Locum Family Physician

🎯 Role Definition

A Locum Family Physician is a fully licensed and credentialed medical doctor who provides temporary, comprehensive primary healthcare services in a variety of settings, including outpatient clinics, community health centers, and private practices. This role is crucial for ensuring continuity of patient care during staff shortages, leaves of absence, or periods of high demand. The Locum Physician steps in to manage a diverse patient panel, addressing everything from acute illnesses and minor injuries to the long-term management of chronic conditions. Functioning with a high degree of autonomy and adaptability, they are expected to quickly integrate into new clinical environments, adhere to established protocols, and deliver a consistently high standard of patient-centered care. This position offers a unique blend of professional challenge and lifestyle flexibility, appealing to experienced physicians who thrive in dynamic settings.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

Staff Family Physician in a hospital- or clinic-owned practice
Family Medicine Residency Graduate seeking diverse experiences before committing to a permanent role
Partner in a private practice seeking a transition or semi-retirement

Advancement To:

Permanent Staff Physician at a favored locum assignment location
Medical Director or Chief Medical Officer for a clinic or health system
Entrepreneurship (e.g., starting a direct primary care practice or consulting firm)

Lateral Moves:

Urgent Care Physician
Telehealth or Virtual Primary Care Physician
Hospitalist (with appropriate inpatient experience and credentialing)

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

Conduct comprehensive patient consultations, including detailed medical histories, physical examinations, and holistic assessments for patients of all ages, from infants to the elderly.
Diagnose and effectively treat a wide spectrum of acute illnesses, infections, and injuries, formulating evidence-based treatment plans and providing patient education on their condition.
Manage the ongoing care of patients with complex and chronic health conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, asthma, and heart disease, including medication adjustments and lifestyle counseling.
Provide comprehensive preventative care and wellness services, including routine check-ups, health-risk assessments, immunizations, and cancer screenings.
Order, perform, and interpret a variety of diagnostic tests and procedures, such as lab work, X-rays, ECGs, and spirometry, to aid in diagnosis and treatment.
Perform common outpatient and office-based minor surgical procedures, such as suturing lacerations, incision and drainage of abscesses, skin biopsies, and joint injections.
Prescribe and manage medications, therapies, and other treatments, ensuring a deep understanding of pharmacology, potential interactions, and contraindications.
Develop and implement individualized patient management plans, setting health goals and coordinating with patients and their families to promote self-management and adherence.
Provide empathetic and effective patient counseling and education on a range of topics, including disease prevention, nutrition, exercise, and mental health.
Make appropriate and timely referrals to medical specialists, surgeons, and other healthcare professionals for conditions that require more specialized care, and co-manage patients as needed.
Maintain complete, accurate, and timely electronic medical records (EMR/EHR) for every patient encounter, including charting visit notes, orders, and communication.
Demonstrate cultural competency and sensitivity when caring for a diverse patient population with varying socioeconomic backgrounds and health literacy levels.

Secondary Functions

Collaborate effectively with a multidisciplinary team, including nurses, medical assistants, specialists, and administrative staff, to ensure coordinated and high-quality patient care.
Participate in the clinic's on-call schedule as required by the locum assignment, providing telephonic or in-person after-hours care for urgent patient needs.
Adhere strictly to all federal, state, and local regulations, as well as clinic-specific policies and procedures, including HIPAA and infection control protocols.
Engage in quality improvement and patient safety initiatives within the practice, providing feedback and contributing to a culture of continuous improvement.
Assist in the orientation or informal mentoring of medical students or residents who may be rotating through the clinic during the assignment.
Manage patient flow and time efficiently to maintain clinic schedules while providing thorough, unhurried care to each individual.
Respond to and manage patient messages, prescription refill requests, and lab result notifications in a timely manner through the EMR portal or other communication systems.
Maintain clear and professional communication with the locum tenens agency and the client facility regarding scheduling, logistics, and any clinical or administrative issues.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

Clinical Diagnostics: Expertise in diagnosing and treating a broad range of medical conditions commonly seen in a primary care setting, from pediatrics to geriatrics.
EMR/EHR Proficiency: High level of competence using various Electronic Medical Record systems (e.g., Epic, Cerner, eClinicalWorks, Practice Fusion) for charting, ordering, and communicating.
Minor Surgical Procedures: Competence in performing common office-based procedures such as suturing, skin biopsies, cryotherapy, and abscess drainage.
Pharmacological Management: Deep knowledge of modern pharmacotherapy, including drug interactions, side effects, and evidence-based prescribing guidelines for common and complex conditions.
Diagnostic Interpretation: Skill in accurately interpreting common diagnostic tests, including ECGs, spirometry, X-rays, and a wide array of laboratory results.

Soft Skills

Adaptability & Resilience: Ability to rapidly acclimate to new clinical environments, workflows, technologies, and teams with a positive and flexible attitude.
Exceptional Communication: Superior ability to communicate complex medical information clearly and empathetically to patients and collaborate effectively with colleagues.
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Critical Thinking & Problem-Solving: Strong analytical and diagnostic reasoning skills to navigate complex, undifferentiated patient presentations and make sound clinical judgments.
Empathy & Bedside Manner: A genuinely compassionate and patient-centered approach that builds trust, comforts patients, and fosters therapeutic relationships.
Time Management & Organization: Excellent organizational skills to efficiently manage a full patient schedule, complete administrative tasks, and prioritize clinical duties in a fast-paced environment.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

Doctor of Medicine (MD) or Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO) from an accredited medical school.
Completion of an accredited Family Medicine residency program.

Preferred Education:

Current and active Board Certification in Family Medicine by the American Board of Family Medicine (ABFM) or the American Osteopathic Board of Family Physicians (AOBFP).

Relevant Fields of Study:

Medicine
Family Medicine

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range: 2+ years of post-residency clinical experience is standard. Assignments may be available for physicians with less experience, but a solid foundation of independent practice is highly valued.

Preferred:

Previous experience working in a locum tenens or float pool capacity, demonstrating the ability to adapt to multiple practice settings.
An active, unrestricted medical license in the state of the assignment (or eligibility/willingness to obtain one via the IMLC or traditional process).
Current, active DEA registration without any restrictions.