Future anesthesia job market ?

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Do you recommend going into Anesthesia (projected residency graduation in 2019)

  • Yes

    Votes: 93 38.8%
  • No

    Votes: 59 24.6%
  • not sure, too hard to predict

    Votes: 90 37.5%

  • Total voters
    240
If you had to go back right now... What would you have done differently?
Become a CRNA. Fraction of the time, fraction of the debt, less stress, less responsibility, mad cash.

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Almost five years out, still love my job and very happy with my choice.

That's gotta be brutal for the people who spent so much time preparing for a job they now hate. Although I think some people aren't that good at life and will always be unhappy. Also, it's not like the challenges in medicine and anesthesiology came out of the blue. Unless you've been practicing for 15-20 years, you knew changes were coming. If you didn't prepare for it that's on you.

If you know what you're doing you can absolutely choose anesthesiology and be happy.
 
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I love my job as well, but knowing what I know right now, how things are likely to play out over the next 20 years, I'd just tell my old self to go into Ortho. Then I'd have a stable career in a nice field and never worry about all the BS that's on the horizon.
Since I can't do that, I'll keep hiding out in my sweet academic gig and plan for early retirement, and probably cut back to 80% time sooner rather than later.
 
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I love my job as well, but knowing what I know right now, how things are likely to play out over the next 20 years, I'd just tell my old self to go into Ortho. Then I'd have a stable career in a nice field and never worry about all the BS that's on the horizon.

Orthopedic surgeons are more and more becoming hospital employees. Their future isn't that much brighter.
 
Again illustrating the difficulty of the what-if scenarios and advice that come up in these threads ... :)

We get a skewed view on SDN of applicants with 250 Step 1 scores, but the truth is that at least 80-90% of anesthesia residents in the country wouldn't have been competitive for an orthopedics or ENT spot, the two surgical specialties that get pointed to most often in these "best future" threads.


To any undecided med students reading this thread, if you're a brilliant top-10%-er, you have some great options.

If you're not a brilliant top-10%-er, and you can't do ortho or ENT, what then? You could do internal medicine, and THEN become brilliant and excel, and land a GI or cardiology fellowship. But we're back to the same basic advice: "be brilliant" and the world is your oyster.


I would humbly suggest that anyone who has the option of doing ortho probably also has the brains and drive to make a great career out of anesthesiology, even in this climate. The top 10% of anesthesiologists are going to do well for themselves, even in a gloomy world where 75% of anesthesiologists are hospital or AMC employees.

Telling the bottom 80% of would-be anesthesiologists that they should pick ortho instead is like telling a minor league baseball player that he should just go play football for the New England Patriots instead.

:'(
I'm competitive for ortho and ent. I really wanted to like ent but didn't.
I hope to be that 10%
 
The only ortho guys I know who really have it made financially much better than anesthesia are the ones who own a couple surgery centers, and most of those work like dogs- 6 days a week and see their wife and kids in time to say good night. I was between anesthesia and ortho and I'm glad I chose anesthesia. Yeah, we have our challenges, but I wouldn't trade with the orthos I know now or have known over the years. Many surgeons I interact with are strung out- I honestly don't encounter that with anesthesiologists for the most part.
 
I don't mean to cross my boundries as an ms4 graduate,but i REALLY cannot help wondering:everybody's talking numbers averaging between 300-400k.You all still are and will be making a lot more than primary care specialities and neurology,paeds etc. which you will probably agree require more knowledge base and have tougher residencies?I'm trying to make up my mind between anesthesiology and neurology,hence this little say.I don't see what's all the complaining about.Yes,not a hefty bank balance that you had hoped for but still much better than the fields i mentioned.My common sense tells me MDs will replace CRNAs by settling for a bit lower income than what used to be.That is if MDs stick together,take control and take what belongs to them as physicians with specialised skills.
 
You all still are and will be making a lot more than primary care specialities and neurology,paeds etc. which you will probably agree require more knowledge base and have tougher residencies?

The only thing I'll probably agree to is you being an idiot. Maybe you shouldn't make assumptions about an entire field based on the little to no knowledge you have of it? Please do not become an anesthesiologist.
 
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Almost five years out, still love my job and very happy with my choice.

That's gotta be brutal for the people who spent so much time preparing for a job they now hate. Although I think some people aren't that good at life and will always be unhappy. Also, it's not like the challenges in medicine and anesthesiology came out of the blue. Unless you've been practicing for 15-20 years, you knew changes were coming. If you didn't prepare for it that's on you.

If you know what you're doing you can absolutely choose anesthesiology and be happy.

I agree on all points. I'm 1.5 years out only. But, I really do like what I do most days. Is it perfect? PERFECT? Ah, no...... But, it's a good gig.
 
.You all still are and will be making a lot more than primary care specialities and neurology,paeds etc. which you will probably agree require more knowledge base and have tougher residencies?

I'm about 99% certain anesthesiology requires a much broader base of knowledge than any primary care specialty. We have to understand every organ system in every age patient from neonates to centenarians and have to develop a nice set of technical skills as well.

As for tougher residencies, well let's just say that admitting patients and writing notes is not exactly that hard. I found my first week of CA1 year tougher than an entire month of being a medicine intern. It's just physically and mentally hard. Long hours, stressful situations, etc that go way beyond anything medicine people do. I mean what's the worst thing they do? Run a code at 3 in the morning with their pager going off 4 times for admissions?
 
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The only thing I'll probably agree to is you being an idiot. Maybe you shouldn't make assumptions about an entire field based on the little to no knowledge you have of it? Please do not become an anesthesiologist.
I concur, he's an absolute idiot and I'm not even going into anesthesiology.
 
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The only thing I'll probably agree to is you being an idiot. Maybe you shouldn't make assumptions about an entire field based on the little to no knowledge you have of it? Please do not become an anesthesiologist.
Did you notice the question mark?I'm not even gonna tell you which question mark and where,i wasnt making any assumptions.Yes,i know little about the field,doesnt make me an idiot.That rude response suggests you're a loud mouth jacka** with anger issues.I shouldn't become an anesthesiologist? You should'nt even be a doctor with that kind of attitude.Spare me your d**k attitude and not come back with another provoking post.How dare you call me an idiot on a public forum on the net.
 
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I'm about 99% certain anesthesiology requires a much broader base of knowledge than any primary care specialty. We have to understand every organ system in every age patient from neonates to centenarians and have to develop a nice set of technical skills as well.
This gentleman did notice the question mark and replied sanely.I didnot know that,now i do.Thankyou.
 
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I concur, he's an absolute idiot and I'm not even going into anesthesiology.
Same goes for you.Go "CONCUR"",lol(the only time i've heard that being used so IDIOTICALLY is leonardo de-caprio in 'catch me if you can')
 
To the others following this thread who've had to read all of that,please pardon me,i know how much you would like to vent your thoughts on those posts but that person calling me an idiot was uncalled for.
 
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To the others following this thread who've had to read all of that,please pardon me,i know how much you would like to vent your thoughts on those posts but that person calling me an idiot was uncalled for.
Ok. Well then shift your focus to me now - you're a blithering idiot.
 
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Ok. Well then shift your focus to me now - you're a blithering idiot.
Lol,knock yourself out,i'm not wasting my time bickering with bully-ish stupid-ass *****s clearly frustrated with their pathetic lives,what a pitty :laugh: .I'm outta here.
 
Lol,knock yourself out,i'm not wasting my time bickering with bully-ish stupid-ass *****s clearly frustrated with their pathetic lives,what a pitty :laugh: .I'm outta here.
Peace out! Work on your grammar, fool.
 
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Lol, page 12 was entertaining. Who's next?
 
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Did you notice the question mark?I'm not even gonna tell you which question mark and where,i wasnt making any assumptions.Yes,i know little about the field,doesnt make me an idiot.That rude response suggests you're a loud mouth jacka** with anger issues.I shouldn't become an anesthesiologist? You should'nt even be a doctor with that kind of attitude.Spare me your d**k attitude and not come back with another provoking post.How dare you call me an idiot on a public forum on the net.

+pity+
 
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You just came in and ruined this thread. Thanks. @EVOLVED9
Nobody would stand being talked to that way,it was all silly and i'm sure will be laughed off.For the disruption i've caused,my sincere apologies.
 
I don't forgive you for coming onto the anesthesia forum and posting a bunch of ignorant nonsense.
Go reread your post where you assert our residency is easy, we don't have to know as much medicine as a primary care provider, and we're overpaid. Then reflect on why you got such a warm welcome. I'd explain why all of that is wrong, but it's not worth the effort.
 
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I don't mean to cross my boundries as an ms4 graduate,but i REALLY cannot help wondering:everybody's talking numbers averaging between 300-400k.You all still are and will be making a lot more than primary care specialities and neurology,paeds etc. which you will probably agree require more knowledge base and have tougher residencies?I'm trying to make up my mind between anesthesiology and neurology,hence this little say.I don't see what's all the complaining about.Yes,not a hefty bank balance that you had hoped for but still much better than the fields i mentioned.My common sense tells me MDs will replace CRNAs by settling for a bit lower income than what used to be.That is if MDs stick together,take control and take what belongs to them as physicians with specialised skills.

Neurology. You're perfect for it.
 
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With the way you write, I'm surprised when you mention that you are a 'MS4 graduate' whatever that means. More likely, you are a high school student (not a very good one at that), your Daddy is a family doc, and you really want to go to college and eventually onto medical school. Unfortunately you are below the 50th percentile in your high school class and are looking at an RN program at your local technical college. Good luck and buy-bye!


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With the way you write, I'm surprised when you mention that you are a 'MS4 graduate' whatever that means. More likely, you are a high school student (not a very good one at that), your Daddy is a family doc, and you really want to go to college and eventually onto medical school. Unfortunately you are below the 50th percentile in your high school class and are looking at an RN program at your local technical college. Good luck and buy-bye!


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Careful, they will probably end up being one of our CRNA overlords someday.
 
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Read his prior posts. He's an Indian grad and sounds like he's full of ****. Every time he posts his test scores they get better. I don't know, maybe he's been studying for boards the last several years. Bounces from one specialty to the next saying how passionate he is about it then asking how much $$$ he can make.

I don't think he'd fit in very well in anesthesia, at least no where I've worked.
 
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You read my posts??lol!!..man!! Ur such a sucker..i'm just laughing my ass off here..dude,what part of all this made you believe i'm actually an indian,and i'm even the same person or an ms4??man!! I was tryna be all civil and respectfull and all,now i just dont give a sh**,nd the guy who talked about my daddy,son my daddy is the daddy of your daddy's daddy.now i'm through with you uptight loud mouths,you talk more and work less.. I jst cant stop laughing.just shut the **** up,stop bitching,be men,grow a pair and rev your damn careers instead of wasting your time criticisng your selves,me and every bob who comes in,lol!! Im reading this bcracp jibber jabber again.i got serious stuff to do.happy weekend.Please try and save your time,seriously!!! Lol
 
You read my posts??lol!!..man!! Ur such a sucker..i'm just laughing my ass off here..dude,what part of all this made you believe i'm actually an indian,and i'm even the same person or an ms4??man!! I was tryna be all civil and respectfull and all,now i just dont give a sh**,nd the guy who talked about my daddy,son my daddy is the daddy of your daddy's daddy.now i'm through with you uptight loud mouths,you talk more and work less.. I jst cant stop laughing.just shut the **** up,stop bitching,be men,grow a pair and rev your damn careers instead of wasting your time criticisng your selves,me and every bob who comes in,lol!! Im reading this bcracp jibber jabber again.i got serious stuff to do.happy weekend.Please try and save your time,seriously!!! Lol

Don't go away mad. Just go away.
 
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Based on what I am reading here, I don't believe this Evolved9 person is even an adult. I don't know any adults who write/talk like that. So weird.
 
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Since his post admits he's not a medical student, etc and has posted lies, can he be banned? Just a thought. While we do complain, debate nuances of challenging cases, discuss fine whisky, guns and autos, we try to be generally helpful. There's no time or tolerance for teenagers and posers.
 
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We don't have a local school and they're not licensed in our state yet, buT my private group is going to start teaching them. I signed up to be a preceptor.

Bringing in snakes to kill the rats I see
 
Bringing in snakes to kill the rats I see

Actually as I understand it the AAs are preferable. They report to our medical board, not the nursing board. It gives us control.
 
Bringing in snakes to kill the rats I see
They're more like cats than snakes. Much as with physician assistants, anesthesiologist assistants aren't exactly clamoring for independent practice and generally appreciate the collaborative relationship that they have with their physician.
 
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AmSurg’s Physician Services Division, Sheridan, Acquires Northside Anesthesiology Consultants, LLC
December 16, 2015 04:05 PM Eastern Standard Time


NASHVILLE, Tenn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sheridan, the Physician Services division of AmSurg Corp. (NASDAQ: AMSG), today announced its acquisition of Northside Anesthesiology Consultants, LLC (NAC), which marks Sheridan’s initial entry into the anesthesia specialty in the Atlanta, Georgia, market, as well as the entire state. NAC has 60 physicians providing care in the market and is the exclusive provider of anesthesiology for Northside Hospital Healthcare System, which owns and operates three acute care hospitals and 24 associated sites throughout the greater Atlanta market. In addition to its physician providers, NAC also employs 125 anesthetists, as well as other clinical and administrative personnel.

$AMSG AMSURG’S PHYSICIAN SERVICES DIVISION, SHERIDAN, ACQUIRES NORTHSIDE ANESTHESIOLOGY CONSULTANTS, LLC

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Dr. K. Douglas Smith, Chairman of NAC, commented, “NAC has always maintained a strong commitment to delivering high quality care to the patients who visit our client facilities. We believe that in AmSurg-Sheridan, NAC has found a partner that can both reinforce our commitment to clinical excellence and enhance our ability to grow in the marketplace. Together, we represent a powerful combination of shared values and complementary expertise.”

Robert Coward, President of Sheridan and Chief Development Officer for AmSurg, added, “We are appreciative of NAC’s vote of confidence and selection of Sheridan as its partner. In an increasingly complex and demanding healthcare environment, we believe Sheridan can provide NAC with vital delivery platform components, expertise and resources, all backed by a shared, physician-centric culture. We look forward to working with NAC’s outstanding team to continue providing high quality care and to expanding our new presence in this large market.”
 
AmSurg’s Physician Services Division, Sheridan, Acquires Northside Anesthesiology Consultants, LLC
December 16, 2015 04:05 PM Eastern Standard Time


NORTHSIDE ANESTHESIOLOGY CONSULTANTS, LLC

Damn.. This was one of the larger groups in ATL and from what I heard, a desirable and difficult group to break into. Actually would've liked to work here one day. Unfortunate.
 
How were anesthesiologists in terms of job security in 2015?

I thought this was an interesting read, from 2003:


August 2003 Volume 67, Number 8
Ventilations: It's Nothing Personal, But You're Fired Mark J. Lema, M.D., Ph.D. Editor


The concept of getting a pink slip in one's paycheck is unthinkable to almost every physician. In fact, society generally believes that having a medical degree is a license for guaranteed employment. Unlike executives and ball players who plan for premature extinction, doctors just fade away. Moreover, being an anesthesiologist in 2003 is second only to being a radiologist when it comes to job security.


At one time, doctors were practically immune to losing their jobs. As hospitals and universities continue to downsize and economize, however, doctors are now vulnerable to layoffs. According to Wayne Sotile, Ph.D., a Winston-Salem, North Carolina, psychologist, his consulting group has seen more laid-off physicians in the past five years than in the prior 20 years.1


When one hears of a physician being laid off or not promoted to partner status in the medical group, the first impression one has is that of incompetence or incompatibility. However, excellent physicians are now getting caught in the crossfire between institutions and payers. Dr. Sotile states that laid-off doctors "…feel ashamed, like 'I have failed.'"2


Recent events across the nation confirm an unprecedented change in physician practice security according to a recent article in American Medical News (AMN).1


1998 – Allegheny General Hospital released several psychiatrists.


2003 – Las Vegas University Medical Center laid off up to 15 physicians.


2003 – Waltham Hospital closed after 17 years, and eight to 10 physicians lost their jobs.


2003 – Detroit Medical Center laid off 1,000 workers, including staff physicians.


Three physicians who are highlighted in the AMN article reveal the emotions that any doctor would feel if notified of being terminated. For physicians accustomed to succeeding, being fired provokes feelings of worthlessness, depression and self-doubt. Each physician in the article stressed the importance of collegial commiseration and family support during the transitional period.


In reality, there is always some location in which unemployed physicians can secure another position. Practically speaking, though, giving up one's familiar surroundings, established prestige and comfortable practice can be psychologically devastating. In addition, the physician's family often becomes "collateral damage," suffering loss of economic security, long-time friends and familiar surroundings. Changing practice and living location ranks high on the Holmes and Raye scale of stressors.


Unemployed qualified doctors are fortunate in that they will almost always find a job. During the "in-between-jobs" period, however, the physician has an opportunity to evaluate what he or she wants in his or her personal and professional life. Most importantly, doctors need to network with their colleagues in order to expand their opportunities. Although salaried physicians are by definition the most vulnerable to termination, contract physicians also can be adversely affected if their main hospital closes or economically decredentials them. Salaried physicians often seek an independent private practice environment to become their own bosses. In most cases, they succeed beyond the point they would have achieved if they had kept their former jobs.


You might think that this article has little if any impact on your practice arrangements. Competing anesthesiology groups in the same hospital are generally rare. "Takeovers" by other groups, once common in the mid-1990s, are stalled because of the anesthesiology personnel shortage. A number of our colleagues, though, may still be subject to dismissal or forced resignation (retirement) by coworkers in more subtle ways than receiving a pink slip.


Should you become a victim of downsizing, here are a few guidelines to help you navigate a rapid change of jobs.


What to Do if Terminated3


• Do not take a layoff by an institution personally. In this business-oriented medical care environment, the bottom line often governs the decision (e.g., closure of an unprofitable pain center).
• Network with colleagues who know you and can vouch for your skills when you are seeking potential job contacts.
• Assess your own strengths and weaknesses or ask a close friend who will provide an honest perception of your assets and liabilities.
• Clarify your professional goals and synchronize them with personal goals. Do you need to work more hours for the increased pay (college tuition), or can you change lifestyles to live within a lower budget that affords more recreational time?
• Consider locum tenens work if you have an interest in traveling or if you must keep your family in the same location where jobs are currently not available.
• Create a career path that is to your liking. Perhaps becoming an academic physician may provide more satisfaction than your previous private practice position.
• Use family, friends, clergy or counselors early in the process to ameliorate feelings of despair and loss of self-worth.


While anesthesiology is enjoying great success in placing graduates and other physicians in satisfying practices in desired locations, let us not forget the not-so-distant past when the perceived surplus of anesthesiologists lowered starting salaries to what new nurse anesthetists earned.


Save this article, file it under JOB-SEEKING INFORMATION, and hope that you never need to reread it.

– M.J.L.
 
AmSurg’s Physician Services Division, Sheridan, Acquires Northside Anesthesiology Consultants, LLC
December 16, 2015 04:05 PM Eastern Standard Time


NASHVILLE, Tenn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sheridan, the Physician Services division of AmSurg Corp. (NASDAQ: AMSG), today announced its acquisition of Northside Anesthesiology Consultants, LLC (NAC), which marks Sheridan’s initial entry into the anesthesia specialty in the Atlanta, Georgia, market, as well as the entire state. NAC has 60 physicians providing care in the market and is the exclusive provider of anesthesiology for Northside Hospital Healthcare System, which owns and operates three acute care hospitals and 24 associated sites throughout the greater Atlanta market. In addition to its physician providers, NAC also employs 125 anesthetists, as well as other clinical and administrative personnel.

$AMSG AMSURG’S PHYSICIAN SERVICES DIVISION, SHERIDAN, ACQUIRES NORTHSIDE ANESTHESIOLOGY CONSULTANTS, LLC

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Dr. K. Douglas Smith, Chairman of NAC, commented, “NAC has always maintained a strong commitment to delivering high quality care to the patients who visit our client facilities. We believe that in AmSurg-Sheridan, NAC has found a partner that can both reinforce our commitment to clinical excellence and enhance our ability to grow in the marketplace. Together, we represent a powerful combination of shared values and complementary expertise.”

Robert Coward, President of Sheridan and Chief Development Officer for AmSurg, added, “We are appreciative of NAC’s vote of confidence and selection of Sheridan as its partner. In an increasingly complex and demanding healthcare environment, we believe Sheridan can provide NAC with vital delivery platform components, expertise and resources, all backed by a shared, physician-centric culture. We look forward to working with NAC’s outstanding team to continue providing high quality care and to expanding our new presence in this large market.”
They have a very lucrative ob anesthesia service.

My friends wife is one of the partners there at north side. They got a very good deal. Better than the big orlando group JLR got last year.

Amsurg stock is over 50% year to year last I check since their Sheridan acquisition. 17-18 months ago.

They've done some shady things (see oig opnion 12-10) when they were trying to do their own anesthesia services with kickbacks to gi docs in their 51/49 "joint ventures". But they know Rick Scott governor of Florida has their back since half of them (Amsurg executives) used to work for Rick Scott at HCA in Nashville.
 
All this doom and gloom. Im on an EM rotation and am absolutely loving it. EM 4th yr of med school was too late in the year, had me scratching my head then as well wondering if I made the right choice.
 
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