INDIAN HEALTH SERVICE PODIATRY UPDATE - WHERE WE ARE

Rick Robinson DPMIHS Annual Podiatry MeetingPhoenix, AZNovember 22, 2014

Survey of IHS Podiatrists

10 questions Designed by Dave Lau DPM 20 respondents Myriad of topics

Question 1 – Are you an I/T/U employee? 60% - IHS/GS employee 35% - Tribal 5% - Contractor

Question 2 – What is your GS level (or equivalent)? 11.11% - GS-13 44.44% - GS-14 27.78% - GS-15 16.67% - other

2 respondents skipped this question

Question 3 - What is your grade/step or tribal equivalent if applicable? Averaged 16 answered; 4 skipped GS-13 responders; average of GS-

13/9 GS-14 responders; average of GS-

14/8+ GS-15 responders; average of GS-

15/7+

Question 4 - What is your annual salary? 19 respondents – 1 skipped Range from 92,000-215,000 Some listed salary with answers

such as “> than 200,000” or GS grade/step with no exact figure given

One answer was given as “?”

Question 4, continued

Had to guesstimate average of responses listed purely as GS grade/step

Average - $138,880

Question 5 – Do you receive one of the “3 R’s” bonus? 17 answered – 3 skipped 10 – retention bonus – 58.82% 1 – relocation bonus – 5.88% 0 – recruitment bonus 6 – N/A – presumably tribal

Question 6 – Do you do surgery in the OR at your site? 20 respondents 9 – yes 7 – no Of the 7 who answered no, 6 out of 7

perform surgery at outside facilities or in clinic

4 – N/A

Question 7 – Are you happy with your salary? 19 respondents – 1 skipped 8 – yes 6 – no 1 – “not unhappy” 1 – “somewhat” 1 – “for the most part” 1 – “should be higher” 1 – “I was until it started to

decrease”

Question 8 - What type of residency did you do? Quite a bit of diversity within 20 respondents Shows evolution of profession/training PSR-36 PSR-24 PPMR/PSR-24 RPR/PSR-24 PM and S – 36 RPR/PSR/fellowship PSR-12 PPMR/PSR-12 RPR

Question 9 – How many years have you been with the IHS? 20 responses Range – 2 yrs to 27 years Average - 10.2 years

Question 10 - Additional Comments and Suggestions 10 respondents – 10 skipped “I am the department director as well

as an administrator” “VA just got raises and I hope that

extends to podiatrists” “Director of Department” “Unity as one professional group is

paramount in moving forward within the system to create parity for us and for those who follow”

Question 10, continued

“I receive no overtime pay or incentive bonuses. For our pay, our service takes call 24/7 for diabetic limb and all foot and ankle trauma. We also admit and run an inpatient service averaging 10 people at a time”.

“I hold an administrative position with 25% clinical”.

“Basically, the podiatry department provides all the services a foot and ankle orthopedist does at significantly less compensation”.

Question 10, continued

“I strongly believe it is time for all of us to get paid equivalent Market Pay GS-15, top step; retention bonuses are on their way out (plus, it’s demeaning to keep begging for their renewal each year), and our training/experience is far too valuable to bicker about who of us should be paid less; it’s time we start supporting one another and new graduates who are coming out with an astonishing amount of debt. This will go a long way to raise the level of respect we get from other practitioners as well and their appreciation of our value/services”.

Question 10, continued

“I am also the diabetes director over two SDPI grants with a staff of 10, so my salary may reflect that level of administrative duty”.

“I would like to finish my career with the IHS; however, with the paltry retirement based on my base salary alone (and not base salary plus retention bonus), I could conceivably go work in the outside world at a MUCH higher salary for 10 years and receive a retirement amount greater than if I had worked for the feds for 25 years”!

Recommendations

More collaboration and interaction with VA – strength in numbers/commonality

IHS/DoD/PHS historically follows VA Jeff Robbins DPM – “Don’t get mad –

get data” Ideas for further surveys? All of us here today are witnessing

the rebirth of IHS podiatry – let’s move forward!

Many thanks to…

Dave Lau DPM – whittling down many questions into a (free!) 10-question www.surveymonkey.com format

All respondents for their candid responses