Opportunities in Colorado?

[gasguy]

Those quoted rates for epidurals and c sections are certainly very high, but if people are getting them, good for them.

Significantly more important though are the absolutely disgusting payments from Medicare. Back in my old life I was doing a ton of Medicare on-pump CABGs. For a 2 1/2 hour case base (18 units) + time (10 units) with $150-$200 total for art line and CVP at $21.50 a unit = a max of about $800.

$800 to have the skills, knowledge, expertise, training, and time to pre-op and interview a generally unwell patient, place a large IV, an arterial line, a central line +/- PAC, transport them to the OR, gingerly induce, place an airway,+/- "free" TEE, precisely control hemodynamics while the surgeon assaults them, facilitate draining their blood from their still-living mind and body, stop the heart, monitor everything during the pump run, restart the heart, pace, fill the body back with all the blood while keeping them still, alive, and stable, then possibly extubate them prior to transfer to the ICU all the while maintaining the burden of liability, malpractice insurance, CME, MOCA, student loan repayment, opportunity cost of lengthy schooling/training, licensure, front-office staff, etc, etc.

Is there any reasonable person that could think this is even remotely acceptable?

No matter if you practice cardiac, pediatrics, pain, critical care, or outpatient think of all the life events that led you to where you are today and then consider how the government values that.

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[Fpg1245]

Those quoted rates for epidurals and c sections are certainly very high, but if people are getting them, good for them.

Significantly more important though are the absolutely disgusting payments from Medicare. Back in my old life I was doing a ton of Medicare on-pump CABGs. For a 2 1/2 hour case base (18 units) + time (10 units) with $150-$200 total for art line and CVP at $21.50 a unit = a max of about $800.

$800 to have the skills, knowledge, expertise, training, and time to pre-op and interview a generally unwell patient, place a large IV, an arterial line, a central line +/- PAC, transport them to the OR, gingerly induce, place an airway,+/- "free" TEE, precisely control hemodynamics while the surgeon assaults them, facilitate draining their blood from their still-living mind and body, stop the heart, monitor everything during the pump run, restart the heart, pace, fill the body back with all the blood while keeping them still, alive, and stable, then possibly extubate them prior to transfer to the ICU all the while maintaining the burden of liability, malpractice insurance, CME, MOCA, student loan repayment, opportunity cost of lengthy schooling/training, licensure, front-office staff, etc, etc.

Is there any reasonable person that could think this is even remotely acceptable?

No matter if you practice cardiac, pediatrics, pain, critical care, or outpatient think of all the life events that led you to where you are today and then consider how the government values that.

It really is a travesty on all levels but this is what you get when people demand more and more and are unwilling to pay for it. The fact that this has gone on as long as it has speaks volumes about all the parties involved