Private vs Academic

[c5212]

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My father suffered a cerebral aneurysm in 2007 and needless to say, that spiked my interest in pursuing neurology. After he was released from MUSC Neuro ICU, in-patient rehab, and pursued out-patient rehab, he continued to see a neurologist, but one that was set up with 2 other neurologists in Myrtle Beach at a private practice.

My question is mainly this: What differences are there between a neurologist at an academic institution, a regular hospital, and private practice? (i.e. hours, pay, anything they do differently)
I know it is a very general question, but please do the best you can

Thanks😀

 

[typhoonegator]

My father suffered a cerebral aneurysm in 2007 and needless to say, that spiked my interest in pursuing neurology. After he was released from MUSC Neuro ICU, in-patient rehab, and pursued out-patient rehab, he continued to see a neurologist, but one that was set up with 2 other neurologists in Myrtle Beach at a private practice.

My question is mainly this: What differences are there between a neurologist at an academic institution, a regular hospital, and private practice? (i.e. hours, pay, anything they do differently)
I know it is a very general question, but please do the best you can

Thanks😀

You are correct in that it is a very general question. Academics balance their clinical practice with teaching and research. Private practice people tend to be more focused on clinical work and supporting their business (although some have academic appointments in local hospitals that allow teaching, and some manage to do some research on the side). Typically, the neurologists that are on staff at local hospitals are members of private practices in the surrounding community, while the neurologists on staff at academic medical centers practice in the hospital environment or in clinics affiliated with the medical center. But there are exceptions to all of this, because there are no strict definitions of these terms.

Hours: variable. Private practice neurologists are often paid more for doing things that are billable, so they often work long hours to generate income for the practice. Academics spend a lot of time teaching (sometimes) or doing research (sometimes) and also often work long hours.

Pay: variable. Successful private practice neurologists can make more than their academic brethren, again because their income is more directly tied to their billing. But some academics that are judged to be very important to their department can make good money as well (but usually not as much as they could make on the outside)

Quality of care: variable. Good private practice neurologists see lots of patients, and so they get a lot of practice (heh) taking care of people. Some academics don't see a lot of patients in clinic. Then again, there are some really brilliant academics that are outstanding clinicians.

Bottom line: If one was truly better than the other, then the inferior would cease to exist. Both are faces of the same coin, and neither could exist without the support of the other. All physicians should be judged on an individual basis rather than with labels or categorization.

 

[Adalimumab]

You are correct in that it is a very general question. Academics balance their clinical practice with teaching and research. Private practice people tend to be more focused on clinical work and supporting their business (although some have academic appointments in local hospitals that allow teaching, and some manage to do some research on the side). Typically, the neurologists that are on staff at local hospitals are members of private practices in the surrounding community, while the neurologists on staff at academic medical centers practice in the hospital environment or in clinics affiliated with the medical center. But there are exceptions to all of this, because there are no strict definitions of these terms.

Hours: variable. Private practice neurologists are often paid more for doing things that are billable, so they often work long hours to generate income for the practice. Academics spend a lot of time teaching (sometimes) or doing research (sometimes) and also often work long hours.

Pay: variable. Successful private practice neurologists can make more than their academic brethren, again because their income is more directly tied to their billing. But some academics that are judged to be very important to their department can make good money as well (but usually not as much as they could make on the outside)

Quality of care: variable. Good private practice neurologists see lots of patients, and so they get a lot of practice (heh) taking care of people. Some academics don't see a lot of patients in clinic. Then again, there are some really brilliant academics that are outstanding clinicians.

Bottom line: If one was truly better than the other, then the inferior would cease to exist. Both are faces of the same coin, and neither could exist without the support of the other. All physicians should be judged on an individual basis rather than with labels or categorization.

Thank you for clarification.