Doctors swore an oath to help people in need and to do no harm. For the most part, doctors and other allied professionals seek to fulfill this oath to the best of their abilities. Unfortunately, they sometimes overlook their general well-being when fulfilling their obligations to society. It can sometimes lead to burnout, and such an occurrence isn’t a good thing for a doctor. However, some doctors will soldier on regardless of how stressful the situation they find themselves in, unknowingly sacrificing the quality of their work.
Some doctors realize that if they want to help others, they must relocate elsewhere to keep their edge. Some will seek new challenges in their profession; some will try to find new jobs because they want to work with the best people in the field. Some will take jobs to broaden their network and professional perspective. Taking such posts can be pretty rewarding and fulfilling. If you’re a medical doctor looking to take on a challenge or simply looking for a change in scenery, you can click here to find top-notch opportunities through locum tenens, that will help locate a suitable post fit for your particular needs.
Here are some of the top reasons why doctors relocate.
1. Hostile working environment
While doctors are trained to handle stressful situations, they’re humans, too, and they also can reach the limits of their patience. Hostile working environments can negatively affect the psyche of even the most optimistic professional. A workplace culture that isn’t fit for the professional’s personality, colleagues who aren’t communicative and openly critical, inordinately long shifts, and other similar scenarios can comprise an environment that’s not conducive to professional growth. Doctors who wish to continue to serve others understand that they must relocate to save their sanity.
2. Better remuneration and benefits package
While some established doctors manage to pull in lots of cash from their practice, for the ones who’re new in the field, remuneration and benefits can be pretty low. For some, their salary wouldn’t be enough to pay off their student loans, and they also need to maintain a lifestyle befitting their stature as doctors. For some, they’ll relocate where the grass is greener as it will give them better financial freedom. Hospital administrators who cannot retain their services because of budgetary constraints cannot be faulted if these doctors seek greener pastures elsewhere. Commensurate remuneration can be a big factor that makes doctors stay. An even better benefits package centered on retirement and compensatory and paid leaves might also come into play to make their decision easier.
3. Better work/life balance
There comes a time in a person’s life when they need to slow down and maintain a more relaxed work/life balance. Younger doctors tend to be pretty energetic, not minding the double, sometimes triple shifts they do because they seem to have all the energy they need. However, once the years creep in, they realize they must prioritize quality time with their loved ones. For some doctors, the need to become better parents or partners can take precedence over their jobs. Such is a compelling reason for them to seek a position to help them achieve such a balance.
4. They seek more challenges
One of the reasons why doctors move is because they seek more challenges in their profession. Smaller practices can only provide a small adrenaline rush for doctors who crave for more exciting action. Some will move to a bigger city with more opportunities to serve a more diverse and challenging array of patients. They may see this as a fun part of the job.
5. Patient diversity
Perhaps one of the more important reasons why doctors relocate their practice is because of their patients. Their drive to care for more patients regardless of culture, race, religious beliefs, and gender orientation can lead them to move to a better location. Some doctors may also consider the safety of their patient base into the equation as some people may be uncomfortable working with patients from diverse backgrounds.
6. Expansion opportunities
Another reason why doctors relocate their practice is the opportunity for expansion. For young medical practitioners, the chance to make a name for themselves in the field and create a brand centered on their skills as medical professionals can make for an enticing opportunity.
While they may have operated from a small space during the beginning of their practice, now that they’ve made a name for themselves and more patients come for consultations, the need for a bigger space may be a priority. Some doctors take the opportunity to look for bigger spaces to accommodate the bigger turnout. No one can blame them for moving their practice elsewhere for such a reason.
7. Market growth
Cogent to expansion opportunities, some doctors also choose to relocate their practice due to market growth. They may see an opportunity to expand their brand and operations by moving and targeting a new market in a different section of town. This may lead to the doctors establishing another site where they could accommodate more patients at a convenient schedule. This may inconvenience some patients who might have to travel farther to meet with the practitioner, but it would be acceptable practice in the scheme of things.
8. Lower operating costs
People may be surprised that some doctors with an independent practice may struggle in paying their bills. This is mainly because they may have bitten off more than they could chew when they rented a bigger space than they needed, or the utility companies charge a higher rate because of the location.
If they wish to reduce the operating costs, save money on the practice, and keep the practice afloat, it may be better to relocate elsewhere cheaper. From a business perspective, it makes much more sense than bleeding money on monthly overhead expenses when the opportunity presents itself.
Conclusion
Doctors and medical professionals are commendable for their dedication to their calling. However, they might relocate and uproot their practices due to different reasons.
