Now.....for the downside - corporate is always corporate and we need them, however, there is a great disconnect between what they do and their understanding and appreciation of what we do. This amounts to some very disrespectful treatment from higher up. Also - and this is a HUGE part of my gripe - our salaries are miserable. It is my understanding that the docs and the administrators are handsomely compensated throughout the healthcare system (as they are everywhere) but the "lesser" employees receive paltry raises on salaries that are not very competitive. One thing I find hilarious (and it speaks to the disrespect I mentioned earlier) is when I asked for a market analysis of my own position several years ago I was told that because we are in a rural area this is a fair salary. Really? We are thirty minutes from the state capital and an hour and a half from the national capital. It isn't THAT rural - and besides - do the insurance companies pay US less because we serve a "rural" area? No, of course they do not. Being lied to is insulting. I have a four year degree and have been in my position for almost ten years here. My position requires the experience and education that I bring to it. After taxes and health insurance are taken out I bring home less than $500 a week. I have a BA and a post-bacc certificate and I make less than $500 a week after taxes. UGH. The health insurance is expensive and has grown more so over the years. It covers less and less and the deductibles keep growing. I work a second job to make ends meet, and so do about half of the other people in my office. It is truly disheartening. I feel like the healthcare system takes advantage of people like myself who still have children at home and appreciate NOT going into the city to work. And I have seen it over and over again - great and competent employees stay here for a time and then when personal circumstances permit them to do so they jump ship for higher paying jobs. Why have the high turnover when you can have people paid well and keep them? I don't get it.
