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Community relationships are important considerations for provider organizations looking to recruit and retain physicians in rural markets, according to a study published in JAMA Network Open. Researchers surveyed 1,074 physicians practicing in federally designated clinician shortage areas across 33 states, including 351 in rural communities. Among rural physicians, 75.5% expected to remain at their current practices for more than 2 years, compared with 71.2% of urban physicians. Rural physicians also were more likely to feel integrated into their communities (66.1% vs 58.9%) but less likely to report that their communities met their families’ needs (67.8% vs 74.1%). Both community integration (ie, when an individual feels accepted by, involved in, and part of the community) and fulfillment of personal and family needs (eg, employment for spouses, good schools for children, social networks, recreational activities, physical safety, and proximity to extended family) were independently associated with anticipated retention of the employed physicians.
Beyond the workplace: The authors believe this is the first study suggesting that employers can strengthen recruitment and retention efforts by helping physicians find suitable housing, employment opportunities for spouses, childcare, schools, recreational activities, and meaningful connections within their communities. Find your next clinical professional by posting your open positions on the new go-to career site built for urgent care: UC Compass.