5 Signs The Physician Shortage Is Already Here

Medical news sources have been warning of the impending physician shortage for years. They have cited various numbers, such as the AAMC's prediction that the U.S. will be short approximately 46,000-90,000 physicians by 2025. However, as professional medical recruiters who spend every day in the medical recruiting field, we can attest that the physician shortage is not a far-off danger looming in the distance - it's already here. Consequently, it's more important than ever to enlist a professional medical recruiting firm to help you stay ahead of the curve.

5 Signs The Physician Shortage Is Already Here

1. Many Of Today's Physicians Are Close To Retirement
Because many of today's physicians are part of the baby boomer generation, there is a staggering number of physicians who are quickly approaching retirement. According to a 2015 report from Becker's Hospital Review, one in three U.S. physicians is over the age of 65. As these individuals retire, they will leave a significant hole in the physician workforce.

2. The Number Of Elderly Individuals Seeking Consistent Primary Care Is Increasing
Unfortunately, many of the people seeking medical help are also a part of the baby boomer generation. A report by KevinMD estimated that the geriatric population would double between 2014 and 2016. At the same time that a huge generation begins to need consistent primary care, the doctors they rely on are beginning to retire (and, in some cases, start to need professional care themselves).

3. More People Have Health Insurance
Thanks to the introduction of the Affordable Care Act in 2014, more Americans purchased health insurance than ever before. This increased coverage has led to a significant increase in the number of patients seeking care at private and public healthcare facilities - a trend that we expect to continue in the future. Though it was surely an accidental consequence, the introduction of the Affordable Care Act has definitely contributed to the physician shortage.

4. There Are Not Enough Residency Training Openings
The number of medical schools has increased since the early 2000s, leading to a larger number of medical school graduates. Unfortunately, this alone is not enough to combat the physician shortage - in order to become licensed, practicing physicians, these graduates must complete residency programs. However, the number of available residency programs has not increased (mainly because of budgeting issues).

5. The Number Of Up-And-Coming Physicians Is Not Keeping Up With The Number Of Retiring Physicians

Though there may be a greater number of graduates with the letters "MD" after their names, the poor supply of residency positions has prevented the number of new physicians from offsetting the number of retiring physicians. It takes any given student a minimum of 7-8 years of schooling and residency training after their undergraduate degree before they can become licensed, practicing physicians. With amount of time required to become a doctor, the new physicians coming into the workforce are not able to keep up with the older ones who are leaving.

Contact The Hire Connection For Help Overcoming The Physician Shortage!

The shortage is already here, but we haven't seen the worst of it yet. The patterns are expected to continue over the next decade, culminating at the worst physician shortage the United States has ever seen. Don't get caught without the staff you need to run a successful practice - contact our physician recruiting experts today to begin recruiting the best practitioners in the job market. We will be here to take the weight off of your shoulders!

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5 Things You Should Know About The Physician Shortage

The whispers, rumors, and warnings are true - the United States is facing a physician shortage like we have never seen before. Healthcare facilities around the nation are finding themselves increasingly understaffed, making it challenging to provide optimum care to their patients. As the demand for medical care continues to rise, the physician shortage is putting a major strain on hospitals all around the U.S. 

Hospital directors and medical recruiters alike have their work cut out for them if they are to keep their facilities afloat during the physician shortage. Proper planning and prevention are critical. In order to prepare your facility for success in light of these dwindling numbers, it is crucial that you thoroughly educate yourself on the subject. The Hire Connection is here to help you out with this list of five things every medical professional needs to know about the physician shortage.

1. It's NOT A Problem For The Distant Future.
The physician shortage is happening now. The AAMC predicts that the U.S. will be short approximately 46,000-90,000 physicians by 2025, but hospitals are already feeling the strain of not having enough physicians on staff. If you want to protect your facility from the negative effects of this looming shortage, it is critical that you begin taking action now.

2. There Is No "Quick Fix."
The impending shortage is the result of long-time trends. As the quality of our healthcare services has increased, our population has increased along with our average life expectancy. The number of American retirees is rising at a rapid rate, and the amount of new and aspiring physicians cannot keep up with the demand. Because this problem has been a long time in the making, there is reason to believe that it will take several years for this issue to be resolved.

3. Medical Schools Aren't Helping Things.
Medical schools are often very competitive - in fact, Becker's Hospital Review cites that the average acceptance rate for medical school is only at 44.5%. Even for those students who are accepted, successfully completing medical school typically takes a minimum of ten or eleven years. The low acceptance rate and the significant amount of time it takes to finish medical school makes it next to impossible for incoming physicians to offset the upcoming shortage.

4. An Increasing Number Of Young Doctors Regret Their Decision To Enter The Medical Field.
Between exhaustive work schedules and overwhelming student debt, there a lot of daunting prospects facing young doctors. Some surveys have revealed that more and more young doctors are regretting their career choices - and some are taking it one step further by actually discouraging others from pursuing medical school in the first place. The only way to reverse this trend will be for healthcare facilities to improve their physicians' quality of life by reducing the number of hours they work and improving their benefits.

5. If You Want Your Hospital To Succeed, You Have To Stay Ahead Of Your Competition.
With the demand for qualified, high-quality physicians increasingly outweighing the demand, staying ahead of your competition is crucial for the success of your healthcare facility. You can attract great physicians to your opportunity by offering unbeatable compensation packages, a generous signing bonus, and flexible workweeks.

For other ideas about recruiting qualified physicians or for help designing eye-catching benefits packages, contact The Hire Connection. Our experienced medical recruiting company can help your facility succeed! Give us a call to learn more.

The Hire Connection Team

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Physician Opportunities Blog

The Physician Shortage Is Coming. Are You Prepared?

Our nation is about to experience the greatest physician shortage we've ever seen. How will you ensure that your facility remains staffed to meet the increasing demand for healthcare services? Are you taking the appropriate measures? The Hire Connection is here to help you prepare for the upcoming challenges.

The Looming Physician Shortage

The Assocation of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) has released a report stating that the United States will be short 46,000-90,000 physicians by as soon as 2025. Unfortunately, this shortage is expected to perfectly coincide with a 35% increase in the number of Americans over the age of sixty-five (according to the Census Bureau).

This shortage will be especially problematic for our aging population. Our lifespans are increasing, but our overall health is decreasing. Poor diets, exposure to harmful chemicals and substances, and inadequate exercise are causing people to develop chronic diseases that require extra care as we approach old age. With a shortage of physicians on staff, many healthcare facilities may find it challenging to meet the increasing demand for care.

Staying Ahead Of The Curve

The AAMC predicts that we have only one decade before the physician shortage hits. With such little time to spare, it is crucial that you begin taking steps now to get ahead of the curve and ensure that your facility will be fully staffed. Here are a few key suggestions from our medical recruiting company.

1. Design Creative Compensation Packages

With so many hospitals looking for physicians, doctors will be able to be very selective about the positions they choose to pursue. By developing unique compensations that include non-monetary benefits, you can make your opportunity stand out. Increased vacation days, flexible scheduling, retirement plans, insurance, childcare, and cell phone plans are great examples of non-monetary benefits that may attract qualified physicians.

2. Keep Physician Satisfaction High

Everyone talks about customer satisfaction, but employee satisfaction is just as important. By keeping your current physicians happy, you can prevent the need of having to hire new doctors altogether. Actively focusing on improving the culture within your healthcare facility will help you retain your top physicians. Not only that, but your staff will be more likely to sing your facility's praises to other doctors that they know (which will make hiring easier when the time does come).

3. Promote Your Opportunities - Everywhere

How do you increase your likelihood of finding the perfect candidate for your position? By increasing your pool of candidates to interview. You can attract more applicants by spreading the word about your opportunity and actively promoting it via several different mediums. Social media is a big part of medical recruiting in today's world. Target physicians on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn to find qualified candidates for your position. See our earlier blog post to learn about how The Hire Connection uses content marketing in our medical recruiting efforts.

4. Contact The Hire Connection For Help!

Your facility will be competing against others all across the United States for the nation's best physicians. As the leader in the physician recruiting industry, The Hire Connection has perfected the approach that will connect the perfect physician to your opportunity. Not only that, but we offer an all-inclusive pricing structure that guarantees you won't be hit with any surprise costs. 

It's Time To Take Action!

As the AAMC says in regards to the upcoming physician shortage, "It's coming. It matters. It's time to act." Don't wait until its too late - give us a call to begin preparing today!

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