Catton Evan, Puddy Alan, Tyagi Vineet, Kurkis Gregory M, Shau David N
University of Texas Health Science Center at Tyler, Tyler, TX, USA.
Hip & Knee Surgery, Texas Hip and Knee Center, Fort Worth, TX, USA.
Arthroplast Today. 2024 Aug 7;29:101416. doi: 10.1016/j.artd.2024.101416. eCollection 2024 Oct.
There is a paucity of data regarding compensation for early-career adult reconstruction surgeons. This study aims to quantify the time throughout the full episode of care for a Medicare primary total hip/knee arthroplasty and convert to per-hour pay for early-career arthroplasty surgeons at various geographic locations and practice settings. Using Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services data, this study also compares the compensation of early-career vs established total joint arthroplasty (TJA) surgeons.
Between January 2022 and January 2023, 3 early-career surgeons in 3 different locations collected prospective data on time spent in patient care during the global period following primary TJAs (pTJAs). A weighted average time spent per pTJA during global period was calculated with the 2024 work relative value unit and conversion factor to establish a per-hour rate. This rate was compared to the compensation rates of other healthcare-related fields and established TJA surgeons using Relative Value Scale Update Committee (RUC) values.
A total of 334 pTJAs (148 hips and 186 knees) were performed among 3 surgeons, and per-hour rates of $87.62 and $87.70 were found, respectively. These are less than hospital/healthcare system/health insurance/med tech CEOs, lawyers, dentists, and travel nurses. Early-career TJA surgeons were found to take 7.98%-8.68% longer than RUC standard times for a TJA episode of care.
This study quantifies the per-hour compensation of early-career arthroplasty surgeons, who earn lower compensation rates to travel nurses and take longer than Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services RUC times for pTJAs. Given the increasing demand for pTJAs, decreasing reimbursement rates, and concern over burnout, access to quality pTJA care for patients is concerning.
关于早期职业成人重建外科医生薪酬的数据匮乏。本研究旨在量化医疗保险原发性全髋关节/膝关节置换术整个护理过程的时间，并将其转换为不同地理位置和执业环境下早期职业关节置换外科医生的小时薪酬。利用医疗保险和医疗补助服务中心的数据，本研究还比较了早期职业与资深全关节置换（TJA）外科医生的薪酬。
在2022年1月至2023年1月期间，3名来自不同地点的早期职业外科医生收集了原发性TJA（pTJA）后全球期内患者护理时间的前瞻性数据。使用2024年工作相对价值单位和转换因子计算每个pTJA在全球期内的加权平均时间，以确定小时费率。该费率与其他医疗相关领域以及使用相对价值量表更新委员会（RUC）值的资深TJA外科医生的薪酬率进行比较。
3名外科医生共进行了334例pTJA（148例髋关节和186例膝关节），每小时费率分别为87.62美元和87.70美元。这些低于医院/医疗保健系统/健康保险/医疗技术首席执行官、律师、牙医和旅行护士。发现早期职业TJA外科医生在TJA护理过程中比RUC标准时间长7.98%-8.68%。
本研究量化了早期职业关节置换外科医生的小时薪酬，他们的薪酬率低于旅行护士，并且在pTJA方面比医疗保险和医疗补助服务中心RUC时间花费更长。鉴于对pTJA的需求不断增加、报销率下降以及对职业倦怠的担忧，患者获得高质量pTJA护理令人担忧。
