Recruiting top-notch orthopedic surgeons is a challenge in any setting, but filling vacancies in rural areas requires even more tailored strategies. From competitive pay to community advantages, here are five effective tips to help you attract quality orthopedic surgeons to rural positions.

1. Provide Competitive Pay

Competitive pay is one of the strongest tools for attracting quality physician candidates, especially in rural areas where vacancies can be harder to fill. To make your rural position competitive, consider offering salaries that rival or even exceed those in urban settings. According to Salary.com, the average annual salary for a practicing orthopedic surgeon is around $484,210, with figures reaching up to $626,000 based on experience and specialization.

Why Competitive Pay Matters:

• Compensation as a Key Driver: Higher pay can be a major attractant for surgeons who may otherwise prefer urban positions.
• Retaining Talent: Competitive compensation helps ensure long-term retention, reducing turnover in rural areas.

2. Incentivize the Position Well

Incentives are a powerful way to make rural positions more attractive. For many younger physicians, loan repayment options are among the most appealing perks, particularly given the high cost of medical education. Other incentives to consider include relocation assistance, signing bonuses, and stipends for continuing medical education (CME).

Top Incentives for Rural Positions:

• Loan Repayment Programs: Loan forgiveness is especially popular among newer surgeons managing substantial student debt.
• Signing and Relocation Bonuses: Financial support for moving and starting costs can be a strong motivator for candidates considering a move to a rural area.
• Continuing Education Stipends: Offering support for professional development can attract surgeons looking to grow their skills.

3. Emphasize Your Friendly Workplace Environment

Orthopedic surgery is a demanding specialty, and a supportive, collegial workplace can make a rural position far more appealing. Highlight aspects of your workplace culture that showcase team camaraderie, long-term stability, and high retention rates among staff.

How to Showcase Workplace Culture:

• Highlight Retention Rates: Share metrics that demonstrate your organization’s commitment to staff well-being.
• Showcase Team Collaboration: Emphasize any team-building activities, mentorship opportunities, or collaborative efforts that contribute to a positive work environment.
• Illustrate Stability and Support: Communicate how your organization supports a healthy work-life balance and manages stress to retain its surgical staff.

4. Highlight Your Community's Advantages

For many candidates considering rural practice, community amenities and lifestyle factors play a big role in their decision-making. Research shows that promoting the benefits of your community, from family-friendly amenities to access to nearby urban areas, can increase recruiting success.

Community Benefits to Emphasize:

• Proximity to Larger Cities: If your rural location is near a city, emphasize access to urban amenities, as this can be highly attractive to candidates.
• Family-Friendly Perks: Highlight quality local schools, safe neighborhoods, and available shopping options, as these are key factors for candidates with families.
• Community Support and Appreciation: Show potential recruits that they will be valued and supported in the community. Demonstrating the need for local surgical expertise can help candidates envision the impact they’ll have.

5. Provide Good Clinical Coverage

A rural surgical role can feel isolating without proper clinical support. Highlighting the clinical coverage and resources available to surgeons in your organization can be a significant draw. Offering options like telemedicine, on-call coverage, and access to consulting colleagues can make a position more manageable and appealing.

Ways to Showcase Clinical Support:

• Promote Clinical Coverage: Clearly communicate any on-call schedules, telemedicine resources, and support from other healthcare professionals that will be available to them.
• Access to Consulting Colleagues: Emphasize any partnerships with specialists or nearby hospitals that can provide support for complex cases.
• Telemedicine Tools: If telemedicine is part of your practice, highlight how it can facilitate consultations and enhance patient care, reducing the burden on the surgeon.

Succeed in Recruiting Rural Orthopedic Surgeons

Attracting skilled orthopedic surgeons to rural positions requires a strategic approach that combines competitive compensation, robust incentives, a supportive workplace culture, and a welcoming community. By emphasizing these factors, your organization can stand out and successfully recruit top talent to meet the needs of rural patients.

With a career focused on healthcare Business Development and Service Line performance, Paul had recently been at the forefront redefining the traditional In-house Provider Recruiting role. In his position as Medical Staff Development Officer at University Hospitals, Lake Health Region in Cleveland, Ohio, Paul integrated collegial interaction, analytics, and provider experience expertise to drive a differentiated recruitment strategy.

 

Paul has brought that knowledge and experience to Client Sourcing at PracticeMatch. Joining PracticeMatch in 2021, Paul supports Client Sourcing’s pro-active recruiting model that generates a robust prospect pool, creates an effective and efficient recruiting experience, and identifies key metrics to ensure optimal performance for the client. Paul has a commitment to learning, development and passion for building a team of recruiting professionals to leverage their national footprint which benefits its client organizations and their candidates.