You know why you love being an MRI technologist. Not only do you get to help people by playing an important role in obtaining the images needed to diagnose illness, but you have reasonable hours compared to medical professionals like doctors and nurses. Although there are exceptions, MRI scans are usually scheduled ahead of time and during regular clinic hours, so making plans around your work obligations isn’t too difficult.

Despite these scheduling perks, your time still isn’t really your own. If you want to take time off to attend a wedding or out-of-town event, you have to put in the request and hope that it will be granted. You also work with the same team in the same clinic or hospital day in and day out, which limits your opportunities to meet new people, especially those who can mentor you, teach you new skills, and otherwise advance your career.

While some MRI technologists are fine with these limitations, others want more control and flexibility in their careers. If this sounds like you, read on to learn why being a travel MRI tech can be a great career move for you.

What is a Travel MRI Tech?

Travel MRI technologists are usually independent contractors who work at different healthcare facilities using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) machines. These facilities usually contract with locum medical personnel to cover staff vacations, sabbaticals, parental leave, and even unplanned absences like illness. 

When you decide to become a travel MRI tech, your duties are largely the same as those you carried out while employed, namely:

• Checking the devices regularly to confirm that they are working properly.
• Explaining the procedure to patients so that they know what to expect
• Running the MRI machines to take scans
• Sending the images to be reviewed by a radiologist 

The biggest difference is that as an independent contractor, you can decide where you want to work and for how long. As a travel MRI tech, you make your own schedule, creating a work-life balance that few occupations can offer. 

Benefits of Working as a Travel MRI Tech

There are several benefits to working as an independent contractor. Let’s take a closer look at some of the many reasons why so many MRI techs make this transition.

You Can Combine Your Love of Travel With Your Career

The ability to travel and work simultaneously is one of the main reasons why MRI technologists choose to become locum medical personnel. If you enjoy traveling but are worried that your ‘wandering years’ were behind you as soon as you received your credentials, being a travel MRI tech will let you explore new and exciting parts of Canada while earning a steady income. Each temporary contract represents an opportunity to check out communities you might not otherwise have visited, including those on your bucket list!

More Job Opportunities

The demand for MRI technologists is expected to remain strong in the coming years. However, not every town or city offers the same opportunities. Being a travel MRI tech will make it easier to find work when there’s little demand where you live. By working with a medical imaging temp agency, you can find short and long-term contracts at facilities and hospitals across Canada, especially in areas that may be more remote or underserved. 

New Experiences

Once you’ve been in a particular community for awhile, it becomes comfortably familiar, even if it’s in a city the size of Toronto or Vancouver. As a travel MRI tech, you will be working in different locations at a frequency you choose. You might choose to spend six weeks in the Yukon, enjoying its many celebrated winter festivals, followed by a two weeks in British Columbia, where you have endless opportunities to hike, bike, and explore the beautiful province. There’s always something new and exciting to check out!

Additional Things You Should Know About Being a Travel MRI Tech

The best way to succeed as a travel MRI tech is to be prepared for responsibilities you didn’t have as an employee. This includes but may not be limited to:

• Paying your own income taxes. You won’t have your tax deducted from your pay: this is one of the biggest differences between being an independent contractor and working for someone else. You’ll need to determine how much money you need to set aside each other to cover your tax obligations. 
• Claiming appropriate business tax deductions. By keeping clear business records, you can easily identify income sources, manage deductible expenses, and prepare your taxes. You may have difficulties claiming valid business expenses as tax deductions if you don’t keep track of what purchases were personal and what were business-related.

Several small business accounting software packages are available, and most of them are very user-friendly.  If you choose a solution that allows you to send your financial information to a small business accountant, they can use it to file your tax returns for you, generate reports, and keep track of your cash flow.

Want to Learn More About Being a Travel MRI Tech? We Can Help!

The first step in becoming a travel MRI tech is to find a healthcare staffing agency with a wide network of hospitals, clinics, and other healthcare facilities with temporary staffing needs. At ProMed HR Solutions, we are always eager to hear from medical imaging professionals who want to incorporate travel and new experiences into their career plans!

We know first-hand that there are many hospitals and healthcare facilities across Canada that need locum medical personnel to maintain continuity in patient care. Some of them are located in remote communities where MRI services are strongly needed, enabling professionals like yourself to make a big difference in their healthcare options.If you’re interested in exploring a career as a  travel MRI tech, ProMed HR Solutions can match you with opportunities that let you experience a unique combination of regular travel and a job that you love. To learn more about what we can do for you, visit www.promedhr.ca or call (833) 776-6336.

There’s a lot to love about traveling as part of your job. When you’re a locum Physiotherapist or locum Medical Imaging Technologist, you have the opportunity to see parts of Canada that you might never have visited otherwise. 

The one potential drawback is being away for the holidays. Your family could be celebrating Christmas or Hanukkah in British Columbia while you’re filling in for a Sonographer on parental leave in Ontario. How can you celebrate the holidays while traveling? We’ve put together this list of ways that you can enjoy the December holidays with your loved ones, no matter how many miles are between you.

1. Acknowledge How You’re Feeling

Canadian healthcare workers are no stranger to working during the holidays, especially since the pandemic began. However, that doesn’t make it easier. When we’re away for the holidays, we can experience a variety of difficult emotions when we’re not back home participating in cherished traditions. Allow yourself to feel sadness and grief for the holidays you would rather be having. Acknowledging these feelings makes it easier to process them and puts you in a better frame of mind when you celebrate the holidays while traveling.

2. Send Holiday Cards!

Yes, most communications are digital these days, including holiday cards. This is why sending traditional paper cards will make a more meaningful impact. If there are any cards featuring local attractions, you can use them to send your love and show friends and family where you live. Rather than sending typical holiday greetings, consider including a few details about your family’s activities this year, along with some warm wishes. 

Even if you’ve never been one for sending cards, consider doing so this year to those you won’t be seeing over the holidays. You don’t have to spend a fortune on your cards – homemade cards are also great! The message inside is what matters most. You can also send e-cards if postage fees or postal delays are a concern, but be sure to make the message extra-personal.  

3. Send Gifts Weeks in Advance

While presents aren’t the most important part of the holidays, they add a celebratory touch and strengthen your connection with loved ones when you’re away. The holidays can be chaotic when it comes to shipping, though, so order them online (most e-tailers offer gift wrap) or buy and ship all presents as soon as possible.

Another option is to send digital gifts that they can open when you’re all online together. Ideas include:

• E-gift cards to their favourite store.
• Gift cards for music downloads, like iTunes or Spotify
• Monthly subscription boxes that revive the joy and excitement each month. You can get subscriptions for anything from plants and candles to snacks and socks!

Even when you celebrate the holidays while traveling, thoughtful gift choices will ensure that the celebration connects you with loved ones no matter where they are.

4. Make Meaningful Holiday Gestures

Even if your loved ones aren’t physically present with you this year, you can still include them in your holiday activities. For example:

• Make your grandmother’s famous ginger cookies, take pictures of the finished product, and share with friends and family on Facebook or Instagram.
• Do a live FaceTime/Zoom video stream of yourself opening the gifts you’ve received from everyone. You can make it a community celebration by having them open their own presents from you on camera.
• Participate in a virtual holiday dinner!

This year, many holiday traditions are taking place virtually, as easing of travel restrictions means that more people celebrate the holidays while traveling. Why not include your whole extended family, including those in other provinces or even countries? To celebrate together, invite everyone to a Zoom call. It might get loud and chaotic, but family get-togethers are fun like that!

5. Attend a Holiday Service Together Online

If your family is religious, consider attending an online service together, just as you would if you were spending the holiday together. Many churches, synagogues, and other places of worship started broadcasting their services during the pandemic and have continued the practice even after restrictions on indoor gatherings were loosened.

If you have elderly loved ones, make sure they understand how to access the broadcast ahead of time. If necessary, see if a family member can provide direct assistance. Your grandparents would probably love to attend a religious service with you once again, even if you’re on the other side of Canada!

6. Arrange a Food Delivery 

If your household is a smaller one, why not send your family a holiday dinner as well as your love? Many restaurants and grocery stores are making complete holiday dinners available for delivery- all the recipient has to do is warm everything up! 

If a complete dinner isn’t an option for some reason, you can still arrange delivery of favourite festive foods like cookies, cakes, and pies. What matters most is that your family knows you’re thinking of them.

Remember to Stay Connected Once the Holidays Are Over!

Many of us have probably experienced a bit of melancholy at the end of the holiday season. We wait for weeks to celebrate with our friends and family, and it’s sad when the festivities are over. When you’re miles away, the feelings can be even more intense, so make plans to connect via Zoom on New Year’s Eve or New Year’s Day and on a regular basis afterward. 

Although you won’t always celebrate the holidays while traveling, traveling is a major part of being a locum Physiotherapist or Medical Imaging Technologist, and maintaining that connection with loved ones can help you overcome any intermittent loneliness that arises. By making healthcare services available to a wider range of patients, you’re doing invaluable work, and taking care of your personal connections while you’re on the road can make you even better at it.

Ready to Celebrate the Holidays while Traveling? Talk to Us About Locum Opportunities!

If you’re a Physiotherapist or Medical Imaging Technologist who loves to travel and make a difference, ProMed HR Solutions has opportunities available across Canada. Healthcare services are in constant demand even during the holiday season, and you can play a critical role in keeping those services available when regular staff are away. To learn more about who we are and what we can do for you, please visit promedhr.ca or call (833) 776-6336. 

Locum professionals are among the lucky few who have the luxury of pursuing their passion for health care careers in Canada while maintaining professional flexibility and enjoying access to explore new and exciting locations and locales across the country. 

In Canada, we enjoy some of the most stunning natural splendours in the world, inspiring many to participate in a wide range of outdoor activities year-round, such as getting your adrenaline pumping while skiing down the mountain in a winter wonderland, hiking the tallest peak you can find, or getting your heart racing biking to new extremes. 

But what if we told you that there was somewhere you could do all of these activities, find a well-paying position and become part of a new community, all in one place?

The British Columbia Interior offers a captivating cultural and physical landscape that provides the ideal conditions for getting active and enjoying the great outdoors, posing as the perfect venue to enjoy getting back to nature while also presenting countless opportunities for health care staffing. 

Form lasting relationships 

One of the beauties of pursuing a locum in Interior B.C. is the opportunity to form authentic relationships with coworkers, as well as local residents. Ranging from larger hubs to more remote, small towns, the intrinsic feel of the region is one of cohesion, collaboration and community. 

In other words, the atmosphere is hospitable, welcoming, and warm. So, it won’t take long to make friends, and the ones you do make will likely last you a lifetime. 

The roots of Interior communities also run deep, with a wonderful collection of cultures and traditions maintained for generations through food, art, and storytelling. Luckily, this means that there are ample opportunities to explore the diversity of the region not just geographically but culturally, too.

For example, the Sncewips Heritage Museum in Kelowna delves into the rich heritage of Westbank First Nation and the story of the broader Syilx/Okanagan Nation by highlighting its artifacts, traditional tools, and oral storytelling, all from the authentic perspective of the Syilx people. 

For something more interactive, the NK’Mip Cellars near Osoyoos celebrate a proud legacy as the first Indigenous-owned winery in North America, channelling love and respect for traditions and culture into the award-winning wines they produce while also highlighting the relentless spirit and remarkable history that inspires them. 

Winter whimsy 

The B.C. Interior is often an overlooked gem for those looking to pursue health care jobs in Canada, especially those looking to pursue physiotherapist jobs in B.C., given the plethora of outdoor activities locals and visitors alike choose to engage in.

If you’re a winter sports fan, the region serves as a ski and snowboarding paradise, with ample opportunities and venues to hit the slopes while admiring stunning scenery and cutting into some pristine powder. 

Examples of internationally-renowned ski resorts include the “Okanagan’s favourite family ski and bike resort” SilverStar Mountain Resort, just outside of Vernon, Big White Ski Resort near Kelowna, and Sun Peaks Resort, just a quick 45-minute drive from Kamloops.

Each resort features runs for all skill levels and preferences, from bunny hills to black diamonds. So, whether you’re looking to pick up a new hobby and try out some lessons, need to rent some gear, or want to beat your all-time run record, you’ll have everything you need.     

Spring into action 

With hilly terrain abound, Interior B.C. also serves as a hiking and mountain biking hub, with many travelling from across the country and even from around the world to hit its many available trails, with the most common peak – get it? – seasons being spring and summer.

Whether you prefer cross-country riding, where you can admire the breathtaking scenery, or you’re looking to get your adrenaline pumping by seeking thrills darting downhill, there are countless trails to choose from. 

Popular biking spots include the Westside Legacy Trail, which joins the communities of Invermere and Fairmont Hot Springs, the Myra Canyon Trail, running along a beautiful steep-walled canyon outside of Kelowna; and the Okanagan Trail, which, as its name suggests, offers awe-inspiring views of the Okanagan Valley. 

Each of the above options provides diverse terrain that ranges in difficulty, with multiple rental and equipment shops to bolster all your biking needs.

If you’d rather set out and explore on your own two feet, no worries! Whether it’s leisurely strolls or sensational switchbacks you’re after, you’ll find what you’re looking for. 

The Kettle Valley Rail Trail is a fantastic option if you’re looking for something on the easier side. Near Summerland, the route takes just over two hours to complete. For something more moderate, the Skaha Bluffs near Penticton offers a bit more of a challenge with some excellent viewpoints to stop and take a break. 

For more experienced hikers with more time, the Prince of Wales, Silver Queen, Lars Taylor Way, and Aberdeen Loop offers a challenging 15.8-kilometre route that takes roughly four and a half hours to complete.

Room to grow

If you’re looking to pursue locum work, the B.C. Interior offers ample opportunities for those seeking to foster their career while indulging their love for the outdoors. 

With both small and large locations, it serves as the ideal place for those looking to pursue a wide range of well-paid professions, including physiotherapist jobs and those seeking to build their career as a medical laboratory technologist in British Columbia while receiving valuable, hands-on experience. 

At ProMed HR Solutions, we want to ensure reliable and qualified locum health care staffing by connecting those seeking jobs in Canada with the communities and facilities that need them most. Learn more about how we can connect you with your ideal opportunity for short and long-term locum positions.