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Physician turnover and retention: A growing concern

Quick View. April 3, 2006.

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2004 2005
Annual tracking of turnover
Track turnover 73% 90%
Do not track turnover 27% 3%
Don't know 0% 7%
Top reasons for voluntary separation
Practice issues 31% 44%
Compensation 20% 21%
Location 13% 21%
Spousal reasons 10% 14%
Pressure of clinical practice 10% N/A
Physician retention initiatives
Have 48% 58%
Do not have 52% 40%*
Written retention plan
Have 27% 41%
Do not have 73% 41%*
Physician tenure at time of separation (2005)
Less than 1 year 9%
1-3 years 38%
4-5 years 13%
More than 5 years 40%

Groups are paying closer attention to physician turnover and focusing more on retention efforts.

The main reason, concludes a recent survey conducted by Cejka Search, a St. Louis-based health care search firm, and the American Medical Group Assn., is cost. It's more cost-effective to take the time to find the right long-term fit instead of frequently hiring physicians, says Carol Westfall, president of Cejka Search. Results are based on surveys filled out by 95 AMGA member groups out of the 275 groups that received them:


Note: Some groups in 2005 marked "Don't know" as a response to the questions about retention plans and retention initiatives.

Source: Cejka Search, American Medical Group Assn.

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Copyright 2006 American Medical Association. All rights reserved.
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