What factors do critical access hospital trustee/board members believe are important to recruitment of physicians and do they differ from hospital administrators and physicians

Abstract

Background: Rural hospitals continue to struggle to recruit physicians. Examining trustee/board member perceptions of their community's strengths and challenges related to physician recruitment may provide insight on how to sustain an effective workforce in these facilities. Objective: The purpose of this study is to identify similarities and differences between critical access hospital (CAH) trustee/board members' perspectives on factors important to physician recruitment compared to their hospital administrators and physicians practicing in their facilities. Methods: The CAH Community Apgar Questionnaire (CAH CAQ) was expanded to include trustee/board member participation in Iowa. Online survey methods were used to compile information from trustees/board members, hospital administrators and physician from participating CAHs recruited by the Iowa Hospital Association. Results: A total of 16 Iowa CAH communities participated in the project in 2015. There were 17 administrators, 39 physicians and 23 board members respondents for a total of 79 respondents. Significant differences were found between trustee/board members and hospital administrators ratings on CAH CAQ factors loan repayment and transfer arrangements. Trustee/board members and physicians showed significant differences on scores for the CAH CAQ class factor hospital/community support and on factor ratings for teaching, administration, hospital sponsored continuing medical education and welcome and recruitment programs. Discussion: This study has identified commonalities and differences in how rural hospital trustee/board members and the administrators and physicians who work at their facilities view community strengths related to physician recruitment. Analyzing and discussing the areas of consensus and differences of opinion could help develop more effective physician recruitment strategies for these communities.

Attributes of turnaround rural hospitals: Case study findings and research opportunities

“…[24] The scope of community factor domains (Geographic Class, Facility and Community, Medical, Scope of Practice, and Economic) and the 60 domain specific factors renders the questionnaire a comprehensive community assessment tool. As such the CAQ creates a research opportunity focused on community factors of facility performance.…”