Best and the Brightest

Over the years, the landscape of the “hospital/physician” relationship has changed significantly. As your organization is committed to “Recruit the Best and the Brightest,” the most important measurements are those which “physicians” utilize when evaluating opportunities.

While there are many “tactical” methodologies regarding “How to Recruit and Retain the Best and the Brightest,” the fundamental answer is:

“The best and the brightest want to align with the best and the brightest.”

Are you positioning your people and culture as the “Best and the Brightest?”

The definitions of being the “Best and the Brightest Healthcare Organization” are multi-faceted. No one would argue that what has always remained constant is adherence to the highest standards of patient care. In an era of consumer driven healthcare, significant emphasis is being placed on patient safety, quality and outcome data by which providers are evaluated.

These reportable measurements are “tactical” methods by which one can evaluate clinical care. For practical purposes, these measurements would be considered “objective” data. What are more difficult to understand and define are the “subjective” areas by which physicians choose one hospital or practice over another. These are the people and underlying “cultural” of your organization.

Each decade, there is an introduction of new buzz words. In 2000, “transparency” will emerge as one of the dominant traits of leading corporations. “Gen X” and “Gen Y” physicians are demanding transparency. The availability of real-time access to excessive knowledge via the Internet has had a tremendous impact on healthcare. Very few decisions will be made in today’s society that are not challenged or cross referenced for accuracy in clinical and leadership arenas.

To recruit physicians, there are 3 basic key elements to a successful recruitment:

• Practice
• Location
• Compensation

To retain your physicians, you must be able to demonstrate over the long-term:

• Shared Vision and Goals
• Transparent Leadership
• Effective Medical Leadership and Input

It does not matter which affiliation models you offer or how much money, resources or sophisticated tactical recruitment processes you apply as an organization; if you cannot clearly define and articulate the above three elements of retention, you will not be successful for the long-term.