Recession? What Recession?
The economy might be in the doldrums, but recruiters are looking for candidates to fill HM positions, says Mark Dotson, senior director of recruitment for Cogent Healthcare, a Brentwood, Tenn.-based company that manages HM programs nationwide. He recently spoke with The Hospitalist eWire about how hospitalists can take advantage of the bullish job market.
Question: What do you look for in HM job candidates?
Answer: We obviously look at their credentials, their training, and the focus of their training in inpatient medicine. We strive to look for physicians who are able to and interested in working in a team environment. They should have a good bedside manner and good communication skills. They should be able to show they have a team-based approach to their work.
Q: What alternative jobs are there in HM that hospitalists might not know about?
A: There are sometimes opportunities to chair a committee that hospitalists aren’t aware of. There are also ways to get involved with more specialties by working with physicians on the hospital campus and building relationships with them.
Q: Has the current economic climate affected hospitalist recruiting?
A: Not so much. The demand is still there. But I do think more hospitalists aren’t looking to make a change, because they want stability in their workplace right now. Hospital medicine is a specialty that’s growing, so there is stability. Hospitalists have to decide what’s best for their clinical skills and personal interests and not let the economy stop them. There are a hundred more opportunities out there waiting for them.
