Physician Survey Reveals Physician Compensation Trends, Flat Income Growth for Many Specialties

DALLAS, July 12, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- The Medicus Firm, a national physician recruiting firm, released its eighth annual Physician Compensation and Relocation Report, surveying 2,339 physicians across 19 medical specialties and 50 states. A small percentage of respondents included nurse practitioners, physician assistants, and physicians in training.

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This year's survey found that physician income growth from 2009 to 2010 was relatively flat (-0.14 average) compared to growth in previous years. Many responding physicians (30 percent) attributed the lack of income growth primarily to decreasing reimbursements.

Specialties which experienced the greatest income growth (based on percentage growth over the previous year) were emergency medicine physicians (up 5.5 percent) and psychiatrists (up 11.5 percent).

Physicians reporting a decline in 2010 income from 2009 included radiologists and oncologists.

Additionally, the survey examined key factors physicians consider most important when choosing a new practice. Residents and fellows overwhelmingly base practice searches on location (38 percent), while primary care physicians (35 percent) and medicine subspecialists are focused primarily on compensation. Surgeons are most interested in quality of practice when evaluating new professional opportunities.

"While many physicians don't choose medicine for the money initially, they do want to be compensated fairly, especially considering the additional years of school and training invested. Physicians may be more susceptible to career burn-out or dissatisfaction if they do not feel they are paid what the market bears for their services," states Jim Stone, president and managing partner.

Sixty-one percent of physicians responding to the survey expressed some level of dissatisfaction with their 2010 income, including six percent who are significantly upset to the point of possibly quitting medicine. The complete survey findings, including mean and median compensation ranges for the 19 specialties surveyed are available upon request.

About The Medicus Firm:

The Medicus Firm is a national retained physician recruiting firm based in Dallas, Texas with an additional office in Atlanta, Georgia. The Medicus Firm was recognized as one of the "Best Places to Work in Texas", and also made the "Best In Staffing 2011" list for exceptional customer satisfaction. With an average of over nine years of physician recruiting experience per associate, The Medicus Firm employs one of the most experienced physician recruiting teams in the industry. For more information, visit The Medicus Firm online at www.TheMedicusFirm.com or contact Andrea Santiago, Director of Communications, (800) 779-8804 x.224.

Contact:
Andrea Santiago, Dir. Of Communications
p. (800)779.8804 x.224
f. (678)835.3945
[email protected]

SOURCE The Medicus Firm