The profile of level I trauma center directors.
BACKGROUND
No data are available regarding the characteristics of the trauma directors of Level I trauma centers.


METHODS
Questionnaires were mailed to 102 directors of Level I trauma centers. Data were analyzed in a blinded fashion.


RESULTS
Seventy-two directors responded. All were men, with a mean age of 48 +/- 6 years. Fifty-eight percent of directors were fellowship trained. Directorship was assumed 7.3 +/- 6.1 years after training and the average time on the job was 8.6 +/- 6.1 years. Directors work in urban (93%), university-affiliated (67%) institutions that admit 1,000 to 2,000 patients annually (50%). Practice time distribution is as follows: trauma clinical care, 33%; general surgery, 20%; administrative work, 18%; critical care delivery, 17%; and research, 11%. Directors take 6.6 +/- 2.2 night calls per month, with half of them taking in-house call. Eighty-eight percent of directors are involved in research. Seventy-eight percent of directors earn $200,000 to $325,000 per year, with the largest group making $225,000 to $250,000. Salary is derived from clinical revenues (42%) and hospital (37%) or university (20%) support. Compensation is higher in community hospitals and tends to be higher in the Midwest.


CONCLUSIONS
The profile of the trauma director at a Level I trauma center was described. This may be important in trauma career and systems development.
Tran
Daniel
D
Section of Trauma and Surgical Critical Care, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut 06520, USA.
Frankel
Heidi
H
Rabinovici
Reuven
R
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003710:Demography; D004522:Educational Status; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008486:Physician Executives / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012106:Research / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012456:Salaries and Fringe Benefits / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D017748:Time Management; D014193:Trauma Centers / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D016526:Workload / Q000706:statistics & numerical data