Surgery - Trauma Physician

Trauma Surgery / Surgical Critical Care Physician Locum Tenens Altoona, PA

Position Overview

Seeking a Board-Certified Trauma Surgeon with Surgical Critical Care certification for a locum tenens opportunity in Altoona, Pennsylvania, beginning December 14, 2026.

The physician will provide trauma surgery, emergency general surgery, and surgical critical care coverage at a Level III Trauma Center. Responsibilities include trauma resuscitation, emergency surgery, ICU management, inpatient rounding, and consultations.

The assignment includes 24-hour primary, backup, and split call shifts. Candidates must be comfortable managing geriatric trauma and working in a resource-limited trauma environment.

Compensation:
Primary Call: $5450 per 24 hours
Backup Call: $3500 per 24 hours
Split Shift Call: $4675/shift

Assignment Details

Specialty: Trauma Surgery / Surgical Critical Care

Provider Type: Physician (MD/DO)

Location: Altoona, PA

Coverage Type: Locum Tenens

Start Date: December 14, 2026

Duration: Ongoing

Position Type: Full-Time

Trauma Level: Level III

Hospital Capacity: 380 Beds

EMR: Epic Bridges

Coverage Reason: Turnover Vacancy

Estimated Shifts: 12 Per Month

Schedule

24-Hour Primary Call: 7:00 AM 7:00 AM, On-Site

24-Hour Backup Call: 7:00 AM 7:00 AM, With Morning Rounding From 7:00 AM 11:00 AM

Split Call: 4 Hours of Morning Rounding, 8 Hours of Backup Call, and 12 Hours of Primary Call

Backup Call Response Time: Within 30 Minutes

Primary Call: Must Remain On-Site

Average Admissions While On Call: Approximately 1

Patient Population

Adult Patients: 95%

Pediatric Patients: 5%

Geriatric Trauma Patients

Emergency General Surgery Patients

Critically Ill Surgical Patients

Patients With Rib Fractures and Orthopedic Injuries

Patients With Minor Traumatic Brain and Thoracolumbar Spine Injuries

Clinical Responsibilities

Respond to Trauma Alerts and Perform Initial Resuscitation

Provide Emergency General Surgery and Surgical Critical Care

Perform FAST Examinations and Diagnostic Peritoneal Aspiration

Manage Acute Traumatic Injuries and Surgical Emergencies

Perform Emergency Operative Procedures

Manage Mechanical Ventilation and Critical Care Patients

Place Central Venous Catheters and Arterial Lines

Perform Daily Rounding and Inpatient Consultations

Manage Geriatric Trauma and Low-Energy Injuries

Stabilize Patients Requiring Higher-Level Care

Coordinate Transfers When Clinically Necessary

Collaborate With APPs, Medical Students, and Specialty Teams

Maintain Accurate Documentation in Epic Bridges

Required Procedures / Skills

Trauma Evaluation and Resuscitation

Appendectomy and Cholecystectomy

Bowel Resection, Anastomosis, and Exploratory Laparotomy

Management of Perforated Diverticulitis and Peptic Ulcers

Surgical Management of Bowel Obstruction and GI Bleeding

Incarcerated or Strangulated Hernia Repair

Soft Tissue Drainage and Debridement

Tracheostomy and PEG/G-Tube Placement

Tube Thoracostomy

Operative Abdominal Trauma Management

Mechanical Ventilation and Ventilator Management

Central Venous and Arterial Line Placement

Clinical Environment / Support

Level III Trauma Center

APP Coverage Available

Specialty Support Includes Critical Care, Neurology, Pulmonology, Cardiology, Vascular, and Cardiac Surgery

Team-Based Practice

Limited Interventional Radiology Availability

Higher-Level Trauma Transfers Required When Appropriate

Pediatric Trauma Stabilization Prior to Transfer

Pediatric Appendectomies for Patients Ages 12+

Requirements

Board Certification in General Surgery (ABS) Required

Board Certification in Surgical Critical Care Required

At Least 2 Years of Clinical Experience in Trauma Surgery Preferred

Minimum 1 Year of Clinical Experience Required

Active Pennsylvania Medical License or IMLC Eligibility Required

DEA Registration Required

Controlled Substance Registration (CSR) Required

ATLS, ACLS, BLS, and PALS Certifications Required

Experience Managing Trauma and Emergency General Surgery Cases

Proficiency in Surgical Critical Care Procedures

Ability to Manage Geriatric Trauma Patients

Comfortable Working in a Resource-Limited Trauma Setting

Ability to Provide Primary, Backup, and Split Call Coverage

Ability to Meet 30-Minute Backup Call Response Requirements

Submission Requirements

Updated Curriculum Vitae

General Surgery and Surgical Critical Care Board Certifications

Pennsylvania Medical License or IMLC Documentation

DEA and CSR Documentation

ATLS, ACLS, BLS, and PALS Certifications

Trauma Surgery and Critical Care Experience

Relevant Surgical Case Logs

Confirmation of Call Coverage Availability

Credentialing

Estimated Timeframe: 90 Days

Privileges: Full Privileges Available

Active Pennsylvania License or IMLC Required

Board Certification in Both Specialties Required

Current Required Certifications

Case-Volume and Recent Practice Requirements Apply