Locum tenens is Latin for "placeholder" and is the medical version of a temporary employee. As a locum tenens physician assistant, you work a temporary assignment anywhere from a couple of weeks to a couple of months. You handle clinical responsibilities and patient load when a physician assistant is on vacation, maternity leave, or during a time when more workers are necessary. You travel to various medical facilities, sometimes local, sometimes farther locations, and assist with patients, provide proper health care and treatment, order and interpret tests, write prescriptions, and handle related administrative duties.