Ten Keys to Physician Retention
Following are some ways to maintain a premier physician “workshop.” • Offer clear, competitive, fair compensation (see #9 below). • Maintain a qualified, appropriate nursing staff. A key irritant to many physicians is lack of appropriately trained nurses • Improve physician access to patient data • Enhance test turnaround times • Ensure timely, efficient OR availability • Ensure timely, efficient patient admissions and release • Enhance ER triage/patient turnaround • Implement a hospitalist/surgicalist/laborist/nocturnist/complexivist program • Provide flexible scheduling options • Offer telemedicine options • Use locum doctors during peak usage periods to avoid physician burn-out • Provide convenient parking/access for physicians • Implement efficient, physician-friendly EHR • Maintain appropriate equipment • Add specialty support as needed • Offer paths to leadership • Maintain a quality medical staff. Physicians are very sensitive to the training and professionalism of their peers. • Reduce as much as possible regulatory, pre-authorization, reimbursement and related non-clinical paperwork (“let doctors be doctors”).
Today, the most important factor in creating a positive physician work environment is flexibility. To the greatest extent possible, the practice should be tailored to each physician’s interests and needs. In particular, this means schedule flexibility, which often is more important in physician contract negotiations today than compensation, and, where possible, telemedicine options.
As was referenced above, many physicians are considering leaving their current practice for a place where “the grass is greener.” By offering an optimum practice environment, healthcare facilities can become “employers of choice,” both retaining the physicians they have and attracting new ones.
© AMN Healthcare 2024
AMNHealthcare.com | 15
Made with FlippingBook. PDF to flipbook with ease