Look beyond resume when hiring a doctor

Practice Management. By Mike Norbut, AMNews staff. July 25, 2005.

Trying to pick the best physician based on his or her curriculum vitae is like trying to select Beethoven's best symphony. They're all usually so impressive, the choice is never clear-cut.

But hiring a doctor based on credentials is exactly what many practices do, consultants said.

Instead of finding out how the physician would fit into the culture of the group, those doing the hiring usually look at the candidate's education and training, develop preconceptions, and then spend time selling the group in hopes that the candidate will accept the job.

Interviewing physician candidates is a skill few doctors master, mainly because they don't practice it often. But looking beyond the resume and finding someone who is qualified both professionally and personally can help secure a long-term partnership and a healthy business, consultants said. Being thorough and deliberate, whether you're speaking to the candidate or checking references, can save you from having to repeat the process too soon.

"How you choose a physician to share your practice could determine how happy or miserable you are every day, but it also could determine the success of the practice," said Howard Ross, president of Cook Ross Inc., a Silver Spring, Md.-based consulting firm specializing in leadership and cultural development. "The word that goes out about a practice is greatly affected by all the people there."

It's also built on the entire encounter with the doctor. That means patients might be impressed by a physician's keen diagnostic eye, but if his or her bedside manner isn't endearing, that favorable opinion might change.