The Right Fit

We recently went through the ordeal of hiring a new physician, and so I thought I'd review some points which I feel are relevant when recruiting. I recently read a study that said doctors are most likely to leave a new practice within three years. The key to enticing someone to stay is to offer them a good fit in terms of their personal needs. Modern medicine is a rigorous pursuit, but doctors nowadays also like to give their home life the same attention and devotion. It is crucial to offer such things as flexible scheduling, and an accomodation of family life.

Although the senior staff physicians tend to do the heavylifting when it comes to hiring their own personnel, they trust me to help provide input and I usually sit in on the interviews. I always stress the importance of open-ended questions that allow the person being interviewed to give a full answer. Here are some sample questions:

1. What areas of clinical practice are most challenging to you?



2. What’s your technique for handling phone calls from your patients during the day?



3. What are the most important contributions you feel you’ve made to your current organization?

The key is to find out how they did something, since success in the past predicts success in the furture. I can usually tell if a doctor will be a good fit by how they answer questions like those above.

Never underestimate the social aspect when contemplating a new physician. The worst thing that can happen is when you hire someone who is a fantastic interviewee, but within the first month or two of employment, they seem to withdraw and not be a full participant in the practice.

Of course, there's no guarantee of success, but I'd be curious to know what you readers look for in a new physician. Any telltale signs or red flags you look for? As always, comments are encouraged.