Hiring of diagnostic radiologists in 1997

OBJECTIVE. We sought to determine the hiring activities of physician groups with respect to diagnostic radiologists. MATERIALS AND METHODS. A survey was mailed to a stratified, random sample o f 589 groups of physicians in the autumn of 1997; 76% responded. Responses were weighted to represent all practices in the United States that have mor e than one radiologist. Findings were compared with results of similar, pre vious surveys. RESULTS. In the 12 months before the survey, groups sought to hire 1909 (+/ -111 [SE]) diagnostic radiologists; 888 (+/-77) of these jobs were new posi tions, the rest were replacements for radiologists who left groups. Groups did not seek to refill another 366 (+/-57) positions that had been vacated during these 12 months. Groups succeeded in hiring 1488 (+/-92) diagnostic radiologists, Generally, the percentage of available positions that groups succeeded in filling did not differ among subspecialty fields. A greater pe rceived effect of managed care on a group was associated with fewer expansi on positions and less likelihood that positions were offered on a partnersh ip-track basis but otherwise was unrelated to hiring activity. Eighty-one p ercent of available positions were in groups that preferred recently traine d radiologists to those with 10-20 years' experience; 28% of full-time posi tions in private nonacademic groups were not partnership-track. CONCLUSION. The decline in hiring evident during 1991-1995 has reversed. In the year ending in the autumn of 1997, for the first time in recent years, positions available exceeded radiologists to fill them; the excess was app roximately 278 positions.