FP practice ER!!!

[getin]

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I really don?t understand what is the deal here? How FP certified physicians practice ER? There are couple hospitals in this small town, and I found that 90% of ER physicians are FP certified only!!! Is that mean any FP physician can practice ER if they go to small town? I have noticed also noticed that some doctors who are certified in CANDA don?t need American board certification!!! Can someone clarify this issue for me? Thanks

 

[Bevo]

well the guy who interviewed me in a small town did Internal Medicine with a fellowship? in pediatrics? he's an ER doc now too.

 

[Badkarma25]

hi there,
i'm not quite certain how it works in the U.S. but i know here in Cananda there is a residency program that is 3 years long and gives you the CCFP certification (canadian college of family physicians) as well as an ER certification...obviously it's not to the same level as a 5 year residency in ER medicine, but more than just the normal 2 year family medicine residency. it's a 3 year program and you're certified for ER medicine, likely more geared to smaller communities as opposed to a large urban center. but really, what is the big deal about family docs in emergency rooms anyway? i mean if someone comes in suffering from a heart attack or appendicitis, why is a family doc less qualified to deal with that than say an infectious disease specialist who happens to be covering? i don't see it as a big deal.

 

[getin]

I didn?t say FP physicians are not qualified to treat trauma patients [ER]. All I am saying is why someone has to go through [ER] residency which is much more competitive then FP residency if they are both lead to same thing? Plus ER physician make more $$$ as we all know😉

 

[Annette]

FP's are better trained at health maintanence and prevention (have you had your colonoscopy yet, Mr. Jones?) and EM physicians are better trained in emergency care. While an FP can handle most things fine, why not use the people that are specifically trained to handle emergencies? www.saem.org has a whole bunch of info on the arguments for EM trained docs instead of who ever is available.

 

[Badkarma25]

this is an interesting topic...i don't think we should be discussing it here LOL but still interesting...first of all, to getin...i didn't mean to imply that the 5 year ER residency and the 3 year family med/er thing lead to the same thing...not at all...i've heard stories about the fp/er guys not being able to get er job in big cities...obviously you learn a lot more in the 5 year ER program and are way more qualified to handle complex cases. the 3 year program is designed i think to let you practice in smaller communities and hospitals like taht, not a tertiary care center or anything.

to annette's point, i totally agree about using resources (ER docs) that are best suited to the job...however, i just was playing devil's advocate because i know a lot of doctors who cover the ER (family docs, infectious disease, respirologists) and really, they're all pretty much as qualified for handling most ER cases....obviously if someone came in with a collapsed lung you'd want the respirologist, but for most things i think the point is moot. i'd rather have a family doc that a psychiatrist taking care of me anyday!