coverage for a provider’s pregnancy leave, surgery, or sick leave. In other cases, facilities may need ongoing locum tenens coverage months to years if a facility is having staffing shortages or if there are intermittent surges in patient volumes (such as in a beach vacation town or in a city that holds yearly festivals). Some professionals make a career providing locums healthcare services by working multiple concurrent different assignments.

Considering working as a locum doctor? Here are some pros and cons of locum tenens practice.