after finishing one year of EM residency and getting a license, what are the options to practice medicine if one wants to/has to/forced to discontinue residency?
Do you have to be in a program in order to moonlight?
The amount of PGY training is a state dependent issue. Some only require one year, but some require two (I think Michigan requires two), and some perhaps more.
In TX and MS (only states I am particularly associated with), one PGY is required in order to obtain a full iicense. With a full license, you can technically work as a sole physician for pay.
Now, the bigger issue is finding moonlighting gigs that will hire you and malpractice insurance that will cover you (sometimes malpractice will be built into the hourly pay). Dont expect any full time employment or 'groups' to be trying to get you to join....
Some places, as I understand, will only let people without BE/BC in anything moonlight if they are 'actively involved in obtaining BE/BC' and this oftetimes gives a cheaper malpractice rate as well....
You would probably be only limited to VERY rural situations....places where their only option might be a NP/PA and they decide the drop out physician might be a better pawn in the ED.
Lastly, do not expect the 'big pay'. Its hearsay to me, but as EM residents (actively seeking BE/BC) working gigs, we can make up to 3-4 times what an IM or FP person can get for working the same identical job......the idea is that we do the job better (move meat faster, bill more procedures, less apt to screw up, and admit stuff --> more cash for the hospital).
Anyways, this is all from a PGY1 who has never moonlit a day (or night) in his life, so take its worth for what it cost ya...
