Can I get your opinion?

[newbieme]

---

Members don't see this ad.

Hey All,


For those of you in PM&R residency, or now in practice in PM&R can you give me kind of a "day in the life of a PM&R doctor" overview.

Also, What does the field consist of?

What do you find rewarding about it?

What do you find the least appealing about the specialty of PM&R?

Would you choose the same specialty again if you had to? If so, (or if not) is your answer based on your residency program experience or something else?

Thanks

 

[SweetD2014]

I'm still a fourth year med student, so can't answer your questions from personal experience, but I'd recommend you look through this to see if you can't narrow down some of your specific questions regarding PM&R:
http://www.aapmr.org/career/students/PMRspecialty/Pages/medical-students-guide-to-pmr_a.aspx
Found this to be a good resource when I first started doing my research. Granted, you won't read about any downside to the field, but it sounds like some of the questions you have are very basic and so this might be a good place to start.

 

[newbieme]

SweetD2014, thanks for your response. It was very helpful.

Any PM&R residents or physicians with any other comments?

 

[RUOkie]

Hey All,


For those of you in PM&R residency, or now in practice in PM&R can you give me kind of a "day in the life of a PM&R doctor" overview.

Also, What does the field consist of?It is what you make of it. It is a very broad field. My practice is outpatient MSK, diagnostic ultrasound, EMG, and a lot of occupational medicine/workers compensation

What do you find rewarding about it? I am the Muscle/nerve specialist in my community. I help a lot of people who other doctors have been unable to

What do you find the least appealing about the specialty of PM&R? the growing changes in healthcare. increased regulation. decreased reimbursement. the likelyhood that I will need to close my solo practice and become employed withing the next 10 yrs. The divisions in our field's leadership between the MSK and the Rehab people. The growing requirement for fellowship training.

Would you choose the same specialty again if you had to? If so, (or if not) is your answer based on your residency program experience or something else? Absolutely. I love what I do, and wake up most days happy to go to work.

Thanks

I've been in practice for 16 yrs, 11 of it solo. My practice is 90% outpatient and 10% hospital consultations. I do a lot of legal work (Independent Medical Exams) as well.

 

[newbieme]

Thanks RUOkie!! YOur comments are much appreciated. :-D

 

[Xinlitik]

Thank you for the helpful response Ruokie. May I ask why you think you will need to move solo -> employed?

 

[RUOkie]

Thank you for the helpful response Ruokie. May I ask why you think you will need to move solo -> employed?

The way that things are going in healthcare, it is going to become very hard to be an independent practitioner in coming years. The era of bundled payments is coming, and coming fast. ACOs or similar type payment programs are coming. Once that happens, people in large groups, or employed by hospitals or systems will have the advantage. The solo practitioner will get squeezed. Add the cost factors of EMRs (especially those that can manage ICD-10), and it becomes too expensive.

When we look at practice data over the past 10 yrs, the percentage of physiatrist in solo or small group practice has dropped precipitously. We were in the majority 20 yrs ago, and now in the minority. The only people who are making it solo now are in rural areas like me (who can keep expenses down), or in urban areas with concierge type cash practices.

At this point, I accept it. When the time comes, I will either band together with my local docs and form a IPA type association, or I will become salaried and work 9-5. Worse things have happened.

 

[PhysiatristDoc]

nice comment roukie, but remember that just because you are salaried, does not mean you work 9-5.

 

[RUOkie]

nice comment roukie, but remember that just because you are salaried, does not mean you work 9-5.

of course not. but the incentive to bust my ass will go away.

 

[SSdoc33]

nice comment roukie, but remember that just because you are salaried, does not mean you work 9-5.

i think it does