In rural communities, there are only about 30 healthcare specialists for every 100,000 patients. However, locum tenens physicians are stepping in to bridge the gap in care. Rural locums jobs can provide physicians with an opportunity to earn higher compensation and make a meaningful impact.
Physician shortages hit rural communities the hardest.
While the physician shortage impacts the entire country, rural communities are being hit the hardest. 20% of the US population lives in a rural community, and only 10% of physicians practice there. The shortage of healthcare providers, especially when it comes to specialist services, makes it difficult for the majority of patients in these areas to access the care they need.
Patients in underserved communities often wait months for appointments, sometimes even longer to see specialists. These delays have real-life-and-death consequences: more people living in rural areas are at risk of early death than their urban counterparts because of their lack of access to healthcare.
That’s where locum tenens providers can help. Locums providers don’t just fill gaps in coverage—they provide access to immediate care, instead of leaving rural patients to languish on long waitlists. That care can result in earlier identification and diagnosis, and ultimately better patient outcomes.
Physicians in nearly every specialty are needed to deliver care in rural communities.
Locums providers are needed across nearly every specialty in rural communities, but some of the most in-demand specialties include:
- Psychiatry: There are fewer behavioral health counselors, psychologists, and social workers providing mental health services in rural areas compared to urban areas.
- Emergency Medicine and Trauma Care: Rural facilities have limited access to medical specialists and advanced testing; these, along with their location, can make stabilizing patients for transfer very difficult.
- Obstetrics/Gynecology: Only 50% of counties in the US have OB/GYN physicians.
- Primary Care: 65% of rural areas have a shortage of primary care physicians.
Meeting staffing demands within these specialties can be a huge challenge for healthcare facilities in rural communities, but locums can help. By filling a gap in coverage within a specific department or offering additional coverage during busier seasons to mitigate burnout for the hospital’s full-time staff, locums providers can help prevent gaps in staffing from becoming gaps in care.
The rural healthcare shortage is creating more opportunities for locum physicians.
An estimated 90% of hospitals use locum tenens, and that demand is only poised to grow: SIA reported that locum tenens staffing grew by 15% in 2024, which means there are more opportunities than ever to use your skills to serve communities that need it. This results in more opportunities than ever for healthcare providers who are looking to branch out and make a difference.
Rural locums tend to offer higher base pay rates compared to their urban counterparts, due to the urgent demand for healthcare providers. Many physicians find that they’re able to make a similar salary as full-time employment, while working fewer hours. Other physicians use locums to supplement their full-time positions by taking weekend or holiday assignments in rural locations.
No matter your preference, our team of specialty-specific consultants can help find you the right fit, and our support staff can handle all the logistics of negotiating your rates, obtaining your credentials, and arranging your travel. We make it as easy as possible for our providers so you can focus on what you do best: providing care for patients who need it.
Rural locums can offer a greater sense of fulfillment for physicians who want to make a difference.
While competitive compensation and increased flexibility can be major draws for physicians who are looking to make the switch to rural locums, it’s the personal and professional fulfillment that keeps them coming back.
Many physicians have reported that they found rural work some of the most fulfilling they’ve had in their careers.
“When I tried locums, I thought: this is the way medicine should be practiced. In locums, it’s less busy, even though there’s a bigger need, so I get to spend more time talking to people. Especially in a small town, it makes you feel a part of the community…it’s very fulfilling.”
-Dr. Fenwa Milhouse, Locum Tenens Urologist
“A friend of mine used to say, ‘You find the best and the worst at the end of the road,’ and I’ve found that to be true. Some of the neatest people I’ve ever met are the farmers and the ranchers. They’re just so gratified to get help…and it just makes the work that much more fun…I don’t think I’ve ever worked in a hospital with more than 75-100 beds since [my first rural assignment]. I don’t want to go back to the large hospitals after having worked at the smaller hospitals.”
-Dr. Terry Jones, Locum Tenens Emergency Medicine Physician
Rural locum assignments give physicians the opportunity to make a meaningful impact in a different community while earning a good income. If you’re ready to help bridge the healthcare gap for communities who need it, we’re ready to help!
