SDPA Completes its 2024 Practice Survey Report of Dermatology PAs Nationwide

Jul 8, 2024

For the first time since 2017, the Society of Dermatology Physician Associates (SDPA) has undertaken a detailed and comprehensive nationwide survey of dermatology PAs (DermPAs™) on all aspects of their healthcare practice, including compensation and benefits. The final 2024 SDPA Practice Survey Report is now available to all SDPA members who completed the survey and will be made available to all PA members of SDPA after a six-month period. The report provides valuable data detailing the work performed by DermPAs™ across the nation to provide important dermatological care to millions of patients.

SDPA engaged the services of Western Management Group (WMG), an independent third-party firm specializing in studies of this type, to conduct the survey on its behalf. Conducted online in February and March 2024, the survey collected data from 994 individual dermatology PAs across the United States. Various aspects of dermatology PA work and life incorporated into the study include examinations of practice type and size, procedures performed, level of responsibility, personal billings, and collections for the 2023 calendar year.

The final report details several key findings, including:

• Most respondents were females between the ages of 31 and 51. Eighty-one percent of respondents were female, while the large plurality (42.3%) were between the ages of 31 and 40. Respondents reported a median of eight years of experience as a DermPA™ and 10 years of experience working as a PA overall.
• Nearly all respondents provide medical dermatology as part of their PA practice. A majority also provide either cosmetic (74%) or surgical (80%) dermatology services. Similarly, 98% of respondents reported that they perform procedures as part of their practice. Of those who perform procedures, nearly all perform medical procedures, while 64% perform cosmetic procedures, with the injection of neurotoxins such as Botox being the most common, and 97% perform surgical procedures including excisions.
• The most common type of dermatology practice reported was a Single-Specialty Group Practice (55% of respondents), followed by a Solo Physician Practice (28%), while the most common type of practice location was suburban (62%).
• The most common caseload reported was 21-30 patients per day (47%), and 101-150 patients per week (42%). Respondents reported spending a median of 32 hours per week scheduled face-to-face with patients, with an additional median of three hours scheduled administrative time and three hours of unscheduled administrative time per week. DermPAs™ responding to the survey reported performing a median of 42 full body skin exams on patients each week.
• A majority of respondents reported having an advanced degree related to their PA practice. The most popular degree was a Master of Physician Assistant Studies (MPAS), which was earned by 63.5% of respondents.
• The majority of respondents (94.6%)said they prescribe biologics to their patients, but only 54% reported that their practice has a biologic coordinator.
• Sixty percent of respondents reported performing telehealth services such as video or telephone dermatology appointments with patients.
• Median total annual compensation (including base pay and any form of additional pay) for DermPAs™ increased by 23% over the 2017 survey figure.
• There was a large degree of variance reported in pay influenced by several factors. Years of experience had a major impact on compensation, with those with more than 20 years of experience working as a DermPA™ earning 81% more than those with less than three years. Geography was also a driving factor, with an observed gap in median pay between states as large as 55%. In contrast, having an advanced degree did not see increased compensation as a result on average.
• Another significant factor correlating with compensation was gender. Though women far outnumbered men in the surveyed population (81% to 19%), the men reported median total compensation 37% higher than the women. The men generally reported more experience than the surveyed women, but not to an extent equivalent to the difference in pay.
• A majority (61.3%) of respondents experienced at least some burnout in their job over the last year.
• When asked about the best part of their job, the most common answers given by DermPAs™ completing the survey referred to patient care and positive patient outcomes or to working with their colleagues and collaborating on a medical team.
• The biggest challenges reported by DermPAs™ on the survey included frustrations resulting from dealing with patient insurance plans or other healthcare payers, feeling overbooked with a high volume of patients, and challenges resulting from staffing shortages, such as not having enough medical support staff.

About SDPA

The Society of Dermatology Physician Associates (SDPA), founded in 1994, is a 501c6 non-profit professional organization composed of members who provide medical services with the collaboration of a board-certified dermatologist. With more than 4,750 members, the SDPA is committed to advancing the care of patients through the education and empowerment of DermPAs™. For more information, visit dermpa.org or follow the SDPA on Facebook, Twitter (@dermPA), Instagram (@derm_pa) and LinkedIn.