Physician Assistants Among Most-Placed Providers in 2013

DALLAS, March 18, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Physician Assistants (PAs) were among the most frequently placed providers in 2013, based on hiring activity from over 200 hospitals and healthcare systems nationwide. 

The Medicus Firm, a leading national physician and advanced provider search firm, releases the annual provider placement summary report to track employers' hiring habits and monitor existing and emerging trends in physician recruiting and the healthcare workforce.

"As physicians experience more demands for their time, advanced practice providers are sought by employers to help meet the growing needs of the patient community," said Bob Collins, managing partner. "More clients continue to add searches for non-physician providers, so we expect this trend to grow in coming years."

Other notable trends revealed in the 2013 Provider Placement Summary include:

• Placements of physicians in rural areas (pop. <25,000) increased from 30.9 percent in 2012 to 41.3 percent in 2013.
• Placements of female physicians increased from 26.24 percent in 2010 to 38.6 percent in 2013.
• Primary care remained among the most-placed specialties – the top three specialties placed were family practice, hospitalists, and internists, in that order.
• Ob/Gyn and Pediatrics dropped out of the top ten most-placed specialties.
• In addition to physician assistants, Gastroenterologists were new to the top ten specialties placed in 2013.
• Placements of DOs (Doctors of Osteopathic Medicine) continued to increase from 6.25 percent in 2010, to 8.75 percent in 2013.

"Recent data shows that one out of every five current medical students is studying osteopathic medicine," states Jim Stone, president of The Medicus Firm.  "Therefore, we expect to place many more DOs after those future physicians graduate and finish training over the next few years."

Placements of practicing physicians increased also. Nearly 67 percent of all physicians placed in 2013 were experienced physicians, while only 33 percent of searches were filled with new physicians coming directly out of training, down from 40 percent in 2011.

Sign on the Dotted Line: Physician's signature worth over $20,000.

Seventy-six percent of physicians placed in 2013 received a signing bonus. The popularity and volume of signing bonuses remained relatively consistent, without much change from previous years. The average amount of the signing bonus paid in 2013 was $21,372. Since 2010, the average physician signing bonus has fluctuated only slightly, remaining within the range of $21,000 - $25,000. Signing bonuses are typically paid to physicians upon signing an employment agreement, in addition to an average relocation bonus of $10,209.

About The Medicus Firm: Since 2001, The Medicus Firm is a leading national retained search firm specializing in permanent placement of physicians and advanced practice clinicians such as PAs, NPs, and CRNAs.

Based in Dallas, TX, The Medicus Firm is a "Best in Staffing – Client Satisfaction" Winner (2011, 2013, 2014), from Inavero/CareerBuilder, one of the Best Companies to Work for in Texas (6 consecutive years), and one of Modern Healthcare's "Best Places to Work in Healthcare" (2012, 2013).  For more information please visit www.TheMedicusFirm.com.

For a copy of the 2013 National Placement Summary, email Andrea Santiago [email protected].

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SOURCE The Medicus Firm