Adapting Recruitment Strategies Proves Successful
Nationwide, the number of hospitals and clinics searching for physicians and providers has increased significantly in the past decade, particularly in certain specialties and rural areas like western Nebraska. With the shortage has come intensified competition among healthcare organizations to attract and retain qualified physicians and providers. The Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) predicts that by 2036, the United States will face a shortage of up to 86,000 physicians.
Lisa Steele, Regional West director of Physician Recruitment, said that the organization has adapted its recruitment strategies to appeal to providers’ changing preferences, including highlighting benefits like loan repayment programs, relocation assistance, professional development opportunities, and supportive practice environments. Speaking from her 24-plus years of physician recruitment experience at Regional West, she said today's physicians and providers often prioritize factors beyond compensation, such as work-life balance, job satisfaction, and professional development opportunities. They seek roles that align with their personal and career goals, including flexible scheduling, reduced administrative burdens, and access to advanced technology.
Regional West utilizes a number of strategies for recruiting physicians and providers, including using recruitment firms and social networking. When recruiting, Steele often looks for providers who have ties to the area, a rural background, or family living in the region.
Regional West is working hard to not only attract excellent physicians and providers, but to also integrate them and their families into the community.
“Increasingly, providers are placing greater emphasis on achieving a healthy work-life balance. They seek roles that allow them to pursue personal interests, spend time with family, and avoid burnout. Organizations that offer supportive work environments and resources for physician and providers’ well-being are more attractive in this competitive market,” she said. “We find out what is important to providers and their families, then connect them with community members, churches, activities, or schools to make them feel more at home.”
Janel Harkins and Allison Hertzler, whose husbands are local physicians, recently formed a group called Providers Connect, which provides ongoing support to new providers and their families by holding events throughout the year and integrating them into the community. Hertzler recalled her experience of moving to the area and not knowing anyone, and how it would have been helpful to have a way to connect to other provider families who have lived here awhile.
“Scottsbluff is a wonderful place to live and raise a family. We believe that Regional West is the backbone of our city, and if we want to see it thrive, we need to invest in our hospital and our providers,” she said. “Creating opportunities for providers and their families to gather, connect, and form relationships will show they are appreciated and help them to grow roots here.”
To increase physician/provider stability and consistency, Regional West is using fewer physicians and providers who work at Regional West on a temporary basis. Called locum tenens, they fill vacant positions until a full-time provider is found.
“In addition to a sizeable cost to our organization, patients have expressed concern about the lack of continuity of care with physicians and providers who are here for such a short time. We are working diligently to change that,” said Steele.
The financial impact of using locums is significant. The cost of locums has doubled in most specialties since COVID-19 and is not sustainable from either a financial or quality perspective. With the recruitment of 20 physicians and providers in 2023 and 23 so far in 2024, Regional West’s locum usage has decreased by 66% since January 2023, with a cost savings of $400,000 per month.
“Recruiting permanent, quality physicians and providers creates continuity of care for our patients – that is what they expect and deserve,” concluded Steele.