Rural health access doesn't fail because we don't care. It fails because we underinvest in the people whose job it is to bring clinicians to the communities that need them most.

Today, let's remember, every unfilled search is a patient who can't get care.

#NationalRuralHealthDay #Healthcare

But 64% say they need stronger leadership support, 42% want a better understanding of staffing needs, and 41% are asking for more transparent communication. We're asking recruiters to solve a crisis-level workforce shortage without treating them like the strategic partners they are.

Now layer in rural. Longer searches. Fewer candidates. Communities waiting. What breaks my heart is that 87% of physician recruiters feel called to this work. They're closing care gaps.

That's how long it takes, on average, to fill an oncology position. Nearly a year, and surgical and specialty searches aren't much better, median time-to-fill for physicians hit 118 days in 2024. Nearly half of all physician searches were still open at the end of 2024.

For my fellow recruiters: Which of these lessons feels most urgent in your work right now?

5️⃣ Experience Is the Differentiator
Candidates don’t just choose a job, they choose a culture, a community, and a mission.

Physician and APP recruitment is economic development, healthcare access, and community sustainability, all rolled into one.

3️⃣ Specialists Anchor Access
Ortho, OB/Gyn, and surgery, specialties that keep families close to home for care.

4️⃣ Partnerships Multiply Force
When city leaders, schools, and health networks join the effort, recruitment becomes a regional win.

1️⃣ Recruitment = Community ROI
Every hire fuels the local economy, not just the health system.

2️⃣ Speed Wins, But Fit Sustains
The process may take 6–24 months, but rushing the wrong fit is costlier than patience.