Retention Plans for New Physician Hires

Nelson Tilden, PhD, is a veteran physician recruiter. He outlined the following six reasons why physicians leave their group practice.

1. Lack of professional interaction and camaraderie
2. Spouse or family dissatisfaction
3. Economic disappointment
4. Management not seeking his/her input
5. Inferior facility, equipment, support, personnel and/or quality of care
6. Medical practice not stimulating or challenging

Most physicians expend a great deal of effort to hire a physician. Tilden contends that an equal or even greater effort should be made to retain new physician recruits. Another consultant, L. Michael Fleischman, recommends that a mentoring program include the following:

Invite and accompany a new physician to various meetings and introduce him/her to key contacts within the community.

Provide a thorough orientation to all your policies and procedures.

Arrange a one-on-one time with your adminstrator to answer questions and build an effective relationship.

Assign (limited, at first) specific responsibilities beyond patient care with appropriate authority to participate in running the practice.

If these steps are taken, the new recruit may feel more comfortable in sharing professional and personal concerns with senior members of the group. Most importantly, a crisis may be avoided and a valuable addition to your group may be retained.

Paul K. Shitabata, M.D.
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Reference: The Physician's Advisory March 2000.

Last Updated December 24, 2004