Navy issue

[215512]

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So I recently considered the Navy as an option for post-pod school. I receive an information packet but it states that there is a dental group a nurse group a medical group and a medical "service" group (IE podiatry optometry PA)...so what I am wondering is if I am the only one that thinks this is baloney that podiatrists are not lumped into the "medical corps" with the MD/DOs? I guess it is just a title but I think it further exacerbates the problem of inequality with this profession...and that is ridiculous...

 

[damhsoir]

I doubt it really exacerbates the problem, but I do see where you are coming from. A health care professional is a health care professional. I don't think a veteran really gives a flying rat's arse whether you are in the medical group or the medical service group. What does the navy know about podiatry anyway?

 

[allenmarchallo]

As an almost (9) year Navy veteran, I definitely know what you're talking about...Being ranked in the MSC (Medical Service Corps) as a pod. kinda baffles me...This is the same Corps classification a "Health Care Administrator"--- who specializes in Financial Management, Information Management, Patient Admin, etc...Or.....scientists/cinicians such as microbiologists, biochemists, Industrial Hygienists, optometrists, pharmacists, PA's, social workers, etc....

Being a pod. physician/surgeon/specialist & being ranked as in the same classification as a "social worker,"---c'mon.....

While in uniform, patients won't be able to tell what the hell you are...However, if you were in the MC (medical corps)---everyone knows you're a M.D/D.O. It does seem a little unfair, since only MD/DO/DPM are the only professions which REQUIRE residencies....

The MSC is the LARGEST Corps...Being ranked/competing against all these other specialists also makes it MUCH more difficult to increase in rank...
MC doesn't have nowhere near the competition, since they only compete with other MD's/DO's. Same can be said about the DC (dental corps)..

---BUT---

In the end though, it's really just "showing off"...Everyone who needs to know, WILL know you are a Dr. & surgeon, including the MD's/D.O's...

I doubt the MSC to MC classification will ever change ...So, unfortunately we gotta deal with it 4 now...

 

[NAVYLABTECH08]

I doubt it really exacerbates the problem, but I do see where you are coming from. A health care professional is a health care professional. I don't think a veteran really gives a flying rat's arse whether you are in the medical group or the medical service group. What does the navy know about podiatry anyway?

It actually does matter. By the navy lumping physicians into medical service corps, they save themselves tons of money compensation bonuses.

LT BOB, Orthropediac surgeon(MC/DO) = 80k a year +(i.e) 25k in bonuses
LT Smith, Podiatrist (DPM) = 80k a year w/o bonuses

1.If both doctors see the same patient load and OR time, sounds to me that someone is getting duked.

2. You may be required to stand 24 hour duty at your hospital as the OOD. I have not seen any podiatrist so far, but I have met various other members of the MSC community and I'm >95% sure pods are on the OOD Duty list. MD/DOs are not! (This means you do even more work w/o the bonus) The reasons MD/DO are not on the list is becasue they work such demanding hrs. This is BS and most MD/DO docs I know are in the building around 7 am and leave at 5pm. (later now because ALTHA sucks). Bottom line, they aren't working those 100hr weeks like civilian docs and are getting away with a very light "call" rotation instead of OOD duty.

3. All this being said, I was against telling people to join navy as a podiatrist. However, the HPSP scholarship + bad economic times = NAVY BS not so bad after all.

* So far, I am not going to use HPSP or HSCP. However, FAP may be a real possibility for me during residency years.

 

[spooge]

I saw the word "Navy" and wanted to say to my shipmates - OOOOOORAH.