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Understanding the Dynamics of Physician Recruitment in 2025

The landscape of physician recruitment continues to face significant challenges, according to the annual report by the Association for Advancing Physician and Provider Recruitment (AAPPR). Published on September 10, 2025, this report sheds light on the ongoing demand for healthcare professionals while highlighting the lengthy search times that organizations are experiencing in their recruitment efforts.

Consistent Demand Amid Rising Search Times

The data presented in the report indicates that the demand for physicians remains high, with many organizations conducting numerous searches throughout the year. Despite a slight improvement in the percentage of searches filled compared to previous years, nearly half of all physician searches were still open by the end of 2024. This statistic emphasizes the persistent difficulties recruitment professionals encounter as they strive to meet healthcare workforce needs.

Carey Goryl, the CEO of AAPPR, noted that the average time to complete a physician search has expanded to nearly four months, with specialty searches often taking over a year to finalize. This extension of search times underscores the complexities that healthcare organizations are navigating in this critical area of their operations.

Recruitment Challenges and Retention Issues

One of the primary challenges highlighted by the report is the need for fair compensation for recruitment professionals themselves. Goryl pointed out that retaining experienced team members is essential, as they play a crucial role in effectively filling clinical positions. The 2025 Recruitment Team Professional Compensation Benchmarking Report further elaborates on this necessity, signaling that healthcare organizations must prioritize support and resources for their recruitment teams.

In response to these challenges, healthcare organizations are urged to invest in dedicated recruitment expertise. Past data has shown that organizations with a focused approach to physician recruitment tend to outperform those that treat it as merely another HR function. This strategic oversight can greatly impact a healthcare system's ability to attract and retain necessary clinical talent, directly affecting their capacity to serve patients and communities.

Insights from the 2025 AAPPR Report

The report includes contributions from nearly 130 health organizations, providing data on over 15,000 recruitment searches, of which 61% were specifically for physicians. Among the notable findings:

• - The most commonly searched physician specialties included Hospital Medicine (10.8%), Family Medicine (10.6%), OB/GYN General (7.8%), and Internal Medicine (5.8%).
• - Surgical and specialist searches saw the longest times to fill, with a shocking median time of 332 days for oncology positions alone, whereas the median time to fill for general physicians stood at 118 days, compared to 77 days for advanced practice providers.
• - The acceptance rates of offers showed a decline, with physicians accepting only 71% of the offers in 2024, a decrease from 83% in 2023, while advanced practice providers saw an increase from 71% to 80%.
• - Turnover rates remain troublingly elevated, illustrating the ongoing recruitment struggle with 7.3% turnover for physicians and 7.9% for advanced practice providers, surpassing pre-pandemic levels.
• - Despite the utilization of applicant tracking systems by three-quarters of the organizations, a significant number of recruitment professionals rated their technology as only average or below, highlighting another area for improvement.

The Path Forward: Alleviating Recruitment Strain

The information offered by the AAPPR report serves as a vital resource for healthcare organizations eager to refine their recruitment strategies. Participants in the survey receive access to the AAPPR Benchmarking Portal, which includes advanced tools for assessing search performance, time-to-fill metrics, and compensation calculations. This wealth of data can aid organizations in developing a more effective workforce planning approach.

In conclusion, while the challenges in physician recruitment remain pronounced, the 2025 AAPPR report serves as a valuable compass for organizations looking to navigate this complex landscape successfully. The focus must not only be on filling positions but also on creating an environment that attracts and retains top recruitment talent to ensure the healthcare system can meet the needs of their patient populations effectively. For those interested in further insights, the complete report is available for purchase, along with the Recruitment Team Professional Compensation Benchmarking Report, offering critical data on the recruitment landscape's evolving nature.

For more information regarding the AAPPR and their efforts in healthcare provider recruitment, visit aappr.org.