One in two physician job openings are in hospitals

Most job openings for physicians are in hospitals, while demand for private practice physicians is declining, a national survey shows. Merritt Hawkins' 2011 Review of Physician Recruiting Incentives tracks more than 2,660 physician recruiting assignments that the Irving, TX-based physician recruiters conducted ­nationwide from April 1, 2010, to March 31, 2011. During that time frame, 56% of the physician search assignments featured jobs with hospitals, up from 23% five years ago. Only 2% of Merritt Hawkins' search assignments featured openings for independent, solo practitioners, down from 17% five years ago.