MANAGED CARE May 2002. ©MediMedia USA
Radiology is the name of the game in physician recruitment today, with income offers increasing by an average of nearly $50,000 over previously recorded levels, according to the national physician search company Merritt, Hawkins, & Associates. Tracking 2,043 physician recruitment assignments it conducted from April 1, 2000 to March 31, 2001, Merritt Hawkins saw average salaries and/or income guarantees offered to radiologists increase from $225,000 to $271,000. Rising salaries reflect the pressing need for radiologists in many rural and urban facilities. The demand is attributed to declining enrollment in radiology residency programs in the mid-1990s, the early retirement of many radiologists, and the significant increase in demand for radiology services. Demand has risen also as a result of new imaging technologies and population aging.
Merritt Hawkins has seen increased demand for another traditionally hospital-based specialty — anesthesiology. The firm conducted just nine searches for anesthesiologists in 1997–98 but recorded 127 anesthesiology searches in 2000–01.
Compensation offered to radiologists (salary or income guarantee)
Top 10 searches by specialty
SOURCE: 2001 REVIEW OF PHYSICIAN RECRUITMENT SERVICES, MERRITT, HAWKINS & ASSOCIATES, IRVING, TEXAS. WWW.MERRITTHAWKINS.COM [1]