Here is a list of potential reasons you and your dental office could benefit from hiring a 1099 locum tenens dentist:
Injury: Recently, my friend broke his finger mountain biking. He called me in a bit of a panic, hoping to find someone to fill into his office while his finger healed. He was able to secure a locum tenens dentist and much of his stress has dissipated. Injuries happen (to you and associates) and you definitely don't want to shut your clinic down for weeks. Hire a locum tenens dentist to fill in until you're healthy.Â
Paternity/Maternity Leave: Family is the most important aspect of life and your child is only born once, so be there for their initial weeks as infants. And rest assured that your office will still be functioning with a locum tenens dentist at the helm. I've done multiple locum tenens jobs for friends that had babies, and this is rewarding for everyone involved.
Avoid burnout: As a dentist and owner, you deserve a break from time to time. Find a trusted locum tenens, which means place holder, dentist. This will allow you to focus more on the business side and take a break from back-breaking dentistry. This is especially beneficial if you are not ready for an associate or want to do a trial run with a prospective associate dentist.
Vacation: This goes alongside avoiding burnout, TAKE A BREAK without having to close your practice down. Build a relationship with a locum tenens dentist that can fill in at your office a few weeks out of the year.
Test an Associate: Instead of hiring an associate outright, why not test the waters by hiring them for a locum tenens test run. There is less tax and finance work to be done for a 1099 contract. Then, if the dentist is a good match you can hire them as a W2 employee with a longer contract.
Specialist Work: Now this is a unique option for dentist owners who would like to keep more dentistry in house. If you are referring root canals, extractions/socket preservations, and implants; a locum tenens dentist/specialist could help you refer less dentistry. Therefore, increasing your collections and helping your patients stay in one place.
Financial Benefits: Click the button below to learn about 1099 contracts: