Don't want to open my own practice

[the prodogy]

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PM&R seems to me like a specialty where most people open up their own practice. What if I don't want to open up my own practice, how hard is it to get a job and work for a hospital? I don't have a business mind and I really would not like the extra stress of operating in the business side of medicine. Also, how much difference is there in pay?

 

[Llenroc]

Most people in PM&R that I've seen belong to groups. If you don't want to be a partner in one of these groups, they will be very happy to keep you employed on a salary for $120-$160K indefinitely.

 

[the prodogy]

How hard is it to become a partner in one of these groups? Also, how much more would the pay be if I were to become a partner?

 

[bedrock]

Buy-ins completely vary by situation. You shouldn't even be worrying about that yet. Pick what you'll actually like to do for 30 years because the pay for any specialty could be quite different in 5-10 years.
Based on your subtitle, are you even in med school yet?

 

[the prodogy]

Buy-ins completely vary by situation. You shouldn't even be worrying about that yet. Pick what you'll actually like to do for 30 years because the pay for any specialty could be quite different in 5-10 years.
Based on your subtitle, are you even in med school yet?

Yeah, I'm an MSI. I would really like to do PMR, but to be honest, the hours of a specialty are really important to me (which is good with PMR) and money is also somewhat of an important (although not a major factor). Just like most people, I would like to enter a specialty with a pretty good pay, mainly because my student loans are going to be well over 200K by the time I'm done.
My other choice for specialty is EM. Both excite and interest me in different way and I like the hours of both specialties. Also, I like the fact that EM works in hospitals (not my own practice). But I like the fact that PMR works a little bit closer with patients.

 

[PMR 4 MSK]

EM - deal with patients who are dying or who want to kill you. Make a decision now or someone will die. Work for a hospital that will screw you every chance it gets in an understaffed, overworked, underfunded ER. Half of your patients have little to no insurance, so you have to make a living off the other half. And they are mostly in pain and/or extremely anxious as are the various family members, friends, acquaintances, interested bystanders who are packing in the room wanting you to do something NOW, "or we are going to sue you!!!!!" You could work 6 am - 6 pm one week, 6 pm to 6 am the next. And the nurses all hate you too.

PM&R - comfy clinics and rehab floors where you can sit down and think about problems for a while - very rare that anyone is going to die soon. 8 am - 5 pm M-F. Nice nurses. A few crazy patients, but mostly ones grateful for your help.

 

[SSdoc33]

you will definitely be able to find work in a hospital -- inpatient, outpatient, or both. you dont have to start up your own practice

typically hospitals pay less, but there is less admin work, and the benefits are better.

 

[Jitter Bug]

You are going to be your own worst enemy. I echo the earlier poster. Just be open minded in med school, try each specialty on for size, and pick something you enjoy because the money will come if you are good. If you are not interested you will not be good, and the money will not come.

 

[Louisville04]

EM - deal with patients who are dying or who want to kill you. Make a decision now or someone will die. Work for a hospital that will screw you every chance it gets in an understaffed, overworked, underfunded ER. Half of your patients have little to no insurance, so you have to make a living off the other half. And they are mostly in pain and/or extremely anxious as are the various family members, friends, acquaintances, interested bystanders who are packing in the room wanting you to do something NOW, "or we are going to sue you!!!!!" You could work 6 am - 6 pm one week, 6 pm to 6 am the next. And the nurses all hate you too.

Don't ER physicians work around 15-20 shifts/month. They then have 10-15 days off/month. No call or pager either.

 

[Llenroc]

Most of the time that they work is time that you would want off, like nights, weekends, and especially weekend nights. Practically everyone is there on a Saturday night for example, their busiest time. I'd rather do my work 9-5 on weekdays, and sleep a regular schedule. If you total up a ER doctor's shifts, 12 hours x 15 shifts, it adds up to a full time job.

 

[BPlaysItCool]

EM - deal with patients who are dying or who want to kill you. Make a decision now or someone will die. Work for a hospital that will screw you every chance it gets in an understaffed, overworked, underfunded ER. Half of your patients have little to no insurance, so you have to make a living off the other half. And they are mostly in pain and/or extremely anxious as are the various family members, friends, acquaintances, interested bystanders who are packing in the room wanting you to do something NOW, "or we are going to sue you!!!!!" You could work 6 am - 6 pm one week, 6 pm to 6 am the next. And the nurses all hate you too.

PM&R - comfy clinics and rehab floors where you can sit down and think about problems for a while - very rare that anyone is going to die soon. 8 am - 5 pm M-F. Nice nurses. A few crazy patients, but mostly ones grateful for your help.

Nice. This reminds me of the story of the young bull and the old bull.

The young bull says to the old bull...."hey! I see some cows. Yippee! Let's run down this hill and f@ck one of them!"

To which the old grunts knowingly. Taking a long savoring drag of his smoke and watching it blow. "Nah. Let's walk down. And f@ck all of them."

Here's to being a cool old bull.