I don't know where you're seeing FM docs compensated at that level with that much time off, but it simply isn't the case in what I've seen. I actually considered FM for a short period of time after spending time at a rural site where FM did everything (clinic, rounding, EM coverage).
As much as I liked the place and that style of do everything practice, the bottom line was a guarantee of $190k a year that went down 10% a year - with no floor - each year you didn't bonus (at a threshhold of $390,000) for 5.5 days a week of work + Q3 call.
I could easily see myself in a position where I would never meet that production threshhold and find myself with a decreasing annual income in a community that small.
With hospitalists making $170,000 for 14 days a month and EM guys making $250,000 for much less work - and with $150,000 in student loans, it simply wasn't a decision I could make.
First of all check out this discussion
http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=580976
whoaaaaaaaaaa your post is skewed.... ER docs doing less work than Hospitalists??? Have you actually done both? Nooo way, no how.... Hmmm lets analyze...
code after code, 'oh no, not the helicopter again, that is dropping off the decompensating left ventricular aneurysm patient, what about the car accident with multiple fractures and epidural hematoma and L.O.C. coming in from the ambulance at the exact same time?? Man, it is the end of my shift?!' vs Pneumonia and Intractable Migraine, Placement issue, already worked up in the ED.
Some shifts we have tough nights, but not
nearly the mental, and physical effort (exhaustion) at times vs the ED docs. Not even close. And as far as compensation?? No -- that is not at all accurate. There isn't a Hospitalist that makes less than $200 K. If there is, then bravo for them.
No no no no no that is not accurate, ER docs making $250 K for much less work. We make almost the same monetarily, and the ER docs do much more work. My good friend is an ER doc (ER certified) in the same system. Although he works a few less shifts than I do, (on
most but not all months) we make around the same, and he works significantly harder. He works at least 6 nights per month, I work as many as I want to (0-4 maximum, and I do
not have to stay in the Hospital).
ER doc works the
full 12 hour shift (as a matter of fact usually at least one hour more), as opposed to me -- I go home at around 1-2 p.m. unless I am admitting. I have been finished at 11 a.m (rounding, starting at 8 a.m.). You tell me who is working harder? It is hard work -- it is challenging, but not nearly as hard as other specialties -- plus the lifestyle issue -- shiftwork. I am done when I choose to done, and I have significant time off every month.
5.5 days on Q3 call is misery -- not worth any amount of money in my opinion.
This is not at all accurate. There is no truth in your statment. E.R. is burnout dude, any way that you approach it, or try to deny it.
Hospitalist medicine presents a
much better lifestyle than the ER.
I will give you the benefit of doubt here though, because I suppose it does depend what planet you are on. Here on earth, ER Medicine is more rigorous, harder than Hospitalist Medicine (on
most shifts), and most certainly does
not pay significantly more money.
Please try again.
Feel free to pm me if you have any questions.
