When resident physicians and fellows step in to provide temporary medical coverage in rural Kansas communities, they acquire invaluable experience working in primary care or emergency room settings while significantly benefitting the health care organization. 

Temporary coverage is needed during weekends, holidays and summer months in rural and underserved communities across Kansas. The temporary coverage service overseen by Rural Health Education and Services is designed to alleviate the shortage of physicians in these areas by facilitating connections between providers and Kansas health care employers that need a shift covered. 

Since its inception in 1993, Kansas Locum Tenens (KLT) has been strengthening the health care workforce in Kansas by providing value to health care professionals and organizations. In the last year, the KLT program has coordinated more than 60 coverages, amounting to 1,800 hours of work for rural Kansas health care organizations.

The partnership between the KLT program and these organizations creates opportunities for physician residents to earn additional income while building up their professional skills and experiences. 

"Participating in the KLT program has been very beneficial for me in multiple ways,” said Craig Beavers, a physician covering open shifts through KLT. “The clinical experience has significantly contributed to my professional growth as a physician, and supplementing income has provided more financial stability. The staff at KLT are exceptional — easy to work with, communicative and they make all processes seamless and convenient." 

Not only do health care providers benefit by receiving valuable experience and competitive supplemental income, but the program also serves as a robust recruitment resource for rural health care organizations. By offering coverage for physicians needing time off or assistance during short-staffed periods, KLT enhances workforce culture and promotes work-life balance by reducing call time. 

The KLT program engages resident physicians, fellows and faculty from the University of Kansas School of Medicine campuses in Kansas City, Salina and Wichita, who provide coverage for primary care. The program also utilizes practicing providers, including primary care and specialty physicians.  

Now in its 17th year, KLT is looking for ways to help address the growing pressures on rural health care providers by expanding opportunities. Staff are exploring new placements for advance practice providers, nurses and other health care professionals to address coverage needs.“There are a wide variety of needs around the state at all levels of care,” KLT Coordinator Brad Thomison said. “The KLT program has historically focused on physicians, and we are actively looking to engage more healthcare professionals to meet the diverse needs of our partner organizations.” 

Organizations participating in the program set their own competitive rates and pin ay KLT providers directly. Working through KLT ensures a safe approach to resident "moonlighting," as all necessary approvals and documentation, including sponsorships for Medical Professional Liability Insurance, are provided by KLT. The sponsorship is made possible through a KLT service fee paid by the partner organization when a provider covers their shift. The fee, which was reduced June 1 to help organizations with limited resources, is assessed based on the length of the shift filled.  

For further information on the KLT programs, please visit our website or contact KLT Coordinator Brad Thomison at bthomison@kumc.edu or 316-293-2649.