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Wednesday, September 30, 2020
Stanford Health, our trusted link for September 2020
Tuesday, September 29, 2020
The Best Cancer Care Hospitals in the Mid-East Region
Nearly 900 hospitals were studied for their proficiency and effectiveness at delivering cancer care to adult patients in the 20-21 U.S. News & World Report ratings of American hospitals,. In this U.S. News study, hospitals were scored on various measures related to the experience and outcomes of their adult cancer patients, the scope and scale of their cancer care programs and services, and the level of professional recognition they have earned within the wider cancer care community. Among the top 50 rated U.S. hospitals for adult cancer care in 20-21, eleven are based in the five state Mid-East region of the country, including two of the top 5 highest rated adult cancer care hospitals in the nation. Moreover, with eleven hospitals making the list, no other region of the country had more top 50 adult cancer care hospitals than did the Mid-East region. Here's a brief look at these eleven Mid-East region medical institutions and where they rank nationally for adult cancer care:
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The Best Cancer Care Hospitals in the Mid-East Region |
Monday, September 28, 2020
The Best and Worst States for Family Medicine Physician Pay
There were approximately 109,000 family medicine physicians working in the U.S. as of May 2019 according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports. Most family medicine physicians work in physician offices, with smaller numbers working in hospitals, outpatient care centers, educational institutions and with local government entities. Like most other healthcare professionals with advanced training and technical skills, family medicine physicians earn salaries and wages in excess of that earned by workers in most other occupations. Per BLS estimates, as of May 2019, the national mean wage for family medicine physicians was $213,270 annually, as compared to the $53,490 annual mean wage for all occupations in the U.S. Pay for the profession varies widely from state-to-state, with family medicine physicians in some states making 40% or more than what their counterparts earn elsewhere. As of May 2019, according to BLS data the ten states with the best annual mean salary and wages for family medicine physicians were:
New Hampshire | $262,620 |
Alaska | $254,270 |
Wisconsin | $251,710 |
Washington | $238,150 |
Rhode Island | $237,600 |
Hawaii | $236,440 |
Alabama | $236,060 |
Minnesota | $236,060 |
Iowa | $235,980 |
Kansas | $233,970 |
At the other end of the spectrum, the ten states with the lowest annual mean salary and wages for family medicine physicians were:
Pennsylvania | $201,220 |
Maine | $199,080 |
Utah | $194,290 |
New York | $194,070 |
Maryland | $193,080 |
Connecticut | $190,440 |
Nevada | $189,470 |
Ohio | $181,940 |
West Virginia | $169,340 |
New Mexico | $164,400 |
So where does your state rank for family medicine physician pay?
Check out Family Medicine Physician Average Wages by State for more information.
Sunday, September 27, 2020
The Best and Worst States for General Dentist Pay
There were approximately 110,000 general dentists working in the U.S. as of May 2019 according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports. Most general dentists work in dental offices, but smaller numbers work in physician offices, outpatient care centers, hospitals and with state government entities. Like many other trained healthcare professionals with advanced technical skills, general dentists earn salaries and wages in excess of that earned by workers in most other occupations. Per BLS estimates, as of May 2019, the national mean wage for general dentists was $178,260 annually, in comparison to the $53,490 annual mean wage for all occupations in the U.S. Pay for the profession varies widely from state-to-state, with general dentists in some states making double what their counterparts earn elsewhere. As of May 2019, according to BLS data the ten states with the best annual mean salary and wages for general dentists were:
Rhode Island | $262,900 |
Vermont | $261,790 |
Alaska | $239,930 |
North Dakota | $225,770 |
Maine | $220,400 |
Michigan | $216,310 |
New Hampshire | $215,600 |
Minnesota | $213,210 |
Wisconsin | $207,350 |
Nevada | $204,240 |
At the other end of the spectrum, here were the bottom ten states for general dentist pay:
Alabama | $157,040 |
California | $155,670 |
Louisiana | $155,350 |
Mississippi | $153,220 |
Montana | $150,170 |
Nebraska | $138,250 |
Utah | $134,730 |
Kentucky | $129,310 |
Wyoming | $127,990 |
West Virginia | $126,880 |
So where does your state rank for General Dentist pay?
Check out General Dentist Average Wages by State for more information.
Friday, September 25, 2020
Top Cardiology Care Hospitals in the Great Plains Region
In the most recent (20-21) U.S. News & World Report rankings of American hospitals, close to 600 hospitals were evaluated for their effectiveness and proficiency in providing adult cardiology care to patients. In this analysis, hospitals were measured on various metrics related to their patient experience and outcomes, the size and scale of their adult cardiology programs, and the level of distinction they have earned within the adult cardiology care community. Among the top 50 rated U.S. hospitals for adult cardiology care in 20-21, five are based in the Great Plains region, including the second highest rated cardiology care hospital in the country. Here's a quick rundown of the five Great Plains region medical institutions that made the top 50 and where they rank nationally for adult cardiology care:
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Top Cardiology Care Hospitals in the Great Plains Region |
Thursday, September 24, 2020
The Best and Worst States for EMT and Paramedic Pay
There were approximately 260,000 emergency medical technicians (EMTs) and paramedics working in the U.S. as of May 2019 according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). EMTs and paramedics work in varied settings, including for ambulatory healthcare service providers, hospitals, physician offices, and outpatient care centers. Unlike many other trained healthcare professionals, EMTs and paramedics earn lower salaries and wages than workers in most other occupations. Per BLS estimates, as of May 2019, the national mean wage for EMTs and paramedics was $38,830 annually, in comparison to the $53,490 annual mean wage for all occupations in the U.S. Pay for the profession varies widely from state-to-state, with EMTs and paramedics in some states making 30% or more annually than their counterparts elsewhere. As of May 2019, according to BLS data the ten states with the best annual mean salary and wages for EMTs and paramedics were:
Hawaii | $56,610 |
Washington | $56,140 |
Maryland | $50,750 |
Alaska | $50,640 |
Connecticut | $46,510 |
New York | $44,920 |
Massachusetts | $44,140 |
California | $43,680 |
Minnesota | $43,620 |
Illinois | $43,310 |
At the other end of the table, here were the bottom ten states for emergency medical technician and paramedic pay:
Pennsylvania | $34,310 |
Ohio | $34,020 |
Michigan | $33,760 |
South Dakota | $32,620 |
Mississippi | $32,480 |
Montana | $32,050 |
Kentucky | $31,250 |
Kansas | $30,890 |
Alabama | $30,240 |
West Virginia | $29,920 |
So where does your state rank for EMT and paramedic pay?
Check out EMT and Paramedic Average Wages by State for more information.
Wednesday, September 23, 2020
The Best and Worst States for Registered Nurse Pay
There were approximately 2,982,000 registered nurses (RNs) working in the U.S. as of May 2019 according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). RNs work in varied healthcare settings, including hospitals, physician offices, home health care agencies, skilled nursing facilities, and outpatient care centers. Like many other healthcare professionals with advanced training and skills, registered nurses usually earn higher salaries and wages than workers in most other occupations. Per BLS estimates, as of May 2019, the national mean wage for registered nurses was $77,460 per year, in comparison to the $53,490 annual mean wage for all occupations in the U.S. While RNs realize better than average pay, there is much variation from state-to-state in how much registered nurses earn. Per BLS data, as of May 2019 these were the ten states where RNs attain the highest average pay:
California | $113,240 |
Hawaii | $104,060 |
Massachusetts | $93,160 |
Oregon | $92,960 |
Alaska | $90,500 |
Nevada | $88,380 |
New York | $87,840 |
Washington | $86,170 |
New Jersey | $84,280 |
Connecticut | $83,440 |
At the other end of the table, here were the bottom ten states for RN pay:
Missouri | $64,160 |
Kentucky | $63,750 |
West Virginia | $63,220 |
Tennessee | $62,570 |
Kansas | $62,450 |
Arkansas | $61,330 |
Iowa | $60,590 |
Alabama | $60,230 |
Mississippi | $59,750 |
South Dakota | $59,540 |
So where does your state rank for registered nurse pay?
Visit Registered Nurse Average Wages by State for more information.
Tuesday, September 22, 2020
The Best Cancer Care Hospitals in the Southwest
Almost 900 hospitals were evaluated for their effectiveness and proficiency at delivering cancer care to adult patients in the 20-21 U.S. News & World Report ratings of American hospitals. This study scored hospitals on various metrics related to the outcomes and experience of their adult cancer patients, the scale and scope of their cancer care programs and services, and the level of professional recognition they have earned within the broader adult cancer care community. Five Southwestern hospitals ranked in the top 50 nationally for adult cancer care, including the nation's top ranked cancer hospital, the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston. Here's a brief rundown of these five Southwestern medical institutions and where they rank nationally for adult cancer care:
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The Best Cancer Care Hospitals in the Southwest |
Houston Methodist Hospital
Location: Houston
National Rank in Adult Cancer Care: #17
Location: Houston
National Rank in Adult Cancer Care: #27
Monday, September 21, 2020
The Best and Worst States for Pharmacist Pay
There were about 311,000 pharmacists working in the U.S. as of May 2019 according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Pharmacists work in varied settings, including health and personal care stores, hospitals, food and general merchandise stores with pharmacy services, and other businesses involved in the distribution of pharmacy products. Like many other healthcare professionals with advanced technical training and skills, pharmacists typically earn higher salaries and wages than most workers in other occupations. According to BLS estimates, as of May 2019, the national mean wage for pharmacists was $125,510 per year, well above the $53,490 annual mean wage for all occupations in the U.S. While a well paying occupation, there is considerable variation from state-to-state in how much pharmacists earn. Per BLS data, as of May 2019 these were the ten states where pharmacists earn the highest pay:
California | $144,050 |
Alaska | $142,610 |
Vermont | $135,650 |
Oregon | $135,150 |
Maine | $134,670 |
Wisconsin | $134,090 |
Minnesota | $130,290 |
Delaware | $130,230 |
New Hampshire | $129,370 |
Hawaii | $129,360 |
The bottom ten states for pharmacist pay were:
Arkansas | $120,020 |
Indiana | $119,920 |
Pennsylvania | $119,800 |
South Dakota | $118,360 |
Nebraska | $117,630 |
Iowa | $117,420 |
Ohio | $117,020 |
Oklahoma | $116,170 |
Montana | $115,270 |
North Dakota | $100,560 |
So where does your state rank for pharmacist pay?
Check out Pharmacist Average Wages by State for more information.
Sunday, September 20, 2020
Top Cardiology Care Hospitals in the Great Lakes Region
In the most recent (20-21) U.S. News & World Report rankings of American hospitals, close to 600 hospitals were evaluated for their effectiveness and proficiency in providing adult cardiology care to patients. In this analysis, hospitals were scored on various measures related to their patient outcomes and experience, the size of their adult cardiology programs, and the level of distinction they have earned among professionals in the adult cardiology care community. Among the top 50 rated U.S. hospitals for adult cardiology care in 20-21, twelve are based in the Great Lakes region, including the top rated cardiology care hospital in the country. No other region of the country had more top 50 adult cardiology care hospitals than did the five-state Great Lakes region. Here's a quick rundown of the twelve institutions in the region that made the top 50 and where they rank nationally for adult cardiology care:
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Top Cardiology Care Hospitals in the Great Lakes Region |
Cleveland Clinic
Rush University Medical Center
For a closer look at the metrics used to score adult cardiology and heart surgery hospitals in the 20-21 U.S. News survey, or to learn more about the cardiology care rating of other Great Lakes region hospitals, visit Best Hospitals for Adult Cardiology Care and Heart Surgery.
Friday, September 18, 2020
The Best and Worst States for Physical Therapist Pay
There were just over 233,000 physical therapists (PTs) working in the U.S. as of May 2019 according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Physical therapists work in varied healthcare settings, including offices of non-physician practitioners, hospitals, home health care agencies, skilled nursing facilities, and in physician offices. Like many other healthcare professionals with advanced technical skills and training, PTs generally earn more money than most occupations. According to BLS estimates, as of May 2019, the national mean wage for physical therapists was $90,170 per year, well above the $53,490 annual mean wage for all occupations in the U.S. That said, there is significant disparity from state-to-state in the average annual wages earned by PTs. According to BLS data, as of May 2019 these were the ten best pay states for physical therapists:
Nevada | $108,550 |
Alaska | $102,650 |
California | $99,920 |
New Jersey | $99,060 |
Connecticut | $98,780 |
Delaware | $96,520 |
New Mexico | $94,430 |
Hawaii | $92,650 |
Alabama | $92,570 |
West Virginia | $92,320 |
The bottom ten states for PT pay were:
New Hampshire | $84,610 |
Minnesota | $84,280 |
Missouri | $84,180 |
Iowa | $82,940 |
Montana | $82,130 |
North Dakota | $81,630 |
Vermont | $81,020 |
Maine | $80,380 |
Idaho | $80,360 |
South Dakota | $77,130 |
So where does your state rank for physical therapist pay?
Refer to Physical Therapist Average Wages by State for more information.
Thursday, September 17, 2020
Rural Health Associations
Rural health associations are a key voice in the efforts to improve rural healthcare in America. Serving the healthcare needs of rural Americans, which comprise about 15% of the U.S. population, or close to 46 million people, has long been a challenge. Despite the wealth and resources of America's healthcare system, the reality is that rural Americans, in general, have more health issues and poorer health outcomes than their urban counterparts. For example, rural residents are more likely than urban residents to die prematurely from all five of the leading causes of death in the United States: cancer, stroke, heart disease, unintentional injury, and chronic lower respiratory disease. These health disparities stem from many causes. More limited access to healthy foods, higher rates of smoking, lower income and education levels, a higher likelihood of poor or no health insurance, and poor access to healthcare services are just some of the factors that contribute to the health disparities found in rural America.
Rural health disparities have long been prevalent in the U.S. The earliest initiatives to address poor rural health care actually date back more than 100 years. And since the middle of the 20th century, various state and federal programs have had mixed success at advancing the state of healthcare for rural Americans. While improvements have been achieved through these various efforts, many challenges remain to reducing rural health disparities. Rural health associations play an important role in these ongoing efforts to improve the rural health disparity gap.
Rural health associations, which typically operate in a particular state or region, are membership based organizations that provide leadership and advocacy on rural health matters at the state and national level. These organizations are usually comprised of rural health care institutions and practitioners, educational institutions, industry partners and others with a vested interest in the delivery of healthcare products and services to rural populations. The operating objective of a typical rural health association is to:
To find the rural health association serving your area, and to learn more about the important work that they do, visit our Rural Health Associations resource page.
Wednesday, September 16, 2020
The Best Cancer Care Hospitals in the Southeast
Almost 900 hospitals were evaluated for their effectiveness and proficiency at delivering cancer care to adult patients in the 20-21 U.S. News & World Report ratings of American hospitals. In this study, hospitals were rated on various measures related to the experience and outcomes of their adult cancer patients, the scope and scale of their cancer care services and programs, and the level of professional recognition they have earned within the wider adult cancer care community. No Southeastern hospital ranked in the top 10 nationally for adult cancer care, but quality cancer care is definitely available in the region as nine hospitals in the Southeast ranked among the top 50 rated U.S. hospitals for adult cancer care in 20-21. Here's a brief view of these nine Southeastern medical institutions and where they rank nationally for adult cancer care:
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The Best Cancer Care Hospitals in the Southeast |
Tuesday, September 15, 2020
The Best and Worst States for Licensed Practical Nurse Pay
Licensed practical nurses (LPN), or licensed vocational nurses (LVN) as they are known in some states, work in varied healthcare settings, including skilled nursing facilities, physician offices, home health care agencies, hospitals, and assisted living centers. As of May 2019, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) estimated that nearly 698,000 LPNs and LVNs were employed in the the U.S. The BLS further estimated that, as of May 2019, the national mean wage for LPNs and LVNs was $48,500 per year, which compared to a $53,490 annual mean wage for all occupations in the U.S. From state-to-state there was considerable variation in the average annual wages earned by LPNs and LVNs, with practitioners in some regions of the country earning 50% or more than their counterparts elsewhere. From BLS data of May 2019, the ten states where licensed practical or vocational nurses earned the most were:
Alaska | $63,850 |
Massachusetts | $60,340 |
California | $60,240 |
Rhode Island | $59,860 |
Nevada | $58,470 |
Washington | $57,940 |
New Jersey | $57,510 |
Connecticut | $57,380 |
Maryland | $55,020 |
Oregon | $54,740 |
Bringing up the rear for LPN/LVN pay were these ten states:
Georgia | $42,570 |
South Carolina | $42,190 |
Oklahoma | $42,090 |
Tennessee | $41,270 |
Arkansas | $40,760 |
Louisiana | $40,300 |
Alabama | $39,310 |
Mississippi | $39,020 |
South Dakota | $38,760 |
West Virginia | $37,500 |
So where does your state rank for LPN/LVN pay?
Refer to Licensed Practical Nurse Average Wages by State for more information.
Monday, September 14, 2020
Top Cardiology Care Hospitals in the Mid-East Region of the U.S.
In the most recent (20-21) U.S. News & World Report rankings of American hospitals, nearly 600 hospitals were evaluated for their proficiency and effectiveness in delivering adult cardiology care to patients. In this U.S. News analysis, hospitals were graded on various metrics related to their patient experience and outcomes, the scale and scope of their cardiology programs and services, and the level of professional recognition they've earned within the adult cardiology care community. Among the top 50 ranked U.S. hospitals for adult cardiology care in 20-21, eleven are based in the Mid-East region of the country. Only the Great Lakes region had more top 50 cardiology care hospitals than did the five-state Mid-East region. Here's a quick look at the eleven institutions in the region that made the top 50 and where they rank nationally in adult cardiology care:
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Top Cardiology Care Hospitals in the Mid-East Region |
Saturday, September 12, 2020
The Best and Worst States for Occupational Therapist Pay
There were just under 134,000 occupational therapist jobs in the U.S. as of May 2019 per data published by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Occupational therapists work in varied healthcare settings, including hospitals, skilled nursing facilities, home health care agencies and in offices with other health practitioners. A good number of OTs also work in educational settings, mostly elementary and secondary schools. Like many other healthcare professionals with special skills and training, occupational therapists typically earn more money than most occupations. According to BLS estimates, as of May 2019, the national mean wage for occupational therapists was $86,210 per year, well above the $53,490 annual mean wage for all occupations in the U.S. That said, there is considerable variation from state-to-state in the average annual wages earned by occupational therapists. According to BLS data, as of May 2019 these were the ten best pay states for occupational therapists:
Nevada | $105,450 |
California | $98,450 |
New Jersey | $96,820 |
Arizona | $95,180 |
Connecticut | $92,770 |
Oregon | $92,730 |
Virginia | $91,970 |
Colorado | $90,990 |
Alaska | $90,340 |
New York | $89,920 |
The bottom ten states for occupational therapist pay were:
Michigan | $78,010 |
Nebraska | $77,450 |
Montana | $76,670 |
Vermont | $76,580 |
Wisconsin | $76,270 |
Minnesota | $76,220 |
South Carolina | $75,700 |
Maine | $74,400 |
South Dakota | $72,370 |
North Dakota | $70,350 |
So where does your state rank for occupational therapist pay?
Refer to Occupational Therapist Average Wages by State for more information.
Friday, September 11, 2020
The Best Cancer Care Hospitals in the Great Lakes Region
Nearly 900 hospitals were studied for their proficiency and effectiveness at delivering cancer care to adult patients in the 20-21 U.S. News & World Report ratings of American hospitals,. Per the U.S. News study, hospitals were rated on various measures related to the outcomes and experience of their adult cancer patients, the scale and scope of their cancer care programs and services, and the level of professional recognition they have within the broader cancer care community. Among the top 50 rated U.S. hospitals for adult cancer care in 20-21, seven are based in the Great Lakes region, including the Cleveland Clinic and Northwestern Memorial Hospital, which are two of the highest rated adult cancer care hospitals in the country Here's a brief look at these seven Great Lakes medical institutions and where they rank nationally for adult cancer care:
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The Best Cancer Care Hospitals in the Great Lakes Region |
Cleveland Clinic
Location: Cleveland
National Rank in Adult Cancer Care: #5
Location: Ann Arbor, MI
National Rank in Adult Cancer Care: #38
Rush University Medical Center
Location: Chicago
Thursday, September 10, 2020
The Best and Worst States for Physician Assistant Pay
There were just over 120,000 physician assistant jobs in the U.S. as of May 2019 according to data released by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Physician assistants mostly work in physician offices and hospital facilities, with smaller numbers of PAs working in outpatient care centers, academic institutions, and in offices of other types of healthcare practitioners. Because of their training and the range of supervised physician services they can provide, physician assistants generally earn more more than most healthcare occupations, excluding certain high-skill clinical occupations in medicine and dentistry. The BLS estimated that, as of May 2019, the national mean wage for physician assistants was $112,410 per year, well above the $53,490 annual mean wage for all occupations in the U.S. There is, however, a wide state-to-state variation in the average annual wages earned by physician assistants. According to BLS data as of May 2019, the ten states where physician assistants earn the most are:
Connecticut | $137,060 |
Washington | $129,520 |
New Jersey | $129,440 |
Alaska | $128,530 |
California | $127,520 |
New York | $123,080 |
Nevada | $121,540 |
Vermont | $120,680 |
New Mexico | $120,400 |
Minnesota | $119,240 |
At the back of the class for physician assistant pay were these ten states:
West Virginia | $102,500 |
Georgia | $101,460 |
Mississippi | $99,810 |
Arkansas | $97,970 |
Indiana | $96,120 |
Missouri | $95,090 |
Tennessee | $90,760 |
Alabama | $90,080 |
Louisiana | $86,490 |
Kentucky | $84,870 |
So where does your state rank for physician assistant pay?
Refer to Physician Assistant Average Wages by State for more information.
Wednesday, September 9, 2020
Top Cardiology Care Hospitals in the Far West
Some 594 hospitals were evaluated for their effectiveness and proficiency in providing adult cardiology care in the most recent (20-21) U.S. News & World Report rankings of American hospitals. In this analysis, hospitals were graded on various metrics related to the outcomes and experience of their adult patients, the scope and scale of their cardiology programs and services, and the level of professional recognition they've earned in the broader cardiology care community. Among the top 50 ranked U.S. hospitals for adult cardiology care in 20-21, nine are based in Far West states. Here's a quick look at these nine Far West institutions and where they rank nationally:
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Top Cardiology Care Hospitals in the Far West |
Cedars-Sinai Medical Center
Location: Los Angeles
National Rank in Adult Cardiology & Heart Surgery: #3
UCLA Medical Center
Location: Los Angeles
Location: Los Angeles
For a deeper dive into the metrics used to score adult cardiology and heart surgery hospitals in the 20-21 U.S. News survey, or to find the cardiology care rating of other Far West hospitals, visit Best Hospitals for Adult Cardiology Care and Heart Surgery