Job Relocation Assistance Tips for Physicians

Investigate the neighborhood. Consider renting or taking advantage of temporary housing, if offered by your new employer, to get better acclimated with the new community and its neighborhoods, said Christian Rutherford, president and CEO of Kendall and Davis, a St. Louis-based physician recruitment firm. In the current housing market, renting or using temporary housing might be the best option if you are still trying to sell your last home.

Check with your new job or with your recruiter for names of real estate agents who have considerable insight into the community and local property values. “When we first discuss an opportunity with a candidate, we’ll pass along pretty detailed information about neighborhoods, schools, housing costs, churches, [and] local clubs that cater to their interests and hobbies,” Bohannon explained.

Notify everyone well in advance. Once you know your practice’s new address, notify payers, patients, and hospitals immediately. Revenue will stop if payers cannot reach you, and hospital privileges may be delayed if you must be re-credentialed. Do not forget to notify insurance carriers, outside vendors and suppliers, answering services, and referral sources as well.

By law, patients must be notified about where to find your new practice and their charts. Some states require one or more ways of notifying your patients, and states have varying notification lengths. Research these laws carefully; penalties can be high.

Hire the right movers. Ensure that the moving company you choose is experienced in moving sensitive equipment. Allow for time afterward to test and recalibrate all equipment.

Patient records must be handled carefully to make sure they are not being misplaced. miscataloged, or allowed to fall into the wrong hands. Missing patient charts can create an immense liability for an otolaryngology practice.

“We have an in-house relocation team and a preferred-rate contract with a national moving company,” Bohannon said. “The vast majority of our candidates work with the in-house team. We help them with the physical move itself and in taking an inventory of their belongings to get an idea of how much it will cost to move.”

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Amy Eckner is a freelance medical writer based in California.

This article has been adapted with permission from the Society of Hospital Medicine.