What is a Locum-to-Permanent Position?
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Whether you are working for a large healthcare organization, or you are devoting all hours of the day to make your practice a success, you need an environment that minimizes stress and mitigates challenges. That is why choosing the right career opportunity is so important, otherwise, you could spend years working in a sub-optimal situation.
A locum-to-permanent, or locum-to-perm, position is one of the best ways to avoid being stuck an unpleasant practice setting. While a locum tenens provider fulfills temporary work assignments around the country for a variety of reasons (lucrative compensation, flexible schedule, travel, etc.), a locum-to-perm provider is primarily concerned with finding a permanent position.
Take the Job for a 'Test Drive'
There are numerous variables that come with any new job, some quite apparent at first while others become visible over time. It may take a couple weeks or a few months before you recognize that the seeming utopia you joined is actually a very toxic environment or merely one that just doesn't fit you personally.
By the time you realize what the new job is really like, it may be too late to get out. You may have signed a two-year employment contract, relocated your family, or made financial commitments. This could lead to months or years in an untenable work situation that is likely to sap your enthusiasm for your job. In an industry where more than half of all physicians experience burnout, it is critical that you safeguard your career longevity by practicing in an optimal environment. Working in a locum-to-perm position allows physicians to take a 'test drive' of the job before making a long-term commitment.
Benefits of Locum-to-Permanent Position
A locum-to-perm opportunity provides many advantages for those providers looking for long-term positions:
Get to know colleagues, after working a few weeks or months with new colleagues, you can obtain real insight into their professional skills, ethics, and personalities. You will have the opportunity to observe how they interact with superiors, support staff and patients. It shouldn't take too long to find out if it is a compatible environment.
Experience the culture, as you work with the team, you will develop a better understanding of how the organization operates. You can identify whether leaders promote a unified, efficient work environment or if there is a premium on competition.
Understand the organization, it takes time to understand how a hospital or clinic works, and a locum-to-perm assignment is often sufficient to peel back the curtains. A short stint in a locale can provide invaluable insight into how well the organization is run, what it takes to advance, and what kind of opportunities are available.
Explore the local community, while learning about your potential employer and colleagues is imperative, it is just as important to experience the local life outside of work. A locum-to-perm assignment gives you plenty of time to explore the area so that you are confident that it meets the needs of you and your family.
