If you’re managing a gastroenterology practice in 2026, you don’t need to be told that the environment is challenging; you’re experiencing it every day. Rising patient demand, expanded screening guidelines, increasing clinical complexity, and ongoing reimbursement pressure all converge on one persistent issue: you need more providers, and they are increasingly difficult to recruit.

Gastroenterologist shortages continue to widen. Experienced physicians are retiring. Competition for both physicians and APPs is intense, and burnout remains real. When you add evolving care models and the continued shift toward outpatient and ASC-based care, it becomes clear that these pressures are structural, not local.

Two Things Matter

First, you are not behind. Your peers across the country are navigating the
same realities. Second, you don’t have to carry this alone.

Effective recruiting today looks very different than it did even a few years ago. From call coverage and productivity expectations to partnership pathways, APP utilization, and cultural fit, successful hiring requires more than posting a job and waiting. It demands proactive outreach, market insight, and an honest understanding of what today’s physicians and APPs are truly seeking.