Irving, Texas-based AMN Healthcare, parent company of Staff Care, a major source of locum tenens physicians, is staffing much less temporary physicians now compared to five years ago, according to an American Medical Association report.
Last year, Staff Care provided temporary physicians with work for a total of 183,252 days, which is up slightly from last year's count, but much lower than the nearly 220,000 work days the staffing agency filled in 2007.
In a recent Staff Care survey, 75 percent of 106 healthcare facilities participating in the survey reported using locum tenens physicians in 2011, down from 79 percent who reported using temporary physicians in 2005.
According to the report, a slow to recover economy and increased physician employment at hospitals are cited as major reasons the demand for locum tenens has been flat over the last few years, and is less than it was five years ago. Cost is also an issue for some hospitals and health systems: the average locum tenens physician can cost as much as $1,500 per day depending on the physician's specialty.
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Last year, Staff Care provided temporary physicians with work for a total of 183,252 days, which is up slightly from last year's count, but much lower than the nearly 220,000 work days the staffing agency filled in 2007.
In a recent Staff Care survey, 75 percent of 106 healthcare facilities participating in the survey reported using locum tenens physicians in 2011, down from 79 percent who reported using temporary physicians in 2005.
According to the report, a slow to recover economy and increased physician employment at hospitals are cited as major reasons the demand for locum tenens has been flat over the last few years, and is less than it was five years ago. Cost is also an issue for some hospitals and health systems: the average locum tenens physician can cost as much as $1,500 per day depending on the physician's specialty.
More Articles on Locum Tenens Physicians:
75% of Healthcare Facilities Used Locum Tenens Physicians in 2011
Survey: 70% of Physicians Plan to Work Longer Until Retiring
Survey Shows 82% of Hospitalist Locum Tenens Are Also Full-Time, Salaried Hospitalists