Therus Kolff, MD, MPH (founder of Comprehensive Healthcare
Systems, Inc., now CompHealth) and Alan Kronhaus, MD (founder of
Kron Medical) are often called the pioneers of the locum tenens
industry…
While the total number of physicians in the US roughly doubled
over the past quarter-century, the total number of female
physicians grew by 372%-from 54,284 in 1980 to 256,257 in 2006.
Despite the growing numbers of women in medicine, female physicians
have consistently lagged behind their male counterparts in salary
and income levels.
So you're thinking about taking a locum tenens opportunity, and
undoubtedly you've got some questions. Below are some answers to
commonly asked questions by locum tenens providers:
In a decade when it seems the news media report a physician
shortage in another U.S. community or medical specialty weekly,
physicians report increasing frustration with practicing medicine
in today's healthcare marketplace.
A newly-released survey conducted by Jackson Healthcare, reports
that only 6.2 percent of physician compensation comes directly from
prescriptions, lab tests, diagnostic imaging, hospital admissions
and facility/surgery fees. This finding counters the notion held by
some that the practice of defensive medicine, the ordering of
unnecessary tests and procedures, is lucrative for doctors.
Jackson Healthcare reports that approximately eight percent of
total U.S. healthcare spending is attributable to physician
compensation. According to data from the Medical Group Management
Association (MGMA) and the American Medical Association (AMA),
physician compensation totals between $186 and $216 billion,
roughly 7.5 percent to 8.6 percent of total U.S. healthcare costs,
reported at $2.5 trillion by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid
Services (CMS).
"I realize that it does take a great deal of effort to satisfy both sides of the equation. Hospital and anesthesia groups always want things done in a hurry and the anesthesiologist wants to get things confirmed. It is a great deal of work for all of you to coordinate all of the information."
— Donald D. Hutchings, M.D.
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