healthcare employers

How long on average does it take to credential a provider in 2026?

Industry surveys show benchmark averages ranging from 30-90 days, but real-world delays often stretch to 120 or more days; in some cases, for independent providers facing holdout payers, credentialing takes more than a year A nurse practitioner (NP) left the hospital system she was working for to open her own clinic in a small rural town. She’s an experienced provider who has been practicing medicine for more than 25 years and holds a doctorate degree in nursing. She knew opening a clinic would be challenging but was unprepared for the effort it would take to get credentialed from payers. Most payers credentialed her in 3-6 months; however, one was a holdout. It took more than a year to get credentialed, and unfortunately, most of the 600 patients who followed her to her clinic used that payer. It’s not just a matter of her being unable to invoice and get paid […]

Stuck candidates: Qualified mid-funnel applicants lost in the healthcare HR recruiting pipeline

Focusing on ‘stuck candidates’ helped this healthcare system uncover qualified candidates overlooked by automation, streamlined recruiting, improved CX, and saved HR time and budget The talent shortage in healthcare is real, yet there are internal processes that compound the issue. That’s according to a recent webinar, which was CLE-accredited, by the American Society for Health Care Human Resources Administration (ASHHRA). The CLE eligible webinar featured Mary Warwick, MSHR, who is a director of talent acquisition for Community Health System. The webinar was hosted by Matt Rimer, the co-founder and chief operating officer at RogueHire. Community Health is a non-profit provider that operates four hospitals in Central Valley, California. It cut its time-to-fill provider positions by 47 days in just 12 months by focusing on ‘stuck candidates’ in their recruiting pipeline. Focusing on ‘stuck candidates’ reduces time-to-fill Time-to-fill is a key metric in healthcare talent acquisition. Industry benchmarks show it takes […]

1-in-4 healthcare organizations experience as much as $1 million (or more) annually in lost billings due to credentialing issues

Lost billings: The financial impact of provider credentialing process in healthcare

New survey finds one in four healthcare organizations experience as much as $1 million (or more) annually in lost billings due to credentialing Healthcare organizations report completing provider credentialing faster than in prior years and expressed confidence in their processes. Even so, more than one-third of respondents experience lost billings as a result of credentialing challenges. That’s according to a new survey we commissioned of human resources, operations and finance professionals working for U.S. healthcare organizations. More than four in 10 (43%) of respondents said their organization experiences $50,000 or more in lost billings every month as a result of credentialing issues. Further, one in four (25%), experience lost billings to the tune of $100,000 a month or more. When considering the impact on a yearly basis, those losses in monthly billing quickly add up to seven figures. The contrast between the confidence expressed in the process and the financial […]

Survey finds one in four healthcare organizations experience as much as $1 million annually in lost billings due to credentialing issues

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE While most respondents expressed confidence in their process, the contrast with the financial impact suggests a ‘credentialing confidence paradox’ Williamsburg, VA – January 15, 2026 – The process of credentialing healthcare providers after they’ve accepted a job offer is having a financial impact on healthcare organizations, according to a new survey by Intelliworx. The survey polled 214 human resources, operations and finance professionals working for U.S. healthcare organizations. It found that more than four in 10 respondents said their healthcare organization experiences up to $50,000 in lost billings every month. Another 25% say they miss out on billings to the tune of $100,000 a month or more. Further, one in 10 respondents reported lost billings in excess of $200,000 per month. On an annual basis, missed monthly billings can add up to millions of dollars in lost annual revenue. “Healthcare is unique because after they’ve gone through […]

Finding providers: 9 healthcare recruiting statistics that sum up 2025

Filling one physician vacancy: 93 days and $16,000 on average; credentialing adds another 3-4 months before providers can see patients We spend a lot of time perusing healthcare industry surveys and reports. We especially pay attention to healthcare recruiting and retention in rural areas. The thinking is simple: it keeps us informed of the challenges our prospective customers face, and by publishing what we find, we’re curating a library of helpful statistics (stay informed: subscribe by email – we will never sell your information). We easily reviewed a couple of dozen studies this year. Here’s a look back as some of the healthcare statistics about recruiting providers that do well to summarize 2025. Stay in touch by subscribing to our email newsletter. We will never share or sell your email address. 1. PCPs earned $300,000; APPs earned $120,000 A benchmark report from MGMA found compensation continues to grow […]

Wait time lengthens as the healthcare provider shortage persists, report finds

The average wait time to see a provider stretched to 31 days in 2025 – up 44% since 2004; APPs are one bright spot for filling the recruitment gap The wait time to see a provider has grown longer, amid a persistent shortage of providers, including physicians and advanced practice providers (APPs). In 2025, a patient can expect to wait a full month – 31 days – to see a provider. That number stems from a recent report by AMN Healthcare. It’s based on data from 15 major metropolitan areas – and across six medical specialties: “The average time needed to schedule a physician appointment in 15 top metropolitan areas has grown by 19% since 2022 and by 48% since 2004.” Patients for certain specialists can expect even longer wait times: “For example, the average time needed to schedule an OB/GYN appointment as tracked in the 2025 survey is 41.8 […]

Search trends: Which healthcare employers are searching for providers?

Not all healthcare employers are putting the same emphasis on recruiting searches for providers; hospital hiring is hampered by a “prevailing mood of uncertainty” Despite the shortage of providers in healthcare, not all organizations are placing the same earnestness in recruiting additional help. That’s one of the more surprising observations from the annual review of provider searches by AMN Healthcare (formerly Merritt Hawkins). The company provides staffing solutions, among other services, for healthcare organizations. Every year it compiles data from its searches to produce reports. This year AMN published its 32nd edition based on more than 1,400 searches during a 12-month period ending March 31, 2025. While every healthcare employer seemingly needs additional staff, some categories are noticeably more active than others. We previously covered some of the quantitative healthcare provider compensation benchmarks. In this post, we’re looking at search trends by the type of healthcare employer segmented in the […]

Healthcare provider compensation: 5 data-driven statistics from 1,400-plus searches

Average starting salaries for new physicians remain at ~$400,000; nurse practitioner starting salaries grew to $180,000 as healthcare seeks APPs to fill in staffing gaps Demand for healthcare providers exceeds the current supply. That’s been the trend for several years now and shows no sign of slowing. Shortage estimates vary somewhat, but they all remain high. Both the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) and Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) project shortages in excess of 80,000 physicians over the next decade. That’s according to a recent report by AMN Healthcare, formerly known as Merritt Hawkins. The company provides a range of services supporting healthcare organizations, including staffing services such as recruiting searches for providers. This work has provided them with a solid data set to calculate benchmarks for starting salaries, bonuses, and other financial incentives healthcare employers have set to help attract new providers to their organization. This edition […]

How long does it take for a healthcare employer to fill a provider vacancy?

It takes about three months to fill a provider vacancy at a median cost of roughly $16,000 per search; another three to four months are required to complete credentialing The time it takes to fill open vacancies for provider positions continues to edge longer as demand for physicians and advanced practice providers (APPs) remains high. That’s our observation after reviewing a new report titled the “2025 Physician and Provider Recruitment Benchmarking Report” by AAPPR. The report is based on data for the calendar year 2024. It includes responses from 128 healthcare organizations that provided data on some 15,000 searches. The data lean toward larger organizations, as more than half of the responding organizations were from multi-hospital or integrated health delivery systems. Even so, the report provides the most current and comprehensive data available at the moment. It’s a practical tool for healthcare employers trying to understand the cost and time […]

7 actionable steps rural healthcare can take to attract providers besides compensation

Following these practical ideas for attracting and retaining providers is essential; the competitive landscape for provider talent has never been more challenging and is forecasted to remain that way for the foreseeable future by Intelliworx A recent survey of more than 700 doctors and advanced practice providers (APPs), such as nurse practitioners (NPs) and physician assistants (PAs), put a notable twist on provider compensation: it’s not all about money. The survey found that while compensation is clearly an important factor in recruiting, there are a number of non-monetary factors that providers find persuasive. This finding isn’t an isolated example either. We’ve highlighted a wide range of credible statistics that suggest a career in medicine is still a calling. This could well be an opportunity for rural healthcare. While healthcare is adding jobs faster than the economy, many rural facilities face financial pressures that strain their ability to match their urban […]

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