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4 Benefits of Locum Tenens for Both MDs and DOs

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4 Benefits of Locum Tenens for Both MDs and DOs

Osteopathic medical education programs enrolled a record-setting class size for the 2022–23 academic year, according to the 2022 Osteopathic Medical Profession Report. Plus, one-quarter of medical students in the United States have chosen this type of program, estimates the American Medical Association (AMA), indicating the Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO) training path is gaining greater acceptance by future physicians. What’s more, the American Osteopathic Association indicates more than half of graduating DO students opt to specialize in primary care.

That said, the Doctor of Medicine (MD) degree remains the most traveled route toward a career as a practicing doctor. The AMA reports that 19,748 U.S. MD medical school seniors registered for the 2023 Main Residency Match program in 2023.

Still, DOs and MDs have plenty in common:

  • Graduates with either degree participate in the Main Residency Match program.
  • Both types of physicians must obtain state licensure and follow the same prescription regulations.
  • And physicians holding either degree enjoy the many benefits of practicing as a locum tenens

The Locum Tenens Advantages

There are multiple rewards associated with the locum tenens career alternative starting with the examples we highlighted below.

  • Opportunities to experience a variety of clinical settings.
    Hospitals, clinics, multi-specialty private practice groups, and other healthcare organizations often accept either educational background, which gives doctors a variety of opportunities.
  • Determining your own schedule.
    Providers who choose a locum tenens practice full time hold greater authority over when (and when not) they agree to short- or long-term contracts. Physicians who prefer to add temporary assignments to their existing schedules also have the freedom to decide when, where, and why they accept locum tenens opportunities.
  • Share knowledge and expertise with co-workers.
    Locum tenens clinicians have the advantage of working with a broad collection of healthcare team members. Each assignment is a chance to exchange best practice experiences, such as the nuances between DO and MD practice styles.
  • Immerse yourself in new communities.
    When locum tenens assignments run a few days, weeks, or into a couple of months, it’s an invitation to get to know a neighborhood, city, or region on a more intimate level. Who knows, locum tenens opportunities may place you in cities and towns that end up becoming favorite homes away from home.

If you wish to learn more about the many benefits of a locum tenens career, call All Star Healthcare Solutions today at 800-928-0229, or contact us online.