How many podiatrists do you know who work 40 hours a week?

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Windom Earle

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That's a major reason I am going for podiatry.

I like Peds and FM to some extent, but I don't want to work weekends, nights or be on call and work 50-60 hrs plus

I’m not sure how anyone can want to perform surgery, and also state that he/she doesn’t want to work weekends, nights or be on call. There’s a definite disconnect there.

What happens if you have in house patients? Just who do you expect to see those patients at night, on weekends, etc.?

What happens if a post op patient or any patient calls with an emergency? Are you going to tell the patient you don’t work nights or weekends or take call?

This isn’t a part time, no night, no weekend, no on call profession. Unless you plan on treating little old ladies for thick toenails all day.

There are few things that get me more ticked than those who state they want to get into this profession so they don’t have to work long hours, work nights, work weekends, take call, etc.

If that’s how you really feel, please don’t ever consider doing surgery. I can assure you emergencies don’t occur via appointments and if you’re not willing to work nights, weekends or be on call when needed, you will likely not be successful.

If you ever told me that in a residency or job interview, you’d immediately be escorted out the door.
 
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Good to know that now instead of 5 years from now.

What emergencies would a podiatrist need to be on call for? Gas Gangrene, trauma, etc.? I would think most things podiatrists do are non emergency procedures.

I’m not sure how anyone can want to perform surgery, and also state that he/she doesn’t want to work weekends, nights or be on call. There’s a definite disconnect there.

What happens if you have in house patients? Just who do you expect to see those patients at night, on weekends, etc.?

What happens if a post op patient or any patient calls with an emergency? Are you going to tell the patient you don’t work nights or weekends or take call?

This isn’t a part time, no night, no weekend, no on call profession. Unless you plan on treating little old ladies for thick toenails all day.

There are few things that get me more ticked than those who state they want to get into this profession so they don’t have to work long hours, work nights, work weekends, take call, etc.

If that’s how you really feel, please don’t ever consider doing surgery. I can assure you emergencies don’t occur via appointments and if you’re not willing to work nights, weekends or be on call when needed, you will likely not be successful.

If you ever told me that in a residency or job interview, you’d immediately be escorted out the door.
 
I’m not sure how anyone can want to perform surgery, and also state that he/she doesn’t want to work weekends, nights or be on call. There’s a definite disconnect there.

What happens if you have in house patients? Just who do you expect to see those patients at night, on weekends, etc.?

What happens if a post op patient or any patient calls with an emergency? Are you going to tell the patient you don’t work nights or weekends or take call?

This isn’t a part time, no night, no weekend, no on call profession. Unless you plan on treating little old ladies for thick toenails all day.

There are few things that get me more ticked than those who state they want to get into this profession so they don’t have to work long hours, work nights, work weekends, take call, etc.

If that’s how you really feel, please don’t ever consider doing surgery. I can assure you emergencies don’t occur via appointments and if you’re not willing to work nights, weekends or be on call when needed, you will likely not be successful.

If you ever told me that in a residency or job interview, you’d immediately be escorted out the door.
I am definitely ok with what this profession will require from me. I think that it is ok to have some preference regarding a specialty. I can reword it and say that I would prefer not to work a lot of weekends and nights and be on call so much. I don't think its necessarily bad.

All people choose specialties based on different factors and interests. And the factor of time is also important for many even for DO/MD students, no wonder why radiology and dermatology is so competitive.

My friend, MD, started working last year. He is a neurologist and he was specifically looking for a position that will not require being on call and work nights or weekends.


I am ok with working some weekends and seeing my patients when needed, but it is way different then being scheduled every other weekend and be on call one week a month or cover the hospital for the whole week or nights.

I am going from what I have seen when I shadowed 2 podiatrists and what they have told me.

They work in the clinic and do surgery 1 day per week. If some emergency happens to my patients I am definitely ready to serve them when it will occur no matter what.

I still do not understand you when you say that there are not enough surgeries out there and that most people clip nails and that there are almost no hospital jobs out there and now you make it seem like podiatry is all about surgery and being in demand.

So, what is podiatry like?
 
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Good to know that now instead of 5 years from now.

What emergencies would a podiatrist need to be on call for? Gas Gangrene, trauma, etc.? I would think most things podiatrists do are non emergency procedures.

“Most things” that most specialties do aren’t emergencies. However, if you perform surgery and have a good reputation at your local hospital, there will be times when there are emergent cases. Most will involve trauma or infections. Your definition of an emergency and a patient’s definition may differ greatly. If you want to be successful you need to be available for your patients in urgent and emergent situations. That will include working a night, a weekend, etc., at times. During non office hours if your message doesn’t allow patients to get in touch with you or you have a message to go to the ER, etc., I would urge you to open across the street from me so our practice can treat those patients.

If you want to be successful, you’ve got to go “all in”. After you’re successful, you add associates or partners to distribute the load.
 
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“Most things” that most specialties do aren’t emergencies. However, if you perform surgery and have a good reputation at your local hospital, there will be times when there are emergent cases. Most will involve trauma or infections. Your definition of an emergency and a patient’s definition may differ greatly. If you want to be successful you need to be available for your patients in urgent and emergent situations. That will include working a night, a weekend, etc., at times. During non office hours if your message doesn’t allow patients to get in touch with you or you have a message to go to the ER, etc., I would urge you to open across the street from me so our practice can treat those patients.

If you want to be successful, you’ve got to go “all in”. After you’re successful, you add associates or partners to distribute the load.
I am sorry if I didn't sound correct initially, but I agree with what you said above and I definitely will make myself available to all of my patients.
 
I am definitely ok with what this profession will require from me. I think that it is ok to have some preference regarding a specialty. I can reword it and say that I would prefer not to work a lot of weekends and nights and be on call so much. I don't think its necessarily bad.

All people choose specialties based on different factors and interests. And the factor of time is also important for many even for DO/MD students, no wonder why radiology and dermatology is so competitive.

My friend, MD, started working last year. He is a neurologist and he was specifically looking for a position that will not require being on call and work nights or weekends.


I am ok with working some weekends and seeing my patients when needed, but it is way different then being scheduled every other weekend and be on call one week a month or cover the hospital for the whole week or nights.

I am going from what I have seen when I shadowed 2 podiatrists and what they have told me.

They work in the clinic and do surgery 1 day per week. If some emergency happens to my patients I am definitely ready to serve them when it will occur no matter what.

I still do not understand you when you say that there are not enough surgeries out there and that most people clip nails and that there are almost no hospital jobs out there and now you make it seem like podiatry is all about surgery and being in demand.

So, what is podiatry like?

Re-read what you said I’ve written. I didn’t say there are “almost no” hospital jobs. I did say hospital jobs aren’t abundant. And just exactly where did I say podiatry is “all about surgery”. I DID say that IF you perform surgery be prepared to work nights and weekends when needed. And yes, realistically most DPMs will at some time during their day, clip some nails.
 
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