Health leaders report highest turnover in clinical support staff positions

Medical Group Management Association’s MGMA Stat poll asked healthcare professionals about staff turnover in their organizations and which positions experienced the most change in the past year. Showing that medical practices are relatively stable organizations, more than 40 percent of the respondents stated their staff turnover in the past year was less than 10 percent and another 28 percent said between 10 percent and 15 percent of their staff positions were vacated in the past year. On the high side, 6 percent of the respondents reported staff turnover exceeded 25 percent.

Regardless of the level of turnover, the poll participants reported that their greatest turnover occurred in their nursing staff. Just over 50 percent of the respondents described that clinical support staff positions (medical assistants, licensed practical nurses and registered nurses) had the most job change. Other positions with high turnover were front office staff (receptionists, medical records, transcribing) mentioned by 32 percent of the health leaders, while only 6 percent of the poll participants indicated their greatest turnover occurred in their business office support staff.

The poll was conducted on May 30, 2017 with 1133 responses.

MGMA Stat is a national poll that addresses practice management topics, the impact of new legislation, and related topics. Participation is open to all healthcare professionals. Results of other polls and information on how to participate in MGMA Stat is available at: mgma.org/polls.