Using Healthcare Recruiters for Physician EmploymentUsing Healthcare Recruiters for Physician Employment As more physicians transition to employment, finding the right job can be challenging given the complexities of healthcare contracts and compensation structures. Healthcare recruiters offer assistance in this process, but understanding when and why to engage one is crucial. Advantages of Using a Recruiter: * Time-saving: Recruiters save physicians time by screening applications, reducing the burden of evaluating numerous job postings. * Research expertise: Recruiters assess factors such as community amenities and financial packages, providing valuable insights on job opportunities. * Industry knowledge: Recruiters stay informed about industry trends, offering guidance on employment agreements and compensation benchmarks. How to Evaluate a Recruiter: * Verify employer-paid: Most recruiters are paid by the hiring organization, ensuring no direct cost to the physician. * Understand their role: Recruiters’ primary responsibility is to their employer, not the physician. * Seek clarity: Discuss career goals and expectations with the recruiter to ensure alignment. Benefits for Physicians: * Career guidance: Recruiters provide assistance with resume writing and career planning. * Employer negotiation: Recruiters can advocate for physicians in salary and benefits discussions. * Access to exclusive opportunities: Recruiters often have access to unadvertised or confidential positions. Additional Resources: * AMA Guide for Physicians on Hospital Employment Agreements (free to AMA members) * Annotated Model Agreement for Employment Contract between Physician and Group Practice (PDF) * AMA CME accreditation Conclusion: Healthcare recruiters can be a valuable resource for physicians seeking employment. By understanding the advantages, how to evaluate a recruiter, and the potential benefits, physicians can make informed decisions about using their services.
As more physicians choose to work as employees, many find themselves in unfamiliar territory. Given the potentially wide variations between employers, from areas of coverage to compensation to contractual requirements, finding the right job can be a daunting task, especially when most physicians have little or no training in healthcare.
So it’s not unreasonable for doctors to wonder if they should use a recruiter to find their next job. But knowing when and why to use one can also be confusing.
Know your options first
Know your options first
Any doctor can look for a job independently, certainly with some guidance. But one of the advantages of using a recruitment agency is that it saves time.
For example, according to the most recent survey of seniors from AMN Healthcare Physician Solutions, formerly known as Merritt Hawkins, 56 percent said they received 100 or more applications during their training. Midcareer physicians may not get that many, but sifting through even a dozen job postings can seem prohibitive, considering the hours of research it takes to evaluate just one.
According to another publication from AMN Healthcare, How to Evaluate a Medical Practice Opportunity (registration required), The process consists of eight fairly extensive steps, from understanding the organization’s vision to ensuring the compensation structure is appropriate.
“Not working with a recruiter is almost like not having an agent when you’re looking for a house,” says Leah Grant, president of AMN Healthcare Physician Solutions, a large healthcare recruiter. “Having that person working behind the scenes to find you the perfect home is critical.”
You can learn more with a separate AMA STEPS Forward® toolkit, “What to Consider for Your First or Next Practice: Evaluate the Practice Environment to Match Your Priorities.” It is durable equipment and is AMA-designated for up to 0.5 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit
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The toolkit is part of the AMA Ed Hub, an online learning platform that brings together high-quality CME, certification maintenance, and educational content from trusted sources in one place, with activities relevant to you, automated credit tracking, and reporting for some states and specialty boards.
Learn more about AMA CME accreditation.
Get a head start on research
Get a head start on research
While a real estate agent might look at property taxes and comparable properties, physician recruiters’ checklists might include determining whether a community’s amenities meet your family’s needs and how the financial package compares to the most recent and relevant physician compensation figures. This is their value proposition.
Other questions that physician recruitment agencies try to answer include:
- Is there a clear need for your medical specialty within the care area?
- Are there sufficient resources available to set up a practice?
- Does the recruiting institution have a clear work schedule with information about the number of patients and expectations for the on-call service?
“That’s what you get with a physician recruitment agency,” Grant said. “It’s a lot of work to gather facts on the front end, especially if there’s a relocation involved.”
Learn more about understanding physician employment agreements with help from the AMA.
It won’t cost you anything, but…
It won’t cost you anything, but…
Most physician recruiters, including AMN Healthcare Physician Solutions, are employer-paid, so there is no cost to the job seeker. Just be aware that if you are not the one footing the bill, the recruiter is not ultimately working for you. Their fiduciary responsibility is to their client, the employer.
However, that does not mean that there are no benefits for the physician.
“We’re here to make sure we’re meeting your short-term or long-term career goals, whether that’s through temporary or permanent positions,” Grant said, noting that recruiters often help with resume writing or review as well. “It doesn’t matter where you are in your career path. You could be a senior, mid-career, late-career. We can help you determine what the best next step in your career should be.”
The AMA has compiled a variety of resources to help physicians thrive in the work environment. They include the AMA Guide for Physicians on Hospital Employment Agreements (PDF), free to AMA members, and theAnnotated model agreement for employment contract between physician and group practice (PDF)
