PhD/PsyD Private practice vs working in state hospital

[bmedclinic]

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I currently work at a state hospital and am in the midst of developing something on the side as my own private practice (integrated primary care). At some points, I'm rather frustrated by the hit or miss nature of professional or lack thereof in my setting. I'm surprised by how many people are impeccably professional but what always lurks up are a few completely unprofessional and lazy people (typically from other departments).

I have an opportunity to work at a traditional private practice and develop the same side practice as well. My question is: out in the community where you make your living by doing your work and doing it well, theoretically people shouldn't be as lazy and unprofessional, right? Is this true, or is it my imagination? Care to compare and contrast for me? Grass is always greener complex??

Thanks!

 

[erg923]

My question is: out in the community where you make your living by doing your work and doing it well

I would offer that this is a fundamentally flawed assumption.

Ex: The largest neuropsychology specialty practice in my city (and likely the largest group psychology practice in my city) does not have any actual "neuropsychologists" there. They do neuropsychological evaluations (tons), but so far as I can tell, the only person with formal training in graduate school and post-doctorally is the owner...who no longer actually sees patients. He probably makes 300k -500k/year. What do you think about that?

 

[deleted343839]

Agree with erg. To paraphrase a former mentor, success in private practice isn't about how skilled or competent you are; it's about how well you market yourself.

 

[smalltownpsych]

I currently work at a state hospital and am in the midst of developing something on the side as my own private practice (integrated primary care). At some points, I'm rather frustrated by the hit or miss nature of professional or lack thereof in my setting. I'm surprised by how many people are impeccably professional but what always lurks up are a few completely unprofessional and lazy people (typically from other departments).

I have an opportunity to work at a traditional private practice and develop the same side practice as well. My question is: out in the community where you make your living by doing your work and doing it well, theoretically people shouldn't be as lazy and unprofessional, right? Is this true, or is it my imagination? Care to compare and contrast for me? Grass is always greener complex??

Thanks!

Hehehehehehe...ohhohoho...hahahaha. You're killin me smalls. Seriously though, they're everywhere, but you can make a lot more money in private practice typically so that helps, and eventually start your own so you hire your own people. Then when you hire an unprofessional person at least you get the satisfaction of firing them.

 

[PsyDr]

It should be true, but it isn't.

IMO: People's motivations for going into PP are a mixed bag and their behaviors vary because of it. Some people are pursuing increased income and their productivity shows it. Some people want increased free time and their behavior shows it. Some people can't handle the various demands of a professional setting and their behavior shows it.

The problem starts when some of these motivations mix (e.g., person wants increased free time and increased income).

 

[WisNeuro]

PAY ME BECAUSE.....THINGS!

 

[bmedclinic]

Some people can't handle the various demands of a professional setting and their behavior shows it.

Perhaps then, this is my problem. And I should accept that we're going to have staff (particularly one dept) that has no worth at all.

 

[erg923]

Perhaps then, this is my problem. And I should accept that we're going to have staff (particularly one dept) that has no worth at all.

Now I'm curious what profession you are talking about.

 

[bmedclinic]

Now I'm curious what profession you are talking about.

I've got a pretty good reason to not name the dept. Probably best to just let this thread die, given that apparently it's just based on my faulty assumption. Oh well.

 

[WisNeuro]

Now I'm curious what profession you are talking about.

Probably across disciplines. I have staff I value among my coworkers (psychiatrist, SW, OT, PT, psychologists) but similarly, there are those among them, and us, that I find absolutely useless.

 

[BuckeyeLove]

I work both government and private gigs....and one of the most surprising things I've learned from one of my bosses (a boarded ABFP no less) is that in the private world, "it's all about the hustle."

 

[Therapist4Chnge]

I thought it was, "all about that bass"?

 

[WisNeuro]

I prefer to fish for salmon, personally.

 

[smalltownpsych]

I just glad I'm on a four day ski trip in park city.

 

[hamsterpants]

I prefer to fish for salmon, personally.

"It's all about the bass, about the bass (no salmon)"