Major Finding: In fiscal 2009, pediatric hospitalist compensation averaged $168,605 vs. $225,544 for adult hospitalists.
Data Source: Compensation survey of 3,296 hospitalists by the Society of Hospital Medicine and Medical Group Management Association.
Disclosures: Dr. Percelay disclosed no financial conflicts of interest.
MINNEAPOLIS — Compensation for pediatric hospitalists has gone up but continues to lag behind that for hospitalists who treat adults.
The average compensation for a full-time pediatric hospitalist was 75% of their adult counterparts in fiscal 2009 at $168,605 vs. $225,544 for an adult hospitalist, according to a new survey by the Society of Hospital Medicine (SHM) and Medical Group Management Association (MGMA).
Median compensation was $160,038 vs. $215,000, respectively.
For pediatric hospitalists, this represents a 16.6% increase from a total compensation of $144,600 reported in a similar SHM survey in 2007-2008, a time period during which compensation fell from $146,000 in 2005-2006.
During the same time period, however, adult hospitalists saw their total compensation increase 13% from $171,000 in 2005-2006 to $193,300 in 2007-2008.
The salary gap between adult and pediatric hospitalists is correlated to differences in productivity and patient encounters, Dr. Jack M. Percelay explained during a poster presentation of the findings at the meeting.
Pediatric hospitalists, when compared with adult hospitalists, had significantly lower production, as measured by work relative value units (average 2,201 vs. 4,303), and fewer hospital encounters per year (average 1,027 vs. 2,211).
Other factors driving the disparity might include different reimbursement paradigms for pediatric vs. adult hospitalists, regional differences, and the fact that many pediatric hospitalists are employed at academic practices, which traditionally pay less than nonacademic practices. Data were not available for all academic practices—a point Dr. Percelay said could widen the salary gap even further.
The 2009-2010 Hospital Medicine Productivity and Compensation Survey is based on data from 37 pediatric hospital medicine–only practices representing 156 pediatric hospitalists and 390 practices representing 3,140 adult hospitalists.
Previously, the SHM and MGMA conducted their own biennial surveys, but this year the groups worked together and expect to repeat the survey on an annual basis for academic and nonacademic practices, said Dr. Percelay, an SHM board member and pediatric hospitalist with ELMO Pediatrics in New York.
A limitation of the survey is that it represents only 5%-8% of the estimated community of pediatric hospitalists. Still, the groups suggest that by combining their expertise, these data will become the “new gold standard for employers and employees alike.”
The lower reimbursement rate for pediatric hospitalists is not all that surprising, Dr. Percelay said in an interview.
“One of the clear differences structurally is that pediatric hospitalists take care of Medicaid populations and pediatric patients get reimbursed at Medicaid rates.
“That's less than Medicare rates. So we might actually see some difference with health care reform as Medicaid rates are brought up to parity with Medicare rates,” he said.
“The key thing is to look at your individual program to see that you are being appropriately compensated for the work that you do, and that will involve more than just looking at one cell of national data,” the pediatric hospitalist commented.
The survey identified differences in pediatric hospitalist compensation by region, ranging from a high of $172,299 to a low of $166,455. Details on the regions were not revealed, but in the 2007-2008 SHM survey, adult hospitalists in the South and Midwest received more compensation than those in the East and West regions.
The poster presentation provided just a small peek at the full data due to be released this fall that will include information on hospital ownership, staffing model, night coverage, teaching status, and compensation structure.
A comparison study sponsored by the American Academy of Pediatrics section on hospital medicine that uses individual hospitalist responses will provide additional qualitative insight into pediatric hospital medicine practice, Dr. Percelay said at the meeting sponsored by the SHM, the AAP, and the Academic Pediatric Association.
He urged group leaders who did not complete the 2009-2010 survey to register with the SHM at survey@hospitalmedicine.org
Pediatric hospitalists, when compared with adult hospitalists, had significantly lower production, as measured by work relative value units, and fewer hospital encounters per year, Dr. Jack M. Percelay said.
Source Courtesy Jaclyn Artuso
Elsevier Global Medical News