Annals of Long Term Care

Neil Baum, MD

Neil Baum, MD, is Clinical Associate Professor of Urology, Tulane Medical School, New Orleans, LA, and author of Marketing Your Clinical Practice-Ethically, Effectively, and Economically, Jones Bartlett Publishers.

I heard of a very interesting story regarding hiring “Dr. Right” for your practice that I think is worth passing along to our “club.” A human resource director, who is in charge of new physician recruitment uses a technique that she considers very valid in identifying physicians who will fit well into the practice culture. After the physician candidate completes a day of interviews, site visits, and introduces himself to all of the members of the staff, the physician candidate will often visit to the restroom. In the restroom is a carefully placed office employee who takes notice if the physician candidate makes eye contact, smiles, and attempts to make conversation. The employee then reports their observations to the human resources director, who weighs their observations about the experience in the restroom almost as heavily as the formal interview process. A physician candidate who fails to make eye contact, ignores an employee, or fails to recognize their presence is unlikely to be an effective team player in the practice. Although I have not used this technique, I will certainly consider giving it a try the next time I hire a new employee. I hope you find it helpful, and I would appreciate any feedback you have if you decide to implement this technique.