Locum Doctors have become increasingly important
for healthcare practices in Australia that are wrestling to maintain round the
clock services to their patients.
Who is a Locum Doctor?
With the healthcare work
shortages becoming abundant, locum tenens is the hidden driver of the smooth
run in the medical system. Traditionally these Doctors fill temporary positions
for weeks or even months. The positions from every specialty from family
practice to urgent care are typically able to work as a locum doctor. A locum placement
can be short-term or long-term.
A healthcare practice may
hire locum doctors for different reasons, at times to meet the increased number
of patients, to cover a physician’s maternity leave, to cover study leave or to
supplement staff while waiting for a new doctor to start. Whatever the reason
it may be, Locum Doctors are considered very important in bridging many
existing gaps in the healthcare industry.
According to an article
on The Sydney
Morning Herald, there has been substantial growth in the employment
of locums in Australia during the past few years with no indication of slowing
down. The payroll reporting for May 2019 suggests that locum tenens took up
38.4 per cent of the full-time equivalent medical workforce in Southern NSW
Local Health District, 22.88 per cent in the Far West district and then
followed by 14.47 per cent in the Mid North Coast.
Locum work can be flexible
and interesting. It gives the practitioner the chance to see many aspects of medicine
without the requirement of a long-term commitment.
·
Know Your Objectives
In order to find a right
locum position, you need to work out your personal objectives by becoming a
locum. Is it the travel and the lifestyle that motivates you? Perhaps it is the
intention to further your career? Or maybe the high pay rates or flexibility
that tempts you? Whatever the reason may be, it is important to clearly
identify your motives.
·
Access Your Eligibility
There are basic
requirements that a locum doctor in Australia should have:
· Registration
Requirements
You should have a General
Registration or a Specialist Registration. If you plan to work as a Specialist,
you must have a Specialist Registration. Or if you decide to take up a
temporary vacant role such as a trainee position, you will need a General
Registration to proceed.
· Permit to work in
Australia
You are required to be
legally authorized to work in Australia—which means you need to be an Australian
Citizen or a Permanent Resident. If you are a Temporary Resident, you have to
be on a visa which permits you to work as a locum.
· Provider
Number
Often Locum positions
request the candidate to have a provider number—a unique number you can get if
you are an eligible health professional recognized for Medicare services.
Locums in private practice including General Practice must have a Provider
Number since you will not be able to charge patients Medicare fees for the
services provided—therefore the locum role wouldn’t be viable.
· Prescriber Number
In many positions you may
also need a Prescriber number—a number that identifies you to be eligible to
prescribe medication under Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS). You can have
multiple prescriber numbers based on the health professions you embark on.
Contact
Medfuture to find out more about your eligibility and get the
basic requirements in place.
· CV and References
Although no one enjoys
updating their CV and getting the evidence in place, it is an unavoidable step
to applying for new positions. It’s also important to come up with a shortlist
of references and let them know they might be contacted anytime.
Moreover, having plenty of credentials and extensive experience can be advantageous
when applying for locum work.
· Sign up with a
Reliable Agency
Once you have your
intentions figured, your eligibility considered, and your paperwork ready, you
need to explore many opportunities as possible to find the best job that would
suit your personal and professional life. Signing up with a responsible agency
could be a quick and easy way to proceed with the next steps to find the
perfect role.
Where are the Locum Roles?
In Australia, the states
that mostly demand locum doctors are;
Queensland
New South Wales
Western Australia
Tasmania
Victoria
These areas also have clinics/ hospitals with Doctor shortages and
therefore offer great opportunities for long term work as well. Do you think
being a locum practitioner may be the change you need in your medical career?
Medfuture team of medical recruitment specialists can help you find the best
position for you in any location across Australia.
Register with Medfuture for free guidance and we will
have you start your new venture in no time. We will do the legwork while you
can reap the benefits of a new exciting life. Want us to reach out to you? Send us an email to [email protected]
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