The Demand for Locum Doctors in Canada

The term ‘locum physician’ is derived from the Latin term locum tenens, which translates to ‘place holder’ in English. As a locum physician, you are essentially a substitute doctor within a health care setting; you’ll be used when permanent physicians take vacation, sick leave, or if hospitals and clinics require extra doctors. This type of position can offer flexibility and unparalleled experience for recent graduates and doctors who are in their early years of practice. With a variety of locum jobs available, you can quickly expand your knowledge and gain valuable skills in numerous work settings making your day-to-day very unique. 

Is there currently a demand for locum doctors in Canada?

Yes, as a fully qualified doctor, you can apply for locum positions across Canada, finding demand both in cities and remote locations. While Canada does have excellent, publicly-funded health care, there is a shortage of physicians in many areas, including northern or remote communities, and in the territories too. Even in urban areas, there is a high demand for physicians and specialists as many Canadians have limited access–or long wait times–to health care. 

I do(or do not) have an area of specialization I want to focus on, should I still consider being a locum doctor?

Whether you already have a specialization or plan to work as a general doctor, there’s still plenty of locum doctor demand. If you’re just starting out your career, locuming is an excellent way to test the waters and see what type of environment (or specialty) you best see yourself in. Do you prefer a clinic, a hospital or a private practice? Think of it as a test drive before committing to a long-term contract. 

There’s currently a high demand for specializations in Radiology, Internal Medicine, General Surgery, Psychiatry, Dermatology, Anesthesia, and General Medicine. 

Emergency Medicine (and Urgent Care centers in general) are also popular choices for new graduates, as these settings often have overflow patients, long wait times or may struggle with understaffing if a resident physician falls ill, retires, or is on leave. If you’re a new physician looking to locum, Emergency Medicine offers an ‘all around’ experience as you’ll get the opportunity to assess and work with cases across numerous areas of specialization and will get hands-on experience in a busy clinical setting. 

You may even still want to consider locuming even if you have a contract if you’re seeking extra experience and income. As a locum, you can work on a part-time or on-call basis and often receive premiums that add an extra boost to your income. 

If you’re working in Radiology, General Surgery or Anesthesiology, you’ll likely always be in demand for locum doctors as surgeries, imaging and the administration of anesthesia often go hand-in-hand and are regularly required in emergency cases, as well as in scheduled procedures, day surgery, and more intensive surgery.

Other areas not specifically noted but that involve both clinical practice and emergency medicine are OB-GYN-specialized locums. Babies are born daily, and women often experience ongoing medical issues involving their reproductive organs, so this could be something to consider if you specialize in obstetrics and gynecology.

What are the benefits of becoming a locum doctor?

As previously mentioned, locum doctors are often new graduates or doctors who are looking to expand their knowledge and income by obtaining a locum position as a ‘side gig.’ That being said, work-life balance has become a major role in why some doctors are now considering locum work. Because there’s enough demand, it gives many physicians the ability to create their own schedules and not pick up any shifts when they want time off. This makes it perfect for physicians who are reaching retirement and want to slow down, as well as physicians with new families or who simply don’t want to burn out. 

Therefore, the biggest benefit to becoming a locum doctor in Canada is not only your potential to learn and work with different populations and in different clinics and hospitals, but the flexibility a locum doctor can have. 

The ‘level’ of flexibility you feel you have as a locum doctor does depend on a few key factors. Consider first if you would like to be a locum doctor as a part-time, second job or as a full-time position. It may help to think of locum physicians as ‘freelancers’ rather than substitutes: the more work you accept (or are available for), the more income and experience you’ll get. 

There is an element of freedom associated with becoming a locum doctor, but again, this depends on you and your desired work/life balance and income goals. Not being bound to one clinic, and being able to accept or reject work offers as they come, is very desired by some doctors and often reduces burnout.

However, one thing to note is that you should consider the type of work you are used to prior to seeking a locum doctor position in Canada to make sure locuming is suited for you. 

Ask yourself:● Do you prefer/are you used to a scheduled, steady ‘clinic’ setting (perhaps 9-5)?● Do you prefer/are you used to a busy, 24-7, unpredictable-at-times setting (such as an emergency room)?● Do you enjoy working with new people? (if not, you might want to stay away from locum work). ● Are you good with technology? (as each new clinic will have its own EMR system that you’ll be expected to learn). 

Taking a minute to think about your ideal locum position will help when you start looking for jobs; only apply to ones you think you’d enjoy. Since there is plenty of locum doctor demand in Canada, you don’t have to say yes to the first opportunity. Instead, shop around and only say yes to contracts that excite you. 

What is the average locum salary?

Simply put, locum physicians can earn roughly the same amount–if not just slightly less or more– than permanent physicians in Canada. Of course, there are a few key factors that can determine just how much you earn as a locum doctor. 

Most locums will work under the Fee For Service system, where you bill the government directly for the work that you do. Therefore, how much you earn depends on your specialty (more complicated procedures and visits cost more) and your location. For example, depending on the province you work in, there are more incentives to work in remote or underserved areas, such as northern or indigenous communities, than in larger cities. 

On average, an Ontario physician has an annual billing amount of $309,000, and a BC physician is around $217,000. This does not mean that you cannot make as much money working in provinces other than Ontario, but you’ll have to consider the demand for your area of specialization, your work hour preferences, and where you’d like your locum position to be located. Again, the amount you earn can also be impacted by how much (or little) you chose to work and whether or not you become a locum doctor on a full-time or part-time basis.

Conclusion 

No matter if you’re a practicing physician looking for a better work-life balance, a recent graduate looking to gain experience, or nearing retirement and looking to slow down – locumming is a great place to take control of your schedule and hand-pick where you’d like to work. 

Best of all, you can find a range of locum jobs that need coverage for a few days, weeks or months. As a locum doctor in Canada, you can gain amazing experience in your field while having control of your work/life balance and other employment commitments – giving you a rewarding day-to-day work life while offering great flexibility.