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When taking care of patients is only part of the equation, you want a top-ranked law firm. WE DO OUR JOB SO YOU CAN DO YOURS. Our team of health care attorneys have the knowledge and experience to understand the current challenges confronting physicians and health care businesses. We do what we do, so you can focus on medicine. We advise and counsel health care providers in all areas of their business: • HIPAA compliance • Fraud and abuse compliance • Employment contracts • Mergers and acquisitions • Corporate compliance for non-profits • Affordable Care Act • Employment matters, including contracts, OSHA and workers' compensation • Supplier, third-party provider and insurance provider agreements • Practice formation and operation 4775 Munson Street NW | Canton, Ohio 44718 877.876.9958 | 330.497.0700 Offices in Canton, Akron, Alliance, New Philadelphia and Sugarcreek KWGD.com STRATEGIES FOR PHYSICIANS TO BOOST THEIR EARNINGS BY STEVE BARRETT IT ISN'T NE WS THAT PHYSICIAN PAY VARIES WIDELY. PR ACTICE LOCATION, SPECIALT Y AND E XPERIENCE ARE AMONG THE MANY FACTORS THAT CONTRIBUTE TO DISPARITIES IN SAL ARY. NONE THELE S S, PH YSICI A NS H AV E a number of options for increasing their earnings, Medscape notes in an article that draws on insights from physicians a nd i ndu s t r y a n a ly s t s . Here a re a few strategies: + Dip into administration. Physicians who are willing to take on administra- tive roles — especially at higher levels within their organizations — can earn significant bonuses. + Ramp up your patient load. Nothing increases pay for more physicians than treating more patients. For example, family physicians who earn more tend to see about 120 patients per week, com- pared with about 80 for lower earners, according to one study. + Go large. By leveraging economies of scale, bigger practices typically can pay their physicians more than small practices can. + Pick the right venue. Facilities such as community health centers are not known for ample compensation. + Consider pulling up roots. States including Min nesota , Nebra ska , N o r t h D a k o t a a n d W i s c o n s i n genera lly have the highest-ea rn- ing physicians. Of course, many physicians may not want to be administrators or may favor limited patient loads, smaller practices, the community health environment or life in areas where pay is lower. Those fa c t or s de s er ve f u l l c on sider at ion before a provider sets oˆ for financially greener pastures. ■ CORE 059990046_FIN2 [P].indd 1 11/16/17 2:57 PM 0 9 M D N E W S . C O M /// M D N E W S C L E V E L A N D /A K R O N / C A N T O N ■ J A N U A R Y/ F E B R U A R Y 2 018