February, 2008 Archive

Make those travel points add up!

bmoland — Mon, 04 Feb 2008 00:00:00 -0700

As a locum tenens traveler, it really pays to take the time to sign up for and use frequent flyer, preferred guest, and all those other programs that give you perks in return for your loyalty. It’s easy, it’s generally free, you can usually do it on-line, and you only have to keep track of the numbers long enough to get them to your friendly VISTA Staffing Solutions travel agent. We will add them to your travel profile, which includes your preferences, special needs, and such, and enter them whenever you book travel and housing for a locum tenens assignment.

Even if your locums travels take you to vastly different places on different airlines and to different hotels, the points can add up. For example, Delta, Northwest, and Continental honor each other’s frequent flyer point programs. United and US Air have a similar arrangement, as do Alaska Air/Delta and Alaska Air/American.

When and how you use your points is, of course, entirely up to you. Even though you earn them on tickets paid for by locum tenens clients, you are entitled to the benefits. Our team suggests that you save upgrades for a flight that’s three hours or longer—almost anyone can survive a short haul in coach. Timing is also an important consideration, and an upgrade might make a packed end-of-the-business week flight much more comfortable if you are able to get it.

Check the websites of the airlines you fly for on-line applications and rules and restrictions for using your points. There is no question the travel industry is becoming less generous in this respect, but there are still benefits to be had.

And don’t forget to sign up for preferred traveler programs at the hotels you frequent. Your points may entitle you an upgrade or a free stay when a friend or family members decides to join you for all or part of a temporary medical assignment. Always ask hotels if they honor airline frequent flyers programs too—most of them do.

One final note—find a little pocket in your carry-on bag and get in the habit of stashing your boarding passes there. When you get your frequent flyer program statements, verify that you were credited for all the segments of your journey. If you were not, only the boarding pass can convince the airline to add the points for a segment to your account. Happy traveling!

Locum tenens keeps me young

bwalklett — Sun, 10 Feb 2008 23:00:00 -0700

After my internship, I was a Navy flight surgeon for three years. Then I took a Navy residency at Bethesda Naval Hospital and practiced for several years at the Naval Hospital in Portsmouth, VA. I left active duty in 1969 to become chairman of the radiology department at University Hospital in Jacksonville, FL, where I worked with a five-person group for many years. Eventually the group fell victim to political dealings that lead to our break up.

You know, a practice break up is a lot like a divorce. You feel guilty. You have to split up friends and redefine loyalties. But like a divorce, things usually end up much better.

Instead of getting into another permanent radiology job, I decided to try locum tenens. It wasn’t as well known back then—I’ve worked locums assignments for 20 years! But it did more for me than I ever expected.

You don’t always realize how much you are giving up to run a practice—how much time you are spending away from home, how many hours you have to work to cover your overhead. Locum tenens radiology jobs get you back to what you enjoy—pure medicine. Your hours are set and you know what to expect up front from each job. Your professional liability insurance, travel, housing, and rental car are paid for, so what you earn is essentially free and clear. About the only thing you pay for is meals and calling home.

I’ve learned a lot about myself too. Until I started working locum tenens, all of my radiology jobs had been in large hospitals. Through locums I found that my place really is in smaller hospitals and smaller towns. The people are friendly. You don’t fight traffic to get there every day. And they appreciate the help so much. You know you are making a contribution to the community or to the other radiologists who are working there.

At last count I have worked in 42 hospitals and 21 clinics. (It’s important to get new licenses because it really opens up new opportunities. At my peak, I had 19 state licenses.) I do a lot of return engagements, because I make friends and feel responsible for helping them out, for keeping them going. But I always try to mix in a few new jobs to keep things fresh. I don’t really consider it a career. It’s fun. It keeps me young.

Oh, the places you’ll go (and stay)

bwalklett — Mon, 18 Feb 2008 00:00:00 -0700

One of the most memorable places I have stayed during a locum tenens radiology assignment was a converted carriage house behind the home of a radiologist I was helping out. It was restored with such attention to detail, charming, with a spiral wrought iron staircase. And it was within walking distance of the hospital.

Another time my wife came with me and we stayed in a lovely two-bedroom condo in Vermont. It was winter and it just snowed and snowed. Maybe because we live in Florida, we found it fascinating to watch the snow pile up higher and higher on the railing around our little balcony. It was this narrow strip of snow, growing taller and taller. It seemed to defy gravity. Then the wind picked up and we watched it gradually tilt, like someone pulling on a coat and walking into the wind.

I also have a particular bond with Wyoming. I can’t explain it, but I have a sense that I lived there at one time (and I was raised in Ohio; figure that one out). I was working in Sheridan, a great town, and staying in a guest house. There was a crab apple tree in the yard and every morning a small herd of deer would wander into the yard to eat the windfall apples. I got the bright idea to take a broom and knock down a bunch of apples. The deer came as usual, and then ate so many apples they were all foaming at the mouth. They just plopped down in the yard, so stuffed they were immobilized. I am not sure whether you should mess with nature like that.

The memories go on and on—a bed-and-breakfast apartment in Ketchikan, right on the water. The sunsets were just amazing. I guess I linger on the cozy places like this and try to forget the crazy little hotels I end up in once in a while. But sometimes that’s all there is in a small town and you make do. The rewards of getting to know a new part of the country, filling these radiology jobs and helping out a colleague, always make it worthwhile.

Overheard at VISTA

jhong — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 00:00:00 -0700

The following is one of the funniest email exchanges we have had with a physician working locum tenens with us.

Hi Melanie,

I have kind of an odd request. Do you remember when you sent me the recertification packet? Well it came with a bright green pen that had VISTA's logo on it. I wanted to let you know it was the best pen I've ever used. It fit just right in my hand and I think it actually made my handwriting neater. Sadly, it just ran out of ink. I almost cried. Now every pen I use is just uncomfortable and a pathetic substitute for my dearly departed VISTA pen. My handwriting has also suffered greatly. Is there any way you could find it in your heart to send a few more pens my way? I would greatly appreciate it. The nurses would too, so they can read my orders better, which would benefit the patient too. And in a roundabout way, even VISTA would benefit (better handwriting = fewer medical errors =happier patients = less chance of malpractice lawsuits = lower premiums). You can also think of it as an advertising investment because I'll be sure to sing VISTA's praises to all my colleagues while I'm using it. It'll be a WIN-WIN situation! Let me know if you can help me out. Thanks!
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Hi James,

I am still laughing my head off! With a request like this, how can I say no? The pens are on their way!

Have a great weekend!

Melanie
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Melanie! Oh glorious day! I received the package today and it made me sooooo happy. Woo hoo! Now I have my beloved pen back AND I got a new t-shirt and hat to boot! Thank you thank you thank you! Here's a picture of me with all my new goodies. Enjoy!

James

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