Friday, March 27, 2015

Waiting for a Doctor's appointment - it's getting worse!

Long gone are the days of seeing your doctor within a few days.  With the Association of American Medical Colleges projecting a shortage of at least 45,000 primary care doctors in the US by 2020, the wait time for that next appointment will grow even larger.  Throw in the millions of newly insured from the Affordable Care Act, and you are probably looking at weeks to see your doctor.


Average wait times:


- To see a cardiologist, your wait time ranged from a high of 32 days to 11 days in a 2014 survey

- If you want to see an Orthopedic surgeon, you are looking at anywhere from 5 - 18 days

-  Getting into your obstetrician/gynecologist ranged from 10 - 46 days

- To see your skin doctor, you are looking at anywhere from 16 - 72 days depending on where you live

- Seeing your family doctor will take you on average of 19.5 days

**Source http://www.merritthawkins.com/uploadedFiles/MerrittHawkings/Surveys/mha2014waitsurvPDF.pdf

Here are the results published in a July, 2014 NY Times article from a 2013 survey of wait times:

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/07/06/sunday-review/long-waits-for-doctors-appointments-have-become-the-norm.html 

Blue indicates an increase in days to see the doctor, Grey indicates no change from a similar survey conducted in 2009.










So can I speed things up?  Follow these ideas:


-  Emphasize urgency - by talking about the severe aspects of what you are experiencing, you might be seen quicker

- Ask about weekend or night time appointments.  Ask the medical facility to contact you if someone cancels their appointment

- Look for a referral - if your doctor already has a working relationship with a specialist, a phone call from the doctor can speed things up

- See a concierge practice (if you can afford it!)

- Bring a family member with you - not everyone is aggressive in asking for a shorter appointment wait.  A family member can advocate on your behalf, especially if you are feeling sick.



The Hire Connection offers its clients the industry's most comprehensive range of healthcare recruitment services.

Coupling technology, expertise and accountability, The Hire Connection services are designed to source, screen, qualify, present and place the RIGHT providers to satisfy recruitment goals and improve provider retention. Give us a call today!

SUBSCRIBE TODAY!

The Hire Connection Team


Let's Connect!

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Physician Opportunities Blog

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Location: Missouri, USA

Friday, March 20, 2015

Don't miss this one - Psychiatry Opportunity with quality of life for all seasons!

We have a GREAT CAREER OPPORTUNITY for YOU!

Potential Leadership Role with this Psychiatry Position 


Call: 888.434.0268


Home to River Valleys and Mountain Ranges; Enjoy the Never Ending Spectacular Scenery

There is always something to do: summer or winter! In this growing city, you can find five major ski areas, a National Park, and a World Heritage Site. Spend a day kayaking, hiking, horseback riding, mountain biking, fishing, zip lining, and more.

The Practice

  • Light Call for True Quality of Life
  • Supportive Administrative Team and Great C-Suite Means Less Red Tape
  • Established Patient Panel – Turn Key Ready
  • Great Variety in Diagnoses Keeps All Your Skills Sharp
  • Work with Multiple Care Teams Treating Medical, Behavioral, Dental and Preventative Issues
 

The Community

  • Enjoy Night Life with Hip Restaurants, Pubs, Casinos, Shops and Local Breweries
  • Local Universities for a Fun College Town Feel
  • High Ranking School Systems—Both Public and Private Options
  • Major Airport Nearby—Great for Weekend Getaways
  • Top Destination for Train Enthusiasts
  • Thousands of Hiking Trails
  • World Class Fly Fishing
  • America’s Top 10 Ski Towns and #1 for Best Weather
 
 
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The Hire Connection offers its clients the industry's most comprehensive range of healthcare recruitment services.

Coupling technology, expertise and accountability, The Hire Connection services are designed to source, screen, qualify, present and place the RIGHT providers to satisfy recruitment goals and improve provider retention. Give us a call today!

SUBSCRIBE TODAY!

The Hire Connection Team


Let's Connect!

Facebook
Twitter @HireConnection
Google+
LinkedIn
YouTube
Physician Opportunities Blog

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Location: Columbia, MO, USA

Friday, March 13, 2015

The Hire Connection - Better results, Better Approach


Though relatively young, The Hire Connection (THC) is well known for matching qualified candidates with employers and providers. In fact, THC founder Van Allen, with over 20 years in healthcare recruiting is considered a pioneer by many in the industry.
 

Better Results


Under Allen’s leadership, THC’s unique approach to recruiting, which fully utilizes technology for better results, more efficiently helps candidates and facilities realize their goals. Personally, we think every recruiting firm should work this way; but then again, we’re kind of glad they don’t.

But perhaps you’re wondering, “How do I know what firm to select or which recruiter to work with as I begin my journey”. When making such an important decision, we suggest you start with these three considerations:

1. Have They Visited


Always ask the recruiter if they have personally visited the location they are sharing with you. If the answer is no, they are probably representing a Contingent firm that hasn’t done all their homework. This is not to say Contingent firms misrepresent opportunities. They do their best, but their services are limited, and without a site visit they are not sufficiently informed. As a result, you’re left with an incomplete overview of the community and opportunity, and a whole lot of questions.

At THC we get to know our Opportunities firsthand and develop working relationships so we can confidently represent them in detail. This eliminates some of the potential train wrecks during the interview process.

2. How do They Select


Ask the recruiter how they conduct their selection process in terms of what opportunities they represent. If they present every opportunity that comes down the pike, rather than ones that meet your criteria, they may be wasting your time.

At THC we carefully hand-pick our opportunities and make sure they initially meet our rigid 3-pronged criteria: First, they must provide a competitive compensation and benefits package with tremendous upside potential. Secondly, we check out their leadership team: Is it forward thinking enough to survive in this fast moving ever-changing healthcare world? Finally, we make sure each opportunity provides an environment conducive to a candidate’s practice preferences, and additionally allows room for professional and personal growth.



3. What Are the Politics Like 


Ask your recruiter what they know about the opportunity politics. Though turf wars and strained relationships are common, nobody wants to walk into a war zone unprepared.

At THC, we research all aspects of every opportunity to make sure no candidate enters a position littered with land mines.

Incidentally, these are just three of the considerations we sift through before officially partnering with an employer.


We Take Great Pride

At THC, because our team takes great pride in providing every candidate with an amazing placement experience from start to finish, we work exceptionally hard to get the best results. Hopefully, our efforts today will cause you to think of The Hire Connection first in the future.

The healthcare recruiting industry has two traditional approaches to the way recruiting companies will use for placement of healthcare professionals.  Let's take a quick look at each approach and then The Hire Connection approach!


Traditional Contingent Approach 


The contingent approach is sometimes considered a value, because no payment is required until when or IF, a candidate is placed.  Contingent agencies offer limited client services and sourcing ability, which can prolong recruitment efforts and have a negative impact on the quality of your outcome.

Contingent agencies represent the candidate...not you or your company!  How much incentive do you think they have to make a placement at  your facility versus others?

Traditional Retained Approach


The retained approach offers a comprehensive recruitment strategy that designates staff, resources and services to your search.   

Retained agencies are expensive, difficult to budget...and if the search goes unfilled, the client loses EVERYTHING they have invested in the search.  There also may be additional advertising charges and the average financial risk if the search goes unfilled is $28,000.

The Hire Connection Approach!


The Hire Connection was founded to provide a comprehensive recruitment solution that is financially safe and affordable.

We implement a full-service recruitment strategy with a unique money back guarantee to substantially mitigate your financial risk.  Coupling technology, expertise and accountability, The Hire Connection services are designed to source, screen, qualify, present and place providers to satisfy recruitment goals and provider retention.

Safe and affordable, our schedule fee is easy to budget and all advertising is included in total recruitment costs.  We also charge far less than other agencies in it's class, and our completion fee is contingent on successful placement!

Don't go the traditional approach route...The Hire Connection approach works!

The Hire Connection offers its clients the industry's most comprehensive range of healthcare recruitment services.

Coupling technology, expertise and accountability, The Hire Connection services are designed to source, screen, qualify, present and place the RIGHT providers to satisfy recruitment goals and improve provider retention. Give us a call today!
 
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Location: Columbia, MO, USA

Thursday, March 5, 2015

Pediatric Pulmonology Opportunity | PDP0372

We have a GREAT CAREER OPPORTUNITY for YOU!

Situated in an upscale, metropolitan community, find world-class amenities in a family friendly environment. Come see what sets us apart!


Call: 888.810.3560






Established, Collegial, Lucrative

Are you looking for stability, security and quality of life in your practice?  Take a moment and explore this established, growing pediatric pulmonology group. Enjoy practicing with collegial physicians who pride themselves on education, excellent medicine and exceptional outcomes!

The Practice

  • Clear Road Map to 90th Percentile Earnings and a Generous Signing Bonus
  • Dedicated Specialty Clinics for Cystic Fibrosis, Allergy and Asthma
  • Large Referral Base and No Competition Provides Immediate Ramp Up
  • Interventional Procedures Welcomed—EBUS, Stents and More
  • 24/7 Pediatric Hospitalists Provide an Exceptional Quality of Life


The Community

  • Ranked #1 by Forbes Magazine as “Best Place For Jobs And To Raise A Family”
  • Sprawling Metro Area Covering 5 Counties—Home to well over Half Million Residents
  • Nationally Acclaimed Commute Times and Low Cost of Living for a Great Quality of Life
  • Affordable Housing—Downtown Penthouses to Vast Country Acreage
  • Abundance of Cultural Amenities—Performing Arts, Professional Sports, Night
  • Life, Diverse Dining Options, Upscale Shopping and So Much More…

To Learn More Contact:

Rob Weigand
Director of Recruiting
Email:

Phone:

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The Hire Connection offers its clients the industry's most comprehensive range of healthcare recruitment services.

Coupling technology, expertise and accountability, The Hire Connection services are designed to source, screen, qualify, present and place the RIGHT providers to satisfy recruitment goals and improve provider retention. Give us a call today!
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Location: Columbia, MO, USA

Friday, February 27, 2015

Check out our new website!

The Hire Connection is going through some exciting changes!  We recently opened our Columbia, MO office in December to help us meet the high demand we are experiencing and to expand our staff.  We also have launched a new and informative website that talks about everything we do to help our clients find the right heath care professional for their medical facility.

Let us give you a tour of the new website - The Home page


Our website is now designed in a responsive format.  This means that the website will "scale" to look great on all your devices...desktop, PC, tablet, or smart phone.  We have a new and fresh look to the home page where opportunities are front and center.  Here's a screen shot of the home page:


 
 


About Us/Clients pages


Our about us and clients pages talks about the background of THC founder, Van Allen and the unique approach and culture that makes The Hire Connection a clear choice for filling your opportunity.  Check these out to learn more about why THC should be your medical recruiting company of choice!

Candidates page


Here we present great information for physician candidates seeking the best practice opportunities.  We talk about our confidentiality policy, and provide information on how we vet carefully all aspects of the opportunity to help you make the best choice. 

Finally, a firm that is selective in what they represent.

Opportunities pages


The Hire Connection wants to make it as easy as possible for a physician to browse our opportunities by regions or specialties.  Here is a list of Specialties that we currently have opportunities RIGHT NOW!

SPECIALTIES

Emergency Medicine
Family Practice
Family practice with OB
Fetal medicine
General Surgery
Hospitalist
Internal Medicine
Maternal Fetal Medicine
Nurse practitioner
Obstetrics & Gynecology
Pediatric Emergency Medicine
Pediatrics
Pediatrics – Neurology
Physical medicine & rehabilitation
Physician assistant or nurse practitioner
Psychiatry
Pulmonary critical care medicine
Surgery – General
Surgery – vascular
Thoracic surgery
Urology
Vascular surgery

Make sure to come back often to visit our website to view new opportunities!  The dust is still settling from our new design, and we expect further changes to happen in the near future.  Are you ready to become a THC success story?




The Hire Connection offers its clients the industry's most comprehensive range of healthcare recruitment services.

Coupling technology, expertise and accountability, The Hire Connection services are designed to source, screen, qualify, present and place the RIGHT providers to satisfy recruitment goals and improve provider retention. Give us a call today!

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Location: Columbia, MO, USA

Friday, February 20, 2015

11 ways physicians can improve patient satisfaction

At The Hire Connection, we are continually looking at various aspects of the health care industry to learn as much about the environment as we can.  As the physician shortage continues to grow, patient satisfaction is in decline.  We've found several articles that have some great ideas for both physicians and medical facilities.  Here is a compilation of the best (in our opinion) 11 ideas to achieve better patient satisfaction:

Family Practice/Private Practice:


1. Manage your front staff.


Your front staff has a direct correlation on patient satisfaction.  If they are not doing a good job managing greeting patients when they arrive, are not keeping up on administrative tasks, and dealing with rude, angry, or otherwise difficult patients, you have a problem.  One technique to use as a physician is to contact the office as a "new patient" and see how your experience is.



2. Make your billing practices transparent


Patients never like surprises, so work to determine quickly whether they are insured and the carrier is accepted by the practice.  Clearly have in writing your policy for billing uncovered costs, how you treat unpaid balances, and consider a policy disclosure that the patient signs and understands.  You will have a better chance of getting paid also!

3. Spruce up your waiting room


Take a good look at your waiting room and make sure it's a great place for your patients.  Are your magazines up to day?  Do you offer free Wi-Fi?  Do you have a HD TV set with closed captioning tuned to the news and muted?  Are you playing relaxing background music?  How about some plants and nice wall art?  If the patient is relaxed, then they are probably satisfied.



4. Are you on time and do you say I'm sorry when you are late?


Your patients time may be as valuable as yours, so don't make them wait if possible.  Nothing can be more frustrating than waiting 45 minutes for an appointment or sitting in an exam room with nothing but a thin gown on.  Never hide the fact that you are running behind and have a staff member give an update on your schedule every 15 minutes.  Shy away from the overbooking appointments to compensate for no shows.  Your patients will appreciate it.

5. Have your staff knock on the exam room door before entering


No matter how short your time is, barging into an exam room may make some patients uncomfortable.    Knocking and waiting a few seconds is very courteous and patients will appreciate the effort to respect their privacy.

6. Follow-up with your patients


Patients may have anxiety about their visit or pending test results.  By follow-up with the patient and reporting results in a timely many will show you did not forget about them the minute they left the office.

Medical Facilities and Hospitals:


7. Spend time with your patients


The main thing that most patients want when in a hospital is time with their doctors and nurses.  This is becoming more of a challenge every day and information technology (lack of it, or slowness) is biting a bigger chunk of a physicians time than ever.  Swing your pendulum back to direct patient care, and you will have happier patients!



8. Work on lowering the noise


A very common complaint from patient's with longer hospital stays is the lack of a good night's sleep. Sleep is critical to the healing process, and having a noisy roommate, noisy staff, and repeated wake ups during the night will lead to disgruntled patients.

9. Improve the menu


If the food is bad, so is the patient's mood.  It does not have to be gourmet, but with a little effort, hospital staff can serve food that they could eat and enjoy themselves.

10. Be upfront about wait times


This may be hard to accomplish, but giving the patient and their families an accurate wait time for a CT scan for example, can make the patient much happier.  They will know when to eat or not and family stress will be lower.

11. SMILE!


There is nothing better to relieve a patient's anxiety and increase satisfaction than a smile...this is true for all medical facility settings and having the patient see you smile, will probably make them do the same.


The Hire Connection offers its clients the industry's most comprehensive range of healthcare recruitment services.

Coupling technology, expertise and accountability, The Hire Connection services are designed to source, screen, qualify, present and place the RIGHT providers to satisfy recruitment goals and improve provider retention. Give us a call today!





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Location: Columbia, MO, USA

Saturday, February 14, 2015

Are you ready for a change of pace from traditional primary care?

We have a GREAT CAREER OPPORTUNITY for YOU!

Unparalleled Commitment to Over-the-Top Patient Satisfaction

Call: 888.727.6008



Are you ready for a change of pace from traditional primary care?

This visionary, young urgent care group is rapidly expanding due to a demand in the area, opening 3 new clinics in the last 4 years.  With a motto of “Be better than everyone else” and a real commitment to exemplary treatments, this group has tripled in size and has plans for future growth.

The Practice

  • Outpatient Only, Flexible Scheduling and NO Call
  • State-of-the-Art, Urgent Care Specific EMR Allows You to Focus on Being a Doctor
  • Work Exclusively with a Strong Team of Experienced Physicians, No Mid-Levels
  • Unparalleled Commitment to Over-the-Top Patient Satisfaction
  • New Clinic and Equipment Provide a Fantastic Work Environment
  • On Site Labs, X-Ray and Other Diagnostic Equipment for Virtually Any Diagnoses
  • Tenured Team of Nurses, Techs and Ancillary Staff Grease the Wheels on this Well-Oiled Machine
  • 15 Shifts per Month AND Paid Time Off Provide a Great Quality of Life


The Community

  • Ranked as High as 2nd by Money Magazine—Best Places to Live in the US
  • Thriving Economy Built on Education, Medicine, Technology and Insurance
  • 20% Population Increase Over the Past 10 Years and Still Growing Strong
  • Immediate Access to Multiple NFL, MLB and NCAA Sporting Events
  • Forbes—13th Smartest City in America
  • Forbes—8th Best College Sports Town in America
  • Forbes—8th Best Place for Business and Careers
  • Parade Magazine—America’s Hardest Working Town
  • Under30CEO—2nd Best City for Young Entrepreneurs
  • 8th Best City for College Students—American Institute for Economic Research
  • Put Your Boat in the Water at one of the Largest Lakes in the US and the Regions HOTTEST Vacation Spot
  • The BEST Golf—Private Country Clubs, Signature Courses by Jack Nicklaus and Arnold Palmer
  • Relax on the Bluffs of an Award Winning Winery, Bike the Famous MKT Trail or Hit a Jackpot at the Local Casino
  • Trendy to Traditional Dining—Never a Dull Moment

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To Learn More Contact:

Rob Weigand
Director of Recruiting
Search ID: FP0388
Email:

Phone:
888.727.6008
The Hire Connection offers its clients the industry's most comprehensive range of healthcare recruitment services.

Coupling technology, expertise and accountability, The Hire Connection services are designed to source, screen, qualify, present and place the RIGHT providers to satisfy recruitment goals and improve provider retention. Give us a call today!

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