Quality of Life and a Career in Healthcare

Today’s labor crisis is never more apparent than in the healthcare industry. Clinical staffing scarcity, coupled with a physician shortage that has been years in the making, is providing the pool of available candidates an immense number of job opportunities.   

As a newly graduated physician or a seasoned physician looking to make a change, you might be tempted to see this physician shortage as an “easy in” for your next dream job – and that is correct to a certain extent.   

As you explore every opportunity, it’s important to be intentional about your job search. The same pitfalls that were present in better times are still around today.  Deciding on the next location or organization where you will practice medicine probably includes many more factors than it did a decade or two ago. Considering the business side of a practice or company and how much you will be compensated are one a piece of the pie. 

Keep in mind the following considerations which are proving to have equal or even greater influence on employment decisions. 

• Location, location, location – what will your commute be like? What additional expenses will you incur related to the practice location? How close is the surgical center or hospital from your office where you’ll be practicing? Your time is a commodity which makes locations key. 
• Family ties to the community – would you prefer to remain near family or be part of a community where you have an established connection? Do you have a spouse with a career who will also need to find employment that meets their expectations?
• Work-life balance – is this important to you? Does the organization respect the time its employees spend outside of work?
• Company culture – from leadership to clinical teams to office staff, what are the expectations for patient care and operations? Are communications among parties effective?  Is it a respectful environment? Are there values and a vision that align with your personal values?  
• Long-term growth potential – thinking ahead 5, 10 or 15 years, do you still see yourself with this organization? Is that what you want? Is it possible to grow or do you envision this opportunity as a stepping stone?

Yes, a clinical job candidate — whether a physician, nurse practitioner or physician assistant — has far more job opportunities available to explore. And far more quality of life factors to consider. The choices are yours to make.