We went into 2022 knowing some concerning physician recruitment trends were on the horizon and that it would be essential for healthcare recruiters to develop new recruitment and retention strategies.
So, now that we are more than halfway through the year, what trends are healthcare recruiters
seeing in physician recruitment?
In this article, we’ll explore five trends in physician recruitment that can help healthcare marketers make more informed decisions about how to market to physicians, specialists, and other healthcare providers.
5 Physician Recruitment Trends Emerging in 2022
This year has not been easy for hospital recruiters. Here are the top five things you need to know about physician recruitment in 2022.
1. Hospital physician recruitment is up by more than 7%
There is a greater need for hospitals to recruit physicians in 2022 than just a year ago. Some estimates say that hospital physician recruiting is up by more than 7 percent compared to last year.
This statistic, of course, means hospital recruiters are working harder than ever to fill find qualified candidates to fill vacant positions. The challenge is that fewer physicians are entering the field. So, hospital recruiters need to get creative in sourcing qualified candidates.
2. It’s taking longer to fill open physician positions
In 2022, the average number of days it takes to fill an open physician position has increased to an average of 126 days. This increase can be attributed to multiple factors.
First, as stated above, fewer physicians are available to fill more vacancies, leading to longer lead times. Additionally, many hospitals are shrinking their recruiting staff, meaning fewer recruiters are now available to fill more open positions.
3. Base salaries are on the rise in some practices
Compared with 2020, the average base salary for physicians in some practices, such as family medicine, neurology, pediatrics, and psychiatry, has increased.
This is good news for physicians but could be detrimental to hospitals, especially smaller hospitals working with a tight budget.
However, some specialties, including public health and preventative medicine, are seeing a decrease in salary by around three percent.
4. More opportunities in telehealth
The pandemic opened up new opportunities for doctors to operate virtually using telehealth technology.
This advancement has somewhat changed traditional medicine’s landscape, with more physicians caring for patients outside of a conventional clinical setting. The home healthcare market is projected to grow to nearly $275 billion by 2025, suggesting that this is one trend we should expect to see continuing in the coming years.
5. Increased focus on employee retention
The healthcare industry, like others, saw a sharp increase in resignations due to the pandemic. The sudden vacancies left by physicians, nurses, and other healthcare providers have led many hospitals to put more emphasis on employee retention during their recruiting efforts this year.
Hospitals incentivize retention by offering higher pay, prioritizing work-life balance, and establishing a healthy culture that energizes employees.
Need Help with Healthcare Recruiting? Let’s Talk
There’s no question that this is an unprecedented time for healthcare recruiters. That’s why it’s essential to develop an innovative approach to healthcare recruiting instead of continuing to work with the old way of doing things.
HealthLink Dimensions has several innovative solutions for healthcare marketers that can allow you to find qualified candidates who aren’t looking on traditional job boards. You can also search for candidates based on geographic proximity and track candidates using enhanced analytics.
Whether you are recruiting for specialized positions, general practitioners, or anywhere in between, HealthcareJobFinder and PracticeAlert can help you save time and resources.
Learn more about HealthcareJobFinder and PracticeAlert from HealthLink Dimensions or contact us to get started.