Home medical equipment companies have slightly increased hiring and most are giving their employees raises, according to a recent survey conducted by HomeCare magazine.
The results of the reader poll largely were in line with past years, but there was an uptick in the number of companies that added staff. This had hovered around 50% for 2012 and 2013, but a clear majority said they added staff during 2014, according to a pie chart illustrating the latest responses.
Most HME workers can count on wage increases: More than 60% of companies reported giving raises in 2014. Fewer than one in five companies reported frozen salaries.These results were consistent with the prior year.
Some of those with clinical roles, including nurses and respiratory therapists, reported lower income for 2014 than 2013. C-suite salaries also were down, with chief executive officers/presidents and controllers/finance vice presidents both reporting a lower average wage. CEOs/presidents reported an average salary of $136,004 for 2013, compared with $113,760 for 2014.
Compliance officers and accounts receivable managers were among those reporting higher average wages in the most recent survey.
Holidays, vacation and medical insurance consistently rank as the most common employee benefits. However, fewer than 80% of companies said they offered medical insurance in 2014, which was a slight decrease from the previous year.
The survey was conducted during the last several months of 2014. While the results did not differ strikingly from past years, HomeCare Editors Stephanie Gibson and Jennifer Cox noted that compensation is under increased scrutiny as the health care industry undergoes significant changes.
Written by Tim Mullaney
