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3 requirements to look for when screening for in-demand specialty physicians

Published on: Dec 9, 2019
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New research from the Association of American Medical Colleges indicates that the demand for physicians is outpacing the supply of available professionals. AAMC predicts that the U.S. will see a shortage of up to 121,900 physicians by 2032.

The physician shortage has been predicted for several years, and it has put physician recruiters in a difficult position. When the supply of qualified talent is low, how do you ensure the people you hire are high caliber professionals?

Here are three requirements to look for when screening physician resumes:


1. Logical career progression


Question to ask: Does the candidate's educational background match his or her recent job history?

Trustworthy physicians build upon their educational and work experience to expand their expertise over time. You should be able to see a logical progression from school to medical practice in a candidate's curriculum vitae.

Unexplainable inconsistencies should be considered a red flag. For instance, if a candidate studied one specialty in school but has practiced another in recent years, it could indicate a serious issue, such as a malpractice lawsuit.

Always verify that a candidate's degrees were granted by an accredited institution.Always verify that a candidate's degrees were granted by an accredited institution.




2. Clear explanations of employment gaps


Question to ask: Why did the candidate take a break from medical practice?

There are many legitimate reasons for taking a break from work or moving from one state to another. For example, the candidate may have taken time away from regular practice to focus on locum tenens work.

On the other hand, unexplainable gaps could indicate problems such as a lapsed medical license. If candidates become defensive when you ask about why they've moved around from state to state frequently, it could be a warning sign.


3. Verifiable medical school degrees


Question to ask: Are all of the candidate's degrees from accredited institutions?

There are 141 accredited medical schools in the U.S. and 17 in Canada, according to AAMC. You may come across legitimate schools that you haven't heard of before, but you may also encounter candidates with degrees from international universities that don't meet U.S. standards. Always verify that a candidate's degrees come from legitimate institutions.

When you understand what you're looking for when reviewing physician resumes, you can make informed decisions about who to advance to the interview stage of the hiring process. That gives more time to focus on creating strong relationships with job candidates.

Post your next open position on myHealthTalent.com to gain access to qualified medical job seekers. When the supply of qualified talent is low, how do you ensure the people you hire are high caliber professionals?