Increased Demand, Salaries for Advanced Practice Clinicians

The health care industry has indicated an increased demand for advanced practice clinicians (APC), leading to an increase in salaries for this group, according to a recent survey.

The 2012 Advanced Practice Clinician Compensation and Pay Practices Survey from the American Medical Group Association (AMGA) and health care compensation and human resources management consulting firm Sullivan, Cotter and Associates, Inc., revealed high demand for clinical professionals.

Almost two-thirds of respondents reported a 17% increase in the PAC workforce over the last year. Plus, 53% expect to increase their APC workforce by 15% over the next 12 months.

"For years, we have seen the movement towards a more team-based, coordinated approach to patient care,” AMGA President and Chief Executive Officer Donald W. Fisher, PhD, CAE, said in a statement. “As more and more groups expand these models throughout their organizations, they now will have the tools to systematically track and benchmark changes in this area, which will help them in their strategic and financial planning for continued growth and success."

Over the last year, 62% of respondents reported that they had increased APC salaries by an average of 3.9%. On average, more than half of them plan to further increase salaries for APCs by 3.1% over the next year.

"While reported salary increases continue to be moderate, the increases show no sign of abating," SullivanCotter Principal Kay Jensen said in a statement. "Drivers of demand and salary increases include responses to physician shortages and repositioning of the workforce to ensure all medical professionals can work to the top of their practice level."