Locum tenens, a Latin term meaning "to hold the place of," refers to health care providers who temporarily fill positions at hospitals and clinics. These professionals play a crucial role in maintaining the quality of patient care, especially in situations where there are staffing shortages or when permanent staff are on leave. At Salem Health Hospitals and Clinics, the integration of locum tenens has been instrumental in ensuring that patient care remains uninterrupted and of the highest quality. Let’s learn more!
Imagine your favorite provider needs a vacation or has a family emergency. Locum tenens (Latin for “one holding a place”) are providers who fill in during these times. Also called locums, they might come from different parts of the country, bringing fresh skills and lots of experience to help patients right here in Salem.
These locums don’t just fly in and out — they’re super qualified!
"Our board of trustees has the same standards of credentialing and privileging for locums providers as they do for any full-time employed or contracted independent physician,” said Kelly Aebi, director of medical staff services at Salem Health. “We expect the same standard of care regardless of how they’re coming to us.”
Salem Health rigorously screens all locums for quality and background. It’s the same process our local physicians go through in order to be credentialed at Salem Health.
“Our organization goes above and beyond confirming competency,” Kelly said. “We ensure that these locums are not only clinically sound, but that they also meet the standards of our culture and get along well with the team.”
That means bringing a crew of trusted faces into the process. While Salem Health hires locums as needed in virtually every specialty, the most obvious examples recently include anesthesiologists and cardiothoracic surgeons.
In the case of cardiothoracic surgeons, our candidates are vetted by Brandon Tieu, MD, our medical director of thoracic surgery, and Nervin Fanous, MD, an established CT surgeon, as well as Salem Health Medical Group Chief Medical Officer Christine Clarke, MD, and Associate Chief Medical Officer Lisa Rice, MD.
But it doesn’t stop there.
“Dr. Tieu and Dr. Fanous review the locums’ qualifications and their data in the Society of Thoracic Surgeons Database,” said Christine Clarke, MD, Salem Health Medical Group Chief Medical Officer. “This is a national database that thoracic and cardiac surgeons report their outcomes to.”
This rigorous process underscores Salem Health’s commitment to patient safety.
"Our families, our neighbors, our patients are being cared for by the locums providers that we're inviting into our facility,” Dr. Clarke said, “And we take that very seriously."
Not everyone makes the cut.
"For every one person we permit into the credentialing process. There are some candidates we decide not to pursue," Dr. Clarke said.
The locum tenens cardiothoracic surgeons at Salem Health are known for their amazing skills and caring hearts. They work hard to make sure every patient feels safe and gets the best treatment possible. The same can be said for locums hired in other areas.
"I have just really been impressed by their skill, by their patient-centeredness and by their work ethic," Dr. Clarke said. “They want to do the right thing by the patient, and they are here to work —day, night, weekend — doesn’t matter."
Locums are a vital part of a larger, well-coordinated team who make sure patient care is always covered.
“We have an excellent group of highly trained physician assistants who are here 24/7 to help manage and guide the care that the patient receives," Dr. Clarke said.
Salem Health’s preference for recurring locums, in any specialty, also helps patients receive consistent, high-quality care.
"We have a smaller roster of recurring locums rather than always having a new face,” Dr. Clarke said. “This serves both the provider and the organization, and ultimately the patients, well. Better communication and familiarity lead to better patient care."
You might wonder, "Why not go to a bigger hospital in Portland?" Well, Salem Health is top-notch too! In fact, we’re rated just as high for heart surgeries.
"The gold standard, the Society of Thoracic Surgeons Database, shows we are a two-star out of three-star program, just like OHSU and St. Vincent’s in Portland," Dr. Clarke said.
Plus, when you’re close to home, your family and friends can visit you more easily, and all your medical records are right here. That means less stress for you and a faster recovery!
"When you have a problem, you're coming back to your local ER where all of your records are,” Dr. Clarke said. “And the hospitalists, intensivists, nurses and techs who cared for you on your previous admission are the same."
This integrated care — continuous, familiar — makes a huge difference in patient care and comfort.
“By having your surgery here, you've got the benefit of being in your community, and your loved ones can be here to help you navigate through the rehabilitation process,” Dr. Clarke said.
So next time you’re at a Salem Health facility and you meet one of our locum tenens heroes, remember — these providers are here because they care about our patients and about our community. They might not stay forever, but while they’re here, they’re giving it their all to provide the same high quality care as our local physicians.