Physician compensation growth was relatively flat (-0.14 average) from 2009 to 2010, according to national physician recruiter Medicus Firm's annual Physician Compensation and Relocation Report.
Researchers surveyed 2,339 physicians in 19 medical specialties. They found that nearly a third (30 percent) said their lack of income growth stemmed from reduced reimbursements, with declines most evident with radiologists and oncologists, according to Medicus.
The specialties that reported the greatest income growth were psychiatrists (up 11.5 percent) and emergency physicians (up 5.5 percent).
"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," said Jim Stone, president and managing partner, in a statement. "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."
Similarly, a Medical Group Management Association (MGMA) report released last month found that radiologists had the fewest gains in physician compensation of all the specialties. The MGMA report found that internists had the highest gains.
For more:
- read the Medicus press release
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