FM vs Psych

[ENS]

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Currently, I'm an intern in FM with the Navy. I'm stuck...FM or Psych. I can't help but project how my lifestyle is going to be like as FM doc. I'm beginning to realize that lifestyle is huge on my list, and I would love to continue doing the things that I enjoy. I have never been hard core in the sciences, and my background is in the social sciences. Don't get me wrong, I do enjoy all the aspects of FM. It's just overwhelming at times, and I would hate to be just average. I do enjoy psych, and it definitely meets a lot of the criteria. Once civillian, I can make decent money, a doable lifestyle, and a less stressful one. However, I know I'll miss medicine. It's like a no win situation. I know I'm early in my training, but the Navy forces you into deciding what you're going to do in the next 2-3 yrs. Any advice or input would be appreciated.

 

[deleted87716]

Could you be more specific regarding what you perceive to be the "lifestyle" issues of a career in family medicine compared to a career in psychiatry? In my experience, they're typically very similar in terms of hours and compensation, although you can find extremes at either end of the spectrum in both fields.

 

[Doowai]

I debated the same thing and can give you my thoughts - not sure how accurate they are nor how appropos they might be for you.

Psyche: outpatient - too much sitting, I want to get up and move from room to room, bend over to look at a toe, then reach up on a shelf to get something. It makes my body feel better. Toooooooooooo much, way too much continuity of care - patients for 5 years still dealing with the same problems.
In patient - too many sad stories especially with children.
Overall : your CPT codes and ICD codes are specific and so easier to deal with.

Family - if continuity of care is a problem there is urgent care. Lots of varied procedures : toe nail removal, skin punch biopsies, EKG's, blood tests, anuscopy, even vasectomies if you can market it well. If you want work to be like a family away from home you can develop continuity of care with the patients.
Overall: ICD codes and CPT codes can be burdensome. So many conditions and codes that one could quickly be technically guilty of unbundling, upcoding or downcoding, etc. Watch for Medicare audits if that happens - OUCH