Health care employers recruited more family physicians in 2012-2013 than any other specialists, according to a report from physician job placement firm Merritt Hawkins.
From April 1, 2012, to March 31, 2013, the company conducted 624 search assignments for family physicians (including FP/OB), more than three times as many as the specialty in second place, internal medicine (194 searches). The two primary care specialties topped the list for the seventh consecutive year, the report said.
Hospitalists were the third most recruited specialists (178 searches), followed by psychiatrists (168) and emergency physicians (111). The report acknowledged a "silent shortage" of psychiatrists as they age out of the workforce, with 70% of the specialty aged 50 years or over, compared with 55% for all physicians.
Demand also has increased for nonphysician caregivers such as nurse practitioners and physician assistants, each of which finished in the top 20 most requested searches for the first time in the 20 years Merritt Hawkins has issued the recruiting report. Nurse practitioners were 10th overall and physician assistants were 12th.
