Physician leaders earn more in nonhospital groups

Compensation for medical directorships in nonhospital-owned group practices is greater than in hospital-owned practices for all specialties except primary care, according to a recent study. The Medical Group Management Association's Medical Directorship/On Call Compensation Survey 2009, based on 2008 data, found that the greatest discrepancy existed among nonsurgical specialists in nonhospital-owned practices that received $27,400 more annually than those in hospital-owned practices. Compensation also varied greatly across specialties, the survey shows.