Aging as an EP

[RangerD]

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I've been considering choosing EM as the specialty I want to pursue. EM seems attractive because of the hours, variety, good pay, etc. However, one thing that is worrying me is that I can't recall personally running into an older EP. Why is that? If I intend to work until I was 65 or 70, can you do that as an EP? Or do the hospitals prefer younger staff?

At least with most other specialties, you can open up your own practice and work as long as you want to. However, an EP is at the mercy of the hospital.

What are your thoughts on that?

 

[12R34Y]

Personally, I have worked with and know 4 EM trained docs who have been practicing since 1973! That's over 30 years. anyone of them can retire and probably will. Who wants to work more than 30 years anyway?

But, back to the point there are many EP's that have been practicing more thatn 25 years and still enjoy it.

don't let the thought of being 70 years old decided what you will be doing for the next 40 years! I doubt that there are very many 70year olds in ANY specialty for that matter. you may THINK you want to work when you are 70, but my guess is that you would rather travel the world, enjoy your grandchildren on christmas morning etc......

later

 

[deleted6669]

I work with several em physicians > 60 yrs old. our group cuts them quite a bit of slack. after age 55 they don't have to work nights anymore and can pretty much write their own schedules. at that point they have so much cme and vacation that they only have to work about 9 months a yr to still be full time. and if they cut back their hrs they keep full benefits all the way down to half time employment( 7 shifts/month, most of which are only 8-9 hrs long).they can also do shifts on the fast track side of the ed at full pay if they want less stress and better hours. it is all just a matter of getting in with the right group...

 

[anonymousEM]

The main reason you don't see many 70 year old EPs is the fact that 40 years ago EM wasn't a specialty choice and only over the last few decades have we specifically trained EPs. Those who were covering EDs before the birth of the specialty were mostly those who were sick of doing whatever specialty they'd trained in which also contributed to the "burnout rate" that's often quoted.

 

[beyond all hope]

All of the above is true. Older ED docs generally have seniority, so they choose their own shifts and don't work nights. They tend to move away from high-acuity settings (my personal observation) to fast track or small community EDs, where they become almost like FPs.

However, we have at least 4 attendings in their 60s, two in their 70s (one coded in our ER and was revived...). Two work as regular floor attendings, two do fast track and bureaucratic stuff.

ED docs do burn out, but so do other specialities. I think the trend has been noticed in EM but not in other specialties. Surgeons, interists, OBs, everyone is getting sick of the legalization and the prostitution of medicine. ED docs just get yelled at by psychotic patients more often (I actually got spit on last night.)

 

[HEME-ONC]

Guys,
Whats a EP,ED, and any other little code words you posted?
LOL

 

[Scrubbs]

Originally posted by HEME-ONC
Guys,
Whats a EP,ED, and any other little code words you posted?
LOL

EP = Emergency Physician
ED = Emergency Department
EM = Emergency Medicine

Its all semantics... we don't work in a "room", we work in a department. Gotta be politically correct... this is the year 2004 after all! 😉

 

[beyond all hope]

He still works as an attending in fast track.

Pretty cool, hungh?