Here are five qualities to watch for and avoid when recruiting new spine surgeon partners to your practice.
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1. Multiple practice locations on their resume. If surgeons have moved around a lot in their practice, this may be a sign that they are unable to work well with others, says Richard Lim, MD, a spine surgeon and partner at Midwest Orthopaedic Consultants in Orland Park, Ill. If a strong candidate has several different locations listed on a resume, inquire with the physician and former partners about the circumstances surrounding each move.
2. Average recommendations from references. Contact the surgeon's references and if they are anything but glowing, be wary of the candidate. "Candidates will usually only solicite recommendations from people who will give them glowing recommendations," says Dr. Lim. "But if the recommendation is only lukewarm, this may be a sign that the surgeon could be problematic."
3. Strong individual drive. When you come on as a partner, you should have a group mentality. "While you want really strong individuals who are good leaders and very good clinically, there needs to be some sort of quality in them that allows them to work with the group and understand the group needs," says Ty Thaiyananthan, MD, founder and medical director of BASIC Spine in Orange, Calif. "When they are employed and working toward partnership, you can really figure out if the individual is a good fit."
4. Someone who won't admit to making a mistake. Conduct an in-person interview as a screening tool. While the conversation will focus on an applicant's general background, their training and long term goals, this is a way to look for qualities that will make a good partner. "You want someone that is not afraid to admit that they made a mistake. On the flipside, you want someone that is proud of a decision. Try to get a glimpse into the human side of the person," says Jack Zigler, MD, board-certified orthopedic spine surgeon of Texas Back Institute in Plano.
5. Too narrow of focus for your practice. Look for a new partner who will grow the practice in needed areas, not someone who will compete with existing surgeons for patients. "The partner could provide more growth. The practice could consider adding a satellite office," says Brian Gill, MD, MBA, fellowship-trained spine surgeon of Nebraska Spine Center in Omaha. "If a practice has all lumbar spine surgeons, look for a cervical spine surgeon. Find someone that meets the needs of the group and the needs of the community."
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