Is going through all THIS really worth 150K???

[medicinesux]

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The endless hours, the neverending disrespect and abuse coming at you from all levels, the annual threat of "medicare cuts", the threat of constant lawsuits, the devaluation of what it means to be a doctor nowadays, the HMO's, the dealings with medical coding and billing, the annoying agencies like HIPAA and JCAHO, the recertification exams and CMEs, the midlevels and ongoing turf wars, the noncompliant and demanding patients, the patients who are now sicker than ever, the further increasing workload, the mountains of paperwork, the missing out on yet another family event...I could go on and on.

Seriously, Is going through all THIS really worth 150K in the year 2008😕? Is it really?

I welcome all comments from "I love my job so much I can't believe they pay me to do this!" to "I quit- If they payed me a million dollars a year i wouldn't keep doing this crap".

 

[mig26x]

is getting to that point!!

 

[Law2Doc]

If it's about the money, then no it's not worth it. If it's because you get to do what you want to do for a living, at least some of the time when you aren't dealing with BS, then perhaps.

 

[sandraf]

I wouldn't get out of the bad happy for doing it for any other reason!

 

[Faebinder]

Assessment: An XX y/o resident with Hx of residency abuse that now suffers poor sleep, poor concentration, hopelessness, and helplessness and now complains of anhedonia.

Dx: Adjustment D/O, R/O Major Depression moderate.

Recommendation:

- Celexa 20 mg PO qdaily.
- Refer to therapy to develop healthy coping skills.
- Advise against increased drinking, drugs or sex as a coping mechanism.

It will only get worse, hang in there learn to find happiness in something other than your job. The faster you get to that point, the earlier you will feel better. For many years you dedicated your life to your job.. it's time you made some of your time for yourself.

 

[soulofmpatel]

Assessment: An XX y/o resident with Hx of residency abuse that now suffers poor sleep, poor concentration, hopelessness, and helplessness and now complains of anhedonia.

Dx: Adjustment D/O, R/O Major Depression moderate.

Recommendation:

- Celexa 20 mg PO qdaily.
- Refer to therapy to develop healthy coping skills.
- Advise against increased drinking, drugs or sex as a coping mechanism.

Ahahahahahahahahaha!

 

[maceo]

No its not worth it..

 

[dragonfly99]

Yes, for me.
I can't answer that question of whether it's right/worth it for you or any other person.
We still get to do a cool job, get paid more than the average person, and have more job security than the average person. We also have worse/longer hours and more stress and responsibility than people in most other jobs.

Agree with Faebinder.

For what it's worth, maybe you should quit if medicine makes you that miserable...I mean the paperwork and social work crap is part of medicine nowadays. But it's significantly better when you are no longer a resident, especially depending on what specialty you pick. And there are alternative careers too...I mean you could go work for a medical organization (i.e. chief medical officer of the American Heart Association, etc.) or the gov't (like the FDA, etc.). Hard to do these type jobs without finishing residency first, though. I think for someone already in residency it's almost always best to finish some sort of residency. For a first year med student who is hating life, it might be best to quit if he/she isn't sure about a career as a doc. Now, you're already 150k in...best to stick it out another 3 or 4 years if you can...with 1-2 years as an attending you'd make a significant impact on your student loans. And you'll get more respect...maybe not as much as you want, but more.

 

[Law2Doc]

...get paid more than the average person, and have more job security than the average person. We also have worse/longer hours and more stress and responsibility than people in most other jobs.

If you are comparing yourself to the average person, you are selling yourself horribly short. The average person doesn't have a professional degree, and didn't have as many choices of career as you did. Sorry, but you have to compare yourself to other paths you realistically could have chosen from to see if you did better, not compare yourself to some college dropout who stocks shelves, works 9 to 5 and lives for the weekend.

 

[medicinesux]

Assessment: An XX y/o resident with Hx of residency abuse that now suffers poor sleep, poor concentration, hopelessness, and helplessness and now complains of anhedonia.

Dx: Adjustment D/O, R/O Major Depression moderate.

Recommendation:

- Celexa 20 mg PO qdaily.
- Refer to therapy to develop healthy coping skills.
- Advise against increased drinking, drugs or sex as a coping mechanism.

It will only get worse, hang in there learn to find happiness in something other than your job. The faster you get to that point, the earlier you will feel better. For many years you dedicated your life to your job.. it's time you made some of your time for yourself.

No, no, no! You got it all wrong! The correct diagnosis is Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. Seriously, do a search where I already deal with this question.

 

[medicinesux]

Ahahahahahahahahaha!

And I am sure I will be saying the same when you are knee dip in this pig poop this time next year after your fourth year med school honeymoon has been exchanged for the utter joys of internship.

 

[KeratinPearls]

The endless hours, the neverending disrespect and abuse coming at you from all levels, the annual threat of "medicare cuts", the threat of constant lawsuits, the devaluation of what it means to be a doctor nowadays, the HMO's, the dealings with medical coding and billing, the annoying agencies like HIPAA and JCAHO, the recertification exams and CMEs, the midlevels and ongoing turf wars, the noncompliant and demanding patients, the patients who are now sicker than ever, the further increasing workload, the mountains of paperwork, the missing out on yet another family event...I could go on and on.

Seriously, Is going through all THIS really worth 150K in the year 2008😕? Is it really?

I welcome all comments from "I love my job so much I can't believe they pay me to do this!" to "I quit- If they payed me a million dollars a year i wouldn't keep doing this crap".

Go into dentistry. My friend (my age) is living in a decent pad, comes home at 2:30 on Fridays (usually 9-5), plays video games while watching NBA basketball games on his other 50 inch tv when he gets home. Even better, go into a subspecialty of dentistry.

Here I am in residency slaving away and studying my ass off everyday. It's been like this for me for 10+ years. I've been burned out many times over. I just can't wait for my payday.

 

[pgg]

The endless hours ...

Hey, medcinesux with 107 posts, most related to griping about medicine this or residency that, is it really necessary to start yet another thread soliciting opinions about whether or not your life sucks?

The answer is yes. Yes it does.

As for the rest of it - yes, it's worth it. I'm an anesthesia resident. Anesthesiology pays more than $150K, but I'm in the military, where I'll be paid roughly $150K. Despite the pauper's wage and the military administrative pain (which, I'll wager, is far FAR more onerous than any of the administrative pain you cry about), I have to say I couldn't be happier about my time in residency, my career & specialty choice, and my future prospects.

But good luck to you.

 

[medicinesux]

Hey, medcinesux with 107 posts, most related to griping about medicine this or residency that, is it really necessary to start yet another thread soliciting opinions about whether or not your life sucks?

The answer is yes. Yes it does.

Hey pgg, where did I ever ask one to comment on whether my life sucks? If you think my life is solely defined by my work, then yes it would suck. Actually, anyone who lives to work is not living in my opinion. Though a soul sucking job can seep into other aspects of your life in more ways than one, my life outside medicine most certainly doesn't suck. My brief time away from medicine has reaffirmed that to me. The intent of this thread is to merely ask the question in hand and not to be personally judged. Glad to hear that all is well with you but no need to kick someone in the head when they are already down.

 

[Pinkertinkle]

O well you could always go into investment banki... o wait...

 

[Sarcoidosis]

Hedge Fund Manager 😀 , they retire by the age we complete residency.

Well, I look at it as, this is what I was born to do! There is nothing else waiting for me, this IS my life. I just have to learn to better prioritize as I get older.
Secondly I am helping others in ways that no one else does or can! I know, I will go to heaven for my work... We live to die and that is what I am looking forward to...

Not preaching just giving a different perspective...

 

[Blade28]

Could be adjustment disorder as well.

 

[mjl1717]

It 's probably not worth it but for some it's there calling and is meant to be!

Ill admit it seems like the medical pathway seems to add more gymnastics with high hurdles every year..

And its its a little funny saying - " After nearly a quarter million duckets in debt and widespread great expectations- all he could do is become a doctor!"

 

[pgg]

Hey pgg, where did I ever ask one to comment on whether my life sucks?

When you began yet another "whine whine whine - does medicine suck a lot or just a little - I'm tired of this - the future is bleak" thread in which you solicited opinions and declared yourself interested in all comments, positive and negative.

But perhaps I misunderstand you and your intent was, well, something other than what you explicitly posted to start this thread.

 

[novastorm]

With the increasing cost of the medical education and the limbo that is residency, following this logic, almost all new doctors are somewhat altruistic, but all I care about is getting paid enough to not be crushed by my student loans. Above and beyond that,what is, is, make the most of it.

 

[mjl1717]

With the increasing cost of the medical education and the limbo that is residency, following this logic, almost all new doctors are somewhat altruistic, but all I care about is getting paid enough to not be crushed by my student loans. Above and beyond that,what is, is, make the most of it.

I like that trend of thought..

 

[sirus_virus]

Assessment: An XX y/o resident with Hx of residency abuse that now suffers poor sleep, poor concentration, hopelessness, and helplessness and now complains of anhedonia.

Dx: Adjustment D/O, R/O Major Depression moderate.

Recommendation:

- Celexa 20 mg PO qdaily.
- Refer to therapy to develop healthy coping skills.
- Advise against increased drinking, drugs or sex as a coping mechanism.

I disagree, sex (especially the random type) is one of the best coping mechanisms available to us. Take advantage..

 

[Rogue Synapse]

Hedge Fund Manager 😀 , they retire by the age we complete residency.

They used to retire by the age we complete residency. Now, their lives are not so happy. And medicine hasn't changed much in the last year. Starting to look more attractive?

 

[triggerpt]

Still better than waiting tables or picking up golf balls. Trust me I've done both. 🙂

 

[IamMDMBA]

Who the heck makes $150k?

Latest 2008 salary survey:
http://www.cejkasearch.com/compensation/amga_physician_compensation_survey.htm

Stop feeling sorry for your self. Students and residents are in no position to judge future happiness. Esp in the current economic environment, there is only one field more secure than any other - medicine. People should really research more carefully careers before jumping in, and more importantly, taking away a slot someone more committed could have used.

 

[Lonestar]

Dear medicinesux,

As a physician practicing a "good" specialty for 3.5 months, I must say going through all that pain was unnecessary. It didn't help at all. On top of everything, there are plenty of headaches once you practice.

But, its nice when you see your first paycheck. I was elated with my paycheck until I realized that uncle sam took nearly half of it away. Oh, well i guess i will just have to do with 8K take home every two weeks.

 

[dragonfly99]

IamMDMBA
Lots of docs make 150k or less. It depends on your specialty and state where you work.
Family practice, peds, internal med and some others can and do definitely make <150k in many cases. Still, 120k-160k is not chump change by most folks' standards. You WILL work for it, no doubt.

 

[sirus_virus]

Who the heck makes $150k?
Latest 2008 salary survey:
http://www.cejkasearch.com/compensation/amga_physician_compensation_survey.htm

Stop feeling sorry for your self. Students and residents are in no position to judge future happiness. Esp in the current economic environment, there is only one field more secure than any other - medicine. People should really research more carefully careers before jumping in, and more importantly, taking away a slot someone more committed could have used.

>50% of the physician workforce.

 

[IamMDMBA]

Dear medicinesux,

Oh, well i guess i will just have to do with 8K take home every two weeks.

We must work together, $15k before taxes here.

 

[Excelsius]

Who the heck makes $150k?

Latest 2008 salary survey:
http://www.cejkasearch.com/compensation/amga_physician_compensation_survey.htm

Stop feeling sorry for your self. Students and residents are in no position to judge future happiness. Esp in the current economic environment, there is only one field more secure than any other - medicine. People should really research more carefully careers before jumping in, and more importantly, taking away a slot someone more committed could have used.

I think he might have meant after taxes. Assuming that average starting salary for anesthesiologist is 260K and that he pays the maximum tax possible (35%), you get: 260-91= 169K. That's much closer to the 150. Presumably, it will later rise to around 230K. If you live in CA, the total tax can reach 45.3%. That's pretty bad.

My observation is that wealthier people usually pay even less taxes than the middle class. That's because there are a lot of loopholes in the system. If you have no business acumen, then yeah, paying 35% is probably about right. I keep a side "business" and every year take about 40-60% deductions. Contributing to 401k or owning a house would even further bring down that number. Hell, it seems these days people are publishing books just to avoid taxes.