FAQs

LocumsOntario is a dynamic platform that masterfully blends graphical and text elements to effectively facilitate connections between Ontario Clinicians and Locum Practitioners. With recent enhancements to include both Physicians and Nurse Practitioners, each Locum Ad on LocumsOntario is easily searchable and marked on a detailed map of Ontario. This map is organized by Ontario Health Regions (OHRs) and is renowned for being the most sophisticated and accurate data representation in the province. In contrast, many other locum placement sites rely on static pages of advertisements that seldom receive updates.

When a Physician and Nurse Practitioner registers with LocumsOntario, they identify their role as either Locum Practitioner or Clinicians with a practice. Clinicians can then describe their locum needs and post a free, searchable Locum Ad. Locum Ads are displayed on the dynamic Ad Page and highlighted on an Ontario map.  Locum Practitioners, on the other hand, create Locum Preferences to identify what type or timing of Locum Experience they are looking for.  Preferences can specify up to 10 unique criteria such as location, remuneration, availability dates.  Locum Practitioners can use their Preferences to filter through the Locum Ads. Additionally, Clinicians and Recruiters have the option to promote their ads for increased visibility or participate in The Match. The Match features a unique algorithm that aligns Locum Ads with Locum Preferences, facilitating direct contact between users. While LocumsOntario offers these robust tools, it cannot guarantee a Locum Practioner for every Locum Period, but we are dedicated to maximizing your chances of success!

Because sometimes, it’s just nice to get a break without breaking the bank! LocumsOntario was created with the belief that stepping away from your medical practice now and then is a right, not a privilege. Whether you’re expanding your family, vacationing, attending a conference, or simply dialing back your workload to recharge, maintaining your mental health and happiness is crucial. We think you shouldn’t have to pay to preserve that right. So, go ahead—post your locum ad for free and take that well-deserved break!

Promoting your ad is a good way to improve the likelihood that it is found. Locum Practitioners are more likely to find a promoted ad because they are colourful and hold a prominent location on Ad pages. Choose  a "Top" ad to get it moved higher on the Ad pages. Choose "Urgent" to get your ad listed first in all searches, even when it doesn't match the filter criteria. Make your ad Urgent when you need it filled right away. A Free or Base ad is white and is moved lower as new ads appear.  A Top ad is coloured green and an Urgent ad is coloured red with a red sash across its icon for better visibility. The easier it is to notice your ad, the more likely a browsing Locum Practitioner is going to find it.

Be creative! For your title, don't just write "Family Doctor needs Locum"... try "Friendly and Fabulous!" In the description of your clinic, include the particulars about how many doctors work there, the staff and how large your practice is... but also include descriptors that depict the ambiance of the office, the attitude of the staff and the friendliness of the patients. Add a line about your community and fun things to do there. Everyone has a busy practice. Make your ad stand out.

The LocumsOntario Match system is the best part of this site. By comparing parameters entered by Clinicians and Recruiters in Locum Ads, to those in the Locum Preferences created by Locum Practitioners, LocumsOntario produces a score card of potential matches. Matches are rated as Excellent, Good and Fair. The closer the match, the higher the rating. Should your ad have a favourable score card, you might choose enter The Match. This enables LocumsOntario to send a message  to matching Locum Practitioners on your behalf. The messages contain a link to your Locum Ad, encouraging the Locum Practitioner to review the Locum Opportunity. Entering The Match gives 28 days of messaging to any current or future matching Locum Practitioners.

In order to ensure that ads remain current, all ads expire either 28 days after posting, at the specified end date of the Locum Period, or when the position is filled... Whichever comes first.

Yes. You will receive reminders to renew your ad both seven days and one day prior to your ad's expiration date. The reminders will also give you the option of promoting your ad or entering The Match.

Congratulations! Finding a Locum is the hard part. The rest is easy. You will be provided with the Locum Practitioner's direct contact information so you can work through specific details of the Locum Period. If you are in a rural community, both you and the Locum Practitioner will contact HealthForceOntario to arrange access to possible stipends. LocumsOntario also recommends signing a Locum Contract to solidify arrangements in writing. Two sample Locum Contracts are provided on the site.

The RIO is the Rurality Index for Ontario (RIO) score, a measure of rurality that ensures funding is specifically targeted to northern and very rural communities. The RIO2008_Basic score is derived from three factors: population (count and density), travel time to a basic referral centre, and travel time to an advanced referral centre. RIO scores are assigned to Statistics Canada census subdivisions (CSDs). HealthForceOntario administers all stipends and is the proper agency to contact. You can confirm your community's Rurality Index for Ontario score here.

All data on LocumsOntario is encrypted and protected by passwords. We respect your privacy—Locum Practitioner data isn't shared with third parties without your explicit consent. Plus, your contact details aren’t published publicly. Clinicians need to use the LocumsOntario platform to reach out to matches, and locum advertisers won’t have access to your contact information unless you decide to share it  with them. This ensures your details stay just between you and those you with whom you choose to connect.

No worries! If you secure a Locum Practitioner for only part of the time, you can easily modify your ad to cover the remaining period. Sometimes, if your Locum Period is lengthy, it might take several Locum Practitioners to cover the entire duration. If that’s the case, you might find it helpful to split your Locum Period into several shorter segments and create a separate ad for each one. This flexibility allows you to manage and fill your needs more effectively.

Yes.  Clinicians can now advertise their interest in a Longitudinal Locum Period. This setup is a type of temporary job sharing where a Locum Practitioner covers just one or two days a week, while the Clinician continues working the other days. It’s an excellent strategy for Clinicians looking to lighten their workload. Locum Practitioners, on the other hand, have the flexibility to arrange multiple, concurrent Longitudinal Locum periods with different Clinicians or across various clinics. When creating their Locum Ad, Clinicians can opt for this arrangement, and Locum Practitioners can indicate their preference for such opportunities in their Locum Preferences.

Even though virtual care became more prominent during the COVID-19 pandemic, it remains a valuable option for many clinics. Recognizing this, LocumsOntario now supports Clinicians in advertising for Locum Practitioners to assist with virtual care periods. When setting up a Locum Ad, simply choose this option, or include it in your Locum Preferences if you're a Locum Practitioner. This flexibility allows you to potentially cover multiple practices from your own home, providing a fantastic solution for rural and remote clinics to access a broader pool of Locum Practitioners who might prefer not to travel.

With LocumsOntario, tailoring your search for the perfect Locum spot is a breeze! You can specify your preferred Locum location by Community, Ontario Health Region (OHR), or Ontario Health Team (OHT), giving you plenty of flexibility to find the best fit for your needs. Interested in a couple of specific communities or neighbouring OHTs? Go ahead and set up Locum Preferences for each. Whether you prefer to keep your options broad or zero-in on specific locations, the choice is yours. And the best part? There is no limit to the number of Locum Preferences you can create, so you can explore as many opportunities as you like.

Not all rural primary care Locums require obstetrics. if you are a family physician who prefers not to handle deliveries, just make sure to specify this in your profile by leaving the obstetrics checkbox blank in your Locum Preference. Most doctors will understand and appreciate your help in other areas of their practice. This applies to other medical services too, like inpatient and nursing home care.

On the flip side, rural locums can offer a rich array of experiences. A typical rural physician might manage everything from obstetrics to emergency shifts and even surgical assisting within a typical week. This variety is an excellent opportunity for a Locum Practitioner to improve existing skills or acquire new ones.

While HealthForceOntario is funded by Ontario Health to support physicians, nurses, and other health professionals across Ontario communities and offers a wide range of services, Locum Placement is just one part of its offerings. Its Locum ads are static and less engaging. In contrast, LocumsOntario's only purpose is to connect Locum Practitioners with Clinicians in need, focusing entirely on creating dynamic and effective matches.  

As LocumsOntario is making its comeback in the Locum market, it's wise to continue to advertise your Locum positions across multiple platforms.. However, LocumsOntario is aiming to soon become the primary destination for all Locum needs across Ontario.

New graduates represent a large segment of the Locum community in Ontario.  Working as a Locum Practitioner offers valuable insights into practice management and styles, helping you shape one's future career path. In recognition of this, LocumsOntario now allows Medical Residents and Student Nurse Practitioners in their final year of training to have full access to the site. The learner must indicate the month they expect to receive their license and they will be reminded to update their profile with a CPSO number once obtained. 

Unfortunately, Physicians and NPs currently working in jurisdictions outside the province must wait until they have obtained their CPSO license to register with LocumsOntario.

A Locum Contract is essential for eliminating misunderstandings between a Clinician or Recruiter and a Locum Practitioner. It outlines all the specifics of the Locum Period, ensuring everything is clear from the start. The more details included in the contract, the more effectively it functions. Once it's signed by both parties, the contract becomes legally binding, providing assurance that the Locum Period will proceed as agreed. The wording of the contract should be straightforward and readable. LocumsOntario offers sample contracts that may download and customize to match the terms agreed upon by both parties.

LocumsOntario is designed with one purpose only:  To find Locum Practitioners for temporarily-absent Clinicians. Using this site for any other purpose would be a violation of the terms of use. 

LocumsOntario is designed for Physicians and Nurse Practitioners to independently find Locum Practitioners, and for Locum Practitioners to find the perfect Locum Opportunity. For this purpose, LocumsOntario is free. 

However, the site has now been updated to allow organizations or professionals working on behalf of Clinicians to help recruit Locum Practitioners, for a fee. LocumsOntario classifies this user type as a "Recruiter".  Recruiters have full access to LocumsOntario and are able to post Locum Ads on behalf of the Physicians,NPs, communities and organizations they represent.

Remember, LocumsOntario focuses solely on Locum Positions, so Recruiters must be advertising for temporary replacements for clinicians on leave, with the expectation that these clinicians will return to their positions. If a position is permanently vacant, a Recruiter may use the department head’s details to represent a temporary placement.  Just like Clinicians, Recruiters can also promote their ads or participate in The Match.