It does. Unfortunately the pay that comes with these IHS jobs is far from “amazing.”
Of course, it’s much better pay than a vast majority of podiatry associates get. But in the world of “employed” organizational jobs it’s the worst. Well, at least now that the VA has been increasing DPM compensation.
IHS jobs pay parity (VA) if govt IHS, should be near that if tribal. There is additional loan forgive if you do 2yr or more obligation IHS.
They (and VA) are among the worst in terms of pay among employ / hospital jobs. For sure... that's why MDs usually don't touch them.
IHS is cool in that you actually have a good amount of female and peds pts (not so in VA).
IHS is not cool in terms of desolate locations, bad roads, bad schools, reverse racism, corruption, etc.
Clinic has many DM pts, many disabled/unemployed/substance... just like VA.
Collective laziness is expected (like VA), understaffing is common (ditto), hiring is molasses (yup).
OR time and staffing and capability can be hit-or-miss in IHS, so ask and learn (VA are generally ORs present but just slooow). If the IHS has ortho and gen surg or OB etc, that's a good sign. Some IHS jobs are non-op.
The IHS MDs will occasionally be talented and just paying loans, many will be locum, most will be low level... failed boards, would have trouble getting typical jobs or have checkered past, etc (just like VA).
...The
big strength of IHS doc jobs [ financially ] is that there is
NOoOoOoTHING to spend your $ on out in those ultra-LCOL areas. The VAs will be opposite: many in HCOL or at least avg cost areas. The IHS job pay in tandem with $500 or $750/mo house rent in walk distance to hospital can effectively be as good as other org podiatrist jobs in terms of net income after rent + bills. The hospital housing is always very cheap (but some places have dilapidated housing), or the nearby cities (if there are any close enough for call radius who will rent to non-native ppl) are not expensive. If anyone takes a job for IHS, be smart, invest and don't screw it up by online shopping or speculation investments or some dumb mistakes that negate the LCOL factor.
They are desolate areas, you are making a sacrifice, and most reservations include only tiny towns (the kind with 1 or 2 gas stations, 2 or 3 restaurants, and one basic grocery store) and the hospitals are far from even small cities (5k, 10k, 25k) where you'd go to go shopping at a chain superstore or go "for fun." Okla reservations/hospitals are the occasional exception (some of the bigger cities are" reservation" also).
The IHS jobs are ok places to get numbers, pay off loans.
In the current job market, they are significantly better than avg grad will do. I'd look into them if new grad and single*** or have an outdoorsy and self-starter partner willing to rough it for a few years. Again, use the low COL and decent pay wisely - or you kinda defeat the purpose if you just buy a new Mercedes.
Like most hospitals and jobs in general, they were steadily cutting the 401 match and changing vesting timeline and raising cost and/or lowering quality of bennies when I left IHS, but it's still pretty good in terms of DPM gigs. We are saturated and just don't have anywhere near the options or demand and pay that MDs do.
***If you have a partner, they will likely NOT be happy there in the IHS middle of nowhere for very long. You can only hike deserted trails and marvel at wildflowers so much, and it gets old side stepping drunks or packs of 8 rez dogs at the gas station.
🙂
www.middleeastmonitor.com
