Pursuit of Happiness and a Healthy Lifestyle as a Resident Physician

Physician well-being has become high priority and high visibility. Concern about well-being is almost invariably coupled with concern for physician burnout. We see these concerns in almost every issue of every reputable medical journal. The attention is appropriate, essential, and long overdue. We preach the importance of prevention and risk management to our patients, but we are oblivious to our own needs for the same…

Healthcare Survey Highlights Challenges for Recruiters

In such a tight market, every organization is competing for the best talent. The hiring process (from application, to background screening, to onboarding) needs to be candidate friendly and go as smoothly and quickly as possible. This is the first opportunity to show the candidate just how welcoming and efficient the organization can be. Every part of the process, including aspects that may involve a vendor, like background screening, can reflect the values, the brand, and the vision an organization wants to promote. If any part of this process breaks down, it is an opportunity for the candidate to look to another employer. With this in mind, processes and platforms that make the hiring process easy, mobile first, and respectful of the candidate’s time are where we see focus in the recruiting and hiring process. All of these efforts put the candidate experience at the forefront of the process and set the tone for their employment…

So You Want to Switch Specialties? Here’s What You Should Know

Regardless of their initial choice, many PAs, and NPs, to the extent of their training, choose to take advantage of the lateral mobility offered them and work in a different area of medicine. Those who have experience in primary care have the benefit of exposure to many types of medicine and a solid foundation to build upon. Transitioning from a specialty to general medicine, on the other hand, is a bit more difficult but can be done.

Giving Thanks to Healthcare Employees

Giving thanks to healthcare employees should be as ingrained as saying thank you by rote. Your staff is invaluable: they can make or break your facility. On Thanksgiving, and all year long, institutions should work proactively to show gratitude for the people who make everything possible.

Tales from the Trenches: A True Urologic Emergency

As a second-year resident with only a few weeks of urology experience, I was used to introducing myself whenever entering the ER, hoping to summon a façade of expertise and bravado that was not entirely familiar to me. However, on this occasion, as soon as I passed through the double doors of the ER, I was summoned urgently to the first trauma bays by a frantic looking ER attending. I walked by a very uncomfortable looking police officer standing just outside before entering the trauma bay to find the entire trauma team assembled next to the patient.

6 Best Practices for Marketing a New Physician Practice

In competitive healthcare environments, building a new practice may feel like an uphill battle. Whether you are a provider starting out solo, or you are joining a group practice, it is not likely that patients will just show up knocking at the door. The reality is that in competitive marketplaces, patients today have a lot of options. Even with the support of a group or hospital practice, building a strong patient referral base can take an enormous amount of time and effort, and success rarely happens overnight.

Each practice is different, every market unique, and each specialty has its various challenges. There is not a “one size fits all” approach for how to successfully market a new physician practice. However, there are some basic strategies when implemented correctly that have proven effective…

The Most Important Questions Physicians Should Ask During a Job Interview

To paraphrase Tony Robbins, the quality of your questions determines the quality of your life.

Interviewing for a first attending job, considering a lateral move, or negotiating a contract all require poise, openness, and intuition to arrive at the desired end. 

As physicians, we are experts at teasing out the details necessary to make a diagnosis. Digging deeper is critical to saving lives. The same applies to our futures. 

Levity in Medicine

Is Medicine Fun? Does That Make It Funny?

Roller coasters are fun. Playing sports is fun. Neither is really funny. Like a roller coaster, the practice of medicine can be thrilling and unpredictable, rough or smooth. Like playing sports, to do it well, you have to know what you’re doing—be good at it.

Alternative Careers & Side Hustles for Physicians

To be clear, multiple streams of income does not necessarily mean multiple jobs. Your investment portfolio and real estate holdings may already serve as a great side gig. Rather, find opportunities that are enjoyable and do not usurp too much of your time, educational or financial resources. While stepping outside of clinical medicine may initially seem daunting, these side gigs not only boost income, but also offer leadership skills, increased work-life balance, a creative outlet and may even augment your ability to care for your patients.

Creative Solutions for Healthcare Recruiting

In a typical applicant market, recruiters need to adapt; in today’s applicant market, institutions need to adapt. The lowest unemployment rate in decades is forcing healthcare providers to shift the way they search for and acquire talent. Today’s tight candidate pool is changing the way we recruit, hire, and maintain staff to assure the highest quality of care and services. Some solutions might help in these challenging times, depending on your market conditions.