5 Things to Consider When Changing Jobs as a Medical Provider

Changing positions as a medical provider can be a daunting process. Whether you are a physician, nurse practitioner, physician assistant, or other medical provider, leaving an old position and starting a new one can be a life changing experience. Discussed below are five things to consider when changing jobs as a medical provider.

Licensing, Malpractice, and Credentialing

When changing jobs as a medical provider, one of the most important things to consider is how your licensing, malpractice, and credentialing will be affected.

Though it varies by type of provider, it is generally a good idea to verify licensing requirements if moving between states. At this time, Nurse Practitioners, Physician Assistants, and Physicians all need to get licensed in each state individually (with a few exceptions not discussed in this post). For example, if moving from one state to another, you will likely need to apply for licensure in the state in which you will be practicing, regardless of licensure status in the previous state. Many medical providers have licenses to practice in multiple states.

Malpractice insurance should be another consideration when switching to a new position. Oftentimes, you must cancel the policy with your previous employer and obtain a new policy with your new employer. Again, there are some exceptions to this, but you should anticipate this as a rule of thumb.

One more important consideration when switching positions is credentialing. If you will be practicing at least part-time in a hospital setting, you will need to be credentialed there. Most hospitals have specific credentialing personnel that can facilitate this process. It is usually a good idea to find out who these people are and reach out to them in advance so that there are no issues when you start in your new position.

Salary Changes and the Lifestyle Changes You May Have to Make 

An important consideration when changing positions as a medical provider is whether you will be making more or less money, and how this may affect your lifestyle.

If you are accepting a position with an increased salary, you may not need to make any changes to your lifestyle. You may be able to contribute more to savings, retirement, etc. and may want to plan for this.

If you are transitioning to a position with either a lower salary or more variable pay structure, it may be worth looking into your expenses and lifestyle. Will you need to start budgeting differently? Will you need to slow down savings/investments? Will you need to repay student loans differently? Will you need to evaluate and reassess spending habits? These are all important questions to ask in this situation.

Changes in Practice Between Specialty or Practice Type

Most of the time, medical providers are making job transitions to similar medical specialties or practices. There are, of course, exceptions when it comes to mid-level providers that will not be discussed.

When entering a new role, it is important to evaluate your knowledge and skill set and determine if it is necessary to become more up to date on current practices or updates in your new position.

A move from one outpatient internal medicine practice to another, for example, would not necessitate much change in your practice. A move from outpatient to inpatient however would require you to get up to date on current treatment regimens, fill in knowledge that you may have not used in years, or otherwise re-learn things that may not be as fresh as they used to be.

Location, Commute Times, and Commute Methods

One thing that is easy to forget when switching positions, especially in urban areas, is commute time. While one side of the city may be accessible to you in 10 minutes, another part of the same city may be over an hour of commute time away.

Location can make or break your long-term ability to perform optimally at a job, so this should always be an important consideration. Other important questions to consider regarding location are:

1. How will I be getting to work? Will I be using a car, subway, or some other form of transportation?
2. Can I do work while commuting?
3. What costs will I incur as a part of the commute?

If you need to move cities or even states for a new position, it is important to do quite a bit of research into the new area. Take some time to visit the area and get a feel for it. What are the differences in cost of living, if any? Will the move take a toll on your family? Will you be closer or further away from close and extended family? Will you need to downsize or consider significant travel expenses?

And always remember, you need to be able to live where you work.

Hour Changes, Call Responsibility, and Patient Loads

A few things to consider when switching positions that were not mentioned above include potential schedule changes, changes to how and when you take call, and differing patient loads.

An important consideration when changing positions may be a potential change to your schedule. You may have to take more weekends than you were previously used to, or you may need to work on holidays. As the new person, you may be responsible for more holidays than previously. Maybe your hospital system has residents that fill these positions.

Call responsibilities may also be different than what you are used to. Maybe you were one of the lucky few who never had to take call, and now you will have to. Do you have to take it once weekly, or for entire weeks at a time? Are you expected to come into the office or hospital for certain calls? These are important factors to consider.

Finally, an important consideration when changing positions may be patient loads. You may be expected to see more patients than you are used to, leaving less time for charting. You may also be expected to see less patients but be more available for consults if needed. These are things that should be discussed with your employer before starting a job.