Recruiting physicians for rural America.
Rural America desperately needs primary care physicians. Rural residents need the healthcare services that primary care physicians provide, while rural healthcare organizations need the revenue generated by referrals for specialty and acute care services. However, as managed care grows in urban areas, so does the demand for primary care physicians. As a result, large urban healthcare systems routinely offer primary care physicians alluring incentives, making rural recruitment more challenging than ever. Although Federal and state initiatives eventually may encourage more physicians to practice in rural areas, managers of rural healthcare organizations must undertake their own well-planned recruitment campaigns to fulfill current and future physician needs. Effective physician recruitment in rural areas requires commitment from hospital and community leaders, a plan for identifying candidates who are likely to put down roots in a rural area, adequate financial and other professional incentives, and community support after a new physician arrives.
Manecke
S R
SR
Physician Services of America, Louisville, KY.
Edwardsen
R C
RC
D008503:Medical Staff / Q000600:supply & distribution*; D009937:Organizational Objectives; D010560:Personnel Selection / Q000592:standards*; D010816:Physician Incentive Plans; D011365:Professional Practice Location; D012423:Rural Health; D014481:United States