Today, over 52,000 physicians work locum tenens annually, providing care for an estimated 7.5 million Americans each year. As the demand for healthcare services continues to outpace the supply of available providers, locum tenens physicians and advanced practitioners have become an increasingly valuable asset to hospitals in ensuring adequate staffing levels and continuity of care.
Estimates project that the United States could see a shortage of up to 86,000 physicians in both primary and specialty care as early as 2036. However, many hospitals nationwide are already beginning to feel the effects of physician shortages as demand for healthcare services continues to outpace the supply of providers. This growing disparity is expected to persist and even widen as the employment of physicians and surgeons is projected to grow by 4%, resulting in approximately 23,600 job openings each year over the decade.
Top Seven Physician Specialties Seeing the Highest Projected Job Openings Until 2033
These are the top seven physician specialties anticipated to see the highest job openings on average each year until 2033:
- Family Medicine Physicians: 5,700 job openings
- General Internal Medicine Physicians: 2,500 job openings
- Surgeons: 2,500 job openings
- Psychiatrists: 2,100
- Anesthesiologists: 1,500 job openings
- Emergency Medicine Physicians: 1,300 job openings
- Radiologists: 1,200 job openings
Projected Annual Job Openings for Advanced Practitioners Through 2033
Job openings anticipated each year over the next decade for advanced practitioners:
- Nurse Practitioners: 135,500 job openings
- Physician Assistants: 43,700 job openings
- CRNAs: 5,200 job openings
- Nurse Midwives: 500 job openings
The Benefits of Locum Tenens for Hospitals
90% of healthcare facilities utilize locum tenens physicians each year to address provider coverage gaps. By incorporating locum tenens physicians and advanced practitioners into staffing strategies, hospitals can unlock a range of benefits, including:
Regain Unclaimed Hospital Revenue
Incorporating locum tenens staffing into your hospital's staffing strategy can quickly help regain unclaimed revenue. By leveraging locum tenens, hospitals can amplify their capacity for revenue-generating procedures, especially during peak patient volumes.
The potential revenue physicians drive to a hospital can vary across specialties. Locum tenens surgeons, cardiologists, or gastroenterologists can offer an immediate increase in the volume of high-value procedures your hospital can perform. Furthermore, successfully integrating locum tenens physicians and advanced practitioners ensures your team is equipped with a broad range of medical specialties, guaranteeing all service lines are optimized with the right mix of talent.
Cost-Effective Staffing Solutions
Locum tenens physicians and advanced practitioners require no long-term commitment. Hospitals can hire locums on a short-term basis to fill staffing gaps caused by vacations, medical leave, or unexpected increases in patient volumes - such as during flu season. Locum tenens eliminate the need for long-term employment contracts and other associated costs that a permanent provider would require, including benefits, retirement plans, and paid time off. Additionally, locum tenens physicians can fill specialized roles while reducing overtime expenses that may occur when permanent physicians are stretched thin.
Higher Retention & Reduction of Burnout Among Permanent Staff
In 2024, 49% of physicians reported experiencing burnout, with 30% reporting their burnout is so severe that they may leave medicine. The primary factors contributing to physician burnout include too many bureaucratic tasks and hours at work. Locum tenens can play a critical role in reducing burnout and ensuring quality patient care.
By incorporating locum tenens, hospitals can enhance the work-life balance of their permanent providers by helping evenly distribute workloads and offering time off to recharge and prevent burnout. This approach not only benefits the well-being of permanent staff but also plays a significant role in increasing staff retention rates and reducing workloads.
Bridge the Staffing Gap
In healthcare, unexpected situations such as sudden surges in patient volumes, unexpected provider turnover, or moving from outsourced to employed provider programs can occur at any time. When facing such challenges, the Medicus Transition Program offers a solution to bridge gaps and provide stability.
The Medicus Transition Program is specifically designed for hospitals facing multiple FTE gaps within a single specialty and a need for long-term coverage until permanent candidates are hired. By blending immediate locum tenens support with long-term staffing strategies, the Transition Program equips healthcare leaders with the tools, expertise, and resources to effectively manage their unique staffing challenges.
This approach not only stabilizes clinical teams but also promotes shared accountability in sourcing, scheduling, and cost control. Successfully implemented across numerous health systems nationwide, the Medicus Transition Program is consistently preferred for its effectiveness in closing coverage gaps and achieving clinical workforce stabilization.
With provider shortages on the rise, locum tenens offer hospitals a vital solution to maintain continuity of care, reclaim lost revenue, and reduce burnout among permanent staff. By integrating locum tenens, hospitals can effectively bridge staffing gaps, stabilize their workforce, and meet the growing demands of patient care.
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