While your doctor's waiting room fills and your average wait time grows, health care remains the subject of much debate. Industry insiders have argued the supply and demand issues for decades, but that doesn't address the fact that our health care system is facing an impending patient-care crisis, as we will need to care for an increased number of patients for years to come.

I see two major contributing factors that have gotten us here: a growing physician shortage exacerbated by an inadequate pipeline of new physicians; and increasing demand for health care services for an aging population.

Let's start with rising demand. The baby-boomer generation is requiring more health care services, and developing chronic diseases that require medical care. In addition to this exertion on the system, it's likely that health care reform measures will increase the number of insured patients seeking care — potentially 32 million more Americans will soon have medical coverage.

A shortage of physicians already exists and the Association of American Medical Colleges estimates that in 15 years we'll face a shortage of up to 150,000 doctors. There are not enough physicians coming out of medical schools to offset the projected number of retiring doctors and to meet the growing demand for health care services.

Where does this leave us? While we can't fix the inadequate physician pipeline or slow the increasing health care demand overnight, we can address the growing physician shortage.

There are thousands of qualified candidates across the country who may not even realize they can be a part of the solution. Many physicians are choosing to retire due to long hours, increasing overhead costs and more, but we need them to remain in the workforce.

I'm suggesting these physicians consider working as locum tenens — temporary-contract physicians who fill long- and short-term positions, based on a health care facility's staffing needs. It's more important now than ever before that we retain as many skilled physicians as possible.

We need these experienced, proven professionals to continue treating patients. And they can do it on their own terms. Locum tenens offers the best of both worlds — a flexible, customized schedule and the ability to continue providing valuable patient care. They can work as much or as little as they like, crafting a schedule that fits their needs and lifestyle. It is an increasingly popular way for physicians to practice the profession they love and provide a much-needed service to society.

The AAMC estimates that between 200,000 and 250,000 physicians will retire in the next 10 years. Assuming we experience the low end of that estimate, each year for the next 10 years, about 20,000 physicians will retire. If half of those physicians worked as locum tenens just three months a year for two years, we could add the equivalent of 5,000 full-time physicians beginning in just the second year.

Extending the time that retired and semi-retired doctors stay in the workforce through locum-tenens work provides a valuable solution for the looming physician shortage and related patient-care crisis. Locum tenens enjoy a semi-retired lifestyle with an income, while practicing on a flexible schedule that provides quality patient care — where and when it's needed most.

Calling all doctors: please be part of this solution.

Michael Weinholtz, is CEO of CHG Healthcare Services in Salt Lake City.