In private practice, ratio of bread and butter vs interesting cases in general internal medicine?

[Longhorn91]

As a private practice outpatient internist or inpatient hospitalist, how much of the usual COPD, asthma, CHF, MI, cancer, diabetes, do you see, vs the more interesting infectious workup, etc?

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[notinkansas]

Don't knock "bread and butter". After a while you will come to appreciate a day full of nice, boring, straightforward "bread and butter" patients.

 

[jdh71]

As a private practice outpatient internist or inpatient hospitalist, how much of the usual COPD, asthma, CHF, MI, cancer, diabetes, do you see, vs the more interesting infectious workup, etc?

Interesting patients ruin your day. You don't want "interesting".

 

[swlabr1980]

Interesting patients are fun in residency.

Private practice? Not so much.

 

[Longhorn91]

Why is that?

 

[Longhorn91]

To clarify, I actually prefer the COPD, chest pain, etc. I was hoping hospitalists mostly treat that

 

[rokshana]

To clarify, I actually prefer the COPD, chest pain, etc. I was hoping hospitalists mostly treat that

you end up treating a lot of neurology pts (seems to be common practice that neuro is only consultive) so brush up on managing weakness and stroke pts.

 

[gutonc]

Why is that?

Interesting patients ruin your day because, (at least in the outpatient setting), when you're seeing 20+ patients with 15 min for each one, that "interesting" patient will completely destroy the flow of your day, piss off the patients who come after because now you're running an hour late, and piss off your family because now you're coming home 2 hours late.

 

[jdh71]

Mmmm. Cold dinner . . .

 

[gutonc]

Mmmm. Cold dinner . . .

Hell, cold dinner is easy. Pissed off spouse and upset kid is the real fun part.

 

[jdh71]

Hell, cold dinner is easy. Pissed off spouse and upset kid is the real fun part.

I can't even hear what they are saying until I'm fed.

 

[Nivakia]

an interesting case isnt worthwhile if you did not make the diagnosis and had to consult someone. At the same time everyday I am so exhausted trying to get my patients out so I can have some down time. One interesting patient will derail everything.