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- Aug 19, 2009
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I've seen posts on these forums where attendings and program directors complain that having residents doesn't make them any more money. Medicare/insurance won't pay up if a resident does something and tries to bill for it, and so forth. Some of the surgeons complain that a resident just slows them down.
So, this makes me wonder. Ignoring the dollars and cents element, is a resident physician overall producing more wealth for society than he or she is consuming? On the one hand, said physician works his/her ass off trying to treat patients for 60-80 hours a week. He/she has an M.D., and is supposed to rapidly gain proficiency and skill. I've seen clinics where the residents do a good chunk of the work, and attendings are nowhere to be seen. On the other hand, a resident is more likely to make errors that will cost a patient, and requires babysitting and handholding and training from attending physicians who would otherwise be treating more patients.
What does it equate out to in the end, if you ignore artificial elements like the 100k the government gives each hospital for having a resident and the millions of dollars in public funds most nonprofit hospitals receive every year?
Also, do most physicians consider residency as part of their working career when they estimate their years of experience?
So, this makes me wonder. Ignoring the dollars and cents element, is a resident physician overall producing more wealth for society than he or she is consuming? On the one hand, said physician works his/her ass off trying to treat patients for 60-80 hours a week. He/she has an M.D., and is supposed to rapidly gain proficiency and skill. I've seen clinics where the residents do a good chunk of the work, and attendings are nowhere to be seen. On the other hand, a resident is more likely to make errors that will cost a patient, and requires babysitting and handholding and training from attending physicians who would otherwise be treating more patients.
What does it equate out to in the end, if you ignore artificial elements like the 100k the government gives each hospital for having a resident and the millions of dollars in public funds most nonprofit hospitals receive every year?
Also, do most physicians consider residency as part of their working career when they estimate their years of experience?