Physician: What is the cost of hiring?

Why hire a physician?

Hiring a physician can expand your clinic’s capabilities, providing better patient care and increasing revenue opportunities. Their expertise can also improve efficiency, helping your medical practice serve a more extensive patient base.

Contributions of a great physician:

• deliver high-quality medical care to improve patient outcomes
• expand clinic services, offering more specialized treatments
• foster patient trust, leading to higher patient retention and referrals

Deciding between a full-time vs freelance physician

Deciding between a full-time and freelance physician can depend on your clinic’s needs. A freelance physician might be ideal for short-term projects, such as covering a temporary staff shortage, handling seasonal demand, or offering specialized care for a limited time. If your clinic only requires medical services for a few hours a week or on a part-time basis, hiring a physician as a contractor can save costs while still ensuring high-quality care. On the other hand, a full-time doctor can be more suitable if you seek consistent, long-term patient care, as they can help build lasting patient relationships and integrate fully into your team.

What are the different types of physicians?

Physicians specialize in various fields, each focusing on different areas of medicine. These specialties allow medical businesses to offer specialized care, helping them serve a broader range of patient needs and enhance their clinic’s reputation. Here are a few common types of physicians:

• Family doctor: offers primary care for individuals across all ages and conditions, often serving as the first point of contact for patients
• Cardiologist: specializes in diagnosing and treating heart and vascular conditions
• Dermatologist: focuses on skin, hair, and nail disorders, as well as some sexually transmitted diseases
• Endocrinologist: treats disorders related to hormones and the endocrine system, such as diabetes and thyroid issues
• Radiologist: uses imaging techniques to diagnose and assist in treating various diseases

Where to find physicians

To find the right physician for your business, consider trying out a few different recruiting strategies:

• Medical conferences: Attend industry events like the Canadian Cardiovascular Congress or the Family Medicine Forum, where physicians network and learn about job opportunities. Similar events occur in provinces nationwide.
• Trade associations: Use resources from the Canadian Medical Association (CMA) or your provincial or territorial medical association. These organizations often have job boards specifically for doctors.
• Hospital partnerships: Collaborate with hospitals that run residency programs. This strategy allows you to connect with new physicians who are completing their training and seeking employment.
• Industry-specific job boards: Post your job openings on platforms like MDWork and HealthForceOntario, which cater to the healthcare industry, making it easier to reach physician candidates.
• Internal promotions: If your clinic employs healthcare professionals with medical qualifications, consider offering training for internal promotion to the physician role.
• Post your job online: Try posting your physician job on Indeed to find and attract quality doctor candidates.

Skills to look for in a great physician

A great physician candidate will have the following skills and attributes as well as work experience that reflects:

• Clinical expertise: a strong foundation in diagnosing and treating a wide range of conditions
• Communication skills: the ability to clearly explain medical information to patients and collaborate with colleagues
• Compassion: empathy and understanding toward patients’ needs and concerns
• Problem solving: the capability to assess complex situations and make informed decisions
• Attention to detail: thoroughness in patient assessments, treatments, and medical documentation
• Leadership: the ability to guide healthcare teams and contribute to a positive work environment

Writing a physician job description

A thoughtful description is important for finding qualified doctor candidates. A doctor job description includes a compelling summary of the role, a detailed list of duties and responsibilities, and the required and preferred skills for the position.

When writing your physician job description, consider including some or all of the following keywords to improve the visibility of your job posting. These are the most popular search terms leading to clicks on physician jobs, according to Indeed data:

• physician
• img
• physicians
• doctor
• international medical graduate
• family medicine physician
• healthcare

Interviewing physician candidates

Strong candidates for physician positions will be confident answering questions regarding:

• Clinical decision making: examples of how they approach diagnosis and treatment options
• Patient interaction: experiences dealing with challenging patient situations or communicating complex information
• Team collaboration: how they work with other healthcare professionals to ensure comprehensive patient care
• Handling emergencies: their experience in critical situations and how they manage stress
• Continued education: their commitment to staying updated on medical advancements and best practices

Need help coming up with interview questions? See our list of physician interview questions for examples (with sample answers).