Tuesday, May 31, 2022

Medical Transcriptionist Pay in New England

The most current occupational employment data available from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics' (BLS) put the number of working medical transcriptionists at more than 55,800 as of May 2021.  At that time, about 3.7% of all medical transcriptionist jobs were in the six-state New England region.  An examination of BLS data revealed New England to be one of the top paying regions in the nation for medical transcriptionists. Every New England state recorded a medical transcriptionist annual mean wage level that exceeded the national average for the profession, with Connecticut ranked as the top state in the nation for medical transcriptionist annual mean wages.  A closer review of BLS data from May 2021 reveals the following about medical transcriptionist pay in New England:

Medical Transcriptionist Pay in New England

Medical Transcriptionist Pay in New England

State # Employed Annual Mean Wages Wage Rank*
CT 900 $49,810 1st
MA 700 $39,950 11th
ME 140 $37,630 17th
NH 140 $39,060 15th
RI 140 $36,160 24th
VT 50 $42,380 9th
U.S. 55,830 $34,220 -------

(*) annual mean wage ranking among the 50 states

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OES. Data accessed on May 28, 2022

Monday, May 30, 2022

MRI Technologist Pay in the Mid-Eastern U.S.

More than 38,000 MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) technologists were working in the United States as of May 2021 according to the latest occupational employment data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).  At that time, the Mid-Eastern U.S., a region that encompasses the District of Columbia and five states, accounted for nearly 6,200 MRI technologist jobs.  BLS data revealed the Mid-Eastern U.S. to be a mostly strong one for MRI technologist pay, with four states in the region attaining an annual mean wage level for MRI technologists that was above the national average for the profession. This included the District of Columbia and two Mid-Eastern states ranking among the ten best states in the nation for MRI technologist annual mean wages.  That said, the pay story was not favorable for MRI technologists in Pennsylvania, home to more than a quarter of the region's MRI technologists. The annual mean wage level for MRI technologists in Pennsylvania rated among the ten lowest in the nation for the profession. Further study of May 2021 BLS data provides the following details about MRI technologist pay in the Mid-Eastern U.S.:

MRI Technologist Pay in the Mid-Eastern U.S.

MRI Technologist Pay in the Mid-Eastern U.S.

State # Employed Annual Mean Wages Wage Rank*
DC 160 $91,080 7th
DE 190 $77,070 24th
MD 990 $80,910 17th
NJ 900 $88,140 9th
NY 2,230 $89,110 8th
PA 1,700 $68,020 43rd
U.S. 38,070 $77,820 -------

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

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OES. Data accessed on May 28, 2022

Sunday, May 29, 2022

U.S. Homicide Rates by Region

Homicides accounted for more than 24,500 deaths in the United States in 2020.  A closer examination of data from the CDC's National Center for Health Statistics provides the following details about U.S. homicide rates by region (to see state level data, follow the "Region" links in the table below):

U.S. Homicide Rates by Region

Region Deaths Population Death Rate*
Far West 3,165 56,579,620 5.6
Great Lakes 4,122 46,834,910 8.8
Great Plains 1,460 21,481,834 6.8
Mid-East 3,153 48,757,828 6.5
New England 413 14,847,468 2.8
Rocky Mountain 563 12,547,416 4.5
Southeast 8,405 85,565,785 9.8
Southwest 3,295 42,869,262 7.7
U.S. Total 24,576 329,484,123 7.5

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

Report Period: 2020

Source: CDC Wonder. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Health Statistics. Underlying Cause of Death 1999-2020 on CDC WONDER Online Database, released in 2021. Data are from the Multiple Cause of Death Files, 1999-2020, as compiled from data provided by the 57 vital statistics jurisdictions through the Vital Statistics Cooperative Program. Accessed on May 21, 2022

Saturday, May 28, 2022

Clinical Psychologist Pay in the U.S. Far West

Over 58,000 clinical psychologists were working in the United States as of May 2021 according to the most current occupational employment data available from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).  With just under 12,800 employed clinical psychologists at that time, the six-state U.S. Far West region accounted for 22% of all clinical psychologist jobs in the nation. BLS data revealed the region to be the tops in the nation for clinical psychologist pay.  Although two Far West states recorded clinical psychologist annual mean wage levels that were below the national average for the profession, nearly 90% of the clinical psychologists in the region lived in a state that rated among the top ten in the nation for that pay metric.  Closer examination of May 2021 BLS data details the following about clinical psychologist pay in U.S. Far West region:

Clinical Psychologist Pay in the U.S. Far West

Clinical Psychologist Pay in the U.S. Far West

State # Employed Annual Mean Wages Wage Rank*
AK 110 $92,450 26th
CA 10,250 $122,790 4th
HI 380 $113,040 7th
NV 220 $95,830 22nd
OR 850 $126,230 3rd
WA 970 $103,190 14th
U.S. 58,100 $99,640 -------

(*) 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 21, 2022

Thursday, May 26, 2022

Penn Presbyterian Medical Center, Our Trusted Link for May, 2022

 


Penn Presbyterian Medical Center

The Penn Presbyterian Medical Center (ranked #13 by U.S. News among Best Hospitals) consists of several merged hospitals and facilities in central Philadelphia, including the Pennsylvania Hospital, the Perelman School of Medicine (at University of Pennsylvania), and Presbyterian Hospital. 

Pennsylvania Hospital was founded in 1751 by Benjamin Franklin and Dr. Thomas Bond. It's one of the earliest public hospitals in the U.S. 

  • Its main building, dating to 1756, is a National Historic Landmark.
  • It established the first U.S. medical library in 1762. 
  • An early maternity ward was established there in 1803, and in the 20th century, many obstetrical landmarks occurred. 
  • It houses the first U.S. surgical amphitheater, created in 1804. 

From Wikipedia: "Pennsylvania Hospital gained a reputation as a center of innovation and medical advancement, particularly in the area of maternity. It was a teaching hospital from its very beginning, when [founder Dr. Thomas] Bond would lead rounds.... In its early years it was also known for its particularly advanced and humane facilities for mentally ill patients.... [War-wounded] patients were brought to the hospital... in the Revolutionary War, the Civil War, the Spanish-American War, and units... were sent abroad... in World War I and II."

Perelman School of Medicine

The nation's first medical school, the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine opened in 1765. In 1874, the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania was established as the nation's first teaching hospital. A donation led to its renaming as Perelman School of Medicine in 2011. 

U.S. News ranked it the 6th best Medical School for Research in 2022-23, tied with Duke University. It's ranked #1 for Pediatrics, #3 in Radiology and in Obstetrics/Gynecology, #4 for Internal Medicine and in Surgery, and #6 for Psychiatry. 

Important milestones:

  • First vaccination for pneumonia
  • Introduction of total intravenous feeding
  • Pioneering work in radiology
  • Co-discovery of the Philadelphia chromosome, showing connection between genetic abnormalities and cancer
  • Early programs in dermatology, neurosurgery, ophthalmology, radiology, and organ transplantation. 

Presbyterian Hospital ("Presby") was founded by Reverend Ephraim D. Saunders in 1871 and formally joined the University of Pennsylvania Health System in 1995. In 1887, its School of Nursing was founded. Its contributions to the Penn Presbyterian Medical Center also include the Philadelphia Heart Institute, the Scheie Eye Institute and Penn Orthopedics. 

Publications and Media

Microbiology Milestones at Penn

Homicide Rates in States with the Weakest Gun Control Laws

The table below lists the ten U.S states with the weakest gun control laws (as of 5/14/22) according to research done by the Giffords Law Center. Correlating this list with homicide death data from the National Center for Health Statistics, a unit of the CDC, we found that in 2020 the collective homicide rate for these ten weak gun control states was, at 9.8 deaths per 100,000 population, more than 30% higher than the national homicide rate.  However, the collective results were heavily skewed by inordinately high homicide rates in four states in the group (Kentucky, Mississippi, Missouri, and Arkansas).  The other six weak gun control states in the group recorded homicide rates in 2020 that were at, or below, that national average homicide rate.

Visit the Giffords Law Center for more about their research into gun laws and for their rankings of U.S. states by the strength of their respective gun control laws.

Homicide Rates in States with the Weakest Gun Control Laws

** State Deaths Population Death Rate*
41 Alaska 55 731,158 7.5
42 Kentucky 404 4,477,251 9.0
43 Arizona 525 7,421,401 7.1
44 South Dakota 52 892,717 5.8
45 Mississippi 576 2,966,786 19.4
46 Kansas 195 2,913,805 6.7
47 Missouri 803 6,151,548 13.1
48 Idaho 42 1,826,913 2.3
49 Wyoming 25 582,328 4.3
50 Arkansas 371 3,030,522 12.2
    Sub-total 3,048 30,994,429 9.8
U.S. 24,576 329,484,123 7.5

(**) status of gun control laws ranked strongest to weakest
(*) number of homicide deaths per 100,000 population

Report Period: 2020

Source: CDC Wonder. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Health Statistics. Underlying Cause of Death 1999-2020 on CDC WONDER Online Database, released in 2021. Data are from the Multiple Cause of Death Files, 1999-2020, as compiled from data provided by the 57 vital statistics jurisdictions through the Vital Statistics Cooperative Program. Accessed on May 14, 2022

Wednesday, May 25, 2022

Optometrist Pay in the Great Lakes Region

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) latest occupational employment data reported more than 38,700 optometrists at work in the United States as of May 2021.  At that time, just over 5,900 optometrists were employed in the five-state Great Lakes region. BLS data shows the region to be a modestly weak one for optometrist pay.  No state in the region produced an annual mean wage level for optometrists that topped the national average, and Illinois rated among the ten worst states in the nation for that pay metric. A deeper look into BLS data from May 2021 details the following about optometrist pay in the Great Lakes region:

Optometrist Pay in the Great Lakes Region

Optometrist Pay in the Great Lakes Region

State # Employed Annual Mean Wages Wage Rank*
IL 1,770 $111,790 42nd
IN 940 $117,710 33rd
MI 1,030 $122,140 28th
OH 1,220 $118,020 32nd
WI 960 $123,320 27th
U.S. 38,720 $125,440 -------

(*) 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 21, 2022

Monday, May 23, 2022

Homicide Rates in States with the Strongest Gun Control Laws

The table below lists the ten U.S states with the strongest gun control laws (as of 5/14/22) according to research done by the Giffords Law Center. Correlating this list with homicide statistics from the CDC's National Center for Health Statistics, we found that in 2020 homicide rates were materially lower in 8 of the 10 states with the strictest gun control laws. Collectively, the ten states with the strongest gun control laws registered a homicide rate of 5.9 deaths per 100,000 population, more than 21% lower than the national homicide rate in 2020.

Visit the Giffords Law Center for more information on their research into gun control laws and for their complete ranking of U.S. states by the strength of their respective gun laws.

Homicide Rates in States with the Strongest Gun Control Laws

** State Deaths Population Death Rate*
1 California 2,368 39,368,078 6.0
2 New Jersey 362 8,882,371 4.1
3 Connecticut 152 3,557,006 4.3
4 Hawaii 46 1,407,006 3.3
5 Massachusetts 183 6,893,574 2.7
6 New York 875 19,336,776 4.5
7 Maryland 649 6,055,802 10.7
8 Illinois 1,353 12,587,530 10.7
9 Rhode Island 29 1,057,125 2.7
10 Washington 322 7,693,612 4.2
    Sub-total 6,339 106,838,880 5.9
U.S. 24,576 329,484,123 7.5

(**) status of gun control laws ranked strongest to weakest
(*) number of homicide deaths per 100,000 population

Report Period: 2020

Source: CDC Wonder. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Health Statistics. Underlying Cause of Death 1999-2020 on CDC WONDER Online Database, released in 2021. Data are from the Multiple Cause of Death Files, 1999-2020, as compiled from data provided by the 57 vital statistics jurisdictions through the Vital Statistics Cooperative Program. Accessed on May 14, 2022

Sunday, May 22, 2022

MRI Technologist Pay in the Southeastern U.S.

As of May 2021, more than 38,000 MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) technologists were working in the United States according to the latest occupational employment data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).  At that time, nearly 10,800 MRI technologists were employed in the twelve-state Southeastern region of the country.  BLS data revealed the Southeastern U.S. to be the worst region of the country for MRI technologist pay. Not only did every Southeastern state have an average annual mean wage level for MRI technologists that was below the national average for the profession, but eight states in the region ranked among the ten worst states in the nation for MRI technologist annual mean wages.  A closer study of May 2021 BLS data provides the following details about MRI technologist pay in the Southeastern U.S.:

MRI Technologist Pay in the Southeastern U.S.

MRI Technologist Pay in the Southeastern U.S.

State # Employed Annual Mean Wages Wage Rank*
AL 510 $64,970 46th
AR 360 $60,970 48th
FL 3,270 $67,590 44th
GA 1,370 $71,610 28th
KY 480 $69,160 42nd
LA 760 $59,740 50th
MS 260 $58,810 51st
NC 980 $71,310 29th
SC 450 $65,950 45th
TN 1,140 $64,250 47th
VA 1,020 $77,170 23rd
WV 180 $69,380 41st
U.S. 38,070 $77,820 -------

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

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OES. Data accessed on May 18, 2022

Saturday, May 21, 2022

Clinical Psychologist Pay in the Rocky Mountain Region

In excess of 58,000 clinical psychologists were working in the United States as of May 2021 according to recent occupational employment data available from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).  At that time, the five-state Rocky Mountain region accounted for 2,500 clinical psychologist jobs, or about 4.3% of total national employment for the profession.  BLS data revealed the region to be one of the weakest in the nation for clinical psychologist pay. The annual mean wage for clinical psychologists in every state in the region was at least 12% below the national average, with two states being more than 20% below that average.  A further review of May 2021 data from the BLS reveals the following state-level details about clinical psychologist pay in the Rocky Mountain region:

Clinical Psychologist Pay in the Rocky Mountain Region

Clinical Psychologist Pay in the Rocky Mountain Region



State # Employed Annual Mean Wages Wage Rank*
CO 980 $86,760 33rd
ID 330 $77,070 42nd
MT 180 $87,310 31st
UT 910 $87,030 32nd
WY 100 $72,900 47th
U.S. 58,100 $99,640 -------

(*) 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, 2022

Friday, May 20, 2022

Ten States with the Lowest Homicide Rates

Over 24,500 deaths in the United States in 2020 were attributable to homicides according to data compiled by the National Center for Health Statistics, a unit of the CDC. A closer inspection of that data reveals the states in the table below to be the ten states with the lowest homicide rates in 2020.  This group collectively was home to 9% of the total U.S. population but accounted for only 3.7% of all U.S. homicide deaths in 2020.  At 3.1 deaths per 100,000 population, the collective homicide rate of this group was nearly 59% lower than the national homicide rate in 2020.

Ten States with the Lowest Homicide Rates

** State Deaths Population Death Rate*
41 North Dakota 30 765,309 3.9
42 Oregon 157 4,241,507 3.7
43 Minnesota 198 5,657,342 3.5
44 Iowa 106 3,163,561 3.4
45 Hawaii 46 1,407,006 3.3
46 Utah 95 3,249,879 2.9
47 Massachusetts 183 6,893,574 2.7
48 Rhode Island 29 1,057,125 2.7
49 Idaho 42 1,826,913 2.3
50 Maine 21 1,350,141 1.6
    Sub-total 907 29,612,357 3.1
U.S. 24,576 329,484,123 7.5

(**) death rate ranking from highest to lowest (minimum 20 reported deaths)
(*) number of homicide deaths per 100,000 population

Report Period: 2020

Source: CDC Wonder. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Health Statistics. Underlying Cause of Death 1999-2020 on CDC WONDER Online Database, released in 2021. Data are from the Multiple Cause of Death Files, 1999-2020, as compiled from data provided by the 57 vital statistics jurisdictions through the Vital Statistics Cooperative Program. Accessed on May 14, 2022

Wednesday, May 18, 2022

Optometrist Pay in the Mid-Eastern U.S.

The most recent occupational employment data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported that over 38,700 optometrists were employed in the United States as of May 2021.  At that time, about 5,200 optometrists were employed in the Mid-Eastern U.S., a region that includes five states and the District of Columbia. BLS data shows the region to be a generally strong one for optometrist pay.  Although Delaware ranked among the weakest states in the nation for optometrist annual mean wages, the other four states in the region rated among the fifteen best states in the nation on that pay metric for optometrists. A deeper dive into BLS data from May 2021 reveals the following details about optometrist pay in the Mid-Eastern U.S.:

Optometrist Pay in the Mid-Eastern U.S.

Optometrist Pay in the Mid-Eastern U.S.

State # Employed Annual Mean Wages Wage Rank*
DC 80 ------- NR
DE 110 $106,090 45th
MD 630 $144,570 2nd
NJ 660 $132,930 12th
NY 1,620 $137,860 7th
PA 2,090 $131,860 13th
U.S. 38,720 $125,440 -------

(*) 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 14, 2022

Tuesday, May 17, 2022

Ten States with the Highest Homicide Rates

In 2020, there were more than 24,500 deaths in the United States attributable to homicides according to data compiled by the CDC's National Center for Health Statistics. A closer examination of that data identifies the states in the table below as being the ten states with the highest homicide rates in 2020.  Collectively, this group held just under 17% of the total U.S. population but accounted for 28% of the country's homicides in 2020.  At 12.6 deaths per 100,000 population, the collective homicide rate of this group was more than two-thirds higher than the national homicide rate in 2020.

Ten States with the Highest Homicide Rates

** State Deaths Population Death Rate*
1 Mississippi 576 2,966,786 19.4
2 Louisiana 873 4,645,318 18.8
3 Alabama 654 4,921,532 13.3
4 Missouri 803 6,151,548 13.1
5 Arkansas 371 3,030,522 12.2
6 South Carolina 622 5,218,040 11.9
7 Tennessee 753 6,886,834 10.9
8 Illinois 1,353 12,587,530 10.7
9 Maryland 649 6,055,802 10.7
10 New Mexico 216 2,106,319 10.3
    Sub-total 6,870 54,570,231 12.6
U.S. 24,576 329,484,123 7.5

(**) death rate ranking from highest to lowest
(*) number of homicide deaths per 100,000 population

Report Period: 2020

Source: CDC Wonder. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Health Statistics. Underlying Cause of Death 1999-2020 on CDC WONDER Online Database, released in 2021. Data are from the Multiple Cause of Death Files, 1999-2020, as compiled from data provided by the 57 vital statistics jurisdictions through the Vital Statistics Cooperative Program. Accessed on May 14, 2022

Sunday, May 15, 2022

MRI Technologist Pay in the Great Plains Region

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics' (BLS) most recent occupational employment data put the number of MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) technologists employed in the United States at more than 38,000 as of May 2021.  At that time, 2,660 MRI technologists were employed in the seven-state Great Plains region according to BLS figures.  In general, the Great Plains region was a rather poor one for MRI technologist pay, as six of the regions' seven states recorded annual mean wage levels that were below the national average for the profession.  A closer look at May 2021 BLS data provides the following details about MRI technologist pay in the Great Plains region:

MRI Technologist Pay in the Great Plains Region

MRI Technologist Pay in the Great Plains Region

State # Employed Annual Mean Wages Wage Rank*
IA 250 $70,350 32nd
KS 230 $70,360 31st
MN 820 $82,000 14th
MO 900 $70,100 34th
NE 210 $70,680 30th
ND 90 $69,570 38th
SD 160 $59,840 49th
U.S. 38,070 $77,820 -------

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

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OES. Data accessed on May 9, 2022

Saturday, May 14, 2022

Homicide Rates in the Southeastern U.S.

More than 24,500 homicide deaths were recorded in the United States in 2020.  The twelve-state Southeastern U.S. accounted for 8,405 homicide deaths, or slightly more than 34% of total U.S. homicide deaths in 2020.  At 9.8 deaths per 100,000 population, the homicide rate in the Southeastern U.S. was the worst of any region of the country, as nine states in the region recorded a 2020 homicide rate that was above than the national average.  A deeper examination of state-level data from the National Center for Health Statistics, a unit of the CDC, provides the following details about homicide rates in the Southeastern U.S.:

Homicide Rates in the Southeastern U.S.

Homicide Rates in the Southeastern U.S.

State Deaths Population Death Rate*
AL 654 4,921,532 13.3
AR 371 3,030,522 12.2
FL 1,530 21,733,312 7.0
GA 1,093 10,710,017 10.2
KY 404 4,477,251 9.0
LA 873 4,645,318 18.8
MS 576 2,966,786 19.4
NC 884 10,600,823 8.3
SC 622 5,218,040 11.9
TN 753 6,886,834 10.9
VA 531 8,590,563 6.2
WV 114 1,784,787 6.4
     Region 8,405 85,565,785 9.8
U.S. 24,576 329,484,123 7.5

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

Report Period: 2020

Source: CDC Wonder. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Health Statistics. Underlying Cause of Death 1999-2020 on CDC WONDER Online Database, released in 2021. Data are from the Multiple Cause of Death Files, 1999-2020, as compiled from data provided by the 57 vital statistics jurisdictions through the Vital Statistics Cooperative Program. Accessed on May 9, 2022