Compare high-paying freelance options for York emergency medicine news: locums, telemedicine, AI training, consulting. Real pay ranges, requirements, and how to start.

TL;DR

Looking for freelance or contract work as a emergency medicine in New York? Whether you want to supplement your income or transition to independent practice, New York offers several high-paying options. Here's how the top opportunities compare.

1.

Expert Witness / Medical-Legal

$400-$900/hr

What You'll Do

Reviews emergency medicine cases for litigation, providing expert testimony on standard of care in trauma, resuscitation, or misdiagnosis. Involves chart analysis, report writing, and court appearances for plaintiff or defense in New York legal matters. Work is episodic, focusing on high-stakes malpractice or injury cases.

Requirements

  • Active New York license
  • Board certification in Emergency Medicine
  • 10+ years EM experience
  • Prior expert witness experience preferred

Malpractice Insurance: No

Where to Find Work

  • SEAK

New York notes: NYC high-volume litigation market commands top rates; Upstate slightly lower; Trial testimony $600-$900/hr or $5k-$10k/day; Deposition $400-$650/hr; Chart review $300-$500/hr
Typical start timeline: 2-6 weeks

2.

Healthcare Consulting / Advisory

$200-$500/hr

What You'll Do

Advises hospitals, insurers, or startups on emergency department operations, protocols, and quality improvement in New York settings. Includes policy development, workflow optimization for high-volume EDs, and training programs. Engagements range from short audits to ongoing advisory roles.

Requirements

  • Active New York license
  • Board certification in Emergency Medicine
  • 5+ years leadership experience in EM
  • Administrative or consulting background

Malpractice Insurance: No

Where to Find Work

  • GLG, AlphaSights, Guidepoint, PhysicianSideGigs

New York notes: NYC pharma/biotech corridor premium; Major expert network HQs in NYC; Expert networks $250-$500/hr; Pharma advisory $350-$500/hr; Health-tech consulting $200-$400/hr
Typical start timeline: 4-12 weeks

3.

Locum Tenens / Per Diem

$200-$375/hr

What You'll Do

Involves temporary staffing in hospital emergency departments, covering shifts in high-volume Level II trauma centers with 90,000+ annual visits, handling 115-130 patients per day across all ages. Physicians provide acute care including trauma, imaging, and consultations with on-site specialists. Flexible per diem or short-term contracts (e.g., 13 weeks) at rates like $186/hour or $75-$298/hour.

Requirements

  • Active New York license
  • Board certification in Emergency Medicine (ABEM/AOBEM) or eligible
  • EM residency completion
  • ATLS, ACLS, PALS certifications
  • DEA registration

Malpractice Insurance: Typically provided by employer

Where to Find Work

  • Weatherby Healthcare, CompHealth

New York notes: NYC metro high cost premium but competitive market; Upstate rural +20-30%; Long Island/Westchester +10%; Critical Care $280-$375/hr; General EM $200-$300/hr; Toxicology $275-$350/hr
Typical start timeline: 60-90 days

4.

AI Training & Annotation

$125-$315/hr

What You'll Do

Healthcare AI companies hire emergency medicine professionals to review, annotate, and validate training data for medical AI systems. Work involves emergency clinical scenario training data — tasks like triage algorithm training, clinical decision support, trauma assessment.

Requirements

  • Active clinical background in emergency medicine
  • No malpractice insurance needed
  • Computer with reliable internet

Malpractice Insurance: No

Where to Find Work

  • Folio (folioworks.com)
  • Centaur Labs
  • Appen
  • Labelbox

New York notes: Fully remote — available regardless of state. Pay based on specialty expertise, not location.
Typical start timeline: 1-2 weeks

Getting started: Join the expert community and make a free profile on Folio to browse current emergency medicine AI training projects.

5.

Telemedicine / Telehealth

$130-$200/hr

What You'll Do

Provides remote emergency consultations, triage, and follow-up for urgent cases via video or phone, supporting ED overflow or rural access in New York. Focuses on initial assessments, prescribing, and referrals without physical exams. Often part of urgent care or virtual ED services for all ages.

Requirements

  • Active New York license
  • Board certification in Emergency Medicine
  • EM experience
  • Telehealth platform proficiency

Malpractice Insurance: Yes ($5,000-$15,000/year)

Where to Find Work

  • ZipRecruiter

New York notes: NY telehealth-friendly regulations; NYC-based platforms common; Night tele-EM $160-$200/hr; Daytime virtual $130-$170/hr
Typical start timeline: 4-8 weeks

Common Questions People Ask

Q: What are the highest-paying freelance options for emergency medicine physicians in New York?

A: Based on current market data, the top 3 are: Expert Witness / Medical-Legal ($400-$900/hr), Healthcare Consulting / Advisory ($200-$500/hr), Locum Tenens / Per Diem ($200-$375/hr).

Q: Which freelance options for emergency medicine physicians don't require malpractice insurance?

A: 3 options don't require malpractice insurance: Expert Witness / Medical-Legal ($400-$900/hr), Healthcare Consulting / Advisory ($200-$500/hr), AI Training & Annotation ($125-$315/hr). This can save $25-$60K annually compared to options requiring coverage.

Q: Can emergency medicine physicians work remotely in New York?

A: Yes, 4 options are fully or partially remote: Expert Witness / Medical-Legal ($400-$900/hr), Healthcare Consulting / Advisory ($200-$500/hr), AI Training & Annotation ($125-$315/hr), Telemedicine / Telehealth ($130-$200/hr).

Q: What New York license do emergency medicine physicians need for freelance work?

A: An active New York license from New York State Education Department Office of the Professions is required for most clinical freelance options.

Q: How quickly can emergency medicine physicians start freelance work?

A: Timeline varies by option: Expert Witness / Medical-Legal typically takes 2-6 weeks, while Healthcare Consulting / Advisory typically takes 4-12 weeks, while Locum Tenens / Per Diem typically takes 60-90 days.

Q: What's the pay range for emergency medicine physicians doing AI training work?

A: AI training pays $125-$315/hour for emergency medicine physicians, varying by experience level and project complexity. No malpractice insurance required.

Getting Started with AI Training

Folio connects New York emergency medicine physicians with frontier research labs and healthcare AI companies looking for clinical expertise. The platform vets AI companies for project quality, handles contracting and payment, and matches projects to your area of expertise.

Typical timeline:
- Application: 3 minutes
- Credential review: 2-3 business days
- Platform orientation: 1 hour
- First project: 3-7 days from application

Current project focus (February 2026): Triage algorithm training, clinical decision support, trauma assessment

Most emergency medicine physicians start with 5-10 hours weekly, then scale based on preference. No minimum commitment.

Explore AI Training Opportunities

Questions? Email experts@folioworks.com

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Frequently asked questions

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How do I get started with freelance emergency medicine work in New York?