Emergency Med residency for DOs and finding work after?

[Thundathighs]

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So I was wondering what are the odds of a DO landing a residency in emergency and if after residency how likely is it to find a job. Many of the hospitals that I've worked with have a majority MD staff for the ED. I've probably ever seen only 1 or 2 DOs. Is this just because DOs tend to not choose to work in emergency care or for some other reason?

I'm planning on applying for next year's cycle, but with a 3.3 cGPA, a 3.1 sGPA and 33 MCAT I'll most likely get screened out of a lot of MD schools. Should I consider the Caribbean? Go with DO? Attempt to apply for US MD schools?

 

[DocVapor]

So I was wondering what are the odds of a DO landing a residency in emergency and if after residency how likely is it to find a job. Many of the hospitals that I've worked with have a majority MD staff for the ED. I've probably ever seen only 1 or 2 DOs. Is this just because DOs tend to not choose to work in emergency care or for some other reason?

I'm planning on applying for next year's cycle, but with a 3.3 cGPA, a 3.1 sGPA and 33 MCAT I'll most likely get screened out of a lot of MD schools. Should I consider the Caribbean? Go with DO? Attempt to apply for US MD schools?

EM in general is very DO friendly, and lots of DO's match into it. Any bias you may find is most likely regional, and is likely quickly disappearing. Attempt MD and DO; stay away from the Caribbean.

 

[cliquesh]

Of the 1700 Acgme EM offered last year, 170 were filled by DOs. An additional 231 matched AOA EM. Therefore, roughly 8% of those in the DO class of 2013 will be EM docs. Employment and pay is the same as a MD. You probably live in a DO lacking area. EM is pretty DO friendly, but each year it becomes more and more competitive.

2600 DOs entered the Acgme match in 2013 and, as I mentioned previously, 170 matched EM. On the other hand, there were 5000 US-IMGs that entered the Acgme match. Despite having roughly x2 the number of applicants, only 57 US-IMGs matched EM. To be fair, not all carribean schools are equal. Nevertheless, in general, being a DO is significantly better than a carribean graduate, at least in terms of the match.

I'd recommend doing a SMP program and try to enter a MD school or apply DO after learning more about it. Do not apply carribean.

 

[scarecrow90]

So I was wondering what are the odds of a DO landing a residency in emergency and if after residency how likely is it to find a job. Many of the hospitals that I've worked with have a majority MD staff for the ED. I've probably ever seen only 1 or 2 DOs. Is this just because DOs tend to not choose to work in emergency care or for some other reason?

I'm planning on applying for next year's cycle, but with a 3.3 cGPA, a 3.1 sGPA and 33 MCAT I'll most likely get screened out of a lot of MD schools. Should I consider the Caribbean? Go with DO? Attempt to apply for US MD schools?

DOs tend to focus on primary care versus specializing. That's the reason why you don't see as many specialist DOs; they do exist however.

If you'd like to find a DO EM doc, use this:

http://www.osteopathic.org/osteopathic-health/find-a-do/Pages/default.aspx

Good luck! 😎

 

[Thundathighs]

Wow that's really good to know. Is there a difference in the tx plan for emergency patients between DOs and MDs in practice? I assume there really shouldn't be at all even if the philosophy behind the 2 are different.

 

[NontradCA]

Wow that's really good to know. Is there a difference in the tx plan for emergency patients between DOs and MDs in practice? I assume there really shouldn't be at all even if the philosophy behind the 2 are different.

I would think If the DO has time, they may do some OMT for musculoskeletal pain, but that's about it.

 

[cliquesh]

Wow that's really good to know. Is there a difference in the tx plan for emergency patients between DOs and MDs in practice? I assume there really shouldn't be at all even if the philosophy behind the 2 are different.

On my EM rotation, i worked with MDs and DOs. Their treatment plans were the same. I did, however, see a DO in the ED use manipulation to treat a form of vertigo (which is actually the standard treatment) and an arrhythmia. But, in general, it's exactly the same.

 

[NontradCA]

It's the same. I saw a DO in the ED use manipulation to treat a form of vertigo and an arrhythmia. But, in general, it's exactly the same.

That's awesome, can you explain more?

 

[SurgeDO]

If you attend a solid DO school, matching EM (AOA or ACGME) is very doable.

 

[cliquesh]

That's awesome, can you explain more?

It's really not that exciting. The treatment for benign paroxysmal positional vertigo is this maneuver called the Epley maneuver. He did something like it, but his meaneuver had a OMT flare, hah.

Then the other case the patient had a supraventricular tachycardia and the physician cracked the patients neck and did a OMT maneuver called a V-spread. The patient returned to a normal sinus rhythm within seconds. However, it is well known you can use "vagal maneuvers," such as a cartoid masssage or splashing cold water in the patient's face, to convert someone with a SVT back to normal. If these vagal maneuvers fail you're suppose to give the patient a drug called adenosine, which, apparently, is very unpleasant and it feels like your heart is going to stop. The patient in this case didn't have to receive adenosine, which is a good thing.

 

[NontradCA]

It's really not that exciting. The treatment for benign paroxysmal positional vertigo is this maneuver called the Epley maneuver. He did something like it, but his meaneuver had a OMT flare, hah.

Then the other case the patient had a supraventricular tachycardia and the physician cracked the patients neck and did a OMT maneuver called a V-spread. The patient returned to a normal sinus rhythm within seconds. However, it is well known you can use "vagal maneuvers," such as a cartoid masssage or splashing cold water in the patient's face, to convert someone with a SVT back to normal. If these vagal maneuvers fail you're suppose to give the patient a drug called adenosine, which, apparently, is very unpleasant and it feels like your heart is going to stop. The patient in this case didn't have to receive adenosine, which is a good thing.

Well I think it's cool. Would you have done the OMT rather than the standard? Now that you've seen them done for these symptoms, will you use them in the future?

 

[cliquesh]

Hah, yeah, I suppose. I actually have never seen standard vagal maneuvers work for a SVT.

 

[Goro]

Plenty of my students go into ER residencies every year, and many at decent places.

DOs tend to prefer primary care. They're a self-selecting group.

So I was wondering what are the odds of a DO landing a residency in emergency and if after residency how likely is it to find a job. Many of the hospitals that I've worked with have a majority MD staff for the ED. I've probably ever seen only 1 or 2 DOs. Is this just because DOs tend to not choose to work in emergency care or for some other reason?

I'm planning on applying for next year's cycle, but with a 3.3 cGPA, a 3.1 sGPA and 33 MCAT I'll most likely get screened out of a lot of MD schools. Should I consider the Caribbean? Go with DO? Attempt to apply for US MD schools?

 

[NontradCA]

Hah, yeah, I suppose. I actually have never seen standard vagal maneuvers work for a SVT.

Good to know and hear. 👍

 

[DocVapor]

Good to know and hear. 👍

In my EMS years I saw vagal maneuvers work several times, and not work other times. I've also given adenosine and the pt's heart did stop for about 8 seconds... then came back NSR. I've also given adenosine and it paradoxically increased the pt's heart rate.

Everything is so hit or miss, the more tools... the better.

 

[whatbout2morrow]

Living in Texas probably has something to do with it, but I've met many DO ER docs.

 

[TopTomato]

I've worked in multiple ER rooms in NJ. I'm not sure if NJ is a state where there is a "positive bias" towards DOs. However I will say that I work with A LOT of DO ER physicians. The Director of the emergency room is a DO. Honestly it was working with these guys that helped me apply to mostly DO schools.

 

[djtiesto14]

Out of curiosity, anyone know the gross salary of EM in California?

 

[Thundathighs]

Out of curiosity, anyone know the gross salary of EM in California?

The average salary for the docs I work with in the ER seem to vary from 170k - 220k with a correlation pay and side projects they have going on for the hospital. The ED director is pulling around 500k

 

[Beargryllz]

DOs are more heavily represented in EM than FM in this city. At any point, half of the ED is staffed with DOs. And I don't think I've seen any DOs doing IM. We might just be weird though

 

[survivordo]

Totally regionally depended but it does seem like a good junk of people in my class matched into EM, both DO and MD programs. I would say that EM is getting increasingly more competitive so make sure to keep your stats up during med school!

Survivor DO

 

[KinesiologyNerd]

The EM group I work for is 11 DOs and 13 MDs. Working with that many DOs cured my ignorance, and I applied to DO schools. That turned out to be a very good decision.

 

[Thundathighs]

Totally regionally depended but it does seem like a good junk of people in my class matched into EM, both DO and MD programs. I would say that EM is getting increasingly more competitive so make sure to keep your stats up during med school!

Survivor DO

Would you say the name of the DO school has much of an influence on the ability to match? I'm hoping to stay in California and while I've heard great things about Western U, I've heard some conflicting remarks about Touro. I of course wouldn't mind going out of the state for med school, but if I had the option to pick and choose, would it make a difference given similar scores to another EM candidate?

 

[DrMom]

EM is a very DO friendly field. My group is about 50% DOs.

Wow that's really good to know. Is there a difference in the tx plan for emergency patients between DOs and MDs in practice? I assume there really shouldn't be at all even if the philosophy behind the 2 are different.

There's no difference in how an MD or DO treats an emergency patient. I very rarely use any of my OMM skills in the ED.

On my EM rotation, i worked with MDs and DOs. Their treatment plans were the same. I did, however, see a DO in the ED use manipulation to treat a form of vertigo (which is actually the standard treatment) and an arrhythmia. But, in general, it's exactly the same.

The Epley maneuver for vertigo is not an Osteopathic-specific treatment. It is useful, though.