Healthcare Social Worker Pay in the Great Plains Region

Earlier this year the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) released May 2020 data indicating that there were over 176,000 healthcare social workers (HSWs) employed in the United States.  The seven-state Great Plains regions accounted for 15,000 of those healthcare social worker jobs.  BLS data reveals the region to be a rather poor one for healthcare social worker pay, as no Great Plains state registered a HSW annual mean wage level that topped the national average of $60,470. Moreover, three states in the region ranked among the ten worst states in the nation for HSW annual mean wages. BLS data from May 2020 reveals the following details about healthcare social worker pay in the Great Plains region:

Healthcare Social Worker Pay in the Great Plains Region

State	# Employed	Annual Mean Wages	Wage Rank*
IA	1,220	$53,850	38th
KS	1,600	$57,550	26th
MN	4,340	$57,960	21st
MO	6,090	$49,050	48th
NE	780	$50,550	46th
ND	400	$56,100	34th
SD	570	$45,430	51st
U.S.	176,110	$60,470	-------

(*) annual mean wage ranking among the 50 states and the District of Columbia

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OES. Data extracted on May 17, 2021

National Cancer Institute, Our Trusted Link for December 2021

 

National Cancer Institute

Since 1937, the National Cancer Institute has been the national leader in conducting cancer research, as well as training healthcare workers to diagnose and treat cancer.  Cancer was the first non-communicable disease for which research and treatment was funded by the U.S. government.  Now part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the National Cancer Institute (NCI) has the largest budget and research program within NIH: over $6 billion, with over 40% dedicated to research project grants. NCI supports and performs research on the causes, genomics, prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of cancer.  Milestones include 1940: First issue of the Journal of the National Cancer Institute (now independent of NCI) 1955: NCI created the Clinical Trials Cooperative Group Program 1957: The first cancer, choriocarcinoma, was cured with chemotherapy at NCI 1960: NCI began funding government-supported cancer centers. 1971: The National Cancer Act of 1971 declares "war on cancer," creates the National Cancer Advisory Board, increases funding  1973: SEER program established to collect U.S. cancer statistics 1976: Cancer Information Service launched (800-4-CANCER)  1996: Office of Cancer Survivorship established 2016: Genomic Data Commons begins making cancer genomics data available to all researchers Moonshot: Launched by the Obama Administration, the National Cancer Moonshot is a $1 billion initiative to accelerate the development of new cancer detection and treatments.  History Project: Created to mark the 50th anniversary of the National Cancer Act of 1971, the Cancer History Project is a free historical resource.  The Most Active NCI Blogs Cancer Currents Cancer Prevention Science Cancer Data Science Pulse CGH Spotlight (from Center for Global Health) NCI Bottom Line (grants and training) Newsletters  CCR Milestones from Center for Cancer Research Global Health Activities from Division of Cancer Control and Population Sciences DCEG Linkage from Division of Cancer Genetics and Epidemiology DCTD Pipeline News from Division of Cancer Treatment and Diagnosis EGRP Cancer Epidemiology News Office of Cancer Genomics E-Newsletter Scientific News from NCI’s Behavioral Research Program Social Media at NCI YouTube Facebook LinkedIn Twitter for NCI Behavior Science Twitter for NCI Cancer Control Twitter for NCI's Health Information National Trends Survey

"NCI at a Glance" Infographic

Nurse Practitioner Pay in the Mid-Eastern U.S.

Data published by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) put the number of nurse practitioners (NPs) working in the United States at more than 211,000 as of May 2020.  More than 33,700 of the nation's nurse practitioner jobs at that time were in the Mid-Eastern region, an area which includes five states and the District of Columbia.  The Mid-Eastern U.S. was one of the best regions of the country for nurse practitioner pay.  More than 73% of nurse practitioners employed in the Mid-Eastern region lived in a state where the NP annual mean wage exceeded the national average of $114,510. Moreover, over 60% of employed NPs in the region lived in New York or New Jersey, two states that ranked among the five best states in the country for nurse practitioner annual mean wages. A closer examination of BLS employment data from May 2020 shows the following about nurse practitioner pay in the Mid-Eastern U.S.:

Nurse Practitioner Pay in the Mid-Eastern U.S.

State	# Employed	Annual Mean Wages	Wage Rank*
DC	860	$116,150	16th
DE	740	$112,230	24th
MD	3,320	$115,240	17th
NJ	5,800	$130,890	2nd
NY	14,850	$126,440	4th
PA	8,150	$111,560	28th
U.S.	211,280	$114,510	-------

(*) annual mean wage ranking among the 50 states and the District of Columbia

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OES. Data extracted on May 17, 2021

Family Medicine Physician Pay in the Southwest

Information published earlier this year by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) put the number of employed family medicine physicians in the U.S. at more than 98,000 as of May 2020.  The four-state Southwest U.S. accounted for about 13,000 of the country's employed family medicine physicians.  BLS data reveals the region to be a slightly better than average one for family physician pay.  Although New Mexico ranked among the ten worst states in the nation for family medicine physician annual mean wages, well over 90% of the region's practitioners lived in states where the family medicine physician annual mean wage level was at, or above, the nation average. A closer review of May 2020 BLS data details the following about family medicine physician pay in the Southwest:

Family Medicine Physician Pay in the Southwest

State	# Employed	Annual Mean Wages	Wage Rank*
AZ	2,960	$218,920	23rd
NM	560	$194,260	44th
OK	1,680	$214,130	30th
TX	8,010	$220,390	19th
U.S.	98,590	$214,370	-------

(*) annual mean wage ranking among the 50 states and the District of Columbia

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OES. Data extracted on May 12, 2021

General Dentist Pay in Far Western U.S. States

About 96,000 general dentists were employed in the U.S. as of May 2020 according to data recently published by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).  Just over 18,000 general dentists were working in the six-state Far Western region of the country.  For general dentists, the region is a mixed bag in terms of pay relative to the national average.  About 2/3rds of the Far West's general dentists live in California, which ranked in the bottom quartile of states for general dentist annual mean wages.  However, the remaining states in the region all recorded general dentist annual mean wage levels above the national average and two states, Alaska and Oregon, ranked among the ten best states in the nation for general dentist pay. An examination of BLS data from May 2020 reveals the following details about general dentist pay in Far Western U.S. states:

General Dentist Pay in Far Western U.S. States

State	# Employed	Annual Mean Wages	Wage Rank*
AK	220	$242,850	3rd
CA	12,040	$160,300	41st
HI	660	$202,890	14th
NV	720	$203,450	13th
OR	1,500	$215,750	7th
WA	2,910	$187,520	21st
U.S.	95,920	$180,830	-------

(*) annual mean wage ranking among the 50 states

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OES. Data extracted on May 12, 2021

EMT and Paramedic Pay in the Great Lakes States

Data made available earlier this year by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) revealed that over 257,000 EMTs (emergency medical technicians) and paramedics were employed in the United States as of May 2020. The five Great Lakes states accounted for over 40,000 of those EMT and paramedic jobs. Other than in Illinois, which ranked among the ten best states in the nation for EMT and paramedic annual mean wages, the Great Lakes region is a generally weak one for EMT and paramedic pay.  The other four states in the region, which accounted for more than two-thirds of region's EMT and paramedic employment, all recorded an annual mean wage level for EMTs and paramedics that was below the national average. Moreover, two of those states ranked among the ten worst states in the country for EMT and paramedic annual mean wages. Further examination of May 2020 BLS data revealed the following about EMT and paramedic pay in the Great Lakes states:

EMT and Paramedic Pay in the Great Lakes States

State	# Employed	Annual Mean Wages	Wage Rank*
IL	12,410	$48,040	6th
IN	6,330	$36,360	36th
MI	6,880	$34,410	44th
OH	9,150	$34,680	42nd
WI	5,670	$36,790	32nd
U.S.	257,700	$40,370	-------

(*) annual mean wage ranking among the 50 states and the District of Columbia

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OES. Data extracted on May 10, 2021

Pharmacist Pay in New England

Recent data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) revealed that there were more than 315,000 pharmacists employed in the United States as of May 2020.  Over 15,400 employed pharmacists lived in the six-state New England region.  Although Maine, Vermont, and New Hampshire ranked about the eleven best states in the nation for pharmacist annual mean wages, the region was not a particularly good one for pharmacist pay, as nearly 80% of the region's pharmacists lived in states where the annual mean wage was below the national average.  A deeper dive into BLS data from May 2020 reveals the following about pharmacist pay in New England:

Pharmacist Pay in New England

State	# Employed	Annual Mean Wages	Wage Rank*
CT	3,420	$124,820	19th
MA	7,560	$121,450	32nd
ME	1,320	$134,100	4th
NH	1,300	$127,990	11th
RI	1,340	$115,050	50th
VT	530	$131,910	5th
U.S.	315,470	$125,460	-------

(*) annual mean wage ranking among the 50 states and the District of Columbia

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OES. Data extracted on May 2, 2021

Massage Therapist Pay in the Mid-Eastern U.S.

Recently published U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) data indicated that, as of May 2020, over 85,000 massage therapists were employed in the United States.  At that time, more than 11,000 massage therapists were working in the Mid-Eastern U.S., a region that includes five states and the District of Columbia.  A closer examination at BLS data from May 2020 shows us the following about massage therapist pay in the Mid-Eastern U.S.:

Massage Therapist Pay in the Mid-Eastern U.S.

State	# Employed	Annual Mean Wages	Wage Rank*
DC	90	N/A	N/A
DE	N/A	N/A	N/A
MD	1,030	$46,880	20th
NJ	2,440	$46,280	24th
NY	5,180	$55,290	7th
PA	2,490	$46,700	22nd
U.S.	85,040	$47,350	-------

(*) annual mean wage ranking among the 50 states and the District of Columbia

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OES. Data extracted on June 5, 2021

Speech Language Pathologist Pay in New England

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) employment data released earlier this year reported nearly 148,500 speech language pathologists (SLPs) at work in the United States as of May 2020.  About 8,500 SLPs were employed in the six-state New England region according to the BLS data.  New England is a relatively good region for speech language pathologist pay, notwithstanding the fact that Maine ranked among the ten worst states in the country for SLP annual mean wages. Despite the poor pay environment in Maine, 78% of SLPs in New England lived in one of three states in the region that ranked among the eleven best states in the nation for speech language pathologist annual mean wage levels. A closer review of May 2020 BLS data reveals the following details about speech language pathologist pay in New England:

Speech Language Pathologist Pay in New England

State	# Employed	Annual Mean Wages	Wage Rank*
CT	2,360	$100,590	2nd
MA	3,790	$86,530	11th
ME	680	$69,250	46th
NH	880	$80,420	23rd
RI	480	$87,270	9th
VT	280	$83,680	14th
U.S.	148,450	$83,240	-------

(*) annual mean wage ranking among the 50 states and the District of Columbia

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OES. Data extracted on June 2, 2021

U.S. Cancer Deaths by Region

Responsible for over 599,000 deaths in 2019 (about 21% of all U.S. deaths that year), cancer is the second leading cause of death in the country.  Thanks to advancements in diagnosis and treatment, the cancer death rate edged modestly downward in the twenty years from 1999 to 2019.  From 197.0 deaths per 100,000 population in 1999, the cancer death rate dropped to 182.7 deaths per 100,000 population by 2019.  The favorable national trend in the cancer death rate was mirrored in every region of the nation during the 1999 to 2019 period.  Further examination of data from the CDC's National Center for Health Statistics revealed the following details about U.S. cancer deaths by region (to see state level data, follow the "Area" links in the table below):

Area/Deaths	1999	2009	2019
Far West	76,730	83,000	89,507
Great Lakes	93,654	93,550	95,015
Great Plains	39,166	39,702	41,404
Mid-East	99,319	93,994	90,941
New England	30,068	29,100	28,898
Rocky Mountain	13,171	14,813	17,318
Southeast	145,800	156,766	170,603
Southwest	51,930	56,703	65,915
Total	549,838	567,628	599,601
Area/Death Rate*	1999	2009	2019
Far West	165.0	159.1	158.2
Great Lakes	208.3	201.8	202.6
Great Plains	204.7	194.7	193.2
Mid-East	215.4	196.1	186.1
New England	217.3	202.0	194.7
Rocky Mountain	144.8	137.2	139.7
Southeast	212.6	201.5	200.9
Southwest	168.5	153.7	155.7
Total	197.0	185.0	182.7

(*) number of cancer deaths per 100,000 population

Source: CDC Wonder. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Health Statistics. Underlying Cause of Death 1999-2019 on CDC WONDER Online Database, released in 2020. Data are from the Multiple Cause of Death Files, 1999-2019, as compiled from data provided by the 57 vital statistics jurisdictions through the Vital Statistics Cooperative Program. Accessed on July 17, 2021

Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Our Trusted Link for November 2021

 

Children's Hospital of Philadelphia

In 1855, the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) became the first hospital in the U.S. dedicated exclusively to the treatment of children. Now it's a worldwide leader in pediatric research, focused on translating research into pediatric care.  In the U.S. News Hospital Ranking, CHOP is the nation's #2 children's hospital and #1 in the nation for pediatric treatment of cancer, diabetes, and orthopedics. In 1877, CHOP offered the first formal pediatrics training in the U.S. In 1919, it affiliated with the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine (now Perelman). The CHOP Research Institute employs thousands of scientists working in four areas:  rare and complex diseases novel therapeutics and devices precision (individualized) health "lifespan research" which studies the fetal to adult health continuum. Milestones 1872 - Children's Seashore House was opened to provide rehabilitative care for children.  1914 - The nation's first Department for the Prevention of Disease was established.  1923 - First whooping cough vaccine developed. Later vaccines were developed for mumps, influenza and rotavirus. 1937 - First closed incubator of newborns was used.  1962 - Nation's first neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) was opened by then surgeon-in-chief Dr. C. Everett Koop.  1974 - The first Ronald McDonald House opened for parents traveling to obtain medical services for a child.  Vaccine Education Center Launched in 2000, the VEC produces and distributes accurate, comprehensive and up-to-date information about vaccines and the diseases they prevent. In addition to an enormous and well-organized web site, the Center sends out speakers, performs webinars, distributes newsletters, videos, brochures, and flyers. For educating children and teens, they have created two games, Vax Pack Hero and "Just the Vax" trivia contest.  CHOP Publications Health Tips newsletter CHOP News blog Cornerstone blog for research news YouTube channel with hundreds of videos Parents Pack newsletter about vaccines For Professionals: Children's Doctor (newsletter) Primary Care Perspectives (podcast) Exam Demonstration Videos

Play Vax Pack Hero

Recreational Therapist Pay in the Rocky Mountain Region

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) released data earlier this year that reported over 20,000 recreational therapists employed in the United States as of May 2020.  Just over 800 of the nation's recreational therapists were employed in the five-state Rocky Mountain region according to the BLS.  Relative to the rest of the country, BLS data shows the region to be a weak one for recreational therapist pay, with no states in the region having an annual mean wage for recreational therapists that was better than the national average.  A closer study of May 2020 BLS data details the following about recreational therapist pay in the Rocky Mountain region:

Recreational Therapist Pay in the Rocky Mountain Region

State	# Employed	Annual Mean Wages	Wage Rank*
CO	340	$46,590	34th
ID	70	$43,870	40th
MT	30	$48,530	23rd
UT	350	$46,290	36th
WY	30	$51,040	13th
U.S.	20,080	$51,260	-------

(*) annual mean wage ranking among the 50 states and the District of Columbia

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OES. Data extracted on May 29, 2021

Physical Therapy Assistant Pay in the Southeast

Recently published data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) put the number of employed physical therapy (PT) assistants at close to 93,000 as of May 2020.  Approximately 27,500 physical therapy assistants were employed in the twelve-state Southeastern U.S. at that time. BLS data shows the Southeast to be a modestly subpar region for physical therapy assistant pay.  Although Florida rated as one of the ten best states in the nation for PT assistant annual mean wages, and two other Southeast states ranked in the top 15 nationally, most Southeastern states registered PT assistant annual mean wage levels below the national average. About 59% of the Southeast's PT assistants lived in a state with an annual mean wage level for the profession that was below the national average.  A further review of BLS data from May 2020 renders the following details about physical therapy assistant pay in the Southeast:

Physical Therapy Assistant Pay in the Southeast

State	# Employed	Annual Mean Wages	Wage Rank*
AL	1,620	$58,430	21st
AR	1,420	$60,080	15th
FL	7,100	$62,960	7th
GA	2,590	$56,920	27th
KY	1,520	$55,120	34th
LA	1,470	$56,810	29th
MS	850	$50,120	45th
NC	2,640	$61,020	12th
SC	1,450	$59,410	16th
TN	3,060	$57,790	24th
VA	2,960	$58,960	20th
WV	840	$54,930	35th
U.S.	92,740	$59,440	-------

(*) annual mean wage ranking among the 50 states and the District of Columbia

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OES. Data extracted on May 29, 2021

U.S. Heart Disease Deaths by Region

Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States. In 2019, it accounted for more than 659,000 deaths, or about 23% of all deaths in the U.S. that year.  The incidence of death by heart disease dropped considerably between 1999 and 2019, thanks to improved medical knowledge and know-how.  From 259.9 deaths per 100,000 population in 1999, by 2019 the rate had dropped to 200.8 deaths per 100,000 population.  That said, the heart disease death rate nationally has been creeping higher during the past decade.  On a regional basis, similar trends in the heart disease death rate are evident.   Further examination of data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Health Statistics, yielded the following details about U.S. heart disease deaths by region (to see state level data, follow the "Area" links in the table below):

Area/Deaths	1999	2009	2019
Far West	97,912	83,793	91,594
Great Lakes	124,760	97,826	107,193
Great Plains	51,535	39,872	43,892
Mid-East	139,930	111,960	109,831
New England	35,517	27,951	28,534
Rocky Mountain	14,796	14,100	18,062
Southeast	191,809	163,145	186,004
Southwest	68,933	60,766	73,931
Total	725,192	599,413	659,041
Area/Death Rate*	1999	2009	2019
Far West	210.5	160.6	161.9
Great Lakes	277.4	211.0	228.5
Great Plains	269.4	195.5	204.8
Mid-East	303.5	233.5	224.8
New England	256.7	194.1	192.2
Rocky Mountain	162.7	130.6	145.7
Southeast	279.7	209.7	219.1
Southwest	223.6	164.7	174.7
Total	259.9	195.4	200.8

(*) number of heart disease deaths per 100,000 population

Source: CDC Wonder. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Health Statistics. Underlying Cause of Death 1999-2019 on CDC WONDER Online Database, released in 2020. Data are from the Multiple Cause of Death Files, 1999-2019, as compiled from data provided by the 57 vital statistics jurisdictions through the Vital Statistics Cooperative Program. Accessed on June 5, 2021