Survey Reveals Recent Trends in Louisiana’s High-level Healthcare Positions

Despite the devastation Hurricane Katrina had on the Louisiana healthcare system, a significant amount of quality data were collected for the 2005 Executive, Director & Management Survey, far surpassing initial expectations. Thirty-seven organizations – twenty-nine of whom participated in the 2004 survey – contributed their time and efforts to ensure that the survey would continue.

Metairie, LA (PRWEB) January 10, 2006 -- Despite the devastation Hurricane Katrina had on the Louisiana healthcare system, a significant amount of quality data were collected for the 2005 Executive, Director & Management Survey, far surpassing initial expectations. Thirty-seven organizations – twenty-nine of whom participated in the 2004 survey – contributed their time and efforts to ensure that the survey would continue.

The results of the 2005 Executive, Director & Management Survey reflect responses from 37 organizations encompassing 1,342 incumbents in 72 positions. The survey covers the Greater New Orleans, Greater Baton Rouge & North Shore, Greater Lafayette / Lake Charles, North Louisiana, Eastern Bayou Country, and Greater Alexandria areas.

Significant base pay increases for eleven healthcare positions were revealed in the survey conducted by Astron Solutions, a New York-based Human Resources consulting firm. The survey results reveal that these eleven positions saw base pay increases of 10% or more in the past year. Topping the list was Biomedical Engineering Director at an increase of 24.6%, followed by Marketing / Public Relations Director (17.6%), Human Resources Manager (17.4%), Anesthesiology Director (17.3%), Employee Health Director (15.8%), Social Services Director (13.5%), Respiratory Therapy Director (13.4%), Nursing Multi-Unit Manager (13.2%), Quality Management Director (12.6%), Clinic Director (12.2%), and Emergency Services Director (11.8%).

This year’s survey results mark the debut of a same sample historical trend analysis. The one-year change in each position’s average base pay, salary range minimum, maximum hire rate, and salary range maximum were determined by analyzing data from the twenty-nine organizations that participated in both 2004 and 2005. The results reveal fifteen positions whose actual average base pay increased at least ten percent in a year’s time. They include Biomedical Engineering Director (28.7%), Employee Health Director (21.5%), Marketing / Public Relations Director (19.9%), Chief Information Officer (17.9%), Clinic Director (17.1%), Anesthesiology Director (15.7%), Emergency Services Director (14.7%), Respiratory Therapy Director (14.6%), Human Resources Manager (14.1%), Foundation Director (13.4%), Chief Executive Officer (12.3%), Chief Financial Officer (12.1%), Education and Training Director (12.1%), Chief Nurse Executive (11.4%), and Home Health Director (11.4%).

“With the widespread changes impacting Louisiana, it is difficult at best to make projections for what the future may hold. Proactive organizations, however, should keep an eye on salaries to ensure that the key members of their leadership teams – people without whom revitalization will be difficult – are appropriately paid within current fiscal realities. While many factors could drive someone to leave his or her position, pay should be low on that list,” said Jennifer Loftus, SPHR, CCP, CBP, GRP, National Director, Astron Solutions.

Astron Solutions has conducted healthcare compensation and benefits surveys for the state of Louisiana since 2002. The 2005 Executive, Director & Management Survey was sponsored by the Greater New Orleans Society for Healthcare Human Resources Administration (GNOSHHRA), ShareCor, the Louisiana Hospital Association (LHA), and the Metropolitan Hospital Council of New Orleans (MHCNO).

For questions about obtaining survey results, contact Erika Buck (East Jefferson General Hospital) at 504-454-5607. For questions about the survey, call Jennifer Loftus at 800-520-3889 x.1 or John Sazaklis at 800-520-3889 x.6.

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