A new survey from Jackson Physician Search, a permanent physician recruitment firm, and LocumTenens.com, a temporary physician staffing firm, provides fresh insights to help rural healthcare organizations make progress in resolving their chronic physician recruitment and staffing challenges. Takeaways from the study titled Rural Physician Recruitment and Staffing Survey Results suggest the market could be shifting, as 90 percent of surveyed physicians indicate they have some level of openness to considering rural practice.
“Our findings provide a recruitment roadmap for rural healthcare,” said Tony Stajduhar, president of Jackson Physician Search. “Considering the reality that 20 percent of the population lives in rural areas — yet only about 10 percent of physicians practice there — combined with COVID-prompted early retirements and job changes, these new insights suggest that rural healthcare organizations can more effectively market open positions by better understanding what physicians want and need.”
The recent survey of 1,311 physicians and 169 administrators, as well as 158 advanced practice providers, explored the dynamics of what it’s like to work in rural, suburban and urban healthcare environments, and how physicians are thinking about rural practice opportunities. Interestingly, physicians sometimes vary in their viewpoints based on their current practice location and stage of life.
In addition, administrators were asked about the likelihood that they might consider locum tenens as part of their staffing strategies to meet the immediate needs of their communities — whether that be for a temporary gap in coverage or to mitigate the negative impact on patients and organizational revenue during a lengthy vacancy.
The new report, Rural Physician Recruitment and Staffing Survey Results, details:
- Physicians’ and advanced practice providers’ sentiments on what they want in a permanent rural opportunity and how these compare to what administrators think
- Physicians’ and administrators’ views on rural locum tenens, as well as recommendations for its strategic use
- Insights into rural physician retention, including what physicians value most when considering whether to stay
- A snapshot of how COVID-19 is impacting physician retirements and rural recruitment
Physicians are clear about what they want; administrators can take heed
The study found that physicians who are currently practicing in urban and suburban locations are looking for higher compensation, bonuses and benefits (64 percent), more flexible hours (47 percent) and improved work-life balance (46 percent), and many are open to finding those characteristics in a rural opportunity. Administrators, on the other hand, ranked compensation as the fifth most important factor, indicating there’s a disconnect that must be overcome. Noted Stajduhar, “This suggests that if physicians are well paid and assured of better work-life balance, a rural location may be less of a negative factor than once believed.”
What can be learned about how cultural attributes affect the rural experience during recruitment and for retention purposes?
“We have long advocated that physician retention begins with recruitment,” explained Stajduhar. “And this survey confirms that finding the right cultural ‘fit’ is the first step. Understanding what physicians value most in a facility’s culture and the factors that will motivate them to stay can go a long way towards making a good match and keeping them long term.”
Administrators underestimate the importance of providing physician autonomy. Just 24 percent of those surveyed feel it’s an attribute of culture that most appeals to physicians. However, physicians (40 percent), regardless of practice location, rank it as the most important aspect of culture. And what will motivate physicians to stay? While physicians and administrators agree on the top factors influencing physician retention, physicians (55 percent) place greater value on higher compensation, bonuses and benefits than administrators (37 percent) believe.
Temporary staffing might make more economic sense than administrators think
The survey asked physicians who don’t already work in a rural setting if they might consider a locum tenens assignment to “try out” a rural location — and 72 percent of physicians responded favorably. The study results also revealed that nearly 1 in 10 of physicians who moved to a rural practice cited COVID-19 as the reason.
“Understanding what motivates both physicians and administrators today — versus what might have been important to them pre-COVID — is worth exploring,” said Chris Franklin, president of LocumTenens.com. “Traditionally, temporary assignments have had the most appeal for those just starting out or those on the cusp of retirement. This survey suggests that it’s possible physicians might want to shake things up mid-career.”
Administrators also may want to re-think locum tenens as another recruitment strategy. “Rural facilities may view locum tenens as a more costly short-term solution when facing a vacancy, but it is all about perspective,” added Franklin. “While recruiting a permanent physician to a rural facility is the goal, there are different approaches to get there. For instance, if a vacancy is costing lost revenue, decreased access to care and the risk of increased burnout on existing staff, facilities can leverage strategic recruiting to identify temporary locums candidates who, in many cases, may be open to permanent placement in the long run.”
To download the 23-page Rural Physician Recruitment and Staffing Survey Results report, click here.
About Jackson Physician Search
Jackson Physician Search is an established industry leader in physician recruitment and pioneered the recruitment methodologies standard in the industry today. The firm specializes in the permanent recruitment of physicians, physician leaders and advanced practice providers for hospitals, health systems, academic medical centers and medical groups across the United States. Headquartered in Alpharetta, Ga., the company is recognized for its track record of results built on client trust and transparency of processes and fees. Jackson Physician Search is part of the Jackson Healthcare® family of companies. For more information, visit www.jacksonphysiciansearch.com.
About LocumTenens.com
LocumTenens.com specializes in the temporary placement of physicians, advanced practitioners and psychologists at healthcare facilities across the U.S. through onsite and telehealth services. As the industry’s most-visited job board, LocumTenens.com helps healthcare organizations connect with the medical professionals they need to ensure patients have access to quality care. Founded in 1995, LocumTenens.com is a leader in the healthcare staffing industry, helping place clinicians who deliver care to more than seven million patients in over 2,400 healthcare facilities in the U.S. LocumTenens.com is a Jackson Healthcare® company. Learn more at www.locumtenens.com/about.
The Editorial Team at Healthcare Business Today is made up of skilled healthcare writers and experts, led by our managing editor, Daniel Casciato, who has over 25 years of experience in healthcare writing. Since 1998, we have produced compelling and informative content for numerous publications, establishing ourselves as a trusted resource for health and wellness information. We offer readers access to fresh health, medicine, science, and technology developments and the latest in patient news, emphasizing how these developments affect our lives.
