The impact of COVID-19 on frontline healthcare staff will likely be felt for years, but one group that may be in crisis are physicians, nearly 70% of whom now say they are actively disengaged from their employers
| ATLANTA, Feb. 25, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The impact of COVID-19 on frontline healthcare staff will likely be felt for years, but one group that may be in crisis are physicians, nearly 70% of whom now say they are actively disengaged from their employers. This is among several key findings from a new survey conducted by Jackson Physician Search, a national physician recruitment firm. The same study found that 54% of physicians surveyed said COVID-19 has changed their employment plans. Of those, 50% are considering leaving for a new healthcare employer, 21% said they may hang up their white coat for early retirement, and 15% are thinking about leaving the practice of medicine entirely. These results suggest that the practice of how the healthcare industry engages and retains physicians needs an intervention. “Prioritizing physician engagement and retention is critical to the well-being of physicians, their patients and the healthcare organizations they serve,” said Jackson Physician Search President Tony Stajduhar. “The burnout physicians feel today is only exacerbated by long-standing doctor shortages and the perception by physicians that healthcare facilities rarely have a plan in place to retain them.” In the survey, conducted during Q4 2020, 83% of physicians said their employers have no retention program. However, administrators had a different take, with only 30% reporting that there was no program in place. More concerning, physicians and administrators both felt that even when a retention program did exist, it wasn’t favorable. Only 2% of physicians and just 10% of administrators rated it highly. “A single physician vacancy can easily cost a healthcare organization $1 million in lost revenue, which has a detrimental impact on already financially struggling hospitals and medical practices,” Stajduhar added. “When you also consider that recruiting a culturally aligned physician can take up to 6-12 months and cost $250,000 or more – including sourcing, relocation and sign-on bonus – greater emphasis on retaining physicians is key to meeting the healthcare needs of Americans now and into the future.” Administrators recognize the need and have long attempted to devise retention programs, but it appears that physicians have deemed these efforts as largely ineffective or, at a minimum, poorly communicated. Responses to the survey were received from 400 physicians across a range of specialties and from 86 healthcare administrators from throughout the country. Findings from the study are detailed in the new paper titled “On the Verge of a Physician Turnover Epidemic: Physician Retention Survey Results.” Released this week, some key takeaways include:
“It’s difficult to read some of the physicians’ comments throughout the survey, especially knowing the unimaginable sacrifices they’ve made and continue to make to see us through the pandemic,” noted Stajduhar. “They’re struggling. But we’re hopeful that with vaccines now being rolled out, a renewed emphasis will be placed on developing strategies to effectively engage physicians and mitigate burnout, both of which contribute to stronger physician retention and lifelong, fulfilling medical careers.” The complete report on the survey results is available 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. For More Information, Contact:
SOURCE Jackson Physician Search |
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