Here are descriptions of 12 organizations that conduct physician compensation surveys. Of those, the first 11 companies supplied data for this report.
American Medical Association
The Chicago-based trade group tracks net income after expenses and before taxes from a sample of 3,826 self-employed and employed physicians. The AMA's current data were collected in 1998 and reflect income earned in 1997. The data are contained in the report Physician Socioeconomic Statistics, 1999-2000 Edition, product number OP193199ATL, which costs $445 for AMA members and $495 for nonmembers. Call 1-800-621-8335.
American Medical Group Association
The AMGA, based in Alexandria, Va., conducts an annual compensation survey of physicians employed at its member practices, which average about 200 physicians each. This year's survey, conducted in April, includes 18,000 physicians at 115 groups, including 89 specialties. The survey costs $175 for members, $250 for nonmembers. Call 703-838-0033, ext. 326.
Center for Healthcare Industry: Performance Studies
The Columbus, Ohio-based healthcare data company collected data from 2,250 physicians who practice in four specialties and are employed at acquired physician practices. The August 1998 survey covers 615 organizations including hospitals (71%), group practices (12%) and other organizations (12%). The survey costs $395. Call 1-800-765-6068.
Ernst & Young
The New York-based consulting and accounting firm surveyed 16,787 physicians in 55 specialties employed at 129 organizations including group practices (25%) and integrated delivery systems (75%). The April 1999 survey includes cost/revenue, medical director and allied health provider benchmarks. The cost is $600 for survey participants and future participants, and $1,200 for nonparticipants. Call Richard Cederholm at 213-977-3426.
Hay Group
The Walnut Creek, Calif-based healthcare consulting firm surveyed 118 organizations with 23,614 physicians in 97 specialties in May 1998. It also tracks data for 36 allied healthcare professions. Surveyed were hospitals (59%), group practices (31%) and health plans (10%). The survey is available for $1,000 or $1,500, depending on how many physicians are employed by the purchaser. Call Christina Nogueda at 925-945-8220.
Health Care Group
The Plymouth Meeting, Pa.-based law and consulting firm reported starting salaries for 1,294 physicians in 42 specialties employed at hospitals (18%), group practices (81%) and health plans (1%). The price of the survey, conducted in June 1999, is $165. Call Marie Wareckiy at 1-800-473-0032.
Hospital & Healthcare Compensation Service
The Oakland, N.J.-based consulting firm conducts an annual survey of employed physicians. This year's survey, conducted in January, includes 314 organizations and 12,725 physicians in 43 specialties. Organizations surveyed were hospitals (62.1%), group practices (35%), health plans (1.4%) and other organizations (1.5%). The survey costs $250. Call 201-405-0075.
Medical Group Management Association
The Englewood, Colo.-based trade group conducts an annual compensation survey of its member practices. The 1998 survey includes 31,500 physicians employed at 1,670 groups, 280 of which are owned by hospitals or health systems. Ninety-two physician specialties and 16 midlevel provider specialties are included in the survey. The MGMA's 1999 Physician Compensation and Production Survey, item number 5397, will be available in September. It costs $200 for MGMA members, $250 for affiliate members and $300 for nonmembers. Call 1-888-608-5206, or visit the MGMA World Wide Web site, www.mgma.com.
Merritt, Hawkins & Associates
The Irving, Texas-based healthcare staffing firm reported compensation based on 1,807 recruitment offers at 621 organizations from April 1998 through March 1999. Data were collected from hospitals (60%), group practices (30%), health plans (5%) and other organizations (5%). The survey is free of charge and available by calling David Faries at 1-800-876-0500.
Sullivan, Cotter & Associates
The Detroit-based human resources consulting firm surveyed 209 organizations with 16,500 physicians in 108 specialties and positions. The survey, conducted in January, includes data from hospitals (68%), group practices (21%), health plans (56%) and other organizations (38%); percentages exceed 100 because of multiple response categories. The survey includes data on staff physicians, education/residency coordinators, division chiefs and department chairs, plus nine physician administrative positions. The cost is $195 for survey participants, $375 for nonparticipating healthcare providers who agree to participate in 2000, $650 for nonparticipating healthcare providers and $1,200 for nonhealthcare providers. Call Janis D'Anunzio, survey coordinator, at 313-872-1760.
Weatherby Health Care
The Norwalk, Conn.-based physician recruiting firm annually surveys starting salaries for 15 specialties. Figures are based on data collected in 1998. Some 2,239 organizations were surveyed including hospitals (32%), group practices (58%) and health plans (10%). The company did not provide the total number of physicians in its survey. Results are available at no charge. Call Larry Stewart at 1-800-365-8900, ext. 215.
William M. Mercer
The New York-based consulting firm did not provide data for this report, but it publishes compensation data for a wide range of specialties in the physician module of its annual Integrated Health Networks Compensation Survey. The cost is $300 for survey participants, $650 for nonparticipants. Call 1-800-333-3070.
To participate in the 2000 report, contact reporter Mary Chris Jaklevic at 312-649-5314.