While most physicians seek to work in private practice, the highest number of employment opportunities tend to be at hospitals, according to a survey from The Medicus Firm, a national physician search firm.
The survey, conducted in May, involved 2,219 U.S. physicians, nurse practitioners and physician assistants in more than 20 medical specialties.
Four survey findings:
1. Practicing physicians overall prefer to live and work in major metropolitan areas, suburban communities and midsized cities as opposed to small cities and small towns or rural areas. Nearly 84 percent of practicing physicians prefer to live and work in major metropolitan areas, suburban communities and midsized cities. Only 16 percent of practicing physicians prefer small cities and small towns or rural areas.
2. Respondents chose the Southeast (21 percent) and New England/Northeast (15 percent) as their most preferred regions in which to live and practice. Two regions — Pacific and Great Lakes — tied for the next spot, at 12 percent each.
3. Practicing physicians cited single-specialty group/partnership as their most preferred practice setting. Thirty-two percent of practicing physicians said they prefer single-specialty groups/partnerships; 20.5 percent said they prefer hospital employment; and 17.4 percent said they prefer a multispecialty group/partnership. Eleven percent prefer university or academic employed opportunities.
4. Nearly all The Medicus Firm's physician placements (more than 90 percent) over the last two years have been hospital employment opportunities because of the high volume of employed physician openings available, compared to the number of private practice opportunities.
Read more about the survey here.
Editor's note: This article was updated July 24.
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