STARTING YOUR JOB SEARCH
financial risk. In addition, you receive benefits such as malpractice, health and disability insurance, and you do not have to hire or manage ancillary staff; however, this also means you will not have direct control over office management and other practice issues. Employed physicians are also required to adhere to their organization’s resource utilization guidelines, quality assurance standards, and potential referral restrictions. They may have limited input into determining which payer contracts the practice chooses to pursue and are thus at a slightly higher risk of losing patients to insurance changes.
i
IMPORTANT TIP: Don’t forget that licensing and credentialing can be a lengthy process, so set yourself up to have everything in place to start practicing once you’re ready.
As you launch into your final push to become a board-certified provider and find that perfect job match, so many decisions have to be made. What type of practice do you see yourself in? Where? For how much? Gathering the answers to these questions takes time and effort but are critical to making your decision easier in the long run.
DON’T DELAY – START YOUR JOB SEARCH EARLY
GROUP PRACTICE, HOSPITAL, OR HEALTH SYSTEM EMPLOYMENT
Residents often wait until the end of their residency to explore opportunities then experience frustration when they must wait to begin practicing. Many practices begin their hiring process one-to-two years before an expected opening. Be proactive and keep an eye on opportunities that interest you. If you find something that grabs your attention, reach out and gather more details.
If you choose employment with a group practice, it may be a single or multi-specialty practice. The size and patient volume of some organizations may provide additional assistance to its clinicians and offer opportunities for expanding into other aspects of health care delivery, such as governance committees and working in non-clinical positions.
IMPORTANT TIP: Ask to be added to any event calendars or email blasts from your recruiter to stay connected.
i
GET TO KNOW YOUR RECRUITER (AND LET YOUR RECRUITER GET TO KNOW YOU!)
GOVERNMENT ENTITY EMPLOYMENT
Recruiters are the conduit to finding the right position for you. They know the organization inside and out and are going to match up providers with the type of environment that best fits their needs. Whether you are interested in practicing with a specific group or hospital, building a relationship with a recruiter is critical to finding the ideal job for you. Connect with recruiters and let them know your preferred practice settings. When the perfect option arises, you will be top-of-mind for them.
You can become an employee of various government entities, including the Veteran Affairs health care system, state or local health departments or federally qualified health centers and community health networks. All of these entities provide increased government oversight to a physician, which usually decreases autonomy within the practice setting. Additionally, the physician’s role may involve more administrative duties and decreased patient contact, especially within health departments.
ATTEND RESIDENCY DINNERS
IMPORTANT TIP: Do you attend specialty
i
WORKING IN ACADEMIA
It can be extremely difficult to learn the culture of a practice based simply upon online research. Many groups hold events to introduce residents to their practices. These dinners and events offer the chance to see first-hand the culture of the practice and offer you the option to ask specific questions. Often, there is an opportunity for one- on-one conversations that can also help determine if the practice is the right fit for you.
conferences? If so, stop by to speak with the recruiters in attendance to get a feel for the team. One-on-one conversations provide a wealth of information about the practice, as well as visibility for you as a potential candidate.
As an employee of an academic institution, you could have the opportunity to see patients, conduct research, be in close proximity to individuals of multiple specialties and teach or mentor future physicians. Your responsibilities will differ both by institution as well as by the specific role for which you are hired. This means you might have an academic appointment but still primarily see patients or have a research lab with minimal patient contact. Academic institutions have complex leadership structures. There may be leadership and management opportunities available that can require little to almost all of a physician’s time, but they may also be very limited in number or require years within the system before a promotion. You may also have decreased clinical autonomy. Academic institutions hire physicians into full-time clinical tracks, or their time between clinical roles and either research, teaching, or administration. While every center is different, it is important to ask about the tracks and the possibility of promotion or tenure. Those who can establish seniority or tenure are often granted the flexibility to manage their own time and projects with reduced pressure to meet goals and deadlines.
LOAN REPAYMENT PROGRAMS AND OTHER AVAILABLE RESOURCES
In 2022, the Louisiana Legislature used Rescue Plan Funding to establish a Loan Repayment Program for primary care physicians working in HPSA designated areas. This program offers a robust $30,000 per year with a five-year commitment. It is further enhanced with an additional $15,000 per year for physicians staying an additional two years. The maximum total over the seven-year period is $210,000, making it well worth the time and effort to learn more. This Loan Repayment Program (along with others) is housed in Well-Ahead Louisiana’s Primary Care Division. For more information on these programs and your eligibility visit: https://wellaheadla.com/healthcare-access/louisiana-primary-care-office/
18 La State Med Soc NEW PHYSICIAN’S GUIDE
La State Med Soc NEW PHYSICIAN’S GUIDE 19
Made with FlippingBook Digital Publishing Software