Hiring of radiation oncologists by physician groups in 1997

To determine the hiring activities of physician groups with respect to radiation oncologists.

A survey was mailed to a stratified, random sample of 589 groups in the fall of 1997. A total of 448 surveys were returned from groups with more than one radiation oncologist or diagnostic radiologist. The response rate was 76%. Responses were weighted to represent the total population of approximately 3286 practices in the United States that have multiple radiation oncologists or diagnostic radiologists. Eighty-seven responding groups had radiation oncologists and are the basis of reported data. Findings were compared to results of similar, previous surveys.

In the 12 months prior to the survey, groups sought to hire 289 (SE = 76) radiation oncologists, about the same as in 1996 but well above 1994 and 1995. Almost all the 289 jobs were full-time positions; 70% were to fill expansion positions, 10% were replacements for physicians who had left the profession, and the remaining 20% were replacements for physicians who had moved to other radiation oncology positions. During the year, an additional 83 (SE = 36) positions were vacated that groups did not seek to refill. Private, nonacademic groups offered 26% of their full-time positions on a non-partnership-track basis. Seventy-one percent of available positions were in groups that preferred recently trained radiation oncologists to those with 10-20 years experience. Groups succeeded in hiring 220 (SE = 65) radiation oncologists, 76% of those sought.

In 1997, the number of positions available apparently was approximately equal to the number needed, which is the number of graduates plus the number of experienced radiation oncologists moving to new jobs. However, because our sample was small, there might have been a considerable disparity.