How many patients do you see?

[Burnted_out]

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Just curious how many patients new grads see. I'm in inpt/subacute. I typically see about 15-20 patients. I've been practicing about 3 months. My boss seems to think I should be seeing more. Says more seasoned physicians are seeing about 25. Seems high to me, especially for a practice that has very little outpatient.

 

[RangerBob]

Do you have hospitalist support?

I have minimal hospitalist support (maybe 1 out of every 5 patients has a hospitalist consult) and I handle pretty much everything.

I felt 17+ patients is a lot. 20+ is getting dangerous, in my mind. 14 is a more comfortable number to be working solid but still have the time you need. And that should translate into roughly $250k per year if you bill independently and work no weekends. From talking with other experienced physiatrists, 12-14 is a common number for full time inpatient PM&R (unless you’re with Health South, but those docs are billing machines and many physiatrists I’ve met do not think highly of the company)

Keep in mind I am a new grad and our unit has fairly short LOS, so I’m often admitting/discharging 2 per day. So while the unit ADC could be, say, 14, I’d actually be seeing 16 patients that day.

I only see acute rehab patients, and I get some pretty sick patients. I’m also doing medical director duties. I don’t know what a comparable subacute number would be, as those patients are often rocks.

 

[Burnted_out]

Do you have hospitalist support?

I have minimal hospitalist support (maybe 1 out of every 5 patients has a hospitalist consult) and I handle pretty much everything.

I felt 17+ patients is a lot. 20+ is getting dangerous, in my mind. 14 is a more comfortable number to be working solid but still have the time you need. And that should translate into roughly $250k per year if you bill independently and work no weekends. From talking with other experienced physiatrists, 12-14 is a common number for full time inpatient PM&R (unless you’re with Health South, but those docs are billing machines and many physiatrists I’ve met do not think highly of the company)

Keep in mind I am a new grad and our unit has fairly short LOS, so I’m often admitting/discharging 2 per day. So while the unit ADC could be, say, 14, I’d actually be seeing 16 patients that day.

I only see acute rehab patients, and I get some pretty sick patients. I’m also doing medical director duties. I don’t know what a comparable subacute number would be, as those patients are often rocks.

Hi Ranger Bob,
Yes, I do have some support, a combination of hospitalist and primary care docs. I do both inpatient and subacute, depending on the days. On days I am in inpatient unit, I see about 18-20 inpatients, plus try to see consults and follow ups but obviously can't always. Subacute is about 18-20 most days. I think seeing 15-20 inpatients is more than adequate especially 3 months out. I don't believe that anyone truly in our group is really seeing 25-30 patients in the inpatient unit but anyways, I was just curious.
Do you bill independently? Where are you doing medical director duties - were you able to get that out of residency?
I'm actually leaving the gig for a fellowship but again was curious what others out there are doing.
I am also thinking of contracting with a subacute in the future and hiring a midlevel in addition to doing interventional pain.

 

[RangerBob]

With hospitalist support 18-2o is definitely much more doable.

I have my own billers. I’m a sole proprietor so I keep 100% of collections minus biller fee. And I get a director stipend.

There are plenty of Director positions available out of fellowship/residency, but often candidates with experience are preferred.

I am sure I could make a lot more with a PA or NP, but I don’t know if I’d enjoy the job as much, and then there’s obviously more risk as well. But there are plenty who feel it works for them.

 

[Burnted_out]

With hospitalist support 18-2o is definitely much more doable.

I have my own billers. I’m a sole proprietor so I keep 100% of collections minus biller fee. And I get a director stipend.

There are plenty of Director positions available out of fellowship/residency, but often candidates with experience are preferred.

I am sure I could make a lot more with a PA or NP, but I don’t know if I’d enjoy the job as much, and then there’s obviously more risk as well. But there are plenty who feel it works for them.

Out of curiosity how much do you get for diector stipend? Where are located?

 

[RangerBob]

Out of curiosity how much do you get for diector stipend? Where are located?

I’m not comfortable sharing since my preference is to remain somewhat anonymous if possible, and I prefer not to say what I make aside from the generalized $70/patient/day estimate I was given by a number of billers/physiatrists.

But there are prior posts that talk about the director stipend. I don’t remember what a typical stipend is.

 

[Burnted_out]

I’m not comfortable sharing since my preference is to remain somewhat anonymous if possible, and I prefer not to say what I make aside from the generalized $70/patient/day estimate I was given by a number of billers/physiatrists.

But there are prior posts that talk about the director stipend. I don’t remember what a typical stipend is.

Sorry I didn't mean to offend or anything I was just curious! You don't have to disclose anything no worries.

 

[RangerBob]

Sorry I didn't mean to offend or anything I was just curious! You don't have to disclose anything no worries.

Wasn’t offended

I just only share specifics with people I personally know. Otherwise I’m happy to share generalizations.

 

[Burnted_out]

Wasn’t offended

I just only share specifics with people I personally know. Otherwise I’m happy to share generalizations.

No problem, that's fair!