Evaluating the Impact of Relative Value Unit-Based Compensation on Emergency Physician Performance and Operational Outcomes

Highlight

• Transitioning from hourly to RVU-based compensation does not significantly affect emergency department productivity or billing intensity.
• No appreciable change was observed in key operational outcomes such as patient left without being seen rates or length of stay.
• Advanced practice provider hours increased relative to physician hours in some models after transitioning to RVU compensation.
• Clinician satisfaction and safety indicators, including clinician attrition and 72-hour return admissions, remained stable across compensation models.

Study Background