Celebrating National Locum Tenens Week
National Locum Tenens Week recognizes the physicians who practice locum tenens in order to meet the needs of patients. This celebration, which was established by the National Association of Locum Tenens Organization (NALTO), is held during the second full week of August each year. During this week, locum tenens physicians and recruiters have an opportunity to share their stories and experiences on a national stage.
The Value of NALTO in the Locum Tenens Industry
NALTO was established in 2001, and it exists to develop and enforce strong standards within the locum tenens industry. Some of the values championed by this organization include competency, integrity, objectivity, and honesty. NALTO’s objective is to encourage all individuals in the industry to adhere to high standards, including both locum tenens clients and physicians. The organization offers membership to both physicians and locum tenens staffing companies.
VISTA is a proud NALTO member, and we are happy to share the benefits of locum tenens staffing for both clinicians and the facilities that employ them. As a locum tenens physician, you help to alleviate staffing shortages so patients won’t experience a lapse in care. In fact, more than 50,000 physicians are currently working locum tenens assignments on an annual basis, providing care for approximately 7.5 million Americans every year.
In addition to meeting specific and ongoing needs in the healthcare industry, locum tenens also offers a variety of benefits for physicians, including a chance to travel, enjoy a flexible schedule, earn extra income, spend more time with patients and grow as professionals. Physicians working locum tenens also have the freedom to choose where they would like to work, the length of assignment they prefer, and much more.
How You Can Support National Locum Tenens Week
National Locum Tenens Week serves an important purpose that you can support. The best way to show your support is through your activity on social media. Some suggestions include:
- Telling your own stories. Share your experiences as a locum tenens physician so others will understand how the system works and what they can expect if they accept an assignment.
- Sharing facts. Share statistics and other factual information about locum tenens to spread awareness and increase understanding.
- Share your #locumtenensweek pride! Download the official Locum Tenens Week banner and apply it to your company or personal profile. You can also add the official #locumtenensweek profile frame to your profile picture on Facebook! The frame is available from August 12 to August 16 and can be found on the NALTO Facebook page.
The locum tenens industry relies on upstanding staffing companies and competent physicians in order to meet the needs of healthcare facilities and patients everywhere. National Locum Tenens Week is the perfect opportunity to disseminate information about this important niche in the healthcare industry, encouraging more physicians to participate and inspiring everyone involved to meet established standards. Join in on the celebration by doing your part to spread the word about the benefits of locum tenens.
Editor’s note: This post was originally published August 13, 2018, and has been updated for accuracy and timeliness.
