Locum Tenens and Pediatric Surgery: A Position Statement and Practice Guidelines From the American Pediatric Surgical Association
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- APSA guidelines emphasize patient safety and surgeon support as core principles for locum tenens practice in pediatric surgery.
- Locum tenens work can reduce burnout by providing flexible scheduling and improved work-life balance for pediatric surgeons.
- Hospitals should maintain full-time pediatric surgery staff rather than relying exclusively on locum tenens to prevent care gaps.
- Locum tenens agencies should provide CME sponsorship and conduct formal exit interviews to support professional development.
- Handoff risks increase when hospitals use only locum tenens coverage without permanent pediatric surgery presence.
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What is the role of locum tenants in pediatric surgery and what should their guidelines be? I'm Lizzie Lee from Cincinnati Children's Hospital, and this is an article you should know about. The American Pediatric Surgical Association APSA published best practices for locum tenant surgeons, hospitals, and agencies in this review article. These guidelines stress the importance of patient safety and support for surgeons. Locum tenants can help prevent burnout by offering flexible work options for a better work-life balance. However, hospitals should avoid relying solely on locum tenants, pediatric surgeons without any full-time surgeons because this may cause patients to slip through handoffs. Locum tenants agencies should sponsor CME and conduct formal exit interviews. Let us know what you think in the comments below and stay tuned for more articles that you should know about.