| Orthopedic Job Outlook | | | | highest salaries are found in the private practice arena. |
| US Department of Labor, states that about three to | | | | Because Orthopedic Surgery is a popular area of |
| four percent of all physicians (about 20,000) are | | | | specialty, jobs may be more competitive. |
| specialized in Orthopedic Surgery. Over 50 % of all | | | | Slow Economy and Aging Population |
| orthopedic surgeons practice general orthopedics, | | | | The general economic slowdown and the ensuing job |
| while eleven percent practice spinal surgery, ten | | | | loss across the country has had a direct impact on the |
| percent practice sports medicine, and the remainder | | | | revenue stream to physicians. When people lose their |
| specialize in other sub-specialties of Orthopedics. | | | | jobs, they also lose their health care benefits and so |
| Orthopedic surgery is an important specialty that will | | | | access to health care. This lose is felt more in |
| continue to be in high demand, with employment | | | | some parts of the country than others but this should |
| opportunities expected to grow faster than average | | | | mitigate any shortages for the short term. |
| between now and 2014. As the elderly population of | | | | Last years stock market collapse has had a major |
| the US increases, there will be a higher incidence of | | | | impact on older physicians' decisions. Many doctors are |
| musculoskeletal conditions that occur with aging. As | | | | postponing retirement because of the economy's |
| our population ages and our need for health care | | | | impact on their retirement stockholdings. But even a |
| grows the need for health care in the US is expected | | | | three- to five-year delay won't address the impending |
| to grow. Several factors are impacting the future | | | | loss of experienced physicians to retirement. This |
| demands in both directions, the shrinking economy, the | | | | postponement has resulted in fewer jobs being |
| aging population and finally the impending health care | | | | offered and graduating residents not finding as many |
| "reform". | | | | opportunities as before. Residents rather than |
| Physician Shortage | | | | committing themselves to less desirable jobs are |
| About 640,000 physicians of all specialties are | | | | opting for locum tenens jobs and waiting before |
| currently practicing and more than 50% of them are | | | | committing to full time employment. |
| primary care physicians. As many as 33% of today's | | | | Health Insurance Reform |
| practicing physicians may retire by the year 2020. | | | | Another large uncertainty is the the nature fo national |
| There is particular concern about primary care | | | | health reform. If the health care reform actually |
| shortages in the near future as older physicians retire | | | | works in increasing the enrollment into healthcare |
| and younger ones seek higher paying specialties | | | | insurance then the long term the aging population and |
| instead of primary care. Rural areas are especially | | | | these increased numbers should push demand for |
| vulnerable to attracting and retaining physicians. | | | | services and therefore cost higher. However, no one |
| The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) predicts | | | | yet knows what will happen to reimbursement rates |
| continued growth for surgery jobs, particularly in rural | | | | from Medicare. Because of these and other factors |
| areas of the U.S. where there is a low ratio of | | | | many physician practices are holding off making any |
| physicians to population ( Earning potential for | | | | decisions and are taking Locum Orthopedic jobs until |
| Orthopedic Surgeons can range from $350,000 to | | | | they have a better idea of how the health reform will |
| more than $500,000, according to the AMCC; the | | | | impact these reimbursements and their bottom line. |