Report: Physicians paid least in R.I.

RHODE ISLAND physicians are paid the least in the nation, according to the latest report from Medscape. / COURTESY MEDSCAPE
RHODE ISLAND physicians are paid the least in the nation, according to the latest report from Medscape. / COURTESY MEDSCAPE

PROVIDENCE – Rhode Island ranked lowest in the nation for physician compensation at an average of $224,000.
Massachusetts was fourth-lowest for physician pay at $257,000, while Vermont was eighth-lowest at $268,000, according to the Medscape Physician Report, released earlier this month.
In comparison, North Dakota is where physicians are paid the most, at an average of $348,000. New Hampshire – the only New England state in the top 10 – ranked second, at $322,000.

Medscape, which is part of the WebMD Health Professional Network, said nearly 19,200 physicians in over 26 specialties responded to this year’s Medscape compensation survey, disclosing not only their compensation but also how many hours they work per week, how many minutes they spend with each patient, the most rewarding part of their job, changes to their practice resulting from health care reform, and more.

It showed that nationwide, pediatricians earned the least, at an average of $204,000 annually, while orthopedics is the highest-paying field at $443,000 annually, followed by cardiology at $410,000 and dermatology at $381,000.

It also showed that the greatest year-over-year pay increases appeared among rheumatologists and internists at 12 percent.
Travis Singleton, senior vice president of national physician search firm Merritt Hawkins, said that the migration to hospital medicine has shrunk the candidate pool while, at the same time, “over 10,000 baby boomers turn 65 every day, driving demand for internists, and their compensation, higher.”

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This year, the highest earnings were reported in the North Central and Southeast regions at $296,000 and $287,000, respectively, while the lowest were in the Northeast, $266,000, and Mid-Atlantic, $268,000.

The report also showed that 98 percent of respondents found gratification in being a physician and treating patients. This year, 34 percent of physicians cited their relationships with patients and 32 percent cited being good at their job as the most rewarding aspects of their job. Most also mentioned caring for or helping people. Others mentioned rewards such as doing research, educating or training students or residents, having a flexible schedule, and relationships with colleagues. In addition, many physicians answered “all of the above,” the report said.

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