Blog home
A new study found that locum tenens doctors are vital in closing the gap in health professional shortage areas (HPSAs). A CHG Healthcare study of locum tenens assignment data found that 71% of all locum tenens physician worksites are located in HPSA zip codes, fulfilling a need that otherwise would leave millions of patients without adequate medical care.
Locum doctors provide more than just medical care: they create cultures of trust, can introduce alternative methods of care in rural areas, and are also highly motivated to make a visible impact on patient lives.
What are health professional shortage areas?
Health professional shortage areas can be geographic areas, populations, or facilities with a shortage of healthcare providers. Population shortage areas occur when there is a shortage of providers for a specific group of people within a defined area, such as low-income or unhoused populations. Geographic shortage areas are designated when all people within a defined geographic area experience a shortage — for example, Native American reservations or rural areas in states like New Mexico. Facility shortages occur when there is a shortage of providers in a given facility; mental health facilities or correctional facilities commonly experience shortages.
In the U.S., there are nearly 7,500 HPSA designations, resulting in around 75 million people who have inadequate access to the medical care they need.
HPSA designations in the U.S.
Identifying and designating HPSAs helps distribute resources from federal programs appropriately. However, a perhaps more pressing concern is getting physicians to those areas.
Locum tenens physicians and the healthcare gap
Locum tenens (or “locums”) refers to a medical practice model where a physician temporarily steps in to provide coverage while another physician is on leave or to fill an open position. A study from three of the top locum tenens staffing agencies (CompHealth, Global Medical Staffing, and Weatherby Healthcare) from July 2022 to June 2024 found that nearly three-quarters (71%) of locum tenens assignment worksites were located in HPSA zip codes. Some states had as high as 97% of locum assignments located in HPSA areas. Almost 20% of U.S. states/territories have at least 90% of their locum jobs in HPSAs.
Percent of locum tenens worksites in HPSA zip codes by state
Filling the care gap
In a 2023 CHG Healthcare study, most healthcare facilities (82%) surveyed said their top reason for hiring locums was to fill an opening until a permanent candidate could be found. However, the growing provider shortage makes hiring more difficult. Many healthcare leaders are thus choosing to use locum doctors to fill a temporary need while creating a healthier and more continuous care system for patients.
With an aging population in many rural and underserved areas, the increasing need for healthcare services is also driving demand for more medical professionals; 40% of healthcare facilities surveyed cited meeting increased patient demand as the top reason for hiring locums.
Reasons healthcare facilities are using locums
Nearly half (46%) of surveyed facilities increased locums usage in 2023 compared to the prior year, while 20% stayed about the same. Only 29% reported decreased usage.
Providing more than just medical care
New Mexico is one of the most rural states in the country, with only 7.1 people per square mile. Not only is it predominantly rural, but 32 of 33 counties are designated as HPSAs, where low-income citizens are disproportionately affected. Healthcare here is hard to access; 87% of locum tenens worksites are located in HPSA zip codes.
Orthopedic surgeon Dr. Sonya Sloan has worked one week a month since 2017 for Indian Health Services in Gallup, NM. She says serving the Navajo Nation is more than just providing medical care; it’s about building trust. “When they see someone who is consistent, who comes back, and is invested in who they are in their community, it changes the way they are willing to be treated by you,” she says. “They know it isn’t a one-and-done job.”
Family medicine physician Dr. Samantha Conroy, who has served the Iñupiat people in Utqiagvik, Alaska, expresses similar sentiments. “I’ve worked in a lot of really difficult places, and it seems like patients — even when it seems like all hope is lost — hang on, and then you figure out what to do.”
When locum doctors like Dr. Sloan and Dr. Conroy choose to continue serving in such high-need areas, they provide continuity of care while also providing a sense of trust and hope.
Making a lasting impact and bettering the areas they serve
OB/GYN Dr. Jeanine Ricca has worked locum tenens assignments in HPSAs in Kentucky, Montana, New Mexico, and New York. She is often able to bring new ideas and best practices to the locations she serves. “A lot of times when I come into smaller areas, I’ll show the nurses little tricks of the trade that I’ve picked up along the way to make do when you don’t have certain resources available,” she says.
Having experience in urban areas where resources are often more accessible allows Dr. Ricca to make a lasting impact in a rural area that may not have the same resources. “They may not have been exposed to a lot of newer concepts currently being promoted in larger cities, so I bring a lot of new information to the table for them, and the nurses really appreciate that.”
Locum physicians are motivated by helping underserved populations
One of the consistent motivators for working and continuing to work in locums is making a difference where care is needed. Dr. Conroy says it makes her a better doctor. “It gives you this broader range of experience you might not get if you stick in the same place your whole career.”
For emergency medicine physician Dr. Ripal Patel, serving in rural America is a fulfilling experience because he sees the impact of his work. “When these communities get people that are well trained and passionate about providing that service, there's just an immense amount of gratitude for that,” he says. “And I feel like I become a better physician for it.”
Methodology
The state ranking of locum tenens worksites by HPSA zip code was based on a July 2024 data pull of locum tenens physician assignments completed in U.S. states and territories between July 2022 and June 2024 for three CHG Healthcare companies: CompHealth, Global Medical Staffing, and Weatherby Healthcare.
Download the executive summary:
CHG Healthcare provides physician-centered clinical workforce solutions for healthcare organizations. To learn more about our staffing solutions, call 866.588.5996 or email ecs.contact@chghealthcare.com.
