Despite their high salaries, hospitals are having difficulties recruiting hospitalists (doctors who especially look after hospitalized patients). Data shows that the annual salary of hospitalists ranges between 100 million won and 120 million won ($87,000 to $104,000). (Image : Kobizmedia / Korea Bizwire)
SEOUL, March 30 (Korea Bizwire) – Despite their high salaries, hospitals are having difficulties recruiting hospitalists (doctors who especially look after hospitalized patients). Data shows that the annual salary of hospitalists ranges between 100 million won and 120 million won ($87,000 to $104,000).
Hospitalists are doctors who manage and look after hospitalized patients, and work night duties. The current system was adopted from the U.S. in 2003 to improve the working conditions of medical residents, who work over 100 hours a week.
Kim Yo-eun, the head researcher at Korea Hospital Management Institute, conducted a survey with the participation of 39 medical institutes, asking them about the hospitalist system.
Nearly 40 percent (39.6 percent) of the respondents answered that their annual salary was between 100 million won and 120 million won.
However, despite the high salaries, not many are willing to apply for the job.
Dong-A University hospital suggested a $209,000 annual salary to recruit a hospitalist for its emergency room. However, nobody applied for the job. Seoul National University Hospital and Seoul Samsung Hospital also suggested an annual salary of $87,000, but couldn’t find a person for the spot.
Kim claims that money is not the reason the positions are vacant. “Hospitalists don’t have a clear future in Korea. Doctors are afraid to apply for those positions because the role they play in the hospital as well as the future of their career is unclear.”
Kim points out that the hospitals should be able to give a clear explanation of the role and responsibility of hospitalists to medical residents, doctors and professors in medicine. What kind of position they would hold within a hospital and whether they would have a chance to remain at the hospital after the expiration of their contract are questions that should be answered in order to recruit doctors for the positions.
“The annual salary may be high, but it doesn’t include the uncertain future and anxiety of the applicants”, Kim pointed out. “Applicants won’t be satisfied just because they get massive amounts of money. Their role in the hospital should be clear, and a clear vision of the future has to be given to them”, she added.
By Francine Jung (francine.jung@kobizmedia.co.kr)
