As you prepare for life after residency, it’s important to ask yourself: What do I really want in a future practice? More than 1,000 residents answered that same question as part of a national survey, and the results were very telling. Find out what your colleagues really value when choosing where to practice, and see how you compare.
Meritt Hawkins, a national health care consulting firm, recently released its 2015 Survey of Final-Year Medical Residents report. The survey, which aims to identify practice trends and career preferences that impact physicians at the end of training, was sent to more than 24,000 residents via email. Merritt Hawkins received 1,208 responses for a response rate of 5 percent.
The firm offers these responses as a tool to help hospitals, health networks, medical groups and health care organizations recruit residents for future employment, according to the report.
When asked what was most important to them as they consider practice opportunities, residents ranked nine elements in order of importance. Here’s the list of practice must-haves and the percentage of respondents who selected these factors:
- Geographic location (69 percent)
- Lifestyle (61 percent)
- Adequate call hours and personal time (60 percent)
- A good financial package (58 percent)
- Proximity to family (48 percent)
- Good medical facilities/equipment (48 percent)
- Specialty support (32 percent)
- Educational loan forgiveness (19 percent)
- Low malpractice area (18 percent)
The report authors note that the findings support the “common perception” that residents “have a specific location in mind for their first practice option” and that “this preference may override more practical considerations.” They urge residents not to overlook other important factors, such as payment options and community patient needs.
Tell us: Do you agree with these “perceptions” about residents, and are there other factors that also impact your preferred practice? Share your thoughts in the comments below or on the AMA Resident and Fellow Section Facebook page.
Looking for practical insights? If you’re transitioning to practice, also review 4 things every resident should know for their job search, and stay tuned for more from AMA Wire on practice options after residency, part of our series on life after residency.
