If you plan on going into private practice, is it important to do residency in the same town (or close to it) that you plan on working in? What if this doesn't work out?
Do you establish contacts and networking in the region where you do residency - I'm thinking yes.
If you plan on going into private practice, is it important to do residency in the same town (or close to it) that you plan on working in? What if this doesn't work out?
It's helpful. In my last job, I was familiar with state mental health law. I knew where all the drug rehabs were and the reputations of each. I knew the status of the local state hospital system. I knew where all the partial programs were and which ones focused on which population.
I never knew how much locally based knowledge I had until I didn't have it anymore. I knew I wouldn't be able to "302" people in IL (even though I can still involuntarily commit in a process practically identical to the one I called a 302), but when patients need rehab or partial, it's been a learning process figuring out where to send them. Also when patients tell me that they were hospitalized at "McFarland", I initially didn't appreciate the significance of that like I would have if someone told me they had been to Mayview. (State hospitals, all).
There are jobs everywhere so I don't think you need to do residency where you want to end up, necessarily. But if you do you will be familiar with local resources and have local contacts that will be very helpful.
Yes, thank you.
How much would this all matter if let's say the residencies that you are considering are an hour and a half apart, and both an hour from where you want to practice, but one obviously more connected to the area of where you want to practice?
Why would one be more connected than others? Is you ultimate goal to practice at a specific facility rather than a specific town/city?
If that's truly the case, I think the choice is clear.