Doctor compensation continues to grow, Northeastern physicians about in the middle, Canadians higher

US physicians average $294 thousand in compensation this year, up from $206K in 2011 according to Medscape’s 2017 Physician Compensation Report. Mirroring the US average, physician payment in the Northeast averaged $296K. Canadian physicians are the only nationality paid more than Americans, on average. Specialists make 46% more than primary care physicians, and their compensation is growing faster as well. Among specialties, orthopedists make the most, while pediatricians the least. Three quarters of physicians receive employer-subsidized health benefits and 61% receive dental insurance benefits. While still only a third of US physicians (36%) participate in Accountable Care Organizations, that number is up from 3% five years ago. About half (52%) of primary care physicians have experienced an influx of new patients since implementation of the Affordable Care Act, only 38% of specialists have experienced that trend. Thankfully, 69% of physicians expect to continue to take new and current Medicare and Medicaid patients; 6% won’t take new patients and 2% won’t see their current patients. Three quarters discuss the costs of treatment with patients, either regularly or occasionally. More than half spend over 10 hours/week on administration and paperwork; that number is rising. In very good news, the vast majority in all specialties would choose medicine again as a career.