PM&R Internal Medicine Combined Residency

[longwindingroad]

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Im strongly considering pm&r and i was wondering if there is a significant benefit to doing an internal medicine pm&r combined residency. From reading other threads, I am getting the impression that most patients who need the services of a physiatrist first see their primary care physician, who may then refer them to a neurologist, who may then refer them to a physiatrist. I was just thinking that being board certified in both would enable you skip the middle man, so to speak, and refer the appropriate patients back to yourself for physiatric treatment. Certainly being board certified in both makes you more employable following residency. Is the main problem just that you wouldn't really have enough time to practice as both types of physicians?

Also, would these programs be more or less competitive relative to a regular pm&r program? Im thinking more bc there are less of them, but i am not sure how desirable they are by applicants

Finally, is it safe to assume that you would be substantially busier in this type of residency (internal med is generally more time intensive than pm&r and you are technically doing 6 years of residency in 5 years)? Any info would be much appreciated. Thanks

 

[cbest]

As a PM&R resident trudging through an Internal Medicine internship, I can't imagine putting myself through even more medicine than what is already required... but that's just me!

I don't think if there are anymore combined IM/PM&R programs available anymore. I do know of a person who decided to complete PM&R as a second residency after an Internal Medicine residency, but that's a 6 year road. There are still 4 Peds/PM&R programs if you're interested in that route.

My thought is that if you're a good physiatrist, that you won't need referrals from yourself to have a busy practice!

 

[PMR 4 MSK]

When you get out into practice, you won't want to do IM and PM&R, at least most people won't. very different populations, although there is a lot of shared pts.

A better bet, and one that will save you time and money, is to get the referrals from the PCPs. Teach them what you can do for them. Many of my patients would otherwise be sent to neuro or ortho, but the PCPs know what I can do and send them to me.

 

[longwindingroad]

Hey guys thanks for the responses.

 

[FitDoc]

Marry an internist.

 

[SSdoc33]

Marry an internist.

great idea if you you never want to see your wife. i should have married one. i kid (in case she reads this thread)

honestly, you will probably want to do a fellowship after EITHER PM&R or IM. more money, less hours, better patients. makes no sense to do 2 primary specialties when you will prbably subspecialize in one or the other. pick the primary specialty you like best.