Wednesday, March 30, 2022

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. 

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The Cedars-Sinai Accelerator for innovative technology

Sunday, March 27, 2022

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

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 7,017.26,114.5 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
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

Friday, March 25, 2022

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

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

Thursday, March 24, 2022

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

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
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

Wednesday, March 23, 2022

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.

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

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.

Tuesday, March 22, 2022

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.

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

Sunday, March 20, 2022

The Great Lakes Region's Top Cancer Hospitals

In the 21-22 U.S. News & World Report ratings of American hospitals, over 900 hospitals were surveyed for their proficiency at delivering cancer care to adult patients.  The study scored hospitals on various metrics related to their adult cancer patient outcomes, the scope of their adult cancer care services, and the level of professional recognition a hospital earned from the broader cancer care community.  Seven hospitals in the five-state Great Lakes region rated among the top 50 U.S. hospitals for adult cancer care in the 21-22 survey.  Here's a quick view of where these seven Great Lakes region hospitals rated nationally in the 21-22 U.S. News survey for cancer care:

The Best Cancer Care Hospitals in the Great Lakes Region

The Best Cancer Care Hospitals in the Great Lakes Region

Cleveland Clinic
Location:  Cleveland
National Rank:  #5 (See ranking details)

Northwestern Memorial Hospital
Location:  Chicago
National Rank:  #6 (See ranking details)

Location:  Chicago
National Rank:  #21 (See ranking details)

Location:  Columbus, OH
National Rank:  #27 (See ranking details)

University of Michigan Rogel Cancer Center
Location:  Ann Arbor, MI 
National Rank:  #36 (See ranking details)

Location:  Cleveland
National Rank:  #38 (See ranking details)

Rush University Medical Center
Location:  Chicago
National Rank:  #42 (See ranking details)

For a closer look at the metrics used to score adult cancer care hospitals in the 20-21 U.S. News survey, or to find cancer care ratings for other Great Lakes region hospitals, visit Best Hospitals for Adult Cancer Care.

Saturday, March 19, 2022

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

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

Friday, March 18, 2022

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
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

Thursday, March 17, 2022

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
The Best Cardiac Care Hospitals in the Great Plains Region

Location:  Rochester, MN
National Rank:  #2 (See ranking details)

Location:  Kansas City, MO
National Rank:  #25 (See ranking details)

Location:  St. Cloud, MN
National Rank:  #35 (See ranking details)

Location:  St. Louis, MO
National Rank:  #37 (See ranking details)

Location: Minneapolis, MN
National Rank:  #44 (See ranking details)

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.

Wednesday, March 16, 2022

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

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

Monday, March 14, 2022

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.

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

Location:  New York City 
National Rank:  #4 (See ranking details)

Location:  New York City
National Rank:  #5 (See ranking details)

Location:  New York City
National Rank:  #6 (See ranking details)

Location:  Baltimore, MD
National Rank:  #16 (See ranking details)

Location:  Philadelphia
National Rank:  #18 (See ranking details)

Location:  Manhasset, NY
National Rank:  #21 (See ranking details)

Location:  Roslyn, NY
National Rank:  #24 (See ranking details)

New York, NY
National Rank:  #28 (See ranking details)

Location:  Washington, DC
National Rank:  #30 (See ranking details)

Location:  Bronx, NY
National Rank:  #31 (See ranking details)

Location:  Morristown, NJ
National Rank:  #42 (See ranking details)

Pittsburgh, PA
National Rank:  #42 (See ranking details)

Hackensack, NJ
National Rank: #45 (See ranking details)

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

Sunday, March 13, 2022

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

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