Locum Tenens, VISTA Staffing Solutions

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Resources for Semi-retirees

VISTA has compiled advice from our team of experienced licensers and credentials verification experts, risk management/quality assurance professionals, and physicians to help you make a successful transition into locum tenens work, extended placements, an international placement, or a new permanent position.

Stay clinically active
Maintain your board certification
Keep licenses active
Keep these documents handy
Build a powerful CV
Check out MyVISTA
Stay connected (electronically) to family and friends

Stay clinically active

It's very important that you plan ahead for your career transition and that you consider your options before you give up your practice. If you wait too long following your actual retirement, re-entering the workforce may require a hands-on clinical refresher course or a preceptorship. In most specialties, you will have difficulty jumping back into practice if you have been away from clinical work for more than a year. This timeframe is shorter in some specialties. Talk with a VISTA recruiter about using an upcoming vacation to "test drive" another work option to see if it fits your future plans.

You will also need to stay current on your CME so you can renew state licenses and/or qualify for new ones. Requirements vary by specialty and by state. Visit the Federation of State Medical Boards website, select Public Services in the left-hand navigation column, then select Directory of State Medical Boards in the menu. This will take you to links to the websites of every state medical board. Make sure to maintain detailed documentation on all of your CME.

Maintain your board certification

At VISTA, we are finding that more and more hospitals and practices will not consider non-board certified physicians for locum tenens, extended, or permanent positions.  This means it is increasingly difficult for us to find assignments for non-board certified physicians. In addition, some state licensing boards are reluctant to issue licenses to non-board certified physicians. Our international clients also require board certified doctors, so if overseas adventure is in your plans, make sure you recertify according to the requirements of your specialty.  All certificates issued by members of the ABMS (American Board of Medical Specialties) are time limited. The limits range from six to 10 years, depending on the board and specialty.

Keep licenses active

Keep your state licenses, your DEA, and your relevant certificates active. Some states require that you pay all back fees when you reactivate a license. And other states view any lapsed license as a red flag and require an explanation during the licensing process. This will slow down processing of any applications you submit in the future. If you choose to work with VISTA, we will help you stay on top of renewals and applications for new licenses. We stay abreast of state-specific requirements for CME, for example, and can help you work training into your schedule.

If you do decide to officially retire or let a specific state license go, make sure to contact the licensing board and formally cancel the license to avoid any problems.

Keep these documents handy

Physicians who work locum tenens and extended assignments go through an initial credentials verification process with VISTA Staffing Solutions. We assist you in obtaining licenses in additional states or countries based on your interests and the assignments you accept. And we coordinate credentialing and help you get privileges at each assignment location. Our 15-member credentials verification and licensing team recommends that you keep the following documents together in a secure place.

• Birth certificate (if born in the U.S.), naturalization papers, or proof of U.S. employment eligibility
• Six (6) legal passport photos for licensing and staff privilege applications 
• Copy of undergraduate diploma 
• Copy of medical school diploma 
• Copy of National Boards certificate or other initial licensing exam scores 
• Copy of all post-graduate training certificates: 
  • Internship 
  • Residency 
  • Fellowship (if applicable) 
• Copy of specialty board certification(s) and recertification(s) (if applicable) 
• Copy of current DEA registration 
• Copy of all state licenses, both active and inactive (your wall certificates and wallet cards) 
• Copy of state controlled substance registrations (if applicable) 
• Copy of ECFMG certificate (if applicable) 
• Copy of ACLS/ATLS/BLS/NALS/PALS/NRP/MSQA certificates (as applicable) 
• Copy of military separation papers (i.e. DD214) (if applicable)

Build a powerful CV

There are a few simple tips that will really make a difference in the impact your Curriculum Vitae (CV) can have on a potential employer, locum tenens agency, or locum tenens client.

Be thorough

• As a general rule, list your most current activity first. Include month/day/year for all dates.
• Any gap in time must be explained. If you took a sabbatical, for example, spell it out in your CV. Otherwise, it will generate a red flag in the mind of the reviewer.
• Keep your CV short and compact, not to exceed two pages. 
• Include your full name and make sure you can be reached at the address, telephone number and e-mail address that you include. Check this each time you send your CV out. 
• If you are an International Medical Graduate (IMG) or a Foreign Medical Graduate (FMG), make sure you mention your visa status. 
• Finally, there are a few items best left out of your CV. These include social security numbers, licensure numbers and examination scores. You will have the opportunity to supply them at a later date in a more secure way. Do not include race or religion. Marital status and number of children are optional.

Use title headings and a consistent flow

Break the information into sections with clear title headings. If you have published medical papers, title them as “publications.” If you have medical research that has been submitted or is in progress, use the title “research experience.”

People who review lots of CVs—including organizations that are regular users of locum tenens physicians—are used to seeing the information in the following order. We recommend that you follow it. Click here to download a pre-formatted Microsoft® Word template that will help you get started.

• Personal information (Full name, address, phone numbers, email address)
• Professional work 
  • Practice specifics 
  • Hospital affiliations 
• Military service 
• Academic history 
  • Graduate training 
    • Fellowship 
    • Residency 
  • Internship 
  • Medical school 
  • Undergraduate training 
• Licensure 
• Certifications 
  • Recertification dates 
• Professional associations 
• Honors 
• Volunteer work, community service, additional accomplishments 
• Publications, presentations, research

Use an all-purpose font

Use an all-purpose font that is easy to read and holds up when faxed. Arial and Times New Roman are good choices. Non-standard fonts may not be loaded on all computers, so a person who has received an electronic copy of your CV may not be able to read it. At the very least, the computer will substitute another font and mess up your formatting. Avoid the use of all capital letters and excessive bold, italic, or underlining. Use a minimum size of 12-point type.

Update and customize for each opportunity

It is usually very easy to update your CV and add a few details that make it obvious that you are interested in a specific job. This is critical if you are applying for a permanent position. If you choose to work as a locum tenens with VISTA, we can help you create a CV specific to locum tenens that won't require constant changes. We'll also help you keep it up to date as you gain experience, new licenses, and new certifications.

Check out MyVISTA

Locum tenens physicians work as independent contractors in the US. This gives you the benefit of complete control over your schedule and the locations in which you choose to work. It also presents you with the challenge of coordinating some things that are usually taken care of by an employer or group when you accept a full-time job. Don't let the details intimidate you. The physicians who have done it will tell you it is very much worth your while.

We have assembled resources, including trusted financial, tax, and insurance advisors, for the physicians who work through us. Visit MyVISTA for all of the details.

Stay connected (electronically) to family and friends

Once you choose a new career path, be it locum tenens, an extended placement, an international position, or a new permanent job, it’s easier than ever to stay connected to family, friends, and colleagues.

Blogging: easy, free, fun

Web logs, or blogs, are personal journals you write and post on the Web. There are many sites that give you the tools and bandwidth to create and maintain a personal blog free of charge. Because everything is stored on the Web, not on your computer, you can post entries to your blog from any computer with internet access.  You can make your blog public if you like, so anyone can read it, or make it private so only people you invite can keep up on your travels and musings. You can use your real name, so people can find your blog by searching for you on the Web, or use a pseudonym  to protect your privacy and limit readers to those you invite.

Photo storage and sharing

There are just as many easy-to-use, free services available online to store, edit, and share photos and video of your adventures.

We’ve compiled a short list of electronic resources for blogs and photos. Each one offers a slight twist. Pick the ones you find easiest to use and give it a try. There is really no risk. Plus, it’s a great creative outlet as you enter a new phase in your career and life.

• Blogger: Google’s very simple free blogging tool for Gmail users lets you post accounts of your travels, photos, video, and more. www.blogger.com
• TravelPod: Another free blogging option with some nice features related to travel—fast upload from Internet cafes, maps, travel forums, email updates to friends.  www.travelpod.com
• WordPress: Free blogging, plus easy addition of add-ons like Flickr and Twitter. wordpress.com 
• PhotoBucket: A free place to store, edit, and show off your photos: photobucket.com
• Flickr: Another free place to store, edit, organize, show off your photos, and make maps that show where they were taken too: www.flickr.com
• Picasa: Ties into Gmail and Blogger and lets you create Web photo albums and slide shows: picasa.google.com.
• CreateBlog: If you want to get fancy, go to www.createblog.com and find a design you can apply to your blog on MySpace, Blogger, and other sites. 
• YouTube: And of course, there’s YouTube, a video sharing website where you can upload, view, and share video clips: www.youtube.com

Contribute to the VISTA Physician Blog

Here’s an even easier way to stay connected and become part of the VISTA physician “community.” Contribute a story, memory, photo essay, word of advice, or opinion to VISTA’s Physician Blog, www.vistastaff.com/physicians/blog.

Just send an email to the person you work most closely with at VISTA and ask her or him to submit it for publication on the blog. You can attach photos as well. We will take it from there. It doesn’t get any easier than that!