Healthtal vs PracticeMatch: Contact Database vs Physician Job Board
Should you proactively reach physicians with direct contact info, or post jobs and wait for applications? Compare two fundamentally different approaches to healthcare recruiting in 2025.
Fundamentally Different Approaches to Healthcare Recruiting
PracticeMatch is a 35+ year old physician job board where you post openings and wait for candidates to apply. Healthtal is a contact database that gives you personal emails and phone numbers to proactively reach healthcare professionals. One waits; the other acts.
Quick Summary
Healthtal
Contact database for proactive recruiting. Get personal emails and phones to reach physicians, nurses, and all healthcare professionals directly—don't wait for them to apply.
- Personal emails and phone numbers
- Reach passive candidates not job hunting
- All healthcare: physicians + nurses + more
PracticeMatch
Physician job board with 35+ years of experience. Post jobs, attend career fairs, and wait for physicians to discover and apply to your openings.
- 481,000+ physician profiles
- In-person and virtual career fairs
- Must wait for candidates to apply
Why Proactive Outreach Beats Passive Job Posting
Reach Passive Candidates
PracticeMatch: Only reaches physicians actively browsing job boards—a small fraction of the market.
Healthtal: Contact any physician directly, whether they're looking or not. The best candidates often aren't on job boards.
Speed to Hire
PracticeMatch: Wait days or weeks for applications to come in after posting.
Healthtal: Start reaching qualified candidates within minutes. Don't wait—act immediately.
Control the Process
PracticeMatch: Your success depends on whether candidates happen to see your posting.
Healthtal: You choose exactly who to contact. Target by specialty, location, experience—and reach out directly.
Feature-by-Feature Comparison
| Feature | Healthtal | PracticeMatch |
|---|---|---|
| Platform Type | Direct contact database with personal emails & phones | Physician job board with career fairs |
| Recruiting Approach | Proactive outreach—reach candidates directly | Passive—post jobs and wait for applications |
| Direct Contact Information | Personal emails and phone numbers included | No direct contact info—candidates must apply |
| Healthcare Coverage | All healthcare: physicians, nurses, PAs, pharmacists, PTs, 50+ roles | Physicians and APPs only |
| Nursing Database | Full RN, NP, LPN, CNA coverage | Limited to NPs and CNMs only |
| Reach Passive Candidates | Yes—contact anyone, whether job seeking or not | No—only reaches active job seekers |
| AI Email Generator | Built-in AI recruitment email generator | Not available |
| Export to ATS | Unlimited CSV exports for ATS integration | ATS integrations for job postings |
| Career Fairs | Not offered—focus on direct outreach | In-person and virtual career fairs since 1991 |
| New Graduate Access | Limited new graduate data | Strong residency and new grad programs |
| Database Size | 300,000+ verified contacts with personal info | 481,000+ physician profiles |
| Industry Experience | Modern contact database approach | 35+ years in physician recruiting |
Why Healthcare Recruiters Choose Healthtal Over PracticeMatch
1. Direct Contact Access
PracticeMatch requires candidates to find your posting and apply. Healthtal gives you personal email addresses and phone numbers so you can reach physicians, nurses, and other healthcare professionals directly—immediately.
2. Reach Passive Candidates
The best physicians often aren't on job boards. They're employed and not actively looking—but they might consider the right opportunity. Proactive outreach reaches candidates job boards never will.
3. Complete Healthcare Coverage
PracticeMatch focuses on physicians and APPs. Healthtal covers all healthcare: doctors, RNs, NPs, PAs, pharmacists, PTs, and 50+ specialties. One platform for every healthcare role.
4. Faster Time-to-Fill
Why wait for applications to trickle in? With Healthtal, you can start contacting qualified candidates in minutes. Proactive recruiters consistently fill positions faster than those waiting on job boards.
5. Full Nursing Database
PracticeMatch's nursing coverage is limited to NPs and CNMs. Healthtal includes RNs, LPNs, CNAs, and all nursing specialties—critical for health systems and agencies recruiting nurses.
6. AI-Powered Outreach
Healthtal's AI email generator helps you craft personalized recruitment messages that get responses. PracticeMatch doesn't offer AI-assisted outreach tools.
When PracticeMatch Might Make Sense
PracticeMatch has strengths for certain recruiting scenarios, particularly around career events and new graduates:
- Career fairs: PracticeMatch runs in-person and virtual career events since 1991—great for brand visibility and meeting candidates face-to-face
- New graduates and residents: Strong programs connecting with physicians early in their careers
- Inbound applications: If you prefer candidates to come to you rather than active sourcing
- Physician-only focus: If you exclusively recruit physicians and APPs without nursing needs
Pro tip: Many recruiters use both—PracticeMatch for career fairs and inbound applications, and Healthtal for proactive outreach to passive candidates with direct contact info.
Best Use Cases
Choose Healthtal For:
- Proactive outreach with personal contact info
- Reaching passive candidates not on job boards
- Recruiting nurses, pharmacists, and allied health
- Filling positions fast with direct outreach
- Building candidate pipelines in your ATS
- AI-assisted personalized outreach campaigns
Choose PracticeMatch For:
- Career fair attendance and sponsorship
- Recruiting new physician graduates and residents
- Passive job board posting for inbound applications
- Employer branding at physician events
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Healthtal a PracticeMatch alternative?
Healthtal and PracticeMatch serve different purposes. PracticeMatch is a job board where you post openings and wait for applications. Healthtal is a contact database that provides personal emails and phone numbers for proactive outreach. If you want to reach candidates directly rather than waiting for them to apply, Healthtal is the better choice.
What is PracticeMatch used for?
PracticeMatch is a physician job board and career fair platform that has been operating since 1991. Employers post job openings and attend career fairs to connect with physicians. It's best for inbound recruiting where you wait for candidates to apply to your posted positions.
Can I get direct phone numbers from PracticeMatch?
No, PracticeMatch does not provide direct contact information for candidates. Physicians must actively apply to your job postings. Healthtal provides personal email addresses and phone numbers so you can reach healthcare professionals directly without waiting for them to apply.
How many physicians does PracticeMatch have?
PracticeMatch claims access to over 481,000 physician profiles. However, these are job seekers who have registered on the platform—you cannot contact them directly. Healthtal has 300,000+ verified healthcare contacts with direct contact information including physicians, nurses, and allied health professionals.
Does PracticeMatch have nurse contacts?
PracticeMatch has limited nursing coverage, primarily focused on Nurse Practitioners (NPs) and Certified Nurse-Midwives (CNMs). It does not include RNs, LPNs, or CNAs. For comprehensive nursing recruitment, Healthtal provides full coverage of all nursing specialties with direct contact information.
Should I use PracticeMatch and Healthtal together?
Yes, many healthcare recruiters use both platforms. PracticeMatch is valuable for career fairs, new graduate recruiting, and inbound applications. Healthtal complements this with proactive outreach to passive candidates who aren't on job boards. Together, they cover both active and passive candidate pools.
Ready to Stop Waiting for Applications?
Get personal emails and phone numbers for physicians, nurses, and healthcare professionals. Start reaching candidates directly—today.