General Practitioner

[Celsus]

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Hi I am going into Anesthesia but was wondering if I would be able to volunteer as a general practitioner after my intern year? Does anyone know the requirements for this? I am not talking about FP but GP like some older physicians are who complete 1 year of residency.

 

[BellKicker]

Yes, you most certainly can.

When you say "volunteer", I am thinking some kind of free primary care clinic; I know several non-generalist physicians doing this. Do they always know what they are doing? No, but they truly do their best and - obviously - work for free.

 

[Amgen1]

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Hi I am going into Anesthesia but was wondering if I would be able to volunteer as a general practitioner after my intern year? Does anyone know the requirements for this? I am not talking about FP but GP like some older physicians are who complete 1 year of residency.

As long as your state only requires one PGY to get your license and you get your own state license you can practice as a GP (for money or free). Most institutional/training licenses won't let you practice outside of your specified institutions.

 

[Winged Scapula]

Just bear in mind that if you do take a job which pays, you might as well be volunteering as many insurance companies and Medicare will not reimburse physicians who are not board eligible, which you wouldn't be without finishing residency.

Than again, you could have a boutique practice, ie, "cash only".

Just as an aside, why would you want to do this? If its volunteering, its not for the money - you'll be pretty busy as a resident.😕

 

[deleted87716]

I suppose you could volunteer in a free clinic, assuming your residency program allows this, and your malpractice is covered. I would discourage the use of the term "GP", however, as it implies qualifications that you won't have.

 

[Celsus]

I meant for after residency.

 

[deleted87716]

I meant for after residency.

Most of the specialists I've seen dabble in primary care do a poor job of it. As an anesthesiologist, you'll be way out of your element. I'd recommend sticking to what you know.

 

[TxMed]

i know many specialists that work as primary care at free clinics. it is no surprise that a vascular surgeon is not as adept as a family practitioner at diagnosing and treating many things...but in the world of free clinics and americans living in third world conditions...people generally take what they can get. if you want to volunteer, then do it. no one will turn you away, and some care is better than none.


-tm

 

[Winged Scapula]

I meant for after residency.

That wasn't clear since in your original post, you said "after my intern year."

I agree with the posts above, most who dabble outside of their chosen field do a fairly poor job of it, especially when you've chosen a field like Anesthesia which is pretty far from primary care. You may underestimate the amount of general medicine knowledge you will lose as you specialize and the amount of medicine knowledge that PCPs have and must keep up with to practice effectively.

Of course, groups like Doctors Without Borders and other health care agencies can use anesthesiologists for short periods of time (I believe you ahve to sign up for at least 3 months in DWB) and that might be where you could best use your talents.

 

[NRAI2001]

I met a general surgeon resident that would moonlight a few shifts a month at an urgent care.

Is a general surgery practice more inline with a general medicine practice?? Basically are they general practioners that can operate?

 

[deleted87716]

Is a general surgery practice more inline with a general medicine practice?? Basically are they general practioners that can operate?

Um...no disrespect to my surgical colleagues intended, but no. If you ever meet a surgeon who believes that, run away, run away.

 

[Winged Scapula]

I met a general surgeon resident that would moonlight a few shifts a month at an urgent care.

Is a general surgery practice more inline with a general medicine practice?? Basically are they general practioners that can operate?

I agree with Kent...uh no.

While I feel fairly comfortable managing peri-operative medical issues, in no way should I nor any other surgeon without additional training in family practice or internal medicine be responsible for the entire medical care of a patient, especially in the ambulatory setting. I know when to get consults for inpatients and make no pretense at starting new meds, or changing long-existing treatment plans without input from someone who knows better.

I can hardly keep up with the literature in my field, let alone remember which antihypertensive diabetics should use or when to change anti-hyperglycemics or how to currently manage a case of CAP.

I can manage some Urgent Care complaints - ie, things needing sutured, chest pain, broken wrist, etc. but you really don't want a surgeon doing most of those medically things.