Practice parameters and financial factors impacting developmental-behavioral pediatrics.
OBJECTIVE
Little has been published about the professional activities of developmental-behavioral (DB) pediatricians. To better understand the settings in which DB pediatricians work, allocation of their professional time, and how financial considerations impact their practice, the Society for Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics surveyed its membership.


METHODS
An extensive on-line three-part survey was conducted in 2006-2007 assessing sociodemographic characteristics, practice descriptors, coding and billing practices, productivity goals and perceived pressures among Society for Developmental and Behavioral Pediatric's 438 physician members.


RESULTS
Of the pediatricians responding, representing all regions of the United States, 93% were DB pediatrics subspecialty board certified or eligible. The majority was practicing DB pediatrics full-time (73%); and 67% were exclusively in academic settings. All reported seeing patients, 84% reported teaching, 76% reported having administrative responsibilities, and 46% reported conducting research. Despite having non-clinical responsibilities, full-time equivalent positions included an average of 25 hours per week in direct patient care and 14.5 hours per week (37% of clinical time) in indirect patient care. Only 42% reported working with multidisciplinary teams. Salaries varied widely within and across regions. Deficits in billing/coding practices, awareness of personal clinical productivity, and familiarity with national productivity benchmarks were identified.


CONCLUSIONS
DB pediatricians work in diverse settings nationwide. They provide considerable time in indirect patient care, which is poorly reimbursed in general and relative to direct patient care. The results of this survey offer opportunities for provider, institutional and payer education.
Adair
Robin
R
Department of Pediatrics, University of Massachusetts Medical School,Worcester, MA 01655, USA. robin.adair@umassmemorial.org
Perrin
Ellen
E
Hubbard
Carol
C
Savageau
Judith A
JA
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002652:Child Behavior; D002657:Child Development; D003299:Cooperative Behavior; D039702:Current Procedural Terminology; D003625:Data Collection; D002658:Developmental Disabilities / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy; D005180:Faculty, Medical / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D033183:Interdisciplinary Communication; D020407:Internet; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010348:Patient Care Team; D010372:Pediatrics / Q000191:economics* / Q000193:education / Q000639:trends*; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians' / Q000191:economics* / Q000639:trends*; D012456:Salaries and Fringe Benefits; D012955:Societies, Medical; D013038:Specialization / Q000191:economics* / Q000639:trends*; D013044:Specialty Boards; D014481:United States