An open physician position costs far more than salary. According to AAPPR’s 2026 benchmarks, the median physician time-to-fill is 118 days, and industry estimates put the impact at $7,000 to $9,000 per vacant day. Recruitment spend, lost capacity, employment overhead and administrative work all add to that exposure.
How long does it take to fill a physician position?
The median physician time-to-fill is 118 days, per the Association for Advancing Physician and Provider Recruitment (AAPPR) 2026 benchmarks. That figure comes before full onboarding and credentialing, so the actual gap in coverage is often longer.
What costs does a hospital absorb when it recruits a psychiatrist alone?
When a hospital hires on its own, four categories of cost build up before care begins:
- Recruitment spend: search fees, advertising, interviews, sign-on incentives and relocation.
- Lost capacity: delayed consults, diverted admissions, unfilled beds and unrealized revenue.
- Employment overhead: health benefits, payroll taxes, malpractice and other employment costs.
- Ongoing administrative work: licensing, credentialing, onboarding and future replacement.
How does a psychiatric partnership reduce vacancy costs?
A partnership with IPC moves recruiting, benefits, credentialing and replacement off the hospital’s books:
- Recruiting included: IPC sources, hires and retains providers.
- Benefits covered: health insurance and malpractice are included.
- Credentialing managed: IPC handles licensing and onboarding.
- Continuity protected: IPC manages replacement and coverage if a provider leaves.
Compare an IPC partnership with locum tenens coverage:
Does IPC exclude any patients?
No. IPC does not turn patients away for any reason.
The better question: how quickly can we restore access?
The real question for hospital leaders isn’t only whether they can hire, but how fast they can restore psychiatric access for patients. IPC provides the people, infrastructure and accountability behind lasting psychiatric coverage.
Other frequently asked questions
How much does a physician vacancy cost per day?
Industry estimates put the financial impact of a vacant physician position at $7,000 to $9,000 per day, depending on market, service line, patient volume and payer mix.
What is the median time to hire a physician?
AAPPR’s 2026 benchmarks report a median physician time-to-fill of 118 days, not including full onboarding and credentialing.
Who pays for malpractice and benefits in an IPC partnership?
IPC covers malpractice and health insurance for its fulltime providers.
See how quickly IPC can restore psychiatric access for your hospital:
Benchmarks: AAPPR 2026 median physician time-to-fill; $7K–$9K/day is an industry vacancy-impact estimate. Actual timelines and financial impact vary by market, service line, patient volume and payer mix.