Older candidates untapped resource amid doc shortage

Older physician candidates with more experience may be overlooked as hospital employers and recruiters aim to fill positions amid a looming shortage.

In a recent Medicus Firm survey, 28.6 percent of candidates who had 16 or more years of experience reported getting no response to applications from hospitals and employers. However, candidates who had only one to 15 years of experience reported a greater response; only 8.2 of less experienced applicants got zero response.

The survey also indicated that younger candidates seemed to fare better in terms of job offers. Younger candidates who completed training within the past 15 years received an average 7.88 offers from organizations during the past two years, but older candidates only received 2.12 offers.

As hospitals struggle to meet patient demand, more organizations are using other untapped resources including international medical graduates, although still at a lower rate than American-trained students. Sixty-two percent of American medical graduates said they received a response rate of 50 or more percent from employers during the past two years, whereas only 43 percent of international medical graduates reported a 50 percent response rate from employers.

The national physician shortage is taking center stage. The Obama administration last month dedicated $1 billion to increase and accelerate the training of healthcare workers, particularly those who work with patients enrolled in the Medicare and Medicaid programs.

For more information:
- read the press release

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