[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":284},["ShallowReactive",2],{"headerMenu":3,"blog-article:locums-be-locums-ing":38,"footerMenu":268},{"items":4,"title":37},[5,11,16,21,27],{"internalPage":6,"link":7,"subItems":7,"title":10},{"parentPage":7,"slug":8,"title":9},null,"jobs","Find independent physician jobs and telemedicine jobs","Jobs",{"internalPage":12,"link":7,"subItems":7,"title":15},{"parentPage":7,"slug":13,"title":14},"physicians","Claim Your Independence as a Physician","Physicians",{"internalPage":17,"link":7,"subItems":7,"title":20},{"parentPage":7,"slug":18,"title":19},"hire","Hire independent locums physicians","Employers",{"internalPage":22,"link":7,"subItems":7,"title":26},{"parentPage":23,"slug":24,"title":25},{"slug":13,"title":14},"telemedicine","Telemedicine Jobs","Telemedicine",{"internalPage":7,"link":28,"subItems":29,"title":36},"#",[30,33],{"internalPage":7,"link":31,"title":32},"/blog","Blog",{"internalPage":7,"link":34,"title":35},"/podcast","Podcast","Resources","Header",{"article":39,"related":216},{"_createdAt":40,"_id":41,"_rev":42,"_type":43,"_updatedAt":44,"author":45,"categories":62,"content":72,"excerpt":199,"headerImage":200,"metaDescription":205,"metaKeywords":206,"metaTitle":207,"openGraphImage":208,"openGraphImageUrl":203,"publishedAt":212,"slug":213,"tags":7,"title":215},"2026-01-22T03:40:29Z","a202499a-26a5-4df2-b048-89bb6ed1f960","86e7XE4oozQeODwESepOtp","article","2026-01-29T16:59:24Z",{"_createdAt":46,"_id":47,"_rev":48,"_type":49,"_updatedAt":50,"bio":51,"image":52,"name":56,"slug":57,"socialMedia":60},"2025-10-31T00:49:05Z","36780c4d-4cd4-4b24-bd22-7e4babb43cf6","MvNmR47t15uESvmPkYghGn","author","2025-10-31T00:58:00Z","Heidi Roberts has worn just about every hat at Sycamore — from recruiting, scheduling, and credentialing to account management and team leadership. Her experience building and leading recruiter training, writing operational playbooks, and refining internal processes gives her a unique, behind-the-scenes perspective on what truly shapes the physician experience.\n\nShe’s passionate about making sure every doctor who partners with Sycamore feels valued, supported, and seen. Whether it’s improving systems or reimagining how Sycamore serves its physicians, Heidi’s focus is simple: create a seamless, human experience that puts doctors first.",{"_type":53,"asset":54},"image",{"url":55},"https://cdn.sanity.io/images/mo3apquc/production/00ed8f95761bea80c92695e1087b8c8cda37c4dd-2413x2648.jpg","Heidi Roberts",{"_type":58,"current":59},"slug","heidi-roberts",{"linkedin":61},"https://www.linkedin.com/in/heidi-b-roberts/",[63],{"_createdAt":64,"_id":65,"_rev":66,"_type":67,"_updatedAt":68,"backgroundColor":69,"borderColor":70,"textColor":70,"title":71},"2025-11-11T23:16:57Z","2d12c367-4db1-4ff3-9861-27560ee8adc0","WI0u9A1iAM1Mha5eVo6TMf","category","2025-11-11T23:17:55Z","Green ","black","Career Strategy",[73,84,92,100,108,116,124,132,140,160,168,176,184,192],{"_key":74,"_type":75,"children":76,"markDefs":82,"style":83},"545888e95163","block",[77],{"_key":78,"_type":79,"marks":80,"text":81},"11d6b50c87630","span",[],"A lot of physicians have reached out this year feeling blindsided by canceled shifts. I get it. It’s frustrating. It can feel personal. It can disrupt your plans and your income. When you’ve committed your time and energy, having a shift pulled can feel like the rug has been pulled out from under you.",[],"normal",{"_key":85,"_type":75,"children":86,"markDefs":91,"style":83},"a5d9888037d1",[87],{"_key":88,"_type":79,"marks":89,"text":90},"3938b6eacc900",[],"In 2025, we have seen more canceled shifts and paused applications than at any point before. That makes it more important than ever to understand what’s actually happening behind the scenes.",[],{"_key":93,"_type":75,"children":94,"markDefs":99,"style":83},"f9b29013b936",[95],{"_key":96,"_type":79,"marks":97,"text":98},"0e9f07e0f92c0",[],"Hospitals and the groups that manage their contracts are under enormous pressure to control costs. A facility may post shifts at a certain rate, begin credentialing, and then continue exploring other options to cover those shifts more efficiently. When a lower-cost solution appears, they often pivot. When that happens, even a great doctor can lose the shift. Not because you did anything wrong. Not because the agency failed. Simply because the contract management group made a business decision.",[],{"_key":101,"_type":75,"children":102,"markDefs":107,"style":83},"4e7ee5ea2f55",[103],{"_key":104,"_type":79,"marks":105,"text":106},"b9b7f2e3cd6e0",[],"It’s frustrating, but it’s not personal. It’s a little like being mad that the sun is in your eyes while you’re sitting at the beach. The sun didn’t do anything wrong. It’s just doing what it does.",[],{"_key":109,"_type":75,"children":110,"markDefs":115,"style":83},"2d39f50e3af9",[111],{"_key":112,"_type":79,"marks":113,"text":114},"f1f1eec0c03c0",[],"This analogy matters because locums works the same way. Locums is not a guaranteed paycheck. It is a higher-paying, more flexible way to work, and that higher pay exists precisely because the work is less predictable. If you want guaranteed hours and guaranteed income, that’s a salaried job. Locums is a different model, and it comes with a different tradeoff.",[],{"_key":117,"_type":75,"children":118,"markDefs":123,"style":83},"baf47d64384b",[119],{"_key":120,"_type":79,"marks":121,"text":122},"b4a301f57e7e0",[],"Several factors tend to increase the risk of cancellations. Facilities and the groups that manage their contracts often credential multiple doctors at the same time, and the physician who clears first is usually the one who receives the shifts, which makes timing more important than many people realize. Higher rates also tend to get extra attention. When rates are strong, hospitals and contract management groups often keep looking for more cost-effective coverage and may pivot if they find a cheaper solution. Availability plays a role as well, because the fewer shifts a physician can offer, the easier it is for a facility to replace them. In locums, flexibility often creates more stability, even though that may sound counterintuitive.",[],{"_key":125,"_type":75,"children":126,"markDefs":131,"style":83},"8003025b5b49",[127],{"_key":128,"_type":79,"marks":129,"text":130},"9f3982c51e940",[],"Much of the frustration around canceled shifts comes from a misunderstanding of control. Hospitals and the groups that manage their contracts ultimately decide who works and what they pay. Agencies advocate for physicians, negotiate rates, present candidates thoughtfully, and provide ongoing support, but no locums company can guarantee outcomes that are ultimately decided at the facility level.",[],{"_key":133,"_type":75,"children":134,"markDefs":139,"style":83},"1086e43d0be9",[135],{"_key":136,"_type":79,"marks":137,"text":138},"7e336abfe3f70",[],"Doctors who do locums well tend to understand this early. They don’t rely on a single site. They keep more than one facility in play, stay credentialed even when they’re busy, and remain flexible when possible. They’re not angry when things change. They’re not vengeful. And they’re not being taken advantage of.",[],{"_key":141,"_type":75,"children":142,"markDefs":156,"style":83},"b80eced29b76",[143,147,152],{"_key":144,"_type":79,"marks":145,"text":146},"a86d8df491970",[],"Experienced locums doctors understand that uncertainty is part of the model and they’ve chosen it intentionally. They’re in the driver’s seat because they’re earning significantly higher rates for the hours they work. They know exactly what they’re trading, and they plan accordingly. Instead of being surprised by gaps, they expect them. They build in buffers, keep options open, and move forward without panic. That mindset is what allows them to stay calm when a shift changes and confident when something falls through. We wrote more about that mindset and the practical steps behind it in ",{"_key":148,"_type":79,"marks":149,"text":151},"a86d8df491971",[150],"8b23b5c76e19","Keeping Your Schedule Full",{"_key":153,"_type":79,"marks":154,"text":155},"a86d8df491972",[],".",[157],{"_key":150,"_type":158,"href":159},"link","https://sycamoredocs.com/blog/keeping-your-schedule-full-why-multiple-privileges-matter",{"_key":161,"_type":75,"children":162,"markDefs":167,"style":83},"c2de53cd00da",[163],{"_key":164,"_type":79,"marks":165,"text":166},"0a83bd48990b0",[],"At Sycamore, we advocate for strong rates, present you thoughtfully to facilities, and do everything we can to protect your schedule. We’re also honest about what we can and cannot control, and we don’t promise guarantees that don’t exist.",[],{"_key":169,"_type":75,"children":170,"markDefs":175,"style":83},"4ad0ddd792d7",[171],{"_key":172,"_type":79,"marks":173,"text":174},"87c8a683bda70",[],"The bottom line is this: locums is designed to solve hospital staffing gaps, not guarantee physician schedules. That’s why it pays more. Higher pay comes with more uncertainty, and understanding that tradeoff is what allows doctors to use locums well instead of being constantly frustrated by it.",[],{"_key":177,"_type":75,"children":178,"markDefs":183,"style":83},"d21da3d1ad88",[179],{"_key":180,"_type":79,"marks":181,"text":182},"db61402367300",[],"Shifts change. Locums does what locums does. It’s like the sun at the beach. You can’t control it, but you can prepare for it. Put on sunglasses, adjust your umbrella, and enjoy the benefits of locums.",[],{"_key":185,"_type":75,"children":186,"markDefs":191,"style":83},"d308ea6031e7",[187],{"_key":188,"_type":79,"marks":189,"text":190},"b1a46ca1f2c80",[],"\n",[],{"_key":193,"_type":75,"children":194,"markDefs":198,"style":83},"4a5d258f4b07",[195],{"_key":196,"_type":79,"marks":197,"text":190},"88ef277f28470",[],[],"Canceled shifts are frustrating, but they’re part of locums. Here’s why it happens and how experienced physicians stay ahead of the uncertainty.",{"_type":53,"alt":201,"asset":202,"caption":204},"Sunny day at the Beach",{"url":203},"https://cdn.sanity.io/images/mo3apquc/production/084e85b37f1a661028ae9162bbd724f0f148afdf-5184x3456.jpg","Flexibility begins with preparation.","Locums isn’t guaranteed. Learn why shifts change, what drives cancellations, and how physicians can turn uncertainty into a strategic advantage.","locums shifts, locum tenens, locums cancellations, physician locums, locums jobs, canceled shifts, locums reality, physician staffing, locums work, locums schedule, locums pay, hospital staffing, locums agency, physician careers, healthcare staffing","Why Locums Shifts Get Canceled and How Physicians Can Prepare",{"_type":53,"asset":209},{"_ref":210,"_type":211},"image-084e85b37f1a661028ae9162bbd724f0f148afdf-5184x3456-jpg","reference","2026-01-22T03:40:00.000Z",{"_type":58,"current":214},"locums-be-locums-ing","Locums Be Locums-ing",[217,234,251],{"_id":218,"author":219,"categories":222,"excerpt":224,"headerImage":225,"publishedAt":230,"slug":231,"title":233},"af2dc3f7-5d65-44e0-ac20-d0ee7c263c6d",{"image":220,"name":56},{"_type":53,"asset":221},{"url":55},[223],{"_createdAt":64,"_id":65,"_rev":66,"_type":67,"_updatedAt":68,"backgroundColor":69,"borderColor":70,"textColor":70,"title":71},"ER locums isn't always a straight path. For some physicians, experience at rural hospitals and critical access facilities can open doors and create new opportunities along the way.",{"_type":53,"alt":226,"asset":227,"caption":229},"Country road leading into the distance, representing opportunities for physicians building experience in emergency medicine and locum tenens work.",{"url":228},"https://cdn.sanity.io/images/mo3apquc/production/756f76e8cf55049e418196adef570dce3f48a9d2-5529x3317.jpg","Sometimes the best opportunities are found off the beaten path.","2026-06-16T15:54:00.000Z",{"_type":58,"current":232},"the-road-to-er-locums-isn-t-always-a-straight-line","The Road to ER Locums Isn't Always a Straight Line.",{"_id":235,"author":236,"categories":239,"excerpt":241,"headerImage":242,"publishedAt":247,"slug":248,"title":250},"c63c18a3-487d-4a90-aa12-faef5722454a",{"image":237,"name":56},{"_type":53,"asset":238},{"url":55},[240],{"_createdAt":64,"_id":65,"_rev":66,"_type":67,"_updatedAt":68,"backgroundColor":69,"borderColor":70,"textColor":70,"title":71},"Want more shifts? Your reputation may matter more than your CV. Discover why being easy to work with is one of the most valuable assets in locums.",{"_type":53,"alt":243,"asset":244,"caption":246},"Emergency medicine physician reviewing a busy schedule and managing locum tenens shifts.",{"url":245},"https://cdn.sanity.io/images/mo3apquc/production/c4f8e1040282604403c85bad4253db8722816b53-5760x3840.jpg","A strong reputation doesn't just build relationships. It builds schedules.","2026-06-04T12:35:00.000Z",{"_type":58,"current":249},"your-reputation-is-currency-why-being-easy-to-work-with-pays","Your Reputation Is Currency: Why Being Easy to Work With Pays",{"_id":252,"author":253,"categories":256,"excerpt":258,"headerImage":259,"publishedAt":264,"slug":265,"title":267},"ed327a14-aaa6-4166-a542-22d653e9e6b2",{"image":254,"name":56},{"_type":53,"asset":255},{"url":55},[257],{"_createdAt":64,"_id":65,"_rev":66,"_type":67,"_updatedAt":68,"backgroundColor":69,"borderColor":70,"textColor":70,"title":71},"In locums, the number on the rate sheet is only part of the story. Timing, flexibility, and positioning often matter just as much.",{"_type":53,"alt":260,"asset":261,"caption":263},"Chess pieces on a board representing strategy, timing, and market dynamics that influence locum tenens physician pay.",{"url":262},"https://cdn.sanity.io/images/mo3apquc/production/acafae967cf8ee2255e868175595a3c08b12f562-6000x4000.jpg","In locums, compensation and opportunities often reflect timing, flexibility, and individual goals.","2026-03-20T13:25:00.000Z",{"_type":58,"current":266},"locums-pay-isn-t-one-size-fits-all-and-that-s-a-good-thing","Locums Pay Isn’t One Size Fits All. And That’s a Good Thing.",{"items":269,"title":283},[270,272,274,277,279,280],{"internalPage":271,"link":7,"subItems":7,"title":15},{"parentPage":7,"slug":13,"title":14},{"internalPage":273,"link":7,"subItems":7,"title":20},{"parentPage":7,"slug":18,"title":19},{"internalPage":275,"link":7,"subItems":7,"title":26},{"parentPage":276,"slug":24,"title":25},{"slug":13,"title":14},{"internalPage":278,"link":7,"subItems":7,"title":10},{"parentPage":7,"slug":8,"title":9},{"internalPage":7,"link":34,"subItems":7,"title":35},{"internalPage":7,"link":281,"subItems":7,"title":282},"/contact","Contact","Footer",1792785216244]