About the Retention Index
Every number on Atlas is derived from publicly available government data. No surveys, no self-reporting, no recruiter claims. Here's exactly how we calculate what you see.
Medicare Part B Provider Data, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). This dataset captures physician-practice affiliations across annual snapshots. The Retention Index is calculated from 2019 onwards, using the complete longitudinal record of every physician who has appeared on a practice's Medicare roster. No proprietary, self-reported, or third-party data is used. Practices cannot edit, remove, or influence what appears in this data.
Atlas is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services or any other federal agency.
Every physician who joins a practice either stays or leaves. How long they stayed is an observed historical pattern. A longer observed stay and a shorter observed stay are different signals in the data, and Atlas weights them differently.
A departure within about two years may warrant closer diligence. A departure around five years may reflect a workforce pattern worth understanding in context — for example partnership timing or growth expectations. Atlas does not establish why any physician left. The Retention Index summarizes these observed patterns so physicians know where additional questions may be useful.
The Retention Index is scaled 0–100. Higher values reflect greater observed physician retention.
Measures the weighted departure load of physicians who have left the practice. Unlike a simple short-exit count, every departure is weighted by how long the physician stayed, with shorter observed stays carrying more influence in the measure.
| Tenure at departure | Weight | Diligence context |
|---|---|---|
| 0 – 2 years | Highest | May warrant closer diligence |
| 2 – 4 years | High | May be relevant when evaluating partnership-track timing |
| 4 – 6 years | Moderate | May reflect a workforce pattern worth understanding in context |
| 6 – 10 years | Low | Ambiguous; many ordinary explanations |
| 10+ years | Minimal | Often near career-stage; treated as lower signal |
Measures how long physicians currently at the practice have stayed. Calculated from the active roster only. Physicians who have already left no longer contribute to this metric.
Two pattern-level signals that apply a downward modifier when triggered.
Fires when a meaningful concentration of departures occurs within a defined rolling window. This may coincide with events such as leadership change or acquisition and may warrant additional diligence. Applies a downward Retention Index adjustment.
Fires when multiple physicians departed after a similar amount of time. A repeated exit point at a similar career stage is a historical workforce pattern worth understanding in context. Applies a downward Retention Index adjustment.
Median years since medical school graduation among physicians on the current roster. Shown as context and not included in the Retention Index.
The Retention Index is a standardized measure derived from CMS-observed physician retention patterns. It summarizes historical workforce stability across the physicians Atlas observes at a practice. It is a weighted composite of Attrition Resistance and Tenure Strength, adjusted by cluster signals.
[(Attrition Resistance × primary weight)
+ (Tenure Strength × secondary weight)]
× Cluster Modifier (if applicable)
Specific component weights are proprietary. The Retention Index is not a rating of practice quality and does not establish why any individual physician joined or left. It is intended as one input into broader practice diligence.
Where available, Atlas can compare the current Retention Index with a 2019 baseline. A positive or negative change describes movement in the historical measure over time — not an automatic judgment of practice quality.
The Retention Index is not a rating of practice quality, clinical quality, patient outcomes, compensation, or workplace culture. It summarizes historical workforce stability and does not establish why any physician joined or left. It is intended as one input into broader practice diligence.
Use Atlas alongside site visits, peer conversations, and contract review with an attorney.
The Retention Index is derived from CMS Medicare Part B data, which may occasionally contain inaccuracies. If you believe an index value reflects a data error, contact us to flag the issue.
Email admin@matchmed.app with subject line Data Inquiry – [Practice Name].
The Retention Index and related measures are derived from CMS Medicare Part B public datasets. MatchMed makes no representations regarding the completeness, accuracy, or timeliness of underlying CMS data.
They are statistical estimates, not factual declarations. They do not establish causation or assign a reason for physician departures.
MatchMed, LLC is not liable for any employment, contracting, or other decisions made in reliance on Atlas Retention Index values. Use is subject to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.