The Evolution of Physician Search
Sep 9
posted by Kelli Mulloy in
Jobs, Social Media, Physician Recruiting
| 0 Comments
As we approach the 10th anniversary of September 11, 2001, most of us recall vividly where we were on that fateful day. The internet allows virtually limitless access to video clips, stories, and memories of the tragedies that played out. I find it as painful to watch now as it was then and our thoughts and prayers go out to those who lost loved ones on that day.
Reflecting back ten years reminds me that we entered the physician-recruiting world that year also. As a small firm, we watched the events unfold from our first company offices. September 11, 2001 changed the way many of us viewed the world. This last decade has also dramatically changed the way we work. Our first company office was "networked" but we wondered who really needed internet access? In 2001, the "Blue Book" provided us client data in hard copy form. The US Postal service connected us to doctors via thousands of pieces of printed and stamped mail (aka personalized invitations).
In 1998, Google's creative founders wanted, "to organize the world's information and make it universally accessible and useful". Google, the company, went public in 2005. "Google" the verb became official in the 2006 editions of the Oxford and Merriam-Webster's dictionaries. In 2001, Wikipedia, the on-line encyclopedia, revolutionized research. LinkedIn, the professional on-line connection site, arrived in 2002; today it reports 120 million active users. Facebook began connecting people in 2004, today boasting 750 million active users. YouTube gave us videos and television shows on line starting in 2005 and Twitter first tweeted in 2006.
We can call the children tagged as "Generation Z" "digital natives". Digital communication has existed for their entire lives. Those of us from "Generation Old" remember when we questioned the endurance of the internet. Some of us are still surprised it lasted.
The internet revolutionized access to physician job information and candidate data. While initially, our industry was skeptical, recruiters and doctors evolved. Email became the preferred mode of communication and database companies exploded, allowing users to search candidates and jobs with ease. However, sometimes you can have too much of a good thing. "Google" physician jobs today and you get 1.9 million entries. Data posted on-line never dies and searching candidate databanks today is as time consuming as making cold calls was in 2001, not to mention pricey! Hundreds of affiliations and companies host databases and charge for the privilege of accessing their candidates. Many entities spend $15-30 thousand dollars a month for such access.
Add to that, Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter accounts. We can 'Facebook, 'Tweet', and follow just about anyone 24/7. Many companies have dedicated employees tasked with the management of social media. If your IT guy is older than about 35, it may be time to get some new blood.
What does all this mean for physician search and doctor jobs? Organizations must evolve and find new ways to make their product "Value added". It will be interesting to watch the evolution. Comments?
