A new survey by Jackson Physician Search and MGMA, which included 284 physicians and 241 administrative leaders, highlights the gaps between physician experiences and leadership assumptions when it comes to retention.
Here are 10 statistics to know:
1. Fifty-nine percent of physicians leave their first job within three years, despite only 27% expecting to do so beforehand.
2. Sixty-nine percent of administrators expect new physicians to stay six years or more, which is more than double the actual retention reality.
3. More than one in four physicians considered leaving within the first year of their first job.
4. Around 46% of physicians actually left their first role within one to three years, compared to just 11% expected by leaders.
5. When asked why they leave, 45% of physicians cite leadership or administration issues as a top reason — more than any other factor.
6. Only 24% of physicians received weekly communication before starting, compared to 48% of leaders who thought they delivered it. Yet 53% of physicians said being introduced to colleagues during pre-boarding increased their sense of belonging.
7. More than 80% of physicians rated organizational culture as very or extremely important to job satisfaction.
8. Sixty-eight percent of physicians said peer relationships significantly influenced their decision to stay, and 54% cited support staff relationships as key to retention.
9. Only 15% of medical groups have formal physician retention plans, despite consistently high early turnover.
10. Fifty-seven percent of physicians prefer real-time, verbal feedback — but only 31% say they receive it regularly.
