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Table 5 Efforts to reenter active medicine, not currently active and reentered physicians (n = 1162)

From: A national survey of 'inactive' physicians in the United States of America: enticements to reentry

 

Fully retired

(n = 436)

Not currently active

(n = 500)

Reentered

(n = 226)

 

%

(n)

%

(n)

%

(n)

Ever explored becoming active in medicine again a

  

Yes

23.7

(101)

50.3

(237)

 

n/a

missing

 

(9)

 

(23)

  

How explored becoming active in medicine b (n = 341)

  

Did some reading about the process or requirements

28.7

(29)

38.3

(92)

 

n/a

Talked to professional colleagues

51.5

(52)

45.8

(110)

 

n/a

Contacted state about licensing

25.7

(26)

27.9

(67)

 

n/a

Contacted Specialty Board about recertification c

2.0

(2)

9.2

(22)

 

n/a

Contacted a medical liability insurance company regarding a new policy

8.9

(9)

13.8

(33)

 

n/a

Talked to potential employers

41.6

(42)

40.4

(97)

 

n/a

Contacted medical school

12.9

(13)

7.5

(18)

 

n/a

Other

27.7

(28)

22.9

(55)

 

n/a

Easy or difficult to reenter medicine

      

Easy

17.0

(16)

16.5

(36)

64.1

(141)

Difficult

83.0

(78)

83.5

(182)

35.9

(79)

Barriers identified b (n = 341)

      

State licensure requirements

28.7

(29)

30.0

(72)

17.7

(40)

Specialty Board recertification requirements

10.9

(11)

15.4

(37)

3.8

(22)

Insurance company requirements

29.7

(30)

26.7

(64)

22.1

(50)

Employer requirements

20.8

(21)

20.4

(49)

13.3

(30)

Restrictions on hospital privileges

14.9

(15)

20.8

(50)

11.9

(27)

Limited opportunities for retraining

31.7

(32)

40.4

(97)

15.9

(36)

Cost of retraining

27.7

(28)

23.8

(57)

8.4

(19)

Limited opportunities for part-time or flexible work hours

44.6

(45)

42.5

(102)

26.1

(59)

Family constraints

10.9

(11)

16.7

(40)

10.6

(24)

Other barriers

26.7

(27)

35.0

(84)

  

No barriers

 

n/a

 

n/a

32.3

(73)

Had retraining before reentering medicine

      

Yes

 

n/a

 

n/a

37.5

(84)

Retraining experience

      

Formal reentry program

 

n/a

 

n/a

3.1

(7)

Mini-residency

 

n/a

 

n/a

2.2

(5)

Federal Medical Reserve Corps

 

n/a

 

n/a

0

(0)

Shadowing an active physician

 

n/a

 

n/a

10.6

(24)

Online continuing medical education

 

n/a

 

n/a

15.9

(36)

Live continuing medical education

 

n/a

 

n/a

22.1

(50)

Other

 

n/a

 

n/a

15.5

(35)

  1. a P < 0.001, fully retired vs. not currently active
  2. b positive responses; multiple response permitted
  3. c P < 0.05, fully retired vs. not currently active
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Human Resources for Health

ISSN: 1478-4491