The economic environment of resident physicians
D. E. Hough and G. J. Bazzoli
We examined the financial, working, and educational environment of resident
physicians, using mail surveys of residents conducted in 1979 and 1983.
Variables examined include annual residency salary, fringe benefits,
educational debt, moonlighting income, hours and types of work, and
perceived problems with the residency programs. Three conclusions are drawn
from the surveys. First, the rapid increases in resident salaries prevalent
in the late 1960s and early 1970s have been replaced by more modest
advances. Second, resident physicians are not indicating great concern
about their current financial status. Third, resident physicians work long
hours, but teaching hospitals have not increased their use of residents.
These findings illustrate the dual nature of residency training: residents
are both students and employees.
