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Surgical Backlogs Due to the Pandemic: Opportunities for Locum Tenens Anesthesiologists and CRNAs

By: Kyle Hadley | Updated on April 26, 2021

Surgical Backlogs Due to the Pandemic: Opportunities for Locum Tenens Anesthesiologists and CRNAs

The cancelation of elective procedures early in the pandemic, while arguably necessary in many instances to preserve resources and handle an influx of COVID patients, led to other issues that are still affecting patients, healthcare facilities and their clinicians. Many patients are now facing elective issues which have turned emergent, and facilities are left with a backlog of procedures they’re still trying to catch up on. And many of their full-time, permanently employed clinicians are suffering from burnout, which has only been exacerbated by the pandemic.

Working as a locum tenens anesthesiologist or CRNA can help prevent, relieve burnout

Now that more and more people across the country are becoming vaccinated and facilities are attempting to accommodate them, patients are choosing to pursue those procedures that remain elective. This means facilities across the country will need to ensure they’re prepared and adequately staffed for these surgeries in the coming months, and in order to do this, many will need additional locum tenens anesthesiologists and CRNAs to ensure everything runs as smoothly as possible.

As a locum tenens anesthesiologist or CRNA, you’ll be in the unique position to both take advantage of and help alleviate the burden of the surgical backlog on facilities and their permanent staff.

Locum tenens staffing solutions help resolve issues related to burnout, both among those who choose this kind of employment and those clinicians permanently employed by facilities supplementing their coverage with locum tenens clinicians.

One of the major benefits of locum tenens work, regardless of the specialty, is it empowers clinicians to be completely in control of their schedules, allowing them to choose when and how much or how little they work.

The past year has been especially draining on clinicians, particularly those who are permanently employed by a healthcare facility, exacerbating already high rates of provider burnout. In fact, according to Medscape’s 2021 National Physician Burnout & Suicide Report, 40% of anesthesiologists reported being affected by burnout, but nearly 80% of clinicians reported their burnout began before the pandemic did. Among top causes are too many bureaucratic tasks, spending too many hours at work and insufficient compensation and reimbursement. Working as a locum tenens clinician can help drastically reduce or eliminate each of these concerns.

When you choose to seek locum tenens work rather than a permanent position at a healthcare facility, you’re choosing greater flexibility and freedom. And when you work with a LocumTenens.com recruiter to find your ideal assignment, you have an ally on your side who will work with you to find locum tenens positions, which typically carry much higher compensation than what you would receive while employed full-time by a healthcare facility. Whether you choose to work locum tenens now to help alleviate the surgical backlog on facilities or in the future, LocumTenens.com anesthesiology recruiters are prepared to position you for success.

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Your LocumTenens.com recruiter will be your advocate throughout the entire process

The benefits of having a LocumTenens.com recruiter as your advocate go well beyond finding the ideal assignment to help reduce burnout. When you choose to work with LocumTenens.com to help facilities tackle the surgical backlog, your recruiter comes with a dedicated team of associates who will make the process smooth from the moment you decide to pursue an assignment until the time it’s complete. Your recruiter finding you an assignment that aligns with your preferences for location, hours and pay is just the beginning.

As an anesthesiologist or CRNA working through LocumTenens.com, you’ll have access to dedicated associates from several departments who will be supporting you before your assignment even begins. For example, our internal, NCQA-certified Credentials Verification Organization (CVO) will manage your medical credentials to expedite the process to help get you to where you need to be faster. If you need assistance with licensing, a licensing specialist will work with you to obtain it and keep you updated throughout the entire process. Your recruiter will check in with you throughout your assignment and work to resolve any issues that may arise. Having an entire team to support you is just one of the advantages of working as a locum tenens anesthesiologist or CRNA.

If you’re considering locum tenens work to help alleviate or take advantage of the surgical backlog that has accumulated due to the pandemic, reach out to a recruiter. Not only will they be able to share more of the benefits of working as a locum tenens anesthesiologist or CRNA, but they can also help you start the process immediately. 

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About the author

Kyle Hadley

Vice President, Anesthesia

Kyle started his career at LocumTenens.com in 2009 in the accounting department, but his desire to serve customers directly guided him to a career in sales. He has held various roles including senior account executive, managing director and associate vice president. He was named vice president of the anesthesia division in January 2021, and in that role, he focuses on strategic initiatives and operations to serve a growing market.

Kyle graduated with his B.B.A. in finance and accounting from the University of West Georgia. He has been named producer of the month and manager of the month several times, and he’s also a Max Award Winner, won Manager of the Year in 2018 and was named a partner at the company in 2019. When he’s not working, Kyle enjoys spending time with his wife, Louisa, and his two sons, Gil and Law, preferably outside.