Locum Tenens Dentistry…
Why?
By Fay Stricklin, DMD
A relationship with a locum tenens dental agency should be
a tool that solo practitioners have in their armamentarium
to make their lifestyles more manageable. Most traditional
doctors take one or two weeks off a year for vacation. When they do,
they often require their staff to take off the same week. The staff has
the right to apply for unemployment compensation if their hours
are cut without cause. Patients are put on hold for the duration
or are told to go to the emergency room if they have a problem.
Revenue stops flowing.
Having a relationship with a qualified locum tenens dentist enables
the doctor to take time off for vacations, maternity leaves and medical
leaves more effectively. The practice stays open, care is being provided
for the patients, the staff is employed and revenue is being produced.
Dr. Stricklin received her DMD at the University of
Pittsburgh School of Dental Medicine in 1980. She
practiced general dentistry as an associate in Easton,
Pennsylvania from 1980-1985. In 1985 she started
and managed her private practice in the same town.
In 2008 she started Dr. Fill-In, a locum tenens agency
serving the Lehigh Valley in Pennsylvania. Currently,
Dr. Fill-In supports offices throughout Pennsylvania and northeast Florida.
During 2012-2018 she also taught as a Clinical Instructor at her alma
mater in both the Department of Pediatric Dentistry and the Department
of Diagnostic Sciences. She is an active member of the ADA, PDA and the
Dental Society of Western Pennsylvania.
The locum tenens is not an employee. They work as an independent
agent and the owner dentist has no need to credential the dentist,
withhold taxes, or supply malpractice insurance. These are generally
addressed by a reputable agency and the contracted locum tenens
dentists. The owner doctor is not married to any particular temp doctor.
If the relationship isn’t working or circumstances change, the agency
can make other arrangements for the parties involved. On the other
hand, if the relationship is great, the owner doctor can buy out the
locum tenens contract and hire them as an employee.
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There is flexibility in the levels of care provided. Some offices only
want hygiene checks and emergency care. Others might request
restorative work too. More advanced specialty work demands
greater skill and rates are reflected accordingly.
Who are these locum tenens doctors? Some are doctors who
have just retired from full-time dentistry. They are the highly skilled
“wet fingered” dentists who have honed their skills for years and want
to help because it provides them a transition from going full steam every
day to working when they want. They enjoy bringing their expertise
to your office. Another excellent candidate for locum tenens might
be a dentist who is raising a family, wants to work part time, has worked
in dentistry, and wants to keep in the loop. They want flexibility in
their working schedule and can achieve that in this venue.
Once a doctor has tried this arrangement and is comfortable working
with a locum tenen dentist, he will see the value of having a relationship
like this in his practice. Running a dental business is stressful enough,
and there is a better way that a doctor can take time off when he needs or
wants to without having to close his office or hire a permanent associate.
“Dentists helping Dentists”
Our company provides a valuable two-sided service by:
n Credentialing and contracting locum tenens dentists
n Matching dental practices with highly qualified practitioners
Ph: 610-216-2899
Fax: 412-235-7200
faystricklin@doctorfillin.com
www.doctorfillin.com
JAN UARY/FEBRUARY 2020 | P EN N SYLVAN IA DEN TAL JOURNAL
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