Chat with us, powered by LiveChat G-BVGYQW18NJ
top of page

The healthcare revolution: Doctors pivot to gig work amidst burnout crisis

The healthcare revolution: Doctors pivot to gig work amidst burnout crisis

The landscape of the healthcare industry is undergoing a significant shift as an increasing number of doctors in the prime of their careers are choosing to deviate from traditional hospital roles. Instead, they are opting for temporary or gig work, a trend that has been gaining momentum in recent years.

This shift is largely driven by the allure of better compensation and the flexibility that comes with such roles, mirroring a similar trend observed among nurses who transitioned to gig work as the pandemic intensified burnout issues within the healthcare sector.

However, this new path is not without its challenges. Doctors who choose to work as locum tenens or temporary physicians face a unique set of hurdles. They are required to hold full credentials in every location they practice, their liability varies from state to state, and they must adapt swiftly to new work environments.

Despite these obstacles, the appeal of gig work among physicians is undeniable. Healthcare professionals, the very individuals who perform life-saving work, often find themselves treated as expendable secondary to administrative staff who dictate rules and schedules. This long-standing treatment has inflicted a moral injury on the healthcare community, the effects of which may be irreversible in our lifetime.

Many who had the option to retire chose to do so. Others, weary of thankless hours of bedside care, transition to travel or remote roles as care managers or other non-patient-facing positions. These roles not only offered them respite but also came with higher pay.

This raises a critical question: How long before the healthcare industry is left with only fresh graduates to fill the shoes of seasoned professionals who dedicated their lives to caring for others in their most vulnerable moments?

bottom of page