The word locum comes from the Latin phrase locum tenens, which means “place holder”. A locum is a person who temporarily fulfills the duties of another. A locum doctor is therefore a doctor who covers for another doctor who is on leave.

What does it mean to be a locum tenens physician or independent contractor? Independent contractors are essentially self-employed. Locum tenens physicians have to pay their own taxes and pay for their own benefits.

Locum tenens is taken from a Latin phrase meaning “to hold the place of.” Most commonly referring to temporary physicians, locum tenens doctors contract with recruitment agencies to perform medical services for a healthcare organization over a certain period of time.

Typically, this term is 24 months, but the time period may be negotiated before signing the master agreement. Indemnification: Because locum tenens physicians work as independent contractors, agencies don't indemnify providers for errors they may make while on assignment.

A locum doctor, or locum tenens physician, is a medical professional who substitutes for a practice's regular doctor for a period of time. These doctors might temporarily replace physicians who are ill, on sabbatical or traveling.

By definition, a true locum tenens provider can only fill in for a colleague for a total of 60 consecutive days. By contrast, temporary staff may work longer than 60 consecutive days in the position and are subject to different credentialing and billing requirements.

Very simply, locum tenens work consists of a physician working temporarily in another practice, not his or her own. That practice may be in the physician's hometown or even in another state. The practice demands may include clinic or hospital care or a combination of both.