Practice managers: bigger role, bigger pay

THE increasing complexity of running a general practice means practice managers are doing more than ever but are also attracting better salaries.They are now taking on more financial, human resources, information and risk management responsibilities, as well as business planning and marketing, according to the 2007 salary survey of Australian practice managers.

The biennial survey of 500 practice managers, by University of New England (UNE) Partnerships and the Australian Association of Practice Managers (AAPM), also revealed full-time workers had attracted a $3422 rise in average salary, from $54,500 in 2005 to $57,922 this year.

The figures were due to be presented at this week’s AAPM conference in Hobart.

Professor Geoffrey Meredith, academic director of practice management programs at UNE Partnerships, said the results reflected the growing importance of practice managers, particularly in finance and human resources.

James Bishop, practice manager at the Longevity Medical Centre in Doncaster, Victoria, said the role was “more varied... because of the amount of bureaucracies being imposed on general practice”.

And AMA Council of General Practice chair Dr Rod Pearce said the practice manager’s role in team care was “critical”.

“Part of that is people who are skilled at their job running a practice, running a business and running a health service – if you pay them peanuts you will get monkeys,” he said.

To make ends meet though “rebates have got to be high, or at least the fees charged have to be high”.