The most recent survey of in-house physician recruiters across the country revealed that the physician shortage is taking a toll on hospital systems throughout the United States, and recruiting departments are changing tactics and personnel to combat the lack of physicians to fill key provider roles. St. Louis-based PracticeMatch Services has officially released results from their most recent recruitment and retention survey of recruiting departments’ and medical groups’ responses to the physician shortage and departmental and fiscal changes.
Data were compiled between September 12 – October 15, 2008, from a response group of 109 physician recruiters from healthcare systems and groups in 36 states.
Top findings include:
Growing Physician Shortage:
– 15% of respondents had to fill between 100 and 800 provider openings
before 2011; the average number of positions to be filled is
approximately 31
– 45% report over 1-year search time for all medical specialties
– Nearly 75% reported needing to interview between 3 and 5 physicians for
each open opportunity
– 58% depend on Locum Tenens physicians (temporary staffing) to fill open
positions until a permanent provider is found; most report using Locums
to fill the role of Hospitalist, a field that continues to grow in
demand and popularity in the medical community
– 81% report a growing need for recruitment, while fewer than 6% reported
a decrease
…
The Effects of the Shortage on Recruiting Departments:
– The number of recruiters hired over the past year has increased by
24.5%
– A majority of respondents report difficulty in drawing candidates to
their system or group, with 56% naming their location as the biggest
detriment to hiring physicians
– Almost all respondents listed compensation and location as the top
priorities they have found physicians have when looking at an
opportunity
– 61% of respondents said a strong demand exists among physicians for
lower to no call schedules, with an added emphasis on quality of life
Source:
PR Newswire Feruary 5, 2009
Tags: Practice Match, shortage, survey
