No matter what images you might have in your mind about any city, state or region in the U.S., if you’re a physician considering moving for a job, you should set aside those preconceived notions and invest ample time in rigorously examining the amenities in the prospective employer’s community.
That’s the advice offered by AMN Healthcare Physician Solutions, formerly known as Merritt Hawkins, in step six of its eight-step guide (login required) to assessing a medical practice opportunity.
You can learn more with a separate AMA STEPS Forward® toolkit, “What to Look for in Your First or Next Practice: Evaluate the Practice Environment to Match Your Priorities.” It is enduring material and designated by the AMA for a maximum of 0.5 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™.
The toolkit is part of the AMA Ed Hub™, an online learning platform that brings together high-quality CME, maintenance of certification, and educational content from trusted sources, all in one place—with activities relevant to you, automated credit tracking, and reporting for some states and specialty boards.
Learn more about AMA CME accreditation.
An open mind gets better results
“AMN Healthcare has recruited hundreds of doctors who began the conversation stating they would never live in the community to which they were ultimately recruited,” the guide says. “Keeping an open mind can lead you to opportunities that match both your professional and personal needs.”
Your top priority should be figuring out what's important to you and your family, said Leah Grant, president of the AMN Healthcare Physician Solutions division.
“It's rare that physicians live in the same city where they work, but if your call rotation demands that you live within, say, 10 miles of the office, you may very well live in the same city,” Grant said. “Many times, the resources you need may not be in your community, so we always encourage providers to be sure that they’re also looking at surrounding cities and towns.”
The guide recommends using the following framework for evaluating community amenities:
The vast majority of physicians say they prefer communities with populations of 50,000 or more, but access to amenities will play a bigger factor in determining if a community is a good fit.
“Nine times out 10, if you don’t verify that the community has all the amenities you need, you're not going to stay there long term,” Grant said. “Because your personal life is critical. You need your family to feel comfortable wherever you are.”
Nail down the practice’s proximity to entertainment, recreation, shopping, dining, places of worship and attractive neighborhoods, as well as a major airport.
“This has gotten easier over the past few years, as the hospital or private practice will often set you up with a realtor,” Grant said. “If they don’t, you definitely want to ask for a community tour. The realtor’s job in that context isn't to sell you a home; it’s to sell you on the community. So even if you think you're familiar with the community, always, always, always set up that community tour. You’ll even get views of the area that you can’t get by doing a Google search.”
When evaluating local schools, try not to focus on how the “average” student in the district compares with state or national numbers.
“The greatest contributing factor to a child’s academic success is the educational level of their parents and the emphasis placed on learning in the home,” the guide notes. “When physicians are researching public and private school options, it is more meaningful to examine the quality of enrichment resources, applicable special education programs, extra-curricular activities of personal interest and universities where top graduates eventually matriculate.”
Determine your real estate options. Ask for prices and pictures of homes and neighborhoods, as well as virtual tours.
If you do need to move for a job, you'll very often get a relocation package, which AMN Healthcare’s research shows is often upwards of $12,000.
“When you get that package, I suggest remembering that it is just intended to get you from point A to point B. Renting when you get to that point B might be your best option so you can get a better feel of the area before you lock into a specific home,” Grant said.
Ask what life is like for physicians already practicing in the community.
“You'll often have a moment at either lunch or dinner to bring this up, and folks love talking about their families and their communities,” Grant said. “You might ask: Do you send your children to local schools? What do you do on weekends? Can you afford a vacation home nearby? Do you feel safe and accepted?"
The AMA has assembled a variety of resources to help physicians flourish in the employment setting. They include the AMA Physicians’ Guide to Hospital Employment Contracts (PDF), free for AMA members, and the Annotated Model Physician-Group Practice Employment Agreement (PDF).
Learn more with the AMA about understanding physician employment contracts.
