some specialties can only practice in certain areas where the size of the surrounding population will allow for them to have certain number of cases. any guesstimations on what this might be for pathology? i am interested in rural pathology
Any Idea On The Local Population Size Required To Support A Pathologist?
- Thread starter copacetic
- Start date
- Joined
- Sep 9, 2004
- Messages
- 7,132
- Reaction score
- 1,255
A single pathologist, as in no one to show cases to, no back up if you are sick etc. is not really a smashingly great idea.
Even great pathologists can experience diagnostic drift after a only a few months alone.
But alot of people do it anyway...to their peril (and their patients' peril)
Ideal size would be roughly 40,000 pop draw area with at least a 100 bed hospital.
- Joined
- Apr 3, 2007
- Messages
- 1,820
- Reaction score
- 820
Pathology? I thought you were interested in cards?
- Joined
- Dec 17, 2001
- Messages
- 2,151
- Reaction score
- 5
I know of a solo pathologist with lots of experience (i.e. >20 yrs), works in a semi-rural community with probably around 40000 people, affiliated hospital is 80 beds. Sees about 5000 cases/yr (surgicals, biopsies, cytology combined). She said that its not the type of practice environment for someone fresh out of training.
im interested in alot of stuff. right now my primary is cards since its my background and the reason i considered medicine in the first place, but i am fully aware my interests may change. also, i would like to live in a rural area, and this might be more difficult with cards.
- Joined
- Sep 9, 2004
- Messages
- 7,132
- Reaction score
- 1,255
Is that the Tahoe lady? Im tangentially familiar with her set up.
A better idea..for you..would be to grab a buddy into the great outdoors and split the group, ramp up the money you are making on those 5K specimens and each spend a few months on the slopes, hiking, etc. You could handily compete for her contract with another guy in tow offering dual medical directorship.
