By Wendy Abdo, Staff Writer, Pinnacle Health Group and Michael P. Broxterman, COO, Pinnacle Health Group
Based on market analysis, it is becoming more difficult for medical groups to recruit physicians than it was twenty years ago. During the next several years, there will be important trends in the medical industry that will influence physician recruitment for most hospitals and medical centers in the United States. Consequently, it will be important to keep these trends in mind before starting the recruitment process in order to locate and secure the best physicians.
A hospital’s success at finding the right candidate is dictated by such things as the supply of physicians in the industry, early retirement of physicians and its impact on the market, the increased need for health care services, compensation and malpractice trends, increased volume of patients needing care, and the immigration issues surrounding foreign doctors. Additionally, the geographical region where your medical facility is located will also have a substantial bearing on your ability to attract the finest qualified physicians. By reviewing each trend, you can keep abreast of all issues affecting the medical industry and plan a successful recruitment strategy for the years ahead.
Ten Important Trends to Keep in Mind
Trend #1: Overall Growth of Physician Employment
According to the U. S. Department of Labor, in 2000, there were approximately 598,000 physician jobs in the United States. Seventy percent of these jobs were office-based practices and 20 percent were hospitals-based positions. The rest worked in government positions for such agencies as veterans’ hospitals and public health services. Their projections indicate that overall physician employment is expected to grow about 10 to 20 percent by 2010.
Trend #2: Early Retirement
According to the American Medical Association, 38 percent of physicians in the United States 50 years of age or older plan to retire within the next three years. Why are these physicians opting for early retirement? The primary reason is frustration due to managed care regulations ; however, doctors also retire early because of advancing age, disabilities, or the wish to do something different with their lives.
Trend #3: Growth Pains In The Suburbs
Today we have an increased need for health care services. The fastest growing areas are the suburbs, which are situated outside of major cities. People tend to move to these regions because it offers them a reduced crime rate, less traffic, better schooling, and lower living expenses while, at the same time, provides them the opportunity of being closer to the amenities of larger metropolitan areas. These communities are growing at such an astonishing rate that they have an immediate and desperate need for physicians. As these communities continue to grow, we should expect a greater demand for physicians in these areas. So expect more physicians to locate in the surrounding outlying areas rather than within city limits.
Trend #4: Physician Compensation
From 2000 to 2001, most physicians enjoyed increased compensation. However, recent compensation trends reveal a leveling off of physician compensation. Though tendencies in income will vary depending on the specialty, overall compensation for most doctors will remain the same except for in-demand specialties, which will show an increase. According to an MGMA report, a number of specialties experienced a decrease in compensation in 2002 for the first time in several years. Among these specialties were invasive and noninvasive cardiologists who reported a lower income. Compensation for these physicians had declined by 6.17 percent for invasive cardiologists and 3.9 percent for noninvasive cardiologists.
Trend #5: Malpractice
Malpractice lawsuits have increased in a number of states and have influenced the way doctors practice. As a result, some physicians have taken a volume approach to their work as opposed to a consultative approach. Their goal is to increase profit and keep costs down. Ever rising malpractice premiums cause many physicians to relocate to states with lower premiums. Other doctors consider revising their list of medical services that they offer to patients. Residents and young doctors respond to this problem by steering clear of states that are threatened by the malpractice crisis.
Trend #6: Managed Care
Managed care is the result of increased pressures to reduce health care costs, and this has had an adverse effect on doctors. An ever-increasing number of Americans are being enrolled in managed care plans through their employers, Medicaid, and Medicare. An MGMA study found that 56 percent of physicians listed managed care as their biggest frustration. Rather than hiring an additional physician to compensate for an increase in patients, existing doctors must see more patients to make up for their reduced income, which puts greater demands on them.
Trend #7: Foreign Doctors
Immigration issues are also an important factor in the medical industry. United States medical schools are limiting student enrollment, as foreign-trained doctors have significantly increased the number of physicians working within the United States. Some experts believe that this trend will lead to an oversupply of physicians. However, these doctors are often willing to practice in underserved areas such as rural America and inner city locations where there is a corresponding need for physicians.
Trend #8: Quality of Life
Physicians continue to choose specialties that enable them to have a higher quality of life. What specific activities constitute a higher quality of life? While each physician is unique, a dominant trend is that doctors are seeking more free time to spend with family and friends and in other recreational pursuits. According to an article in Medical Economics Magazine, some young doctors have taken significant pay cuts to work for community health centers rather than tackling the more time-consuming demands of private practices. As younger physicians move into the medical industry, expect quality of life to become an ever-increasing consideration.
Trend #9: Maldistribution
Many rural and inner-city communities see increasing physician shortages. In a study done by COGME, top reasons for this geographic maldistribution of physicians include professional isolation in a non-collegial setting, income reduction due to increased number of uninsured in area, lack of physical and cultural amenities, and the difficulty family members face in finding employment in the underserved community. Unless these issues are addressed, physician maldistribution will continue to rise.
Trend #10: Physician Turnover
Residents and doctors are changing jobs more often in the search for better opportunities. According to recent studies, over 10 percent of the physician workforce change jobs annually. Why? Some top reasons include professional dissatisfaction, tightening controls in how they practice medicine, and diminished job security. As job change becomes more of a standard practice in all industries, this will also affect the medical profession, especially with immerging young doctors and residents.
Overall, the supply of physicians is tightening, job opportunities are increasing, and job attractiveness is decreasing. As the market acclimates to these changes, expect to see a continual demand for physicians and a difficulty in recruiting the right person for the right opportunity, especially in smaller towns.
These issues are just a few of the many factors involved in the future outlook of physician recruitment trends. It is vital that hospitals and medical groups are aware of up-and-coming developments that will influence their future prospects. Hospitals, in particular, should periodically review annual surveys and significant trends in the industry that will aid them in making informed decisions in their recruitment process and give them essential facts pertaining to the natural limitations certain geographical locations possess and strategies to combat these problems.
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1 U. S. Department of Labor. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Retrieved October 22, 2003, from
2 American Medical Association. Physicians enticed into early retirement. Retrieved September 11, 2003, from
3 Physician Spring. Physician Employment Trends. Retrieved September 11, 2003, from
3 Medical Group Management Association. Physician compensation increases nominal in 2002; Some specialties report declines. Retrieved September 11, 2003, from
Physicians Weekly. Physicians To Americans: Liability Crisis is Affecting Care. Retrieved October 14, 2003, from
4 The Commonwealth Fund. Health Care Coverage and Access Program Picker/Commonwealth Program on Health Care Quality and Managed Care. Retrieved September 11, 2003, from
5 AAMC Newsroom. Reporter: Treating Physicians’ Career Woes. Retrieved October 14, 2003, from
6 Center For Immigration Studies. Foreign-trained doctors swelling ranks in U.S. Retrieved September 11, 2003, from
7 Medical Economics Company. Medical Economics Magazine: Young Doctors Face a Steep Climb. Retrieved October 14, 2003, from
8 Council on Graduate Medical Education (COGME). The Council on Graduate Medical Education 2002 Summary Report to the U.S. Congress and the Secretary Department of Health and Human Services. Retrieved October 14, 2003, from
9 HealthLeaders. 5-Minute Consult. Retrieved October 14, 2003, from