For locum tenens professionals, a smartphone or tablet is the ultimate travel tool and can do so much more than keep you connected to your loved ones. No matter what you need during your locum tenens assignment, we can bet that the touchscreen in your pocket has a solution to make life in an unknown area considerably easier.
Whether you’re traveling one state over or across the country, these apps are essential additions to your smartphone toolkit.
1. PackPoint
One of the challenges that many locums face is deciding what and how much to pack. But not with PackPoint, a free app to help eliminate the stress of packing. All you have to do is answer a few questions, and Packpoint will show you what to pack based on how long you'll be gone and the weather. If you have access to laundry facilities, this app also allows you to account for washing your clothes.
The PackPoint app is available on the Google Play Store and the Apple App Store for free.
2. Expensify
Keeping track of your expenses can be tricky. However, it's essential to track your costs and taxes while working. And that's where Expensify comes in. With this app, you can scan receipts, manage expenses, and track business travel while on the go. Expensify eliminates the need for office equipment and paper when submitting your expense reports.
Expensify is available for free to both iOS and Android users.
3. GasBuddy
You’ll typically be given a rental car for out of state locum assignments, but you are not necessarily always covered for gas. If you’re assignment is more local, you may choose to drive your own vehicle and get reimbursed for your mileage. Either way, GasBuddy is ideal for avoiding elevated gas prices and finding the cheapest gas in the area.
GasBuddy is available for free for both iOS and Android users. Premium subscription plans are also available with more benefits and features.
4. MileIQ
For those choosing to drive their own vehicle, this one is for you. MileIQ tracks your miles automatically - no need to open the app and start or stop! You can classify your drives as business or personal with a single swipe. The app also lets you add extra details like the client's name. You can also record information like parking fees. With just a few taps, you can send your accountant or yourself a detailed report of your mileage - ideal for 1099 providers keeping track of expenses for tax time!
MileIQ is available with both free and paid plans on the Google Play Store and the Apple App Store.
5. Flightview
A must-have for the everyday traveler, FlightView offers real-time flight information in an easy-to-use app. You can track upcoming and in-air flights, and receive status alerts via push notifications. FlightView has an attractive flight map that allows you to watch the progress of any flight, and keeps you up-to-date on gate assignments, delays and cancellations. You can check airport conditions, current weather radar, and view the status of your planes previous flight. FlightView also allows you to forward your itinerary confirmation emails and they will automatically load them into your saved trips.
Flightview is available for free to both iOS and Android users.
6. WiFi Map
This app comes in handy when you need to access public Wi-Fi while traveling. Wi-Fi Map is one of the largest Wi-Fi hotspot databases globally. It will automatically alert you about the nearest available hotspots along with their passwords. It also offers detailed offline maps that help you find Wi-Fi hotspots near you when you are out of data or outside the network coverage area.
You can download Wi-Fi Map from the Google Play Store or Apple App Store for free. Additional features are available with a paid subscription plan.
7. AwardWallet
If you always stay in the same hotel chain and only fly on one airline, then you probably don’t struggle too much with keeping track of your loyalty points. But if you’re a locum tenens provider, this probably isn’t the case. Luckily, AwardWallet conveniently tracks your loyalty points from around 670 partners and offers a number of other key features that make calculating your rewards easy and simple. They display each program’s point balance, all of your transactions, the amount of rewards you earned on each transaction, and other credits available on your card (like travel or dining credits).
AwardWallet is available for iOS and Android users for free. A premium subscription is also available with more features.
8. Timeshifter
Never battle jetlag again with the Timeshifter app. This app helps you prepare for the new time zone before your departure with a personalized plan backed by science and technology. You enter flight information, sleep patterns, and chronotype (are you a morning person or a night owl?) and it will advise you on when to access or avoid bright light and caffeine, take a nap, or use melatonin to help you adjust to your new time zone. All these factors are reflected in the advice it gives you to prevent jet lag.
The Timeshifter app is free to download on the Google Play Store and on the Apple App Store, and plans range from $10 for a single jet lag plan to $24.99 for an annual unlimited subscription.
9. Epocrates
You’ve probably heard about this one, as at least 50% of medical practitioners use it. One of the most popular and useful medical apps, Epocrates offers features like medication identifiers, drug interaction, care-focused calculators, provider directories, and much more. It's a must-have for any traveling physician – unless you want to carry your entire medical library with you every time you leave on an assignment.
The app is available for Android and iOS users for free, or you can pay $159 per year for its premium version.
Installing the right apps on your smartphone or tablet can make traveling for locum tenens much easier and smoother. Have you used any of these apps? Did we miss any of your must-have travel apps while on assignment? Share your favorites with us below!
