By Terry Lane
Why is it more difficult to recruit physicians to a small town? Small towns have been stigmatized as places lacking arts and culture, diversity, or simply – things to do. Try looking at a small town opportunity in a new light. Instead of thinking of what it doesn’t have in comparison to its metro/urban sibling, look at what it does have to offer – those unique attributes that you can find no where else. Following is a list of ‘things to consider’ when considering an opportunity in a small town.
Things to Consider
- Cost of Living. Small towns usually offer a low cost of living, great housing prices, and/or tax relief, compared to other areas – be sure to ask about cost of living.
- Compensation. Many physicians do not realize that small town opportunities often provide higher compensation packages than in metro/urban areas. This is simply because it is more difficult to recruit physicians to small town opportunities, therefore they pay more.
- Less Managed Care. Some small towns offer less managed care.
- Competition – There may be less competition in a small town.
- Geography. Small towns often provide beautiful geographic attributes such as streams, parks, forests, and lakes. Also, look at what is available within the two-hour radius. You may be only a short drive to mountains, beaches, or large bodies of water.
- Climate / Pollution & Air Quality. Small towns tend to have less pollution and better air quality than metro/urban areas. Also, look at the climate year-around – does the small town in question offer four seasons; a mild year-around climate with lots of sunny days; or low humidity?
- Crime Rate. One of the primary reasons that physicians move into small towns is due to the lower crime rate. Statistics show that small towns are safer for kids, with less drug-related crime, significantly less violent crime, and less juvenile delinquency in general due to the small-town community atmosphere and neighbor recognition – people know one another and recognize each other’s children!
- Community Feel / Family Focus. A major draw to small town life, physicians are looking for family/community-oriented communities with strong civic groups, clubs, and activities for their children. Small towns tend to have “community spirit” that make a family really feel they are a part of their hometown – an essential element in their community. Small towns depend on their community members to run, improve, and build things – there is lots of room for involvement at the community level.
- Schools. Don’t underestimate small towns when it comes to school quality. Some of the best public and private schools in the nation are found in small towns.
- Sports. From little league to college-level sports, small towns tend to offer many sports-related activities that are played in the many roomy, grassy parks and playing fields throughout the town.
- Arts and Culture – Small towns are becoming the new gathering place for writers and artists across the nation. Where artists used to be drawn to the larger metro/urban areas, many small towns are now forming various artists colonies and are producing top-selling authors and nationally-recognized artists. The town you are considering probably has an artist’s guild or similar organization that can introduce you to the arts in the community.
- The Two-and Four-hour Radius. Remember to look at the two- and four-hour radius around the town you are considering – just a short drive away may be metro/urban areas; arts and culture features; natural features such as parks and lakes; major universities offering lectures and other programs; and major airports.
- Less / No Commuting / Less Traffic and Congestion. Ah, Yes! The 15-minute drive to work – is that appealing? No more congested traffic, freeway driving, and paying tolls and expensive parking!
- Overall Quality of Life. Overall, small town living can provide a less stressful lifestyle with more breathing room. Friendly and caring neighbors, shady streets, holiday parades, backyard barbeques – it may sound like a 50’s sitcom – but it’s small town reality.
- Your Town’s Claim to Fame. Every town has some claim to fame, whether it is a small town hero who made big, the first “something”, or an historical event or person – call the local library, newspaper, or historical society and research the past of the town.
Obviously, small towns offer attributes that you won’t find in metro/urban areas. Many physicians are surprised to find out that small towns today offer a variety of arts and cultural activities and are more diverse than fifty years ago. Small towns offer quaint and quirky shops, little nooks that crave investigating, interesting folklore, and secret recipes. Artists and writers are moving back to small towns, and while violent crime is escalating in our cities – crime is extremely low in small towns across the nation. The next time you are presented with an opportunity in a small town, consider these points carefully – and picture yourself sitting on the porch of your Victorian, on a tree-lined street, reading the New Yorker and drinking iced-tea. Picturesque? Yes. Possible? Absolutely! Ah! The good life! It can be yours.