Increase in Physician Turnover

As the economy perks up, it appears that physician turnover rates rise with it. For the first time since 2008, physician turnover has increased, reminding medical groups of the delicate balance between physician supply and demand.

Cejka Search and the American Medical Group Association completed their 6th annual survey tracking physician retention. In 2010 total turnover was 6.1%, compared to 5.9% in 2009, and appears to track with reports of modest improvement in the U.S. economy.

Other findings from the survey:

Part Time Practice Continues to Grow - Since 2005, the part-time workforce has grown by 62%. This trend tracks with the change in profile of today's medical workforce, in which the two fastest growing segments are female physicians entering the practice and male physicians approaching retirement.

Mentoring Makes a Difference in Reducing Turnover - The majority of medical groups (73.8%) believe mentoring reduces turnover, but just more than half (56.1%) assign a mentor to newly hired physicians. For those who do assign a mentor, a formalized program makes a difference. The turnover rate was 1% lower (5.3%) for groups that have written goals and guidelines compared with those who do not assign a mentor (6.3%).

Medical Groups Are Hiring Physicians - The consensus from the medical groups responding to the survey indicates that the hiring of physicians and advanced practice providers will accelerate through 2011. The majority of medical groups (83%) will hire more or significantly more primary care physicians, indicating that an already competitive physician market may become more so. Nearly as many said they will be hiring more or significantly more specialists (79%) and advanced practitioners (78%).

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