- Joined
- Jul 30, 2005
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A lot of medical students really believe that anesthesiologists just read the newspaper all day. I thought I'd make a thread pointing out the not so positive aspects of the field. I think it gives people a better idea of what they are getting themselves into.
1) you have to be at the hospital eary everyday for the rest of your life, even as an attending. anywhere from 6:00-6:30. At my hospital, the attendings are there right at 645-7am. And you have to do whats best for the group.... that can often mean skipping out on lunch or not taking a break at all and essentially being a factory worker, if you're set up at a busy hospital.
2) There is no way to avoid call as an attending, unless you're REALLY established in the group. And when you take call, you have to stay in the hospital. No way to get around it. I have heard residents talk about getting locum jobs and avoiding call altogether. I don't know the details on that. My friends dad is an established attending with over 20 years experience in a group in the south and has a great set up, but still takes call regularly and has to be away from his family to stay at the hospital. The guy is ALWAYS tired.
3) When **** hits the fan, you have to step in and take care of business. You better have seen some wild wild cases before you decide to take the big step into this field. Otherwise you will be in for QUITE a few surprises and will see how stressful it really is. People's lives are quite literally right in your hands. You definately deal with some wild situations and need to be able to think quick.
4) If financial rewards are your thing.... here is something to munch on... according to dr. ronald miller, on an article that can be found online written in 2002 for the ASA....
http://www.asahq.org/Newsletters/2002/12_02/whatsNew12_02.html
he mentions, "several indicators suggest that we may not be creating new knowledge as rapidly as other specialties. Our National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding is less than many other specialties."
"most of the funding is directed to less than 20 of the more than 100 training programs in the United States. "
"Thirty years ago, Richard J. Kitz, M.D., and Julien F. Biebuyck, M.D., stated, A discipline not continually engaged in an active and imaginative program of research is dead, and will not advance and will probably deteriorate in general standards and efficiency."
Read the article, get a better idea and maybe people can post with their opinions. But Dr. Miller mentions that the anesthesiologist of the future is geared heavily towards being the hospitalist of the future, since perioperative management seems to be the one aspect of the field that is pretty much secure for the future. Even pain management is very slowly being gobbled up by other specialties. Anesthesiologists still take most of the spots, though.
He also mentions that Anesthesiology has retained its power through the ASA and other political means. Which may or may not be a good sign, depending on how you look at it. Ultimately, you need political power, but how long can political power ensure the security of the future?
Something to munch on. Hope I didn't offend the more established people on here.
-GasDaddy
1) you have to be at the hospital eary everyday for the rest of your life, even as an attending. anywhere from 6:00-6:30. At my hospital, the attendings are there right at 645-7am. And you have to do whats best for the group.... that can often mean skipping out on lunch or not taking a break at all and essentially being a factory worker, if you're set up at a busy hospital.
2) There is no way to avoid call as an attending, unless you're REALLY established in the group. And when you take call, you have to stay in the hospital. No way to get around it. I have heard residents talk about getting locum jobs and avoiding call altogether. I don't know the details on that. My friends dad is an established attending with over 20 years experience in a group in the south and has a great set up, but still takes call regularly and has to be away from his family to stay at the hospital. The guy is ALWAYS tired.
3) When **** hits the fan, you have to step in and take care of business. You better have seen some wild wild cases before you decide to take the big step into this field. Otherwise you will be in for QUITE a few surprises and will see how stressful it really is. People's lives are quite literally right in your hands. You definately deal with some wild situations and need to be able to think quick.
4) If financial rewards are your thing.... here is something to munch on... according to dr. ronald miller, on an article that can be found online written in 2002 for the ASA....
http://www.asahq.org/Newsletters/2002/12_02/whatsNew12_02.html
he mentions, "several indicators suggest that we may not be creating new knowledge as rapidly as other specialties. Our National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding is less than many other specialties."
"most of the funding is directed to less than 20 of the more than 100 training programs in the United States. "
"Thirty years ago, Richard J. Kitz, M.D., and Julien F. Biebuyck, M.D., stated, A discipline not continually engaged in an active and imaginative program of research is dead, and will not advance and will probably deteriorate in general standards and efficiency."
Read the article, get a better idea and maybe people can post with their opinions. But Dr. Miller mentions that the anesthesiologist of the future is geared heavily towards being the hospitalist of the future, since perioperative management seems to be the one aspect of the field that is pretty much secure for the future. Even pain management is very slowly being gobbled up by other specialties. Anesthesiologists still take most of the spots, though.
He also mentions that Anesthesiology has retained its power through the ASA and other political means. Which may or may not be a good sign, depending on how you look at it. Ultimately, you need political power, but how long can political power ensure the security of the future?
Something to munch on. Hope I didn't offend the more established people on here.
-GasDaddy
