SMA Rural Relief Program (Provincial Locum Program)

Clinics, Hospitals and Services

The Saskatchewan Medical Association Rural Relief Program is designed to provide locum coverage for rural physicians practicing in communities with five physicians or less. Host physicians contact the SMA and request coverage that ranges from four to fourteen days. If a locum physician is available we will provide coverage longer than fourteen days; however, this is usually capped at three weeks. Locum requests are taken up to six months in advance.

During the average month a locum will most likely be in two to three communities depending on the length of each booking.

The average schedule for a locum is twenty-one days per month with approximately ten days off. Some weekend work is required; however, unless specified by the locum, each locum usually works one weekend per month. Locums are able to bank days and work more one month if they require extra time off in the future. The majority of SMA locums travel internationally at least once per year so this works well.

Fulfilling a full-time one year contract requires the locum physician to work at least 200 days (including travel days).

Benefits

• $1,190 per day minimum.
• Locums work as independent contractors.
• $11,000 signing bonus at the beginning of a one year contract ($13,500 for any consecutive year).
• $10,000 service bonus ($15,000 for any consecutive year) with the successful completion (at least 200 days worked) of a one year contract.
• Daily rate that is determined by the number of years the physician has practiced in rural Saskatchewan and included payment in lieu of statutory holidays.

Additional Information