With the growing urologist shortage, urology is one of the most in-demand specialties when it comes to locum tenens. We sat down with senior consultant, Gerrick Ladnier, to talk about some of the latest trends we’re seeing in locum tenens urology, and what they mean for urologists.
UROLOGY LOCUMS TREND #1
The importance of maintaining service lines amidst the physician shortage.
In the past few years, physicians across all specialties who were on the cusp of retirement ended up retiring early, many of them due to the pandemic. Urologists, in particular, are retiring earlier than before––which means that hospitals are scrambling to keep up with the shortages.
Hospitals rely on urologists to sustain their service lines, especially those with level 1, 2, 3, and 4 trauma centers, which must provide 24/7 urology services to retain their trauma designations. With a limited number of urologists graduating annually, hospitals are increasingly turning to locum tenens to provide the required services.
That means there are even more urology locums jobs available for physicians who are looking to make the locums leap.
UROLOGY LOCUMS TREND #2
The reliance of rural hospitals on locum tenens urology.
Hospitals in rural communities heavily depend on urology locums to keep their service lines operational. While that can be intimidating for physicians who have never practiced in rural areas, for many urologists, it can become one of the most rewarding aspects of the work.
Because of the need for good doctors in these areas, urologists who practice in rural communities are often welcomed with open arms. Hospitals want to make sure that their physicians feel comfortable and happy, and patients are deeply grateful for skilled urologists.
“Locums is a great way to feel like you’re doing work that matters, because these are places that really need a urologist,” Hayes Locums urologist Dr. Fenwa Milhouse says. “In places where they don’t have a full-time urologist, patients are so grateful to be taken care of, because they’ve been on the waitlist for months and months.”
Taking a urology locums job in a rural community is a great way to make a difference, by providing quality care to patients who need it.
UROLOGY LOCUMS TREND #3
Urologists increasingly shifting away from bureaucracy and toward more patient care.
Many urologists have reported an increase in patient load, resulting in less time available for each individual patient.
A larger patient load also means a larger administrative burden. For every hour of direct patient care, physicians spend anywhere from 2-4 hours on paperwork.
Doximity’s 2024 Physician Compensation Report, indicates that nearly 75% of physicians believe that reducing their administrative burden would have the most significant impact on mitigating burnout.
That’s why many urologists are transitioning to full-time locum tenens urology. For physicians seeking a greater work-life balance, locums can offer more flexibility in scheduling––for example, working full-time for two weeks, and then taking two weeks off to spend quality time with your family, or pursue your other priorities.
