What is Locum Tenens Psychiatry?

What is Locum Tenens Psychiatry?

Locum tenens is a Latin term that means "to hold the place of." Locum tenens are a crucial aspect in helping address staffing shortages in healthcare nationwide. As a locum tenens psychiatrist, you temporarily fill a shift at a hospital, clinic, private practice, or other healthcare facilities. Psychiatry locum tenens help ensure that each medical facility is fully staffed with the right mix of healthcare professionals and that communities have access to quality care.

Due to increased psychiatry turnover, retirement, demographic shifts, and other factors, there is a heightened demand for psychiatry locum tenens nationwide. By 2030, it is anticipated that the number of psychiatrists will decrease by 20%. Simultaneously, the demand for psychiatry services is estimated to rise by 3%. This imbalance is expected to result in a significant shortfall of over 12,000 psychiatrists. Locum tenens can play a crucial role in addressing this shortage and ensuring that patients receive the psychiatric care they need.

Bureaucratic tasks are the number one leading factor behind burnout among psychiatrists. With over 33% of psychiatrists experiencing burnout due to bureaucratic tasks, long hours, and limited career control, psychiatry locums jobs offer a much-needed solution.

On average, physicians spend 1.84 hours per day beyond working hours completing EHR documentation. This adds up to 9.2 hours spent each week on administrative tasks that could be better utilized for patient care. Locum tenens is a career option that allows psychiatrists to reconnect with their passion and return to doing what they love, taking care of patients.

Why Work Locum Tenens Psychiatry?

Psychiatry locum tenens presents an opportunity for psychiatrists to enhance their income while simultaneously making a meaningful difference in communities that are in need of mental health services. Working as a locum psychiatrist, you have the ability to secure higher hourly wages compared to permanent positions. This is primarily driven by the increasing demand for psychiatrists in certain areas, which, in turn, drives up compensation levels.

By working psychiatry locum jobs, you not only tap into lucrative earning potential but also play a crucial role in bridging the gap in mental health resources. By stepping in to provide much-needed support, you contribute to improving mental health services and positively impacting communities in need of psychiatric services. It is a fulfilling way to make a positive impact while enjoying the financial benefits of psychiatry locum jobs.

Locum tenens psychiatry offers an opportunity to achieve an improved work-life balance, granting you the freedom to choose your schedule, hours, and the duration of each assignment. This flexibility enables you to tailor your professional commitments to align with your personal life, making it easier to avoid burnout and maintain a healthy work-life balance.

Whether you have a passion for traveling, spending time with family, or pursuing hobbies outside of work, locum tenens psychiatry allows you the freedom to do so. With the ability to choose when and where you work, you can plan vacations or gatherings without the stress of requesting time off or worrying about finding coverage for your patients. This flexibility not only benefits your personal life but also enhances your overall job satisfaction.

As a locum tenens psychiatrist, you have the freedom to travel 10 or 3,000 miles, exploring diverse healthcare settings in bustling cities or peaceful rural areas. If you love traveling and making a difference in communities that are short-staffed, working psychiatry locum tenens is a fantastic way to blend the two! As a bonus, Medicus handles all the logistics, so you can focus on taking care of patients and enjoying the adventure.

If you prefer to strike a balance between your career and personal commitments, psychiatry locum jobs are also available close to home, allowing you to maintain a work-life balance while serving your local community. Whether you're drawn to the allure of far-off places or the familiarity of your own neighborhood, locum tenens offers a range of opportunities tailored to suit your lifestyle and professional goals.

As psychiatry locum tenens, you can enhance your clinical knowledge and skills beyond what permanent psychiatry jobs offer. Working in diverse settings that may not be easily accessible near your home base allows you to broaden your skillset and gain exposure to a broader range of patient populations.

Locum tenens psychiatry also allows you to collaborate with a diverse group of professionals nationwide. Learn from clinical experts and build valuable networking connections! Engaging in discussions with other psychiatry professionals offers fresh perspectives, which can help you expand your clinical knowledge while also growing your professional support system.

Why Work Locum Tenens Psychiatry with Medicus?

By selecting Medicus as your partner in psychiatry locums, you gain the advantage of a dedicated team of industry experts committed to assisting you in navigating the dynamic psychiatry job market. Our services go beyond the traditional scope of a locum tenens agency, offering a broader range of opportunities.

In addition to traditional locum tenens assignments, we offer exclusive transition projects, an opportunity for interim leadership roles, and as an added perk, insights into psychiatry market trends. These unique opportunities allow you to leverage your psychiatry skills and experiences to positively impact the communities that are in need of your expertise.

Whether you work locum tenens psychiatry full-time, or alongside your permanent psychiatry job, Medicus gives you the freedom to shape your career according to your preferences. You have the flexibility to decide when, where, and how you want to practice. Together, we help you make a difference in the lives of others while achieving optimal work-life balance and financial comfort.

Here are a Few Reasons Why You Should Work Locum Tenens Psychiatry with Medicus:

Locum Tenens Psychiatrist
  • Dedicated psychiatry recruiter invested in your success.
  • Competitive psychiatry rates.
  • Comprehensive medical malpractice coverage.
  • Travel Planner to book all psychiatry locum arrangements.
  • Licensing Coordinator to renew and obtain new licenses.
  • Credentialing contact to streamline the psychiatry locum process and ensure
    you are ready to begin work.
  • A personalized portal to track psychiatry assignment details from start to
    finish.
  • Submit timesheets through the Medicus portal to get paid.
  • Enroll in the My Medicus Loyalty Program after your first shift.
  • Personalized health benefits in addition to financial and legal support
    services.
  • Enjoy travel rewards and perks.
Locum Tenens Psychiatrist

What It’s Like to Work Locum Tenens Psychiatry with Medicus,
a Message from Our Psychiatry Locums:

Save the Date

Save the Date: APA’s 2025 Annual Meeting in Los Angeles!

APA 2025-1

The American Psychiatric Association (APA) Annual Meeting is the largest psychiatric meeting held annually, with over 12,000 anticipated attendees, most of whom are physicians from psychiatric and other mental health disciplines, social workers, and nurses.

With 600+ educational sessions and paid courses covering 50+ topics, four plenaries, and 1,000+ posters, APA’s Annual Meeting is the best place to connect with colleagues, get the latest in scientific advances, and meet your certification and licensure requirements.

We invite you to learn more about APA 2025 here

Are You Attending The American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (AACAP) 2025 Annual Meeting?

AACAP 2025

Prepare for an unparalleled experience as the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry hosts the world’s premier gathering of child and adolescent psychiatrists in Chicago, IL, from October 20 to 25, 2025. The AACAP’s 2025 Annual Meeting stands as the pinnacle for connecting with colleagues, both familiar faces and new, while delving into the most cutting-edge scientific information in the field. Mark your calendars today to ensure you don't miss this extraordinary opportunity for professional growth and collaboration. See you in Seattle!

View our current Psychiatry job openings

OP Psychiatry Opportunity in Southern CT | 1 Shift per Week

  • Posted 21 days ago
  • Connecticut
  • Physician
  • Psychiatry
  • Locum
Medicus has partnered with a clinic in southern Connecticut that has an opportunity for a Psychiatrist to assist their team short-term. Opportunity Details: Schedule: 8-hour shifts, one day per week No call requirement Patient Census: 3 per hour Patient Ages: Adults 18+ Clinical Setting:...

Adolescent Psychiatry Opportunity on Long Island, NY

  • Posted 28 days ago
  • New York
  • Physician
  • Psychiatry
  • Locum
Medicus has partnered with a clinic on Long Island, New York, that has an opportunity for an Adolescent Psychiatrist to assist their team. Opportunity Details: Schedule: Monday-Friday, 8-hour day shifts No call required Board-certification required Paid travel & lodging When you are not at work,...

Psychiatry Contract Assignment in Northern KY

  • Posted 30 days ago
  • Kentucky
  • Physician
  • Psychiatry
  • Locum
Medicus is collaborating with a federal facility in northern Kentucky that has a contract assignment for an experienced Psychiatrist to assist their team. About the Assignment: Schedule: 8-hour shifts Call Requirement: Beeper call shifts Patient Volume: 12 per day Must be board-certified or...

Locum Psychiatry Coverage in Eastern Pennsylvania

  • Posted 30 days ago
  • Pennsylvania
  • Physician
  • Psychiatry
  • Locum
Medicus has partnered with a facility in eastern Pennsylvania that has an opportunity for a Psychiatrist to provide locum coverage. Opportunity Details: Schedule: Monday to Friday, 8-hour day shifts On-Call: None required Unit Type: Adult inpatient, with flexibility to see child/adolescent...

Psychiatry Contract Assignment on the Coast of California

  • Posted 30 days ago
  • California
  • Physician
  • Psychiatry
  • Locum
An established client has a contract assignment for a Psychiatrist to provide locum coverage on the coast of California. Assignment Details: Schedule: 8a-5p, Monday-Friday Board certification required Paid travel & expenses If you are interested, please apply to learn more. GOV - 70132

Locum Psychiatry Coverage in Western New York - Mobile Unit

  • Posted 30 days ago
  • New York
  • Physician
  • Psychiatry
  • Locum
A reputable client in western New York has an opening for a Psychiatrist to provide locum coverage. Opening Highlights: Setting: Mobile unit Schedule: 8a-5p, Monday-Friday Exams last 60-90 minutes Daily Volume: 5-8 patients Must be board-certified Paid travel & expenses If you are interested,...

Psychiatry Contract Assignment in Western New York

  • Posted 30 days ago
  • New York
  • Physician
  • Psychiatry
  • Locum
Medicus is partnering with an established client in western New York that has a contract assignment for a Psychiatrist to provide locum coverage. Opening Details: Scheduled: 8a-5p, Monday-Friday Daily Volume: 5-8 patients Board certification required Paid travel & expenses If you are interested,...