Few locum tenens and advanced practice professionals who work on a temporary basis were deterred by Covid-19 from taking temporary assignments, according to a study by Staff Care, a division of AMN Healthcare Inc. (NYSE: AMN). Only 5% stopped taking temporary assignments because of Covid-19 and only 22% reduced their number of assignments. On the other hand, 55% said the pandemic did not cause them to change the number of temporary assignments they accepted and 18% said they increased assignments as a result of the virus.
A majority, 71%, of locum tenens physicians and other advanced practice healthcare professionals working have treated Covid-19 patients.
Another finding in the survey: 81% of locum tenens and advanced practice professionals cited freedom and flexibility as the primary benefit of temporary assignments. In addition, 55% cited pay rates and 50% cited opportunity to travel.
The survey included 672 responses from physicians and advanced practice professionals known to have worked as locum tenens or on a temporary basis in the previous 12 months.