[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":376},["ShallowReactive",2],{"headerMenu":3,"blog-article:the-road-to-er-locums-isn-t-always-a-straight-line":38,"footerMenu":360},{"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":309},{"_createdAt":40,"_id":41,"_rev":42,"_system":43,"_type":46,"_updatedAt":47,"author":48,"categories":65,"content":75,"excerpt":292,"headerImage":293,"metaDescription":298,"metaKeywords":299,"metaTitle":300,"openGraphImage":301,"openGraphImageUrl":296,"publishedAt":305,"slug":306,"tags":7,"title":308},"2026-06-11T16:15:31Z","af2dc3f7-5d65-44e0-ac20-d0ee7c263c6d","GWcybyvSzKo1HK4vzNpMIm",{"base":44},{"id":41,"rev":45},"GWcybyvSzKo1HK4vzNoV7a","article","2026-07-01T16:27:27Z",{"_createdAt":49,"_id":50,"_rev":51,"_type":52,"_updatedAt":53,"bio":54,"image":55,"name":59,"slug":60,"socialMedia":63},"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":56,"asset":57},"image",{"url":58},"https://cdn.sanity.io/images/mo3apquc/production/00ed8f95761bea80c92695e1087b8c8cda37c4dd-2413x2648.jpg","Heidi Roberts",{"_type":61,"current":62},"slug","heidi-roberts",{"linkedin":64},"https://www.linkedin.com/in/heidi-b-roberts/",[66],{"_createdAt":67,"_id":68,"_rev":69,"_type":70,"_updatedAt":71,"backgroundColor":72,"borderColor":73,"textColor":73,"title":74},"2025-11-11T23:16:57Z","2d12c367-4db1-4ff3-9861-27560ee8adc0","WI0u9A1iAM1Mha5eVo6TMf","category","2025-11-11T23:17:55Z","Green ","black","Career Strategy",[76,87,95,104,112,120,128,136,144,152,160,168,193,201,209,217,236,244,252,260,268,276,284],{"_key":77,"_type":78,"children":79,"markDefs":85,"style":86},"6ccc05730fd8","block",[80],{"_key":81,"_type":82,"marks":83,"text":84},"a3807d9b27210","span",[],"Every so often, we hear from physicians who are interested in emergency medicine locums but assume they aren't eligible because they aren't emergency medicine boarded. They may be coming from family medicine, hospital medicine, urgent care, or another clinical background and wonder whether there's a realistic way to gain emergency department experience.",[],"normal",{"_key":88,"_type":78,"children":89,"markDefs":94,"style":86},"9a2b47900a53",[90],{"_key":91,"_type":82,"marks":92,"text":93},"da0e54994a630",[],"While emergency medicine board certification remains the standard for many facilities, it doesn't automatically mean ER locums is off the table. Depending on a physician's background and a facility's staffing requirements, there may be opportunities to gain experience and begin building a path into emergency medicine locums.",[],{"_key":96,"_type":78,"children":97,"markDefs":102,"style":103},"b1abfa3fcdc5",[98],{"_key":99,"_type":82,"marks":100,"text":101},"69a679a294690",[],"Why Rural and Critical Access Hospitals Can Be a Starting Point",[],"h2",{"_key":105,"_type":78,"children":106,"markDefs":111,"style":86},"851e4bf8a54f",[107],{"_key":108,"_type":82,"marks":109,"text":110},"61d1e0ed1d410",[],"Rural hospitals and critical access facilities often face staffing challenges that differ from larger health systems. As a result, some hospitals have bylaws that allow qualified physicians from non-traditional emergency medicine backgrounds to provide emergency department coverage.",[],{"_key":113,"_type":78,"children":114,"markDefs":119,"style":86},"a21a420e4ffd",[115],{"_key":116,"_type":82,"marks":117,"text":118},"d8f86ec55bbc0",[],"Every facility is different, and requirements vary widely. However, these hospitals can provide valuable opportunities for physicians looking to gain emergency department experience and build a track record in the specialty.",[],{"_key":121,"_type":78,"children":122,"markDefs":127,"style":103},"c61b973a5aaa",[123],{"_key":124,"_type":82,"marks":125,"text":126},"4f6558721fb00",[],"Build Experience First",[],{"_key":129,"_type":78,"children":130,"markDefs":135,"style":86},"c0d5672f70e5",[131],{"_key":132,"_type":82,"marks":133,"text":134},"bf4788e74c2f0",[],"Breaking into ER locums rarely happens overnight.",[],{"_key":137,"_type":78,"children":138,"markDefs":143,"style":86},"78ff62ac2983",[139],{"_key":140,"_type":82,"marks":141,"text":142},"af9c3ad5c6170",[],"The physicians who successfully make the transition typically start by building experience one assignment at a time. That experience may come from smaller emergency departments, critical access hospitals, urgent care settings, moonlighting opportunities, or previous emergency medicine exposure during training.",[],{"_key":145,"_type":78,"children":146,"markDefs":151,"style":86},"ca1ea0471249",[147],{"_key":148,"_type":82,"marks":149,"text":150},"5905261e3d770",[],"The goal isn't simply to get an ER shift. The goal is to demonstrate that you can safely and confidently care for emergency department patients while building experience that opens additional doors in the future.",[],{"_key":153,"_type":78,"children":154,"markDefs":159,"style":103},"ac3f78d929b5",[155],{"_key":156,"_type":82,"marks":157,"text":158},"74d4cc385e5f0",[],"Reputation Matters",[],{"_key":161,"_type":78,"children":162,"markDefs":167,"style":86},"214672ee66e0",[163],{"_key":164,"_type":82,"marks":165,"text":166},"293c6971f4120",[],"Experience gets your foot in the door. Reputation determines whether you're invited back.",[],{"_key":169,"_type":78,"children":170,"markDefs":189,"style":86},"7ffb956c9cf3",[171,175,181,185],{"_key":172,"_type":82,"marks":173,"text":174},"445089089b9f0",[],"In our article, ",{"_key":176,"_type":82,"marks":177,"text":180},"445089089b9f1",[178,179],"em","1907f4c1f126","Your Reputation Is Currency: Why Being Easy to Work With Pays",{"_key":182,"_type":82,"marks":183,"text":184},"445089089b9f2",[179],", ",{"_key":186,"_type":82,"marks":187,"text":188},"35010e2a29dc",[],"we discuss how professionalism, reliability, and strong relationships often create future opportunities. That's especially true in rural healthcare, where word travels quickly and facilities frequently share experiences with one another.",[190],{"_key":179,"_type":191,"href":192},"link","https://sycamoredocs.com/blog/your-reputation-is-currency-why-being-easy-to-work-with-pays",{"_key":194,"_type":78,"children":195,"markDefs":200,"style":86},"97e9196b8f68",[196],{"_key":197,"_type":82,"marks":198,"text":199},"2fe5d634e1eb0",[],"If you're trying to gain ER experience, becoming the kind of physician hospitals want back can be just as important as the clinical experience itself.",[],{"_key":202,"_type":78,"children":203,"markDefs":208,"style":103},"89af994dde98",[204],{"_key":205,"_type":82,"marks":206,"text":207},"e62f54298e0f0",[],"Be Open to Additional Licenses",[],{"_key":210,"_type":78,"children":211,"markDefs":216,"style":86},"b2de225d7844",[212],{"_key":213,"_type":82,"marks":214,"text":215},"4a85acbe0c940",[],"One challenge many physicians encounter is that the right opportunity may not exist in a state where they're currently licensed.",[],{"_key":218,"_type":78,"children":219,"markDefs":233,"style":86},"ee6d5a3a363b",[220,224,229],{"_key":221,"_type":82,"marks":222,"text":223},"466e361ead540",[],"Obtaining additional licenses can dramatically increase your options, especially when pursuing rural or one-off assignments. If you're considering that route, check out our article on the ",{"_key":225,"_type":82,"marks":226,"text":228},"c130cab0e784",[227],"a6d7b75c84d0","Interstate Medical Licensure Compact (IMLC),",{"_key":230,"_type":82,"marks":231,"text":232},"100882b02f03",[]," which explains how eligible physicians can obtain licenses in multiple states more efficiently.",[234],{"_key":227,"_type":191,"href":235},"https://sycamoredocs.com/blog/the-imlc-because-apparently-one-medical-license-isn-t-enough",{"_key":237,"_type":78,"children":238,"markDefs":243,"style":103},"925e6b9200c8",[239],{"_key":240,"_type":82,"marks":241,"text":242},"70012cabec090",[],"How Sycamore Can Help",[],{"_key":245,"_type":78,"children":246,"markDefs":251,"style":86},"564f38d073af",[247],{"_key":248,"_type":82,"marks":249,"text":250},"61d7cb79c3f20",[],"Every physician's path into emergency medicine locums is different. At Sycamore, we help physicians identify realistic opportunities, navigate licensing and credentialing requirements, and find facilities that align with their experience and goals.",[],{"_key":253,"_type":78,"children":254,"markDefs":259,"style":103},"830be43e3715",[255],{"_key":256,"_type":82,"marks":257,"text":258},"79e77c7d82880",[],"The Bottom Line",[],{"_key":261,"_type":78,"children":262,"markDefs":267,"style":86},"af889c8600fa",[263],{"_key":264,"_type":82,"marks":265,"text":266},"53e4824450af0",[],"If you're interested in ER locums but aren't emergency medicine boarded, don't assume the door is closed.",[],{"_key":269,"_type":78,"children":270,"markDefs":275,"style":86},"2b21d45b50ce",[271],{"_key":272,"_type":82,"marks":273,"text":274},"7ce14d6f75450",[],"Depending on your background, experience, and willingness to be flexible, there may be opportunities to gain emergency department experience and continue building your career.",[],{"_key":277,"_type":78,"children":278,"markDefs":283,"style":86},"99ac1f858301",[279],{"_key":280,"_type":82,"marks":281,"text":282},"e0bfcc6b81570",[],"The path may not be as direct as it is for an EM-boarded physician, but many successful locums careers are built one assignment at a time. Rural hospitals and critical access facilities can provide valuable experience while helping you develop the skills, confidence, and relationships that lead to future opportunities.",[],{"_key":285,"_type":78,"children":286,"markDefs":291,"style":86},"1aa376f2c8cd",[287],{"_key":288,"_type":82,"marks":289,"text":290},"15e23938a8d10",[],"The goal isn't to rush your way into ER locums. It's to build the experience, relationships, and confidence that create lasting opportunities.",[],"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":56,"alt":294,"asset":295,"caption":297},"Country road leading into the distance, representing opportunities for physicians building experience in emergency medicine and locum tenens work.",{"url":296},"https://cdn.sanity.io/images/mo3apquc/production/756f76e8cf55049e418196adef570dce3f48a9d2-5529x3317.jpg","Sometimes the best opportunities are found off the beaten path.","Explore how physicians can build a path into ER locums through rural hospitals, critical access facilities, and strategic experience along the way.","ER locums, emergency medicine locums, ER experience, non EM boarded physician, emergency medicine board certification, locum tenens physician, critical access hospital, rural emergency medicine, physician career development, IMLC, physician opportunities, healthcare staffing","How Physicians Can Break Into ER Locums",{"_type":56,"asset":302},{"_ref":303,"_type":304},"image-756f76e8cf55049e418196adef570dce3f48a9d2-5529x3317-jpg","reference","2026-06-16T15:54:00.000Z",{"_type":61,"current":307},"the-road-to-er-locums-isn-t-always-a-straight-line","The Road to ER Locums Isn't Always a Straight Line.",[310,326,343],{"_id":311,"author":312,"categories":315,"excerpt":317,"headerImage":318,"publishedAt":323,"slug":324,"title":180},"c63c18a3-487d-4a90-aa12-faef5722454a",{"image":313,"name":59},{"_type":56,"asset":314},{"url":58},[316],{"_createdAt":67,"_id":68,"_rev":69,"_type":70,"_updatedAt":71,"backgroundColor":72,"borderColor":73,"textColor":73,"title":74},"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":56,"alt":319,"asset":320,"caption":322},"Emergency medicine physician reviewing a busy schedule and managing locum tenens shifts.",{"url":321},"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":61,"current":325},"your-reputation-is-currency-why-being-easy-to-work-with-pays",{"_id":327,"author":328,"categories":331,"excerpt":333,"headerImage":334,"publishedAt":339,"slug":340,"title":342},"ed327a14-aaa6-4166-a542-22d653e9e6b2",{"image":329,"name":59},{"_type":56,"asset":330},{"url":58},[332],{"_createdAt":67,"_id":68,"_rev":69,"_type":70,"_updatedAt":71,"backgroundColor":72,"borderColor":73,"textColor":73,"title":74},"In locums, the number on the rate sheet is only part of the story. Timing, flexibility, and positioning often matter just as much.",{"_type":56,"alt":335,"asset":336,"caption":338},"Chess pieces on a board representing strategy, timing, and market dynamics that influence locum tenens physician pay.",{"url":337},"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":61,"current":341},"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.",{"_id":344,"author":345,"categories":348,"excerpt":350,"headerImage":351,"publishedAt":356,"slug":357,"title":359},"68b91f21-56c0-4c34-b2e7-a3860781c1c7",{"image":346,"name":59},{"_type":56,"asset":347},{"url":58},[349],{"_createdAt":67,"_id":68,"_rev":69,"_type":70,"_updatedAt":71,"backgroundColor":72,"borderColor":73,"textColor":73,"title":74},"Practicing emergency medicine where access is limited and the impact of your presence is immediate.",{"_type":56,"alt":352,"asset":353,"caption":355},"hospital emergency room",{"url":354},"https://cdn.sanity.io/images/mo3apquc/production/dbd7aee413e87b9b8f9e1056b08c0bd5888fe3d0-4928x3264.jpg","Serving communities where access to care is essential and every shift makes a difference.","2026-02-26T15:39:00.000Z",{"_type":61,"current":358},"the-impact-of-border-medicine-for-emergency-physicians","The Impact of Border Medicine for Emergency Physicians",{"items":361,"title":375},[362,364,366,369,371,372],{"internalPage":363,"link":7,"subItems":7,"title":15},{"parentPage":7,"slug":13,"title":14},{"internalPage":365,"link":7,"subItems":7,"title":20},{"parentPage":7,"slug":18,"title":19},{"internalPage":367,"link":7,"subItems":7,"title":26},{"parentPage":368,"slug":24,"title":25},{"slug":13,"title":14},{"internalPage":370,"link":7,"subItems":7,"title":10},{"parentPage":7,"slug":8,"title":9},{"internalPage":7,"link":34,"subItems":7,"title":35},{"internalPage":7,"link":373,"subItems":7,"title":374},"/contact","Contact","Footer",1793362824252]