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The Center for Creative Leadership identifies “people” as a resource contributing to 30% of individual learning and growth. Mentors usually are seen as “wise guides,” those who can challenge, encourage and help you walk through learning situations with thought-provoking questions. They share their experiences and provide a safe space to learn. Mentors have the ability to provide both professional advice that you can trust and also their experiences in a professional field or role of interest to you. When entering into a mentorship you should do your best to take full advantage of their knowledge and experience. Below are a few helpful tips to ensure you make the most of mentoring.

1. Be prepared
It’s up to you to guide the content of these meetings. Take a few minutes to think through what would be of most value – and don’t be afraid to share that with your mentor.

2. Challenges are ok
If there is something you want to talk through – don’t be afraid to ask. Everyone has challenges (including your mentor) and they can often provide a different perspective.

3. Leverage networks
Ask your mentor to introduce you to their network.

4. Be Included
Ask if there are projects and/or opportunities your mentor could include you in or expose you to that would deepen your perspective.

5. Get Feedback
Don’t be afraid to ask for feedback or guidance. Often mentors can provide alternative viewpoints to help expand your thinking.

6. Resources
Mentors can be a great source for learning materials and tools. Encourage them to share articles, blogs, tools, books that they find interesting.

7. Be proactive
Schedule time proactively and on a recurring basis.

8. Share your goals
Mentors are a great resource to weigh in on goals and progress.

9. Leverage face to face
Use facetime, webcams and of course “in person” time when possible.

10. Say “Thanks”
Mentors have volunteered their time to help guide you. Don’t be afraid to send them a thank you.

Do you have any tips to add? Send us your tips for getting the most of mentoring here.

Source: Jennifer Beals, Director, Learning & Development, Sound Physicians

Image downloaded from Fotolia.com

Whether you realize it or not, as a physician you’re seen as a leader in the hospital and in your community. Patients, their families and medical staff look up to you. Even though you may not think of yourself as a physician leader, you are in other’s eyes. In medical school you likely had very little exposure to basic fundamentals that business leaders have as part of their armamentarium. You may feel out maneuvered in the c-suite or negotiating with people you interface with every day: nursing, case management, pharmacy and the list goes on. But there are things you can do in your spare time to make yourself a capable and effective leader.

One fact of life for locum tenens physicians is you travel a lot. Although you likely work long hours, you also probably have time in the evenings or even on a flight that you can use to gain new leadership skills. Instead of turning on the television, grab a book and get familiar with how to become an effective leader in your own right. Below you’ll find a few books on leadership that are must reads.

Primal Leadership – Learning to Lead with Emotional Intelligence

‪by Daniel Goleman‪, Richard E. Boyatzis, Annie McKee

This book, from a macro perspective, concentrates on how emotional factors affect a person’s thinking process, as well as, how a person’s actions or words generate emotions in others. The authors of the book use scientific studies and information about the human brain and psychology to illustrate how and why our emotions affect our thoughts, and actions, and those of others around us. read more

Our Iceberg Is Melting: Changing and Succeeding Under Any Conditions

‪by John Kotter, Holger Rathgeber

Our Iceberg Is Melting is a simple fable about doing well in an ever-changing world. Based on the award-winning work of Harvard’s John Kotter, it is a story that has been used to help thousands of people and organizations drive change management on teams and organizations. It event helps at home. Read more

How Successful People Think – Change Your Thinking Change Your Life

by John C. Maxwell

Full of interactive questions and space for readers to provide answers, as well as new material for readers to assess their current type of thinking, this workbook guides readers in applying the lessons they learned from how successful people think or the book which it was derived from, Thinking For A Change. Read more

Delivering Happiness

by Tony Hsieh

Delivering Happiness is Zappos CEO Tony Hsieh’s first book. In the book, Tony shares the different lessons he has learned in business and life, from starting a worm farm to running a pizza business; through LinkExchange (acquired by Microsoft for $265 million), Zappos, and more. Read more

The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People

by Steven Covey

Stephen R. Covey’s book, The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People^®, has been a top-seller for the simple reason that it ignores trends and pop psychology for proven principles of fairness, integrity, honesty, and human dignity. Read more

Crucial Conversations

by Kerry Patterson, Joseph Grenny, Ron McMillan, Al Switzler, Stephen R. Covey

The New York Times and Washington Post bestseller that changed the way millions communicate. Read more

Providers choose to work locum tenens for a variety of reasons, including, but not limited to:

Supplemental Income

Locum tenens is a great way to earn a supplemental income. Control the amount of shifts you do, there’s no minimum number.

Change of Lifestyle

Being a locum tenens physician gives you the unique opportunity to see the country.

New Practice Settings

Test drive hospitals and network to see where you might want to stay permanently.

Waiting to Start a Fellowship

Locum tenens is a great way to spend your time before you start your fellowship.

Download the infographic here: Why-locum-tenens-echo-locum-tenens

The new year is the perfect time for reflection and self-improvement. But being a locum tenens physician can make this quite difficult, especially during the busy winter months. Before you commit to any resolutions or self-improvement projects it’s important to identify priorities and make time for the things that matter most.

Below are 3 helpful tips that will help you build capacity during the busy times.

1. Identify your top 5 areas of focus (not goals). This isn’t a professional or personal list of goals. Create a list of priories in all aspects of your life.
2. Intentionally create brief interruptions during your day. Think of the outcome that you want to achieve and compare that to your daily tasks. Consider setting a reminder in your phone to help you slow down and reflect on your day.
3. Identify one personal habit that is impacting your capacity. Try a new approach and and make it happen consistently to form a habit.

We wish you luck in all of your endeavors this year!

We want to hear from Echo Locum Tenens providers working for us! Send us your time management tips here.

Source: Jennifer Beals, Director, Learning & Development, Sound Physicians

Image downloaded from Fotolia.com

As a clinician it’s important to remember that most patients don’t understand clinical terminology. That’s why it’s helpful to use “living room language”. This is everyday language that can be understood by adults at most any age or literacy level. Using this kind of language in a clinical setting can be challenging, so it’s no surprise that the HCAHPS question, “How often did doctors explain things in a way you can understand?” is consistently the lowest scoring question of the three doctor communication questions. See the reference list below to help you master “living room language”.

Medical terms that patients may not understand

• Adverse – Bad
• Analgesic – Pain killer
• Anti-inflammatory – Helps swelling and irritation go away
• Avoid – Stay away from, do not use/eat
• Contraception – Helps you not get pregnant
• Diet – What you eat, your meals
• Dosage – How much medicine you should take
• Generic – Something that does not have a brand, same drug/food
• Internist – Regular doctor
• Intermittent – Off and on
• Oral – By mouth, eat/drink/swallow
• Cellulitis – Skin infection
• Enlarge – Get bigger
• Lateral – Outside
• Lesion – Sore, wound
• Lipids – Fats in the blood
• Menses – Period
• Monitor – Keep track of, keep an eye on
• Normal Range – Where it should be, provide the range
• Osteoporosis – Soft, brittle bones
• Referral or Consult – Ask to see another doctor
• Terminal – Not curable
• Toxic – Poisonous
• Depression – Feeling sad or down

We want to hear from our Echo Locum Tenens team? Contact us here.

Source: Mark Rudolph, MD, SFHM, VP Physician Development & Patient Experience, Sound Physicians

Image downloaded from Fotolia.com

1. Security Lines

Don’t check the length of the line, instead look at how fast the security agent is working. Ever stand in a short line at the grocery store and end up waiting twice as long as everyone else because the cashier is so slow? Well, it’s the same concept here.

2. Miles, Miles, Miles

Apply for a frequent flyer membership and earn points on loads of things! Benefits can include:

TSA pre-check
No fees for checking in bags
Upgrades & early boarding
Earn points for free travel

3. TSA PreCheck

Apply for expedited traveler status.

Applying for TSA PreCheck means no more standing in TSA lines, no more taking off your shoes and taking out your electronics. Hooray! You can do so through programs like TSA Pre✓ for U.S. travel

4. Credit Cards

Do the research on your current credit cards to see what perks you’re not taking advantage of. Many cards offer free rental car insurance and much more.

Knowledge is power!

5. Transportation

Skip the line at arrivals and instead grab a cab at the departure zone. They’re guaranteed to be empty, it’s win-win situation! Or download the Uber app and connect on your mobile device for a ride.

6. Customer-Service

Keep Customer-Service Numbers Stored in Your Phone

Unknown cell phone reception and busy airports, paired with a busy schedule can be a recipe for disaster. Google isn’t always available, so having a few helpful numbers in your phone can come in handy when you least expect it!

Bon voyage to all of our Echo Locum Tenens!

Sources: Daily Mail, Elite Daily, Independ Traveler and Travel Channel

As a Locum Tenens physician, you have the opportunity to touch many lives and communities throughout the country. This holiday season we challenge all of our Echo Locum Tenens physicians to volunteer, whether you’re traveling or staying home for the holidays.

There is a wide range of opportunities that fit all interest and hobbies. Need help coming up with ideas, see the list below. If we’ve missed something let us know, we’d love to hear what our Echo Locum Tenens are up to.

Contact your hospital – see what they’re up to!

Many hospitals are involved in a wide range of philanthropic initiatives, especially around the holidays. This is a great way to connect to the community that you serve and build a relationship with your colleagues.

Help your local rescue mission

For many the holiday season brings extra stress and worries instead of cheer. Contact your local rescue mission to see how you can help those in need in your community. Click here to find one near you!

Toys for Tots

Toys For Tots is an organization that provides gifts for less fortune children during the holiday season. There are various levels of involvement, you can simply donate a toy at a local drop off area, volunteer at a warehouse or host a donation event. Click here to see the giving opportunities in your area.

Help your local food bank or soup kitchen

Volunteering at your local food bank or soup kitchen is a great way to connect with and serve those in your community. Sadly, there is need throughout the country. Click here to find your local soup kitchen or food bank.

Help our furry friends

Last but not least, our furry friends need love, too! Help an animal find a home and a family find a new furry friend this holiday season. Click here to find a Humane Society in your area.

We want to know what our Echo Locum Tenens are up to, share your volunteering adventures with us! Click here to contact us.

Working locum tenens can be a great addition or supplement to a traditional career in healthcare. Whether you’re just starting a career in medicine or are approaching retirement, being a locum tenens provider can be rewarding at any stage of your career.

Do you:

• Want to earn extra money in addition to your full-time position?
• Like having control over when and where you work?
• Want to “test drive” a position before making a long-term commitment?
• Need to work before a full-time position starts?
• Want to travel the country and work in different facilities and geographic areas?
• Want to work part-time in retirement?

If you answered “yes” to any of the questions above, you should consider a locum tenens opportunity. However, it’s important to understand the nature of locum tenens assignments as certain ones might be better suited for you than others.

Considering locum tenens work? Check out these important tips:

1. Be adaptable. You might be working with different technology, EMR systems, and teams.
2. Be accessible. Due to the nature of the locum tenens market, hot opportunities are filled quickly. You don’t want to miss out!
3. Understand your assignment, including how long it will last.
4. Keep your licenses and certifications up to date. This is something that your recruiter can help you with.
5. Be prepared. Keep a complete list of credentialing materials handy. You might want these to line up a new assignment as one is coming to an end.
6. Sign up for loyalty programs from airlines and hotels to take advantage of travel rewards.

If you think that working locum tenens is right for you, see how Echo can help you find assignments to meet your needs. Get started today.