SullivanCotter, a human resources and total compensation consulting firm, released the results of its 2013 Manager and Executive Compensation in Hospitals and Health Systems Survey. According to research findings, 2013-budgeted and 2014-projected salary increases for executives have continued at 3%, with greater variation being seen in emerging health care industry positions. Jobs experiencing the highest increases annually include the medical informatics executive (6.5%), the business development executive (11.6%), the ambulatory care executive (8.5%) and the quality management executive (8.4%).

“Due to the mergers and acquisitions in health care and continued reimbursement and cost-cutting concerns, we are seeing changing roles and scopes of responsibility for executive positions, which will affect how executives are paid by both the level and the manner of pay,” said SullivanCotter Executive Compensation Practice Leader Kathy Hastings. “While the general trend is to budget the same level for executive increases as for non-executive employees, organizations are making market adjustments as needed to address the changing scope of responsibilities and recruitment and retention concerns.”

The SullivanCotter Manager and Executive Compensation in Hospitals and Health Systems Survey is the largest survey of its kind for hospitals and health systems nationwide. It provides data to help health care industry leaders meet the challenges of regulatory compliance and performance-driven executive compensation.

“The 2013 survey also provided us with data on new jobs representing emerging roles in the marketplace, such as chief patient experience officer, top accountable care executive and top clinical integration executive,” added Managing Principal Tom Pavlik.

Last year’s report contained data from over 1,300 responding organizations comprising more than 300 health systems and 1,000 hospitals, including data for nearly 23,000 executives and managers. The 2014 survey includes new simplified reporting, particularly around organizational characteristics and background information on the organization. In addition, 35 new positions were added, such as head of accountable care organization (ACO) physician network development, health plan top information services executive, head of innovation and ACO chief medical officer, among others.

Now in its 22nd year, the 2014 survey is open for participation through the SullivanCotter Client Portal. For more information on SullivanCotter surveys, registration or participation, please visit our website or contact us by phone at 888.739.7039.