Hospitalist Jobs Making Gains in the Industry
For the last several years hospitalist jobs have been considered by some as the orphan stepchild of the medical community. Hospitalists have been looked upon as doctors sort of in limbo; physicians without a permanent general practice or a specialty making them very much in demand in their community. But some recent studies have just been released showing things are changing. Hospitalist jobs are now gaining modestly in terms of both financial compensation and professional reputation.
Compensation Is Up :-
One of the studies, conducted in a joint effort between the Medical Group Management Association (NGMA) and the 2011 State of Hospital Medicine report (SHM), shows that compensation for hospitalist doctors has risen by approximately 2.6% over the same period in 2010. Hospitalist doctors make roughly $220,600 annually as opposed to a figure closer to $215,000 last year. The study attributes the increase to market conditions that demand more and more positions be filled by hospitalists.
Interestingly, the study also showed that hospitalist jobs in southern states paid quite a bit better than those in other places. On average, a major hospital in a thriving southern state could pay their hospitalist doctors as much as $247,000 annually. Eastern and northeastern states lag far behind – to the tune of about $212,000 annually. This seems to line up fairly well with the general economic conditions of these regions.
Attitudes Are Changing :-
More importantly than just the rise in compensation, the studies also concluded that attitudes toward hospitalist jobs are changing as well. Where these types of jobs have long been seen as temporary positions for physicians looking to launch into other careers, they are now being seen as vital positions where career doctors can thrive. In fact, many of the hospitals surveyed in the study now consider hospitalist jobs a normal part of their routine functioning. Many also said that they now depend so heavily on the work provided by hospitalists that they could not imagine providing good care without them.
These changing attitudes might partly be responsible for the study’s conclusion that hospitalist workers are less likely to leave their current positions or change careers in the near future. Unlike many other professions, where unhappy workers frequently jump ship and move to other positions, hospitalist jobs are more and more being filled by workers who are content with what they do and happy to stay where they are; this, despite the fact that they are working harder than they ever have before.
As the medical profession continues to grow and evolve it stands to reason that Hospitalist Jobs will do likewise. This is a burgeoning field of medicine with plenty of opportunities for career-minded individuals. Furthermore, hospitalist work offers a unique opportunity for experiences you might not get anywhere else. It is certainly career worth considering if you plan to go into the medical field.
About the Author :-
Search for Hospitalist Jobs and Healthcare Employment Opportunities at Weatherby Healthcare. New Hospitalist Jobs are Posted Daily.