Board of Governors: Employing Physicians and the Healthcare Team: The Road Ahead

Troy D. Woodard, MD
Chair, Board of Governors

Troy D. Woodard, MD
Chair, Board of GovernorsAs practicing physicians and sometimes patients ourselves, we cannot help but be impacted by the shortage of physicians, nurses, office staff, and others on the healthcare team. According to the recent Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) survey, we should expect to see a shortage in surgical specialties of 17,100 to 28,700 just when the population is expected to increase for those over 65 years of age (45.1%). Add to that the expectation that two out of five current practicing physicians will retire over the next decade. In addition, take this sobering prediction into account—500,000 workers are needed to get back to pre-pandemic levels requiring new workers to replace those leaving the workforce and covering the increase in demand.

As I reflect on what’s going on today in our specialty, it is important to arm both physicians responsible for staffing their practices, administrators, and others with hiring responsibility with some approaches to face the road ahead.

The Board of Governors (BOG) is introducing resources to help during these challenging times. The four-part webinar series kicked off in April with a look at the changing landscape and how practices need to adapt. I moderated the first session and welcomed Lea Tal, CEO, Tal Healthcare and Kyle Claussen, Esq., CEO, Resolve, to discuss the short- and long-term hiring climate and the impact to employment contracts.  

I encourage you to participate in the three additional sessions that will cover:

Webinar #2: Unconventional Strategies for Recruiting. Learn how to build bridges with ENT residency programs, leverage your existing staff, patients, and the greater community to build a short- and long-term pipeline of candidates.
May 17 at 8:00 pm (ET)

Webinar #3: Leveraging Your Website and Social Media to Recruit. Social media has changed ENT practice dynamics and impacted the recruitment process. Potential hires are forming their opinion with every read post, watched video, and site visit. This session will explore practical ways to optimize your digital footprint and capitalize on opportunities to engage candidates.
June 7 at 8:00 pm (ET)

Webinar #4: Remaining Relevant: What’s Important to the Current and Next Generation. What was important to a physician with 10+ years of practice may not match the reality of the next generation. Learn firsthand what’s important to graduating residents and young physicians.
June 28 at 8:00 pm (ET)

Register and attend one or all these informative webinars by going to https://entnet-org.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_quFCABykSW6atNAKIhzJPQ

Mark your calendars for the BOG General Assembly this fall on Saturday, September 10 at 4:00 pm (ET) in the Pennsylvania Convention Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. In these challenging times of increased liability premiums, burdensome regulations, and the changing scope of our practice, the BOG continues to focus on grassroots advocacy to benefit our entire specialty. 

See you in Philadelphia!