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How to Prepare for Healthcare Job Relocation

Here’s the reality of today’s healthcare work environment; about half of us have low job satisfaction. Compassion fatigue and outright burnout are rampant in healthcare today. For healthcare employees unhappy in their work, feeling overwhelmed or struggling with stress, job relocation may be the answer to restarting a career that has grown less enjoyable. Here’s how to prepare for job relocation in the healthcare field.

Relocation 101

Low unemployment in the healthcare field benefits the worker interested in relocating. With less than 3% of qualified healthcare workers unemployed today, the demand for workers is higher than the supply. This means healthcare organizations are more interested in helping with relocation assistance or other incentives to attract talent.

Relocation may offer some planned or unexpected benefits. It may bring the healthcare worker closer to family or give them a needed income boost or another type of advancement. Another benefit is a move from the city to the less stressful and hectic work environment often found in a more rural setting. This is a specific benefit offered by FQHC organizations.

No matter the benefit, follow these important steps to prepare for job relocation:

Involve your family or loved ones in the decision-making process.

Without the buy-in of the whole family, the likelihood that they may not like the new location or environment is higher. The feelings of children or spouses should always be taken into consideration. Talk to your recruiter about the relocation and opportunities that exist for the whole family in the new environment.

Compare the cost of living against the salary and opportunity you’re considering.

This can vary by state or even city. The good news for FQHCs is that rural communities often offer a lower cost of living. This means the salary and benefits package will stretch further in these settings. Consider the cost of living and how it will impact your budget. Will a higher salary also stretch further in the community you’re considering?

Make certain you understand the credentialing requirements of the new position.

Be sure to calculate in the time it takes to process licensing; the American Medical Association (AMA) says doctors should wait a minimum of 60-days between completing the license application and receiving the credential. Processing times vary between states and by profession, as do the requirements themselves.

Consider relocation expenses as part of the overall job package.

What are the travel fees associated with relocation? Are you moving to a house or just an apartment? Will you need add-on services such as moving specialty items or home staging for your old property? Moving costs, on average, around $5,000, according to Consumer Affairs. U.S. News & World Report puts the number higher, at $5,600. But these numbers vary on how much you’re moving as well as the size of the items you’re trying to relocate.

While new pastures may be greener, it’s important to understand the hidden costs of moving that include financial and the emotional toll that it may take on your family. Working closely with a recruiting team can help you navigate the tricky waters of healthcare job relocation. Talk to UHC Solutions to consider all your options before signing on the dotted line.

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