Ten-Year Follow-up Survey of Clinical Neuropsychologists: Part II. Private Practice and Economics

Analyses of a 10-year follow-up survey of clinical neuropsychologists demonstrated significant changes in employment settings away from institutions, placing a clear majority of the field in private practice settings in 1999 (Sweet, Moberg, & Suchy, 2000). The present paper compares characteristics of practices and beliefs of clinical neuropsychologists who work in institutions versus private practice, using data from 1989, 1994, and 1999. Previous survey data had not been analyzed along the dimension of work setting. Among the significant findings are differences in age, referral sources, hours per week engaged in specific professional activities (clinical, neuropsychological, forensic, supervisory, research, teaching), ages of patients, type and frequency of data gathered in assessments, hours spent per evaluation, use of an assistant to gather data, and journal subscriptions. Economic changes within the last 5 years have had a differential impact for the two groups in terms of yearly income and hourly reimbursement. However, approximately half of the neuropsychologists in both groups have increased hours performing clinical work, hours performing administrative duties, and patient load to compensate for economic changes in the last 5 years. Decreases in clinical research and teaching activities are apparent in both groups, but in different amounts.