Pediatric Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine – Locum Tenens

Merit Health – Wesley | Hattiesburg, MS

Assignment Overview:
Merit Health – Wesley is seeking a Board-Certified Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine Physician for locum tenens coverage in the NICU. This long-term assignment begins November 24, 2025 and runs through December 1, 2026, with potential for ongoing need.

Practice Details:

• Facility Type: Acute Care Hospital

• Department: NICU (10 beds)

• Trauma Level: III

• Pediatrics Level: III

• Practice Setting: Inpatient only

• Patients per Shift: 3–5

• Rounding: Both

• Admissions: Required (1 per 24 hours on average)

• Temporary Privileges Available: Yes

• EMR: Cerner

Coverage Details:

• Coverage Type: Scheduled clinical hours plus call

• Call Type: Beeper

• Average Calls per 24 hrs: 4 phone consults; ~4 patients seen

• Response Time: 15 minutes

• Call Ratio: 1:1

• First set of dates: 11/24-12/1/25- open to premium rates for this Holiday week and all dates thereafter.

Support Staff:

• 2 RNs

• 1 MA

• 1 Office Staff

• No APP supervision required

• No resident/teaching supervision

Procedures & Required Skills:

• Non-invasive and invasive ventilation management (newborn & pediatric)

• Intubation (ETT/NT) – newborn

• Central line, arterial line, UVC, UAC

• Lumbar puncture, paracentesis, thoracentesis

• Chest tube insertion, needle decompression

• X-ray & EKG interpretation
  

• Attendance at all high-risk deliveries
  

Requirements:

• Board Certification in Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine (fellowship required)

• Active MS license or IMLC eligibility- IPL will help with IMLC Licensure.

• PALS certification required

• Minimum 14-day credentialing timeframe

• Must be available for inpatient NICU coverage and call

Facility: Merit Health – Wesley, part of Community Health Systems (CHS).