Pain Management

[rs2006]

Hi all,

I am a fourth year med student thinking about going into anesthesiology and possibly subspecializing in pain just because I think it is quite interesting-- I just wanted to get some advice as to the pros and cons of the field??

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[UTSouthwestern]

I'll throw out a few comments.

Pros:
Flexibility with your daily schedule. You want time off, you make the schedule.
Oodles of money.
High volume (there will always be people in pain).
Own/run your own business/clinic.
Continuity of care and close physician patient relationship (can be a negative for some as well).

Cons:
Back to H&P's and progress notes and dictations.
Clinic/office overhead (staff, materials and supplies, rent, etc.)
Physically demanding (Standing with 20-30 pounds of lead on you).
Radiation exposure (Most of your procedures done with fluoro).
Increasing numbers of practitioners encroaching from other fields (PM&R, neurosurgery, neurology, IM, etc.).
Decreasing insurance reimbursement (problem with every field)
Bizarre/manipulative/med seeking patients.

 

[Med4ever]

Why I am the only one advocating for the site

www.painrounds.com

seriously a GREAT site. Has a forum, TONS on information, pictures about procedures different types of practice. It really BRINGS THE PAIN.....................