This post explains how you can leverage today’s trends in the healthcare industry to boost your career as a locum tenens provider. Learn more!

<h1>How Locums Providers Leverage the Latest Healthcare Trends</h1><h2>What 2023-2024 Healthcare Trends Mean for Locum Tenens Providers</h2><p>Changes across the healthcare industry – from care costs to regulatory initiatives – can trickle down and impact your career as a provider. If you’re interested in creating an agile and relevant career path, consider the value of interpreting industry trends through a locum tenens lens. Factoring in current and future patterns can help inform your next moves. Here’s how you can leverage today’s trends in the healthcare industry to boost your career as a locum tenens provider.</p><h3>Trend #1: Healthcare costs will increase in 2024.</h3><p>Industry research from PricewaterhouseCooper (<a href="https://www.pwc.com/us/en/industries/health-industries/library/behind-the-numbers.html" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">PwC</a>) shows care costs will increase by an estimated 7 percent in 2024. Growing costs are projected due to high inflation, rising wages, costs of new drugs and gene therapies, and workforce shortages. Providers will continue to expect higher wages due to inflation, burnout, and patient demand. At the same time, hospitals' profit margins will continue to drop, impacting their ability to meet compensation expectations.</p><p><strong>What this means for locums: Negotiating for high pay may prove more challenging.</strong></p><p>Tight margins may lead to a tougher time negotiating for higher compensation. You will have leverage due to current living costs, flexibility, and willingness to travel as a locums provider. However, the healthcare organization may be limited regarding what they can offer in compensation. It’s always worth negotiating or continuing to look if you’re not happy with your offer. Your recruiter can help.</p><h3>Trend #2: CMS updated its framework to advance health equity and improve outcomes. The initiative should spill over to influence all facets of the industry.</h3><p>The U.S. Centers for Medicare &amp; Medicaid Services released a new framework “to further advance health equity, expand coverage, and improve health outcomes for the more than 170 million individuals supported by CMS programs” (<a href="https://www.cms.gov/about-cms/agency-information/omh/health-equity-programs/cms-framework-for-health-equity" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">CMS</a>). The framework outlines five priorities focused on:</p><ul><li>Collecting and using standardized social determinants of health data</li><li>Assessing causes of healthcare and health disparities</li><li>Building the capacity of organizations and the healthcare workforce to reduce disparities</li><li>Advancing language access and health literacy</li><li>Increasing accessibility to healthcare services and coverage</li></ul><p><br></p><p><strong>What this means for locums: Cultural competence and a passion for caring for underserved populations are assets to strengthen and highlight. </strong></p><p>Expanding your cultural competence will make you a better provider; there’s always something to learn. Employers will want to know how much you care about advancing health equity and improving patient outcomes. More and more, facilities are working to hire a workforce that reflects the richness and diversity of their patients. If you speak multiple languages or have special training in cultural competence, diversity, health equity, social determinants of health, or related topics, highlight it on your CV to let employers know where you stand.</p><h3>Trend #3: Demand for telemedicine continues.</h3><p>Even post-pandemic, the demand for telehealth services continues to grow. More and more providers are treating patients virtually, although telehealth use varies via specialty. Released in 2023, The National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (<a href="https://www.nccpa.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Q2-Specialty-8_4_23.pdf" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">NCCPA</a>) survey reported that PAs in the following specialties participated in telemedicine:</p><ul><li>Psychiatry 73.3%</li><li>Family medicine 60.9%</li><li>Primary care 59.8%</li><li>Internal medicine 58.6%</li><li>Pain medicine 56.1%</li></ul><p><br></p><p><strong>What this means for locums: Experience in telehealth and willingness to practice virtually can translate to expanded locums opportunities. </strong></p><p>If you have already cared for patients virtually or via telephone, include it on your resume. Employers want locum tenens providers who are versatile and able to rapidly adapt to various digital platforms, like telehealth technology. If you don’t yet have experience in telehealth, consider enrolling in professional development, online training or CME workshops in telehealth best practices and add that to your CV. It can pay off when you want to stand above the rest for a locum position.</p><h3>Trend #4: Burnout is still a career-killer.</h3><p>Burnout continues to plague providers across the nation. Some specialties are feeling it more than others. According to the 2023 <a href="https://www.nccpa.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Q2-Specialty-8_4_23.pdf" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">NCCPA</a> study, physician assistants in the following specialties were the most likely to report feeling burned out:</p><ul><li>Emergency medicine</li><li>Critical care medicine</li><li>Oncology</li><li>Hospital medicine</li></ul><p><br></p><p>PAs in the following specialties were least likely to feel burned out:</p><ul><li>Physical medicine/rehabilitation</li><li>Dermatology</li><li>Plastic surgery</li><li>Otolaryngology</li></ul><p><br></p><p><strong>What this means for locums: Consider working in a low-stress specialty if possible, and take action to stave off burnout if you’re in a high-stress specialty. </strong></p><p>Of course, if you have already invested in specialization or field certifications and are vested in working in that specialty, you likely don’t want to switch. But if you’re in a high-stress situation, consider what changes you can make to improve your work-life balance and stress level. For example, if you’re a full-time, permanent emergency medicine physician, could you consider switching to locums? If you’re a PA who has been in oncology for years and wants a change, could you pursue dermatology? If you’re working in a fast-paced hospital environment, could you move to a slower-paced private practice? Talk with a recruiter to explore your options.</p><p>Healthcare industry trends can be one of many factors driving your career decisions. If you’re seeking a position with outstanding compensation, a rewarding patient experience, a flexible schedule, and lower stress, <a href="https://www.crosscountry.com/locums" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">contact</a> a recruiting expert at Cross Country Locums today.</p>

Healthcare Industry Trends 2023-24: Locum Tenens Providers