HIRING BY RADIOLOGY GROUPS IN 1996

PURPOSE: To determine the hiring activity of radiology groups in 1996. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A survey was mailed to a stratified, random sa mple of 794 radiology groups in autumn 1996. The response rate was 78% . Responses were weighted to be representative of all of the approxima tely 3,300 groups in the United States. Findings were compared with th ose of previous, similar surveys.RESULTS: In the 12 months before the survey, groups sought to hire 1,732 +/- 155 (+/-1 standard error) diag nostic radiologists and radiation oncologists; 788 +/- 105 of these po sitions were to fill expansion positions, 562 +/- 86 were replacements for persons who had left the profession, and 382 +/- 78 were replacem ents for persons who moved to other radiology positions. During the ye ar, an additional 500 +/- 119 positions were vacated that groups did n ot seek to refill. Groups succeeded in hiring 1,438 +/- 143 radiologis ts. The percentage of available positions that were filled did not dif fer across fields. Managed health care reduced the probability a group was expanding but did not otherwise affect hiring activity. CONCLUSIO N: The 1991-1995 decline in hiring has ceased and perhaps even reverse d. There were approximately as many positions available in 1996 as wer e needed by graduates, although there may have been a small shortfall.