Job Growth Expected for Hospitals, Physician Offices this Year

A recent analysis of recruiting trends for hospital systems and medical groups indicates that hiring of physicians is expected to grow this year.

Although job creation stalled during 2009 because of budget cuts in hospitals, positions are being added to meet the demands of the increased number of patients who will have health insurance due to the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, according to an report in the American Medical News.

A total of 3,200 jobs were added to hospital payrolls in the first six months of 2010, which was more than the 1,600 created in all of 2009, said the report, and experts expect hiring to continue.

"Hospitals are really trying to better position themselves for 2012 and beyond," said Brian McCartie, vice president of business development for Cejka Search, a health care executive and physician search firm based in St. Louis, MO.

Industry experts say healthcare reform, an apparent end of month-to-month Medicare payment fixes, and the influx of new physicians finishing their residencies in July has increased the willingness of healthcare facilities to add positions.

A survey released July 12 by CareerBuilder—which recently launched its Miracle Workers website listing clinical and nonclinical positions with healthcare organizations—found that 18% of the 270 health care employers surveyed planned to increase the number of full-time permanent employees, compared to 15% last year.

"There's a lot of demand, even with the recent recession, and a lot of growth," said Ben Jablow, managing director of the Miracle Workers website.