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Rural Hospital Staffing

Exploring the Option of Working in a Rural Hospital

date: 09.26.2024

Category: all | Rural Hospitals

Author:

Corinne Rao, M.D.

Corinne Rao, M.D. is a board-certified, award-winning internal medicine physician and the Founder and CEO of Legacy Physicians.

Physician Opportunities at Rural Hospitals

For the vast majority of my career, I’ve provided care in small to mid-size rural hospitals. This experience has opened my eyes to the myriad of challenges faced by rural hospitals in this country. One of them is physician shortages. Although 20 percent of the US population lives in a rural area, just under 10 percent of physicians practice there. Many physicians prefer the comfort and amenities available in urban areas, and some prefer easy access to entertainment, nightlife, etc. However, if you have ever wondered what it would be like to work at a small rural hospital, you can actually explore this option without moving there. These hospitals face many shortages of physicians, and there are shifts available at many of these facilities if you are adventurous and looking for an opportunity.

What is a Rural Hospital?

A rural hospital is a health care facility providing medical services, such as inpatient and outpatient care, emergency services and intensive care units, located in rural or remote areas. These hospitals typically serve smaller populations and are often the only medical facility available to those living in these regions. The majority of rural hospitals are operated by small, independent local governments or non-governmental organizations.

I have had the privilege of working in many rural hospitals throughout my career as a physician. During this time, I have been fortunate enough to meet many grateful patients and build relationships with nurses, ancillary staff, and other physicians that live and work in these communities. I have seen the hard work and dedication they put into providing quality care to their patients. These experiences inspired me to create Legacy Physicians in order to help provide solutions to the staffing challenges faced by many of these rural hospitals.

Benefits of Working in a Rural Hospital

Working in a rural hospital comes with several unique benefits that one may not find when working in an urban healthcare setting. Here are just a few reasons why you should consider taking up a shift at a rural hospital:

  • More Autonomy – As compared to larger healthcare institutions such as urban hospitals, one enjoys more autonomy while working at a small or mid-sized rural facility. This means that you will be able to make decisions concerning your patients with minimal interference from higher-ups or bureaucracy.
  • Greater Flexibility – Most rural hospitals have a workflow that allows for more flexibility in your schedule. There are fewer specialists, and therefore the sickest patients requiring specialty care are transferred to tertiary care centers. There are fewer meetings, which allows you to focus on taking care of your patients without having too many administrative hassles to work around.
  • A Unique Experience – Working at a rural hospital can provide an incredible experience for new physicians looking to gain experience in different settings and cultures outside of their comfort zone! The smaller size and fewer resources allow for creative problem-solving without large teams or long waiting times for decisions from higher ups! You will also get an opportunity to witness first-hand how medical care looks like in less developed parts of the country which can help broaden your horizons as well as hone your professional skillset!

Explore Rural Hospital Opportunities With Legacy Physicians

For those looking to gain medical experience away from their standard routine, working at a rural hospital of small or mid-sized capacity offers limitless opportunities – especially for those who live far away from these areas but might still want to explore this option without moving there permanently! Even If you think rural hospital work is not for you, I urge you to give it a chance. Providing temporary coverage for these rural hospitals may surprise you as it can be challenging and rewarding. Physicians will benefit from increased autonomy, flexible schedules, and unique experiences they won’t find elsewhere.

If you’re searching for temporary jobs in rural hospitals and feel adventurous enough to take up this challenge, then don’t hesitate. Legacy Physicians partners with these facilities to help provide them with well-trained physicians. Contact us to get started.

Interested in Legacy Physicians?

Legacy Physicians provides physician staffing to help hospitals deliver high-quality, compassionate care.

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Corinne Rao, MD - CEO and Founder of Legacy Physicians
Corinne Rao, MD
Founder and CEO, Legacy Physicians

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