Locum Tenens and Pediatric Surgery: A Position Statement & Practice Guidelines From the APSA | Created by APSA Practice Committee | APSA American Pediatric Surgical Association Saving Lifetimes | Locum tenens providers work at healthcare facilities on a temporary basis to fill gaps in care or occupy vacant positions until a full-time provider can be found. | The Practice Committee presents a set of guidelines for locum tenens practice | Intended to foster discussion and contract negotiation as well as inform decision making for... | a) pediatric surgeons considering locum tenens opportunities | b) hospitals and practices seeking the coverage of a pediatric surgeon | c) locum tenens companies vetting both surgeons and hospitals for appropriateness of such coverage | Conclusion: Locum tenens practice, through collaboration between pediatric surgeons, hiring organizations, and placement agencies, plays a vital role in delivering safe, effective pediatric surgical care closer to home. | https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38806318/ | Source: Fahy AS et. al. | Penn State Health Children's Hospital, Hershey, PA, USA | @StayCurrentMD | @EmGooteMD | Cincinnati Children's | Journal of Pediatric Surgery
Locum Tenens and Pediatric Surgery: A Position Statement and Practice Guidelines From the American Pediatric Surgical Association (APSA)
Infographic · Oct 2024 · 1 min read
In brief
In brief
APSA's position statement establishes best-practice guidelines for locum tenens coverage in pediatric surgery, addressing safe practice standards and quality care parameters. The guidelines serve pediatric surgeons considering temporary positions, hospitals seeking coverage, and agencies facilitating placements to ensure optimal patient care and surgeon protection.
- APSA establishes first formal guidelines for locum tenens practice in pediatric surgery to ensure patient safety and surgeon protection.
- Guidelines define optimal resources and parameters that hospitals and locum agencies must meet before placing pediatric surgeons.
- Recommendations serve three audiences: surgeons considering locum work, hospitals seeking coverage, and agencies vetting placements.
- Standards aim to prevent mismatches between surgeon capabilities and institutional resources that could compromise pediatric surgical care.
- Position statement reinforces APSA's mission that all children deserve highest quality surgical care regardless of staffing model.
Written by the GCMD Library team from the infographic.
The infographic uses a teal and yellow color scheme with the APSA logo in the upper left. It features simple illustrations of two healthcare providers in white coats and a small hospital building icon. The layout flows from top to bottom with text blocks explaining locum tenens practice, guidelines for three stakeholder groups, and a conclusion section in yellow at the bottom.
Aodhnait S. Fahy, David A. Klima, Marcene McVay Gillam, Charles J. Aprahamian, Stephen S. Kim, Evan R. Kokoska, Erin A. Teeple, Richard G. Weiss, Mauricio A. Escobar, Jr.
The American Pediatric Surgical Association (APSA) Practice Committee endorsed by the Board of Governors presents a Position Statement on the role of locum tenens in the practice of pediatric surgery. The Practice Committee also presents a set of guidelines for locum tenens practice. These recommendations highlight safe practice and quality care that protects the patient as well as the pediatric surgeon by offering best practice standards, defining optimal resources and establishing parameters by which hospitals and locum tenens agencies should abide. These guidelines are intended to foster discussion and contract negotiation as well as inform decision making for a) pediatric surgeons considering locum tenens opportunities, b) host organizations (hospitals and practices) seeking the coverage of a pediatric surgeon, and c) locum tenens companies vetting both surgeons and hospitals for appropriateness of such coverage. This Position Statement and foundational set of guidelines align with APSA's Vision (all children receive the highest quality surgical care) and Mission (to provide the best surgical care to our patients and families by supporting an inclusive community through education, discovery and advocacy).