What a locum physician does
A locum physician temporarily takes over another doctor's clinical work, seeing their patients, managing results and keeping care continuous while the regular physician is away. Coverage may be short or may span a long leave. For the practice, a good locum protects patient relationships and revenue, prevents a backlog of unanswered results, and lets the departing physician leave with confidence that their patients are in capable hands.
Locum searches are time-sensitive and depend on detail. Candidates need to know the dates, the practice's hours and patient volume, the EMR, any on-call or hospital duties, and how billing and overhead will be handled. Finch gathers that information at the start, then approaches physicians whose availability and experience match. We confirm registration and liability coverage early, so there are fewer surprises close to the start date.
Typical responsibilities
- Provide care to the absent physician's patients during the coverage period
- Review and act on lab results, imaging reports and specialist letters
- Follow existing care plans and clinic protocols for continuity
- Cover any agreed hospital, long-term care or on-call duties
- Document thoroughly so the returning physician can pick up where care left off
Qualifications and credentials
- CPSO registration that permits practice in the setting being covered
- Active OHIP billing number for the services they provide
- CMPA membership or equivalent medical liability protection
- Experience in the same field, such as family medicine or a specific specialty
- Hospital privileges, or eligibility for them, where coverage includes inpatient or call duties
Who hires a locum physician
- Family practices and family health teams covering leaves
- Specialist practices needing temporary coverage
- Long-term care homes needing interim attending physicians
- Walk-in clinics with a gap in their schedule
Where we recruit locum physician candidates
We fill locum physician roles for employers across Toronto and the GTA, including North York, Scarborough, Etobicoke, Vaughan, Markham, Richmond Hill, Mississauga, Brampton, Oakville, Burlington, Oshawa and Pickering, and for employers across Canada. GTA employers can meet us at our North York office by appointment.
What Finch checks before you meet a candidate
- Confirm exact availability for the full coverage period
- Check CPSO registration and the public register for any terms or conditions
- Verify CMPA coverage and OHIP billing number
- Review the candidate's experience against your patient population and EMR
- Collect references from practices where the candidate has provided locum coverage
Interview questions to ask
- How do you get up to speed on an unfamiliar practice and patient roster in your first days?
- What do you leave for the returning physician when your coverage ends?
- Which EMRs and billing arrangements have you worked with as a locum?