If you spend time talking with physicians today, a common theme emerges, which is that clinicians still love patient care, but the traditional employment model isn’t working for everyone. Administrative burden continues to rise; schedules feel increasingly rigid, and burnout remains a real concern across specialties.
At the same time, demand for care has never been higher.
That’s why more physicians and advanced practice providers are turning to locum tenens not as a temporary solution, but as a long-term, strategic way to practice medicine. In 2026, shifting workforce dynamics, ongoing physician shortages, and evolving care models have made locum tenens more relevant than ever.
Here’s why now is an especially strong time to consider locums.
1. Physician Shortages Are Driving Unprecedented Demand for Locum Tenens
The U.S. physician shortage continues to deepen.
According to the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC), the U.S. could face a shortage of up to 86,000 physicians by 2036, driven by an aging population and an equally aging physician workforce. More than 20% of practicing physicians are already 65 or older, and retirement rates are accelerating.
Health systems are increasingly relying on locum tenens physicians to maintain consistent coverage, especially in:
- Emergency medicine
- Hospital medicine
- Anesthesiology
For clinicians, this translates to consistent locum tenens job opportunities, competitive compensation, and increased flexibility in where and how they practice.
2. Locum Tenens Offers Flexibility Traditional Roles Can’t Match
Flexibility is no longer a “nice to have”, it’s a deciding factor in placements physicians are deciding to take.
Locum tenens allows physicians to design work around life, not the other way around. In 2026, clinicians are using locums to:
- Work fewer weeks per year while remaining clinically active
- Build intentional time off into their schedules
- Practice in different locations without relocating
- Step away from full-time employment without stepping away from medicine
For many providers, locum tenens work offers a level of control that permanent roles simply can’t replicate.
3. A Proven Tool for Reducing Physician Burnout
Burnout remains one of healthcare’s most pressing challenges.
A 2024 survey from the American Medical Association found that nearly 50% of physicians report symptoms of burnout, often tied to workload, loss of autonomy, and administrative burden.
Locum tenens can help counter those drivers. By removing long-term administrative obligations and internal productivity pressures, locums allows clinicians to:
- Focus on patient care
- Set clearer boundaries between work and personal time
- Take breaks between assignments without career penalties
For some, locums is a reset. For others, it’s a way they can stay in medicine longer since they are able to work on their own terms.
4. Competitive Compensation Without Long-Term Commitment
With demand for locum providers continuing to rise, locum tenens compensation remains highly competitive across specialties.
In addition to strong hourly or daily rates, most locum tenens assignments include:
- Paid travel and lodging
- Malpractice insurance with tail coverage
- Flexible contract lengths
For physicians managing student loans, saving for future goals, or supplementing part-time or academic roles, locums offers meaningful financial opportunity, without locking into a multi-year contract.
5. Career Exploration Without Career Risk
One of the most valuable and often overlooked benefits of locum tenens is optionality.
Locum tenens physicians can:
- Experience different practice environments and care models
- Test new geographic locations before committing permanently
- Explore transitions between career stages with less risk
In a healthcare landscape that’s changing rapidly, locums provides adaptability, whether you’re early in your career, mid-career and reassessing, or looking to scale back later on.
Why Locum Tenens Works in 2026
Locum tenens has evolved.
What was once viewed as temporary coverage is now a core staffing strategy for health systems and a sustainable career path for clinicians. In 2026, locums offers something many physicians are actively seeking: flexibility, autonomy, and meaningful clinical work in a high-demand market.
At MPLT Healthcare, we see firsthand how the right locum tenens opportunities help clinicians regain control of their careers without compromising patient care.
