How to recruit for a physician for your practice
Beck, L.C.; Anders, G.T.
Boletin de la Asociacion Medica de Puerto Rico 73(9): 434-439
1981
ISSN/ISBN: 0004-4849 PMID: 6949592 Document Number: 701145
Sole practitioners and members of small groups only occasionally in their lifetimes recruit and hire physicians to join them in practice. Larger groups and multi-specialty clinics take on new doctors more often, but even for them each effort is somewhat unique to the physicians and/or administrators involved. Selecting a physician to become one's "partner" ranks among the most important decisions a senior doctor makes during his practice lifetime. The costs of an unfortunate choice, whether it fails because of clinical shortcomings or personality concerns, will be almost beyond measure. Unsatisfactory patient eare may be perceived by the senior doctor(s); patient relations may be damaged and/or referring doctors may become dissatisfied; the emotional strain of a poor peer relationship may take its toll on the senior(s); the dollar cost of supporting a highly paid physician-employee may damage the practice's economics; and so on. On the other hand, a good choice is like manna from heaven. The practice adds a new and highly qualified member to provide increasingly fine care to its patient and the community. The existing doctor's or doctors' work loads and time demands might be reduced by the sharing of practice burdens without fear of poor results.Inter-doctor relations may be fostered by addition of a peer with whom to consult on the same wave length. Another highly skilled member will hopefully increase or at least help the practice maintain its per-doctor income base. And with all these advantages, the hiring doctor(s) should have a sense of confidence and trust in the new member that will serve all of their emotional and personal well-being. With so much to lose and also so much to gain, we wonder why senior physicians haphazardly conduct their new-member searches. To some extent, the reason is simply a doctor's "busy-ness" with his medical practice - he is too busy to give the project careful attention - but many other doctors just are not sure how to proceed. One physician recently told us, "This is the first time I've every had to seek out a partner; how should I go about it?" We hope this article will provide some guidance.
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