Perspectives on radonc

[Columbia22]

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So what do you all think of the future of radiation oncology? Will the field continue to thrive as it has been doing? Will compensations decrease as the healthcare crisis worsens? Also, how hard is it to find a job in a large city after residency, ie NYC? Will you only be able to work for a hospital or cancer center? I assuming that opening up your own practice is far from imagineable. Do a lot of people relocate?

 

[napoleondynamite]

Hey Columbia22,

These questions are covered in the FAQ:

http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=116902

Good luck as you investigate the field. ND.

 

[Columbia22]

Thanks napoleon, but I wanted more specific feedback from a variety of people, especially concerning the job market and future of the field. I have read FAQs a few times and it doesn't really offer the nitty-gritty.

 

[Gfunk6]

I think the future is just fine. The predicted oversupply of RadOnc docs has turned out to be a shortfall instead, so the jobs are there.

Compensation will probably decline, but this is no different than every other medical field out there. Manufacturers of new tech are highly aggressive (some would say too much so) in getting their treatment machines approved by insurance -- sometimes w/o good evidence-based research.

Finding jobs in large cities is very tough. It is often times highly situtational -- for instance, you may be lucky enough to graduate in a year where a given city has a lot of vacancies. If you go to a "big name" program with a lot of contacts and pull, this might open up a few doors for you but it is far from guaranteed if you want to mork in major metropolitan areas. For most people who want to work in big cities, academics is the way to go.

Relocation is really up to you. Some continue to work in the same city, many others move elsewhere (often multiple times).

 

[stephew]

well you know something you'll learn over your residency is that technology - or really "cutting edge" tech is not what its all about. Students and new residents like gleaming new machines and get all hot and bothered talking about who has the best new whatever. but this isn't what makes for the best for patients necessarily and certainly not for the best of programs. Im not quite sure how your assement of machinery and compensation came to be. The machine issue has little the future of radonc per se. Its a marginal issue. And right now finding jobs isn't very tough even in large cities. This can change fairly quickly but its not a big issue over the last few years. Private prractice in and near big cities is pretty well available.

I think the future is just fine. The predicted oversupply of RadOnc docs has turned out to be a shortfall instead, so the jobs are there.

Compensation will probably decline, but this is no different than every other medical field out there. Manufacturers of new tech are highly aggressive (some would say too much so) in getting their treatment machines approved by insurance -- sometimes w/o good evidence-based research.

Finding jobs in large cities is very tough. It is often times highly situtational -- for instance, you may be lucky enough to graduate in a year where a given city has a lot of vacancies. If you go to a "big name" program with a lot of contacts and pull, this might open up a few doors for you but it is far from guaranteed if you want to mork in major metropolitan areas. For most people who want to work in big cities, academics is the way to go.

Relocation is really up to you. Some continue to work in the same city, many others move elsewhere (often multiple times).

 

[Mulletfluf]

I think he was talking about CBCT and OBI. Take for instance a Trilogy with OBI and CBCT. Varian is pushing these things like crazy, making the claim that you can begin dynamic adaptive therapy. The sales push is under the guise of almost a one step sim/treat: old plan yesterday, new adapted plan today. However, you can't use the images for treatment planning (in the future you will be able to use them). You have a higher reimbursement should you choose to use those options. Just like an ultrasound cpt code for in room localization. Right?

well you know something you'll learn over your residency is that technology - or really "cutting edge" tech is not what its all about. Students and new residents like gleaming new machines and get all hot and bothered talking about who has the best new whatever. but this isn't what makes for the best for patients necessarily and certainly not for the best of programs. Im not quite sure how your assement of machinery and compensation came to be. The machine issue has little the future of radonc per se. Its a marginal issue. And right now finding jobs isn't very tough even in large cities. This can change fairly quickly but its not a big issue over the last few years. Private prractice in and near big cities is pretty well available.

 

[Gfunk6]

I think he was talking about CBCT and OBI.

That's right. A lot of tech is approved for treatment w/o adequate trials to demonstrate improved efficacy over existing tech. Indeed these often offer higher reimbursement -- yet another incentive for their use in private practice unfortunately.

 

[stephew]

I think he was talking about CBCT and OBI. Take for instance a Trilogy with OBI and CBCT. Varian is pushing these things like crazy, making the claim that you can begin dynamic adaptive therapy. The sales push is under the guise of almost a one step sim/treat: old plan yesterday, new adapted plan today. However, you can't use the images for treatment planning (in the future you will be able to use them). You have a higher reimbursement should you choose to use those options. Just like an ultrasound cpt code for in room localization. Right?

tha'ts true. which is a bit sad as docs are encouraged to use technologist where not warrented so as to complex bill.