Comparison of productivity and cost of full-time and part-time faculty members in an academic department of radiology.
OBJECTIVE
To compare financial productivity and employment costs of full-time and part-time faculty members and to assess qualitative factors related to part-time employment.


METHODS
Financial productivity and employment costs were compared for full-time and part-time staff members on the basis of a review of financial records from fiscal year 2005. Part-time and full-time faculty members were interviewed to determine reasons for working part-time and to assess the attitudes of both full-time and part-time faculty members toward part-time status.


RESULTS
Part-time radiologists working an average 65% schedule constituted 13% of the total full-time equivalent faculty complement and performed 14% of the clinical work at an average of 0.88 physicians' component total relative value units while more than covering their costs. Part-time radiologists were more productive while interpreting examinations of lesser relative value unit value than full-time radiologists.


CONCLUSIONS
Part-time radiologists are an important resource for the specialty and should be nurtured to stay in practice.
Thrall
James H
JH
Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114-2620, USA. jthrall@partners.org
Meehan
Margaret J
MJ
Whelton
Dianne G
DG
D000046:Academic Medical Centers / Q000191:economics* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D017598:Efficiency, Organizational / Q000191:economics* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005180:Faculty, Medical / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008404:Massachusetts; D010561:Personnel Staffing and Scheduling / Q000191:economics* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011871:Radiology / Q000191:economics* / Q000193:education* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D016526:Workload / Q000191:economics* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data