A recent Jackson Physician Search survey polled rural physicians and administrators on the factors that influence recruitment. While both parties agreed that compensation is a top influencer, it was their differing opinions that revealed the more interesting insights. For example, administrators underestimated the importance of culture-related factors like autonomy and leadership opportunities. In fact, only 28% of physicians ranked compensation higher than community culture. 

Tony Stajduhar, president of Jackson Physician Search, said, "Compensation will always be a driving factor in recruitment and retention, but this survey confirms how a variety of less easily quantified factors play as important a role in rural physicians' practice location decisions. It's vital for hospital administrators to understand that physicians place heavy emphasis on other aspects such as community and workplace culture…” 

Compensation and culture go hand-in-hand

We’ve long believed that compensation and culture go hand-in-hand. That’s why all of our compensation programs are designed to support medical staff alignment and positive working environments.  

Our Call Pay Solution does this by turning call pay, which is a historically divisive topic, into a tool for alignment by providing a platform for physician participation and establishing a fairness standard for all call pay arrangements. 

Our Physicians’ Advantage Plan builds trust between an administration and its medical staff by making it easier for the hospital to offer meaningful rewards while containing costs.  

Similarly, our Physician Employment Strategies fosters alignment by allowing hospitals to maximize the impact of employed physician compensation. 

Finally, our Hospital Executive Advantage Plan supports culture by promoting continuity in top leadership positions.

Whenever compensation is thoughtfully designed, it can build trust between staff and administration. This leads to improved alignment and physician engagement, the benefits of which are nearly endless. Ultimately, a positive culture touches every aspect of an organization’s wellbeing, and now we know it is also one of the top influencing factors in recruitment.