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deleted128562
I'm dead serious about this and wondering if it would be feasible. (The question is, would anyone implement this?) To set this all up:
1) There's been a lot of talk lately about NP's doing specialty "residencies" and then going into specialty practice. These "residencies" are 1000 hours, or about the equivalent of 3 months of an MD's intern year.
2) At the same time this is happening, more MD's and DO's were shut out of the match this year than ever before. This is especially true for foreign grads, but is now becoming a reality for US grads as well.
3) Many people get through medical school and find themselves beat down, worn out, and regretting all the work they've put in when the only thing they have to look immediately forward to is years of a grueling residency. Others regret going to school completely and wish there were some path other than a full residency to use their hard earned MD/DO.
With these things in mind, what about starting "Mini-Residencies" in several fields? An MD or DO would go through, say, an intense 4 month mini-residency in some specialty and then be licensed to practice essentially as an extender under the practice of an MD/DO who has done a full residency/fellowship in that field. (Essentially equivalent to a mid-level provider). This MD would have more schooling hours than, and equal "residency" time to an NP (or PA) and would thus be just as qualified to practice in this capacity.
The derm thread had some mention about an NP making $180K in derm. I know that many PA's and NP's who work in specialties can make nice 6 figure sums. As many people as med school burns out, I would be willing to bet good money that many MD's and DO's would elect to go the mini-residency route, leaving more match spots open for grads who wanted to do a full residency. This would help solve provider shortages since currently those doctors kept out of the match aren't able to practice in any capacity. It might also have the effect of pushing NP's back into primary care which is what they argued they were needed for in the first place. (Why hire an NP for 180K a year when you can hire a mid-level MD for 180K per year?).
The NP's have played the game and played it well. Now maybe it's our turn to figure out how to get a piece of their pie. If you think this is a decent idea, do you have any thoughts on who this should be suggested to? As I said, I'm dead serious about this. I think it could be very good for our profession and our communities.
1) There's been a lot of talk lately about NP's doing specialty "residencies" and then going into specialty practice. These "residencies" are 1000 hours, or about the equivalent of 3 months of an MD's intern year.
2) At the same time this is happening, more MD's and DO's were shut out of the match this year than ever before. This is especially true for foreign grads, but is now becoming a reality for US grads as well.
3) Many people get through medical school and find themselves beat down, worn out, and regretting all the work they've put in when the only thing they have to look immediately forward to is years of a grueling residency. Others regret going to school completely and wish there were some path other than a full residency to use their hard earned MD/DO.
With these things in mind, what about starting "Mini-Residencies" in several fields? An MD or DO would go through, say, an intense 4 month mini-residency in some specialty and then be licensed to practice essentially as an extender under the practice of an MD/DO who has done a full residency/fellowship in that field. (Essentially equivalent to a mid-level provider). This MD would have more schooling hours than, and equal "residency" time to an NP (or PA) and would thus be just as qualified to practice in this capacity.
The derm thread had some mention about an NP making $180K in derm. I know that many PA's and NP's who work in specialties can make nice 6 figure sums. As many people as med school burns out, I would be willing to bet good money that many MD's and DO's would elect to go the mini-residency route, leaving more match spots open for grads who wanted to do a full residency. This would help solve provider shortages since currently those doctors kept out of the match aren't able to practice in any capacity. It might also have the effect of pushing NP's back into primary care which is what they argued they were needed for in the first place. (Why hire an NP for 180K a year when you can hire a mid-level MD for 180K per year?).
The NP's have played the game and played it well. Now maybe it's our turn to figure out how to get a piece of their pie. If you think this is a decent idea, do you have any thoughts on who this should be suggested to? As I said, I'm dead serious about this. I think it could be very good for our profession and our communities.