The practice of primary care sports medicine in the USA.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate and to characterise the practice patterns, academic rank, and income variables that exist in order to better understand the career of a sports medicine physician in the USA.


METHODS
A cross-sectional survey of family physicians holding a Certificate of Added Qualifications in Sports Medicine through the American Board of Family Medicine as of January 2006.


RESULTS
The survey was completed by 325 of 862 physicians (a return rate of 38%). Of all respondents, 212 (65%) reported completing a Primary Care Sports Medicine Fellowship, 276 (85%) were male and 49 (15%) were female, and 300 (92%) reported having a MD, while 25 (8%) had a DO. Clinical duties represented the largest proportion of the physicians' schedules (7.94 half days/week), and the majority of physicians performed routine athletic event coverage. The average salary for all physicians was $166,000 US. Higher-income groups included: men ($172,000 vs $132 000 for women); regions including Central, South East, and South West; full professors; and non-student health or urgent care clinical work. With control for all other variables, four groups demonstrated significantly higher odds of being high income earners (annual gross salary > $200,000 US). These groups included age over 40, male sex, practice owner, and seeing over 10 patients per half day.


CONCLUSIONS
Salary can be related to age, gender, number of patients seen, and practice ownership. No statistical difference among salaries was found between MDs and DOs, osteopathic manipulative therapy (OMT) practice, region of the country, or how practices are marketed.
Diehl
J J
JJ
Division of Sports Medicine, The Ohio State University Medical Center, OSU Sports Medicine Center, 2050 Kenny Road, Columbus, Ohio 43221, USA. jason.diehl@osumc.edu
Pirozzolo
J J
JJ
Best
T M
TM
D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005194:Family Practice / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010822:Physicians, Women / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011365:Professional Practice Location / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012456:Salaries and Fringe Benefits / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D013178:Sports Medicine / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014481:United States