RADIOLOGIST PAY, PRODUCTIVITY RISE, SAYS AMGA SURVEY

A recently published physician compensation survey reveals that radiologists had one of the larger increases in compensation in 2002, compared with other specialists.

The 2002 American Medical Group Association (AMGA) Medical Group Compensation & Productivity Survey, based on 2001 data cites the increased demand for hospital-based specialists as a likely reason for radiologists' increase in compensation.

Along with dermatologists and emergency care specialists, radiologists had the biggest compensation gains, with the 2001 median compensation for diagnostic radiologists showing an increase of 16.34% from 2000. For interventional radiologists, compensation was up 9.12% from 2000.

Among other findings from the report,  a comparison of median gross charges for 1998-2001 showed that diagnostic radiologists had $1,279,600 in charges for the year, up 9.6% from 2000. Interventional radiologists had $1,511,109 in charges, up 3.8% from 2000.

In terms of overall compensation, a further breakdown showed that of diagnostic radiologists surveyed, those in the eastern region of the country ranked highest in the 90th percentile at $458,520. For interventional radiologists, that distinction went to those in the southern region of the country, at $456,745.

Of surveyed PhDs practicing in diagnostic radiology, the median compensation was $133,501.

Finally, in the overall summary by specialty, of 555 diagnostic radiologists responding, the median compensation was $302,704; of 364 responding, gross productivity was $1,279,600; and the median compensation to productivity ratio was 25.73%.  Out of 288 physicians responding, median work RVUs were 6,156, and the median compensation to work RVUs ratio was 52.01.

For interventional radiologists, of 340 responding, the median compensation was $356,000; of 94 responding, gross productivity was $1,511,109; and the median compensation to productivity ratio was 22.33%. Out of 73 physicians responding, median work RVUs were 8,178, and the median compensation to work RVUs ratio was 42.96.

For neuro-interventional radiologists, of 30 responding, the median compensation was $324,595; of 25 responding, gross productivity was $1,355,415; and the median compensation to productivity ratio was 26.25%.  Out of 10 physicians responding, median work RVUs were 7,256, and the median compensation to work RVUs ratio was 41.71.

For administrative positions at all medical groups responding, the median base compensation for business office managers was $61,574, with a median bonus of $5,000 and median total compensation of $59,970, indicating that not all respondents award bonuses. For chief financial officers, the median base compensation reported was $109,000, with a median bonus of $11,284 and median total compensation of $93,984.

MIS directors reported a median base compensation of $80,857, with a median bonus of $5,000 and median total compensation of $80,315. Nonphysician administrator-presidents (COOs) reported a median base compensation of $175,000, with a median bonus compensation of $33,802 and median total compensation of $162,062. For the physician administrator (CEO) category, the median base compensation reported was $228,000. Median bonus was $16,500, and median total compensation was $223,000.

IMAGING PREMATURE BABIES: NEW GUIDELINES

The American Academy of Neurology and the Child Neurology Society have released new recommendations on the use of brain imaging of preterm and term infants. The guidelines, published in the June 25 issue of Neurology, suggest that there are significant problems associated with the imaging of critically ill infants.

The guidelines state that all preterm infants born under less than 30 weeks' gestation should receive screening cranial ultrasonography once they are between 7 and 14 days old, with that screening repeated at 36-40 gestational weeks. Also, when a full term infant with coma or seizures has evidence of birth trauma, CT should be performed to detect hemorrhages. If CT findings do not show bleeding in the brain, an MRI should be performed when the infant is between 2 and 8 days of age to search for evidence of hypoxic-ischemic brain injury.

The guidelines were developed by a panel of neonatologists, pediatric neurologists, perinatal epidemiologists, and neonatal radiologists who reviewed more than 1,300 articles.

INDUSTRY NEWS

Hologic Inc, Bedford, Mass, has received a notification letter from the FDA announcing a premarket approval supplement that covers the use of the company's DirectRay® amorphous-selenium, direct-to-digital image receptor for the LORAD SeleniaTM full field digital mammography (FFDM) system. In addition, the company has finalized the terms of a strategic alliance with Siemens AG, Iselin, NJ. Siemens will source Hologic's DirectRay® digital mammography flat detector technology for Siemens' FFDM system...Computerized Thermal Imaging (CTI), Portland, Ore, has received formal notification from the FDA's Center for Devices and Radiological Health that a panel has been scheduled to review, discuss, and make recommendations regarding CTI's premarket approval application for the BCS 2100, a thermal breast imaging system. The panel session will be held on October 16 in Rockville, Md...Royal Philips Electronics has received two design awards for its OptiGo point-of-care ultrasound device. The product won a silver Medical Design Excellence Award (MDEA) in the category of radiological and electromechanical devices, and a silver Industrial Design Excellence Award (IDEA) in the category of medical and scientific products...Konica Medical Imaging, Wayne, NJ, and InSiteOne, Wallingford, Conn, have entered into a comarketing agreement that authorizes InSiteOne to distribute the Konica line of computed radiography systems to InSiteOne clients...GE Medical Systems, Milwaukee, was rated as the leader in medical diagnostic imaging technology in a recent survey of health care providers conducted by MD Information Network.