Main Library
Physicians want more than competitive compensation to work at a rural hospital. They are also looking for the autonomy and the right cultural fit, according to a new survey conducted by Jackson Physician Search.
The physician recruitment firm surveyed 105 rural health system administrators and 150 physicians, of which 78 percent currently practice in a community of fewer than 25,000 individuals. The survey showed that administrators overemphasize the role compensation plays in physician decision making.
Hospital administrators cited compensation as the number one reason a physician chooses to practice in a rural hospital. But compensation came second for physicians, following community culture. Physicians also cited proximity to family, friends, and colleagues as the top reason for practicing in a rural community.