This guide presents methods for community and migrant health centers to attract and keep competent physicians. Strategies for recruiting physicians include planning the recruitment and choosing the right physician. Compensation arrangements should attract and retain competent health providers, provide incentives for productivity and professional development, and be consistent with federal and state laws. Selection of compensation arrangements, provision of financial incentives, and possible fringe benefits to be offered are considered. Nonmonetary considerations that influence a physician's decision to both choose and remain at a particular practice include the range of services provided, availability of peers, ability to participate in decision making, policies for governance and operations, new reimbursement programs, physician compensation arrangements, and the possibility of taking over the practice. The process of negotiating a contract is also described. Selecting the negotiator, ascertaining the physician's needs and wants before negotiation, and conducting negotiations are described. Provision of a contract is discussed, including actual clauses to be used as contract elements, and a sample contract is provided. Appendices provide lists of family practice residency programs in California; medical schools by state; professional journals that carry classified ads; California's medical societies; colleges of osteopathic medicine, and state medical societies by state. (DHP)