Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Our Trusted Link for March, 2022

 

Cedars-Sinai Medical Center

Located in Los Angeles, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center is a nonprofit, academic health science center. U.S. News ranks it the 6th best hospital in the U.S. It's a leader in research for treating heart disease, cancer, and brain disorders. Innovations include using cardiac stem cells to repair damaged hearts, new cancer drugs, and less invasive surgical techniques.  The Cedars of Lebanon Hospital was founded in 1902 as a tuberculosis hospital by Kaspare Cohn. The first Los Angeles Mt. Sinai hospital opened on Bonnie Beach Place in 1926. In 1961, Mt. Sinai merged with Cedars of Lebanon. In 1972, the 1.6-million-sq-foot 1,120-bed Cedars-Sinai Medical Center began construction. In 1984 it was designated a Level 1 trauma center. Today U.S. News ranks it #2 nationwide for gastroenterology and #3 in cardiology, orthopedics, and lung surgery. It's ranked #9 for cancer care.  Cedars-Sinai offers graduate and continuing education, including a PhD in Biomedical Sciences, Master's degrees in Health Delivery Science and Magnetic Resonance. Numerous fellowships and residencies are offered for medical students, physicians, scientists and nurses. Cedars-Sinai is an affiliate hospital of the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA. They also offer simulation training.  Hollywood celebrities have funded many facilities and institutes at Cedars-Sinai including the Barbra Streisand Women's Heart Center, the Burns and Allen Research Institute, and the S. Mark Taper Foundation Imaging Center. Among the many celebrities who drew their last breath at the hospital are Frank Sinatra, Lucille Ball, Elizabeth Taylor, Charles Bronson, Bobby Darin, Henry Fonda, Eva Gabor, Merv Griffin, Stan Lee, Groucho Marx, Gilda Radner, Debbie Reynolds, and Danny Thomas. Celebrity births include Liza Minelli, Frances Bean Cobain, Michael Jackson, Jr., the Kardashian/West children: North, Saint, Chicago, and Psalm, as well as the twins Rumi and Sir Carter.  Magazines, Blogs, and Social Media Cedars-Sinai Magazine for the public Discoveries Magazine for research news Cedars-Sinai Blog Cedars-Sinai Research News blog Health Resources Video Library Facebook Twitter  YouTube Cedars-Sinai Academic Medicine Twitter Cedars-Sinai Careers on LinkedIn

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The Southwest's Medicare Advantage Enrollment Growth by State

Thanks to typically lower costs and more perks, Medicare Advantage (MA) plans often offer great value in comparison to Original Medicare.  Despite featuring managed care protocols and more limited provider choices, MA plans have been steadily drawing Medicare eligible seniors away from Original Medicare.  As of December 2021, over 27.3 million Americans were enrolled in Medicare Advantage plans, an increase of more than 55% from December 2016 levels.  By comparison, during this same five-year time period the total Medicare eligible population only grew by about 11%.

The popularity of Medicare Advantage plans nationally is mirrored in the four-state Southwestern region of the country. In the last five years MA plan enrollment in the Southwest grew at an average rate in excess of 10% per year, more than 3.5 times faster than the growth rate of the Medicare eligible population in the Southwest during this period.  Here is a deeper look at the Southwest's Medicare Advantage enrollment growth by state from December 2016 to December 2021:

The Southwest's Medicare Advantage Enrollment Growth by State

	Medicare Eligible *			MA Enrollment *			Annual % Growth
State	Dec-21	Dec-16		Dec-21	Dec-16		Eligible	MedAdv
AZ	1,402.3	1,200.5		640.2	453.3		3.2%	7.2%
NM	442.1	390.3		190.1	125.5		2.5%	8.7%
OK	764.9	704.5		238.9	119.0		1.7%	15.0%
TX	4,407.9	3,819.2		2,037.8	1,194.8		2.9%	11.3%
Region	7,017.2	6,114.5		3,106.9	1,892.5		2.8%	10.4%
U.S.**	63,710.0	57,388.1		27,294.4	17,562.2		2.1%	9.2%

* Medicare Eligible and MA Enrollment numbers in thousands, as of December 2021 and December 2016
** U.S. totals include territories
Numbers may not total due to rounding

Source: Medicare Monthly Enrollment by State Reports

The U.S. Mid-East's Medicare Advantage Enrollment Growth by State

With normally lower costs and more benefits, Medicare Advantage plans are a great value compared to Original Medicare.  Despite often having managed care protocols and fewer provider choices, MA plans are drawing more and more Medicare eligible seniors away from Original Medicare.  As of December 2021, about 27.3 million Americans were enrolled in MA plans, an increase of more than 55% from December 2016 levels.  In contrast, during this same five-year time span the total Medicare eligible population only grew by about 11%.

The popularity of Medicare Advantage plans nationally is mirrored in the Mid-East region of the country, where MA plan enrollment grew at an average rate of 8% per year over the past five years, more than four times faster than rate of growth of the region's Medicare eligible population during this period.  Here is a closer look at the U.S. Mid-East's Medicare Advantage enrollment growth by state over the last five years:

The U.S. Mid-East's Medicare Advantage Enrollment Growth by State

	Medicare Eligible *			MA Enrollment *			Annual % Growth
State	12/21	12/16		12/21	12/16		Eligible	MedAdv
DC	94.9	91.0		24.6	7.3		0.8%	27.5%
DE	223.9	188.7		52.3	17.1		3.5%	25.1%
MD	1,080.9	973.2		177.4	53.6		2.1%	27.1%
NJ	1,667.4	1,542.5		588.8	257.7		1.6%	18.0%
NY	3,731.1	3,454.9		1,734.2	1,283.1		1.6%	6.2%
PA	2,818.9	2,616.7		1,314.9	1,029.6		1.5%	5.0%
Region	9,617.0	8,867.0		3,892.1	2,648.5		1.6%	8.0%
U.S.**	63,710.0	57,388.1		27,294.4	17,562.2		2.1%	9.2%

* Medicare Eligible and MA Enrollment numbers in thousands, as of December 2021 and December 2016
** U.S. totals include territories
Numbers may not total due to rounding

Source: Medicare Monthly Enrollment by State Reports

Surgical Technologist Pay in the U.S. Southwest

The most current occupational employment data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) shows in excess of 107,000 surgical technologists working in the United States as of May 2020. With just over 15,500 surgical technologists employed, the four-state U.S. Southwest accounted for about 14.4% of surgical technologist employment in the United States.  The region was a generally weak one for surgical technologist pay, as three of four states in the region recorded annual mean wages levels for the profession that were below the national average. From May 2020 BLS data, here is a state level look at surgical technologist pay in the U.S. Southwest:

Surgical Technologist Pay in the U.S. Southwest

State	# Employed	Annual Mean Wages	Wage Rank*
AZ	2,270	$52,670	17th
NM	810	$45,630	38th
OK	1,750	$44,900	41st
TX	10,680	$49,860	25th
U.S.	107,400	$51,510	-------

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

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OES. Data extracted on June 7, 2021

Speech Language Pathologist Pay in the Great Lakes Region

Nearly 148,500 speech language pathologists (SLPs) were employed in the United States as of May 2020 according to the latest occupational employment data available from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).  More than 22,300 employed SLPs were living in the five-state Great Lakes region at that time.  BLS data revealed the region to be a subpar one for speech language pathologist pay, as no Great Lakes state recorded a SLP annual mean wage level that topped the national average for the profession.  A further examination of May 2020 BLS data reveals the following state-level details about speech language pathologist pay in the Great Lakes region:

Speech Language Pathologist Pay in the Great Lakes Region

State	# Employed	Annual Mean Wages	Wage Rank*
IL	7,370	$80,420	22nd
IN	2,580	$76,220	31st
MI	3,880	$79,310	25th
OH	6,230	$79,010	26th
WI	2,250	$75,220	37th
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

Recreational Therapist Pay in the Great Plains Region

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics' (BLS) most recent occupational employment data put the number of recreational therapists employed in the United States at more than 20,000 as of May 2020.  At that time, just under 1,900 recreational therapists were employed in the seven-state Great Plains region according to BLS figures.  Although Iowa ranked as a top ten state for recreational therapist annual mean wages according to BLS data, the Great Plains region was a rather weak one for recreational therapist pay.  Other states in the region registered recreational therapist annual mean wage levels that were below the national average for the profession, with Kansas ranked amongst the ten worst states in the nation for that pay metric.  A closer look at May 2020 BLS data provides the following details about recreational therapist pay in the Great Plains region:

Recreational Therapist Pay in the Great Plains Region

State	# Employed	Annual Mean Wages	Wage Rank*
IA	180	$53,970	9th
KS	390	$38,710	45th
MN	720	$49,630	17th
MO	440	$50,720	14th
NE	100	$46,980	32nd
ND	40	$49,390	19th
SD	-------	-------	NR
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

Massage Therapist Pay in the Far Western U.S.

The latest occupational employment data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) put May 2020 employment numbers for massage therapists (MTs) at more than 85,000.  Just under 19,700 massage therapy jobs were in the six-state Far Western region of the country.  A review of BLS data reveals wide disparity for massage therapist pay in the Far West. Although home to four of the top 5 states in the nation for massage therapist annual mean wages, 65% of the region's MTs lived in California or Nevada, two states where the massage therapist annual mean wage level was below the national average for the profession.  A closer look at BLS data from May 2020 shows us the following about massage therapist pay in the Far Western U.S.:

Massage Therapist Pay in the Far Western U.S.

State	# Employed	Annual Mean Wages	Wage Rank*
AK	510	$78,790	1st
CA	11,450	$44,730	30th
HI	780	$56,940	5th
NV	1,350	$39,270	42nd
OR	1,490	$61,820	4th
WA	4,110	$64,950	3rd
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

New England's Best Cardiac Care Hospitals

More than 590 hospitals were evaluated for their proficiency at delivering adult cardiac care in the most recent (21-22) U.S. News & World Report rankings of American hospitals.  In this analysis, hospitals were measured on multiple metrics related to the outcomes of their adult cardiac care patients, the scope of their adult cardiac care programs, and the degree of professional recognition they've received from the wider cardiac care community.  Among the top 50 ranked U.S. hospitals for adult cardiac care in 21-22, two were based in the six-state New England region:

New England's Best Cardiac Care Hospitals

Massachusetts General Hospital
Location:  Boston

National Rank:  #7 (See ranking details)

Brigham and Women's Hospital
Location:  Boston

National Rank:  #10 (See ranking details)

For a closer look at the metrics used to grade adult cardiac care and heart surgery hospitals in the 21-22 U.S. News survey, or to find the cardiac care rating of other New England hospitals, visit Best Hospitals for Adult Cardiology Care and Heart Surgery.

Physical Therapy Assistant Pay in the Mid-Eastern U.S.

The most recent occupational employment data available from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported nearly 93,000 physical therapy (PT) assistants at work in the United States as of May 2020.  About 13,300 physical therapy assistants worked in the Mid-Eastern U.S., a region that includes the District of Columbia and five states. BLS data shows the region to be a generally weak one for physical therapy assistant pay.  Although New Jersey ranked among the top five states in the nation for physical therapy assistant annual mean wages, other states in the region recorded annual mean wages levels for the profession that were below the national average.  A deeper look into BLS data from May 2020 reveals the following details about physical therapy assistant pay in the Mid-Eastern U.S.:

Physical Therapy Assistant Pay in the Mid-Eastern U.S.

State	# Employed	Annual Mean Wages	Wage Rank*
DC	160	$43,540	49th
DE	250	-------	NR
MD	1,760	$54,490	36th
NJ	1,290	$69,310	4th
NY	5,200	$55,220	33rd
PA	4,600	$56,820	28th
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

Radiologic Tech Pay in the Rocky Mountain Region

Nearly 207,000 radiologic technicians and technologists were employed in the United States as of May 2020 according to the most recent occupational employment data released from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).  The five-state Rocky Mountain region accounted for just under 8,000 of those radiologic technologist and technician jobs.  BLS data reveals the region to be a mixed picture for radiologic tech pay.  About half the radiologic tech professionals in the region lived in Colorado, a state where the radiologic tech annual mean wage level topped the national average.  However, the annual mean wage for radiologic techs in all other states in the region ran below the national average for the profession.  More examination of May 2020 data from the BLS reveals the following details about radiologic tech pay in the Rocky Mountain region:

Radiologic Tech Pay in the Rocky Mountain Region

State	# Employed	Annual Mean Wages	Wage Rank*
CO	4,040	$68,330	15th
ID	1,050	$63,480	22nd
MT	850	$56,760	36th
UT	1,610	$59,300	32nd
WY	420	$61,060	26th
U.S.	206,720	$64,840	-------

(*) 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 26, 2021

Clinical Lab Tech Pay in the Southeastern U.S.

Over 326,000 clinical laboratory technicians and technologists were working in the U.S. as of May 2020 according to the most current occupational employment data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).  At that time, just over 88,000 of the nation's clinical lab techs were working in the twelve-state Southeastern region of the country.  For clinical lab techs, the Southeast was one of the weakest pay regions in the nation.  The average annual mean wage for clinical lab techs in every state in the region was below than the national average for the profession. Moreover, seven states in the region ranked among the bottom third of all states in the country for clinical lab tech annual mean wages.  Further examination of May 2020 BLS data reveals the following state-level details about clinical lab tech pay in the Southeastern U.S.:

Clinical Lab Tech Pay in the Southeastern U.S

State	# Employed	Annual Mean Wages	Wage Rank*
AL	5,480	$46,120	49th
AR	2,600	$45,320	51st
FL	21,420	$52,970	30th
GA	11,790	$50,440	40th
KY	3,950	$55,120	24th
LA	4,290	$50,530	39th
MS	3,360	$45,970	50th
NC	12,200	$52,420	34th
SC	4,150	$50,660	37th
TN	8,860	$54,660	25th
VA	8,270	$55,160	23rd
WV	1,690	$50,570	38th
U.S.	326,220	$55,990	-------

(*) 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 18, 2021

The Best Cardiac Care Hospitals in the Great Plains Region

In the most recent (21-22) U.S. News & World Report survey of American hospitals, close to 600 hospitals were scored on their effectiveness at providing adult cardiac care, including heart surgery.  In this analysis, hospitals were examined on various metrics pertaining to their experience and outcomes with adult cardiac patients, the breadth of their adult cardiology programs, and the degree of distinction a hospital has earned within the adult cardiology care community.  Among the top 50 rated U.S. hospitals for adult cardiac care in 21-22, six were based in the seven-state Great Plains region. This included the Mayo Clinic, the 2nd highest rated cardiac care hospital in the country. Here's a quick rundown of the six Great Plains region medical institutions that made the top 50 and where they ranked nationally for adult cardiac care in the 21-22 survey:

The Best Cardiac Care Hospitals in the Great Plains Region

Mayo Clinic

Location:  Rochester, MN

National Rank:  #2 (See ranking details)

St. Luke's Mid America Heart Institute

Location:  Kansas City, MO

National Rank:  #25 (See ranking details)

Centracare St. Cloud Hospital

Location:  St. Cloud, MN

National Rank:  #35 (See ranking details)

Barnes Jewish Hospital

Location:  St. Louis, MO

National Rank:  #37 (See ranking details)

Minneapolis Heart Institute

Location: Minneapolis, MN

National Rank:  #44 (See ranking details)

University of Kansas Hospital

Kansas City, KS

National Rank:  #45 (See ranking details)

For a further look at the metrics used to score adult cardiac care and heart surgery hospitals in the 21-22 U.S. News survey, or to find the cardiac care rating of other Great Plains region hospitals, visit Best Hospitals for Adult Cardiology Care and Heart Surgery.

Pharmacy Technician Pay in the Southwest

The latest occupational employment data released by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) shows more than 415,000 Americans being employed as pharmacy technicians as of May 2020. With 53,300 pharmacy technicians employed, the four-state Southwest region accounted for just under 13% of U.S. pharmacy technician employment. Although Oklahoma rated as one of the ten worst states in the nation for pharmacy technician annual mean wages, the region as a whole was a modestly decent one for pharmacy technician pay.   More than 86% region's pharmacy technicians lived in a state where the annual mean wage level was above the national average for the profession.  From May 2020 BLS data, here is a summary look at pharmacy technician pay in the Southwest:

Pharmacy Technician Pay in the Southwest

State	# Employed	Annual Mean Wages	Wage Rank*
AZ	9,250	$37,500	16th
NM	2,490	$36,440	20th
OK	4,870	$32,900	44th
TX	36,690	$37,010	18th
U.S.	415,310	$36,450	-------

(*) 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 18, 2021

The Best Cardiac Care Hospitals in the Mid-Eastern U.S.

Over 590 hospitals were rated for their effectiveness and proficiency at delivering adult cardiac care in the most recent (21-22) U.S. News & World Report rankings of American hospitals.  This analysis graded subject hospitals on multiple metrics related to the outcomes experienced by their adult cardiac care patients, the scale of their adult cardiac care programs, and the amount of professional recognition a hospital earned from the wider cardiac care community.  Among the top 50 ranked U.S. hospitals for adult cardiac care in the 21-22 survey, fourteen were based in Mid-Eastern U.S., a region that includes the District of Columbia and five states.  In the 21-22 survey, no other region of the country had as many top-quality cardiac care hospitals as did the Mid-East.  Here are the Mid-Eastern region hospitals that earned high accolades for adult cardiac care in the 21-22 survey:

The Best Cardiac Care Hospitals in the Mid-Eastern U.S.

New York-Presbyterian Hospital

Location:  New York City 

National Rank:  #4 (See ranking details)

NYU Langone Hospitals 

Location:  New York City

National Rank:  #5 (See ranking details)

Mount Sinai Hospital

Location:  New York City

National Rank:  #6 (See ranking details)

Johns Hopkins Hospital

Location:  Baltimore, MD

National Rank:  #16 (See ranking details)

Hospitals of the University of Pennsylvania-Penn Presbyterian

Location:  Philadelphia

National Rank:  #18 (See ranking details)

North Shore University Hospital

Location:  Manhasset, NY

National Rank:  #21 (See ranking details)

St. Francis Hospital

Location:  Roslyn, NY

National Rank:  #24 (See ranking details)

Lenox Hill Hospital

New York, NY

National Rank:  #28 (See ranking details)

Medstar Heart and Vascular Institute

Location:  Washington, DC

National Rank:  #30 (See ranking details)

Montefiore Medical Center

Location:  Bronx, NY

National Rank:  #31 (See ranking details)

Morristown Medical Center

Location:  Morristown, NJ

National Rank:  #42 (See ranking details)

UPMC Presbyterian Shadyside

Pittsburgh, PA

National Rank:  #42 (See ranking details)

Hackensack University Medical Center

Hackensack, NJ

National Rank: #45 (See ranking details)

Mount Sinai Morningside and Mount Sinai West Hospitals

New York, NY

National Rank:  #48 (See ranking details)

For insight into the metrics used to grade adult cardiology and heart surgery hospitals in the 21-22 U.S. News survey, or to find the cardiac care rating of other Mid-Eastern U.S. hospitals, visit Best Hospitals for Adult Cardiology Care and Heart Surgery

Nurse Practitioner Pay in the Great Lakes Region

The latest occupational employment data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) put nurse practitioner (NP) employment in the U.S. at more than 211,000 as of May 2020.  With over 31,700 employed nurse practitioners, the five-state Great Lakes region accounted for 15% of all nurse practitioner jobs nationally in May 2020.  While one of the better regions in the U.S. for nurse practitioner employment, pay for NPs in the region was rather weak.  NP annual mean wages in all Great Lakes states were below the national average for the profession, with Ohio ranking among the bottom ten states nationally for nurse practitioner annual mean wages.  Further examination of May 2020 BLS data shows the following about nurse practitioner pay in the Great Lakes region:

Nurse Practitioner Pay in the Great Lakes Region

State	# Employed	Annual Mean Wages	Wage Rank*
IL	6,890	$112,060	25th
IN	5,700	$109,940	31st
MI	4,880	$109,150	35th
OH	9,430	$105,630	43rd
WI	4,820	$113,030	21st
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

Dental Hygienist Pay in the Great Plains Region

Nearly 195,000 dental hygienists were working in the United States as of May 2020 according to the most current occupational data available from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).  At that time, more than 14,200 dental hygienists were working in the seven-state Great Plains region.  BLS data shows the region to be a modestly weak one for dental hygienist pay, as all states in the region had an annual mean wage level for dental hygienists that fell below the national average. The region did not, however, have any states that ranked in the bottom third of states nationally for dental hygienist annual mean wages.  A closer examination of May 2020 BLS data reveals the following about dental hygienist pay in the Great Plains region:

Dental Hygienist Pay in the Great Plains Region

State	# Employed	Annual Mean Wages	Wage Rank*
IA	2,020	$73,480	28th
KS	2,030	$69,790	35th
MN	4,340	$76,410	23rd
MO	3,630	$69,730	36th
NE	1,010	$70,650	32nd
ND	690	$75,160	25th
SD	510	$73,390	29th
U.S.	194,830	$78,050	-------

(*) 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