You’ve accepted what seems like the ideal physician employment position, signed the employment contract and visited your new hometown. But research shows that, even though you and your new employer both may be eager for you to start, you’re likely to do quite a bit of waiting before beginning your first physician job.
“Once you sign on the dotted line that you accept the position, there is still, on average, another three to six months before that physician—even though they might be ready to practice—can start seeing patients,” said Carey Goryl, CEO of the Association for Advancing Physician and Provider Recruitment (AAPPR), a professional organization of internal physician and health care provider recruitment professionals.
AAPPR data shows that, from contract acceptance to physician start date, the average length of time among those surveyed was 112 days. Their research also reveals that in one in seven cases, the wait could be up to half a year.
The data was mined from two AAPPR reports: The “Physician Credentialing Report,” which includes responses from 167 health care recruitment professionals, and the “Physician and Clinician Onboarding Research Report,” comprising two surveys: one of 236 health care recruitment professionals conducted by Industry Insights on behalf of AAPPR, and the second of 1,550 physicians and other health professionals conducted by Jackson Physician Search and LocumTenens.com. Most survey respondents reported that physician credentialing and privileging typically takes from three to four months, and frequent causes for delays in starts included awaiting items from physicians and state licensing issues.
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Physicians and recruiters both report gap
The reports showed that the typical duration of physician credentialling and privileging among the organizations surveyed was:
- Less than a month: 1%.
- One to two months: 16%.
- Three to four months: 70%.
- Five to six months: 14%.
As reported, some of the most common reasons for physician start delays were:
- Medical staff services awaiting items from physician: 42%.
- State licensing delay: 38%.
- Awaiting verifications or references: 30%.
- Internal credentialing delays (awaiting signatures or reviews, for example): 22%.
- U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration delay: 15%.
- Shortage of staff to support the hiring process: 11%.
- Physician requested a later start: 10%.
- “Poor communication” among parties: 8%.
- A delay in the immigration process: 7%.
For physicians preparing to move from residency training to practice, getting an early start on the credentialing process can pay major dividends. Get up to speed on credentialing 101 and what resident physicians need to know.
Also, learn about an AMA solution that cuts credentialing burdens for doctors and hospitals.
Factors not always controllable
The onboarding process for physicians can be stymied from a variety of angles, and though Goryl said “some of these things are under the influence of the employing health organization,” not all are.
“Depending on the state you’re going to be working in, it can really vary. Whether it's credentialing, licensing, relocation—perhaps, in some of these cases, DEA approvals, the process isn’t always speedy,” said Goryl, who added that “some states are seeing, depending on their state board or their DEA office, nine months” for turnaround on processing.
“If you sign and you start two months later, that's an amazingly fast time,” she said.
But the time doesn’t have to feel wasted. Even before the intense period of residency training, physicians have lived high-pressure lives. The gap between hire and start can be a chance to reconnect with your inspiration and reflect on what kind of career you want to have in medicine.
“From the point that they [physicians] were freshmen in college, the pressure was on,” Goryl said. “They can take that time to get centered. Whether you’re transitioning from your residency or fellowship now into employment, take a break, and breathe.”
If you’re searching for your first physician job after residency, get your cheat sheet from the AMA now.
