Residency perks?

[JustUnder9000]

What are some of the best perks you've heard of at a residency? Supposedly some place in Cali gives you a near $1000 monthly food stipend? Some give out laptops, tablets... movie tickets. Sounds ridiculous/awesome to me, but just curious if you know of any insane perks at residencies.

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[NickNaylor]

"Monthly food stipend" a.k.a. "here's your salary, we reduced the portion of the Medicare stipend by $1000 and have included our own $1000 'food stipend', look how awesome we are!"

 

[jdh71]

What are some of the best perks you've heard of at a residency? Supposedly some place in Cali gives you a near $1000 monthly food stipend? Some give out laptops, tablets... movie tickets. Sounds ridiculous/awesome to me, but just curious if you know of any insane perks at residencies.

I heard of one that lets you park within TWO blocks of the hospital. Pretty sweet.

 

[235009]

While I understand NickNaylor's cynicism the fact that some programs DON'T offer these things without any increase in salary makes these perks.

 

[Dral]

The TY that used to exist at Carillion used to give country club memberships.

 

[NickNaylor]

I suppose the only "perks" we have are a book allowance (pretty standard) and super cheap parking.

 

[jdh71]

While I understand NickNaylor's cynicism the fact that some programs DON'T offer these things without any increase in salary makes these perks.

As a general rule though, the more perks, the less desirable the residency spot, at least in IM and fellowships.

 

[IlDestriero]

Free parking, $5000/yr housing bonus, $2500 relocation allowance, free iPad, access to hospital employee discounts (movies, restaurants, phone service, golf, etc), CME allowances, free food on call, free breakfast daily, etc.

 

[Shjanzey]

$5 for lunch EVERY TIME I WORK

 

[Morzh]

Free parking, $5000/yr housing bonus, $2500 relocation allowance, free iPad, access to hospital employee discounts (movies, restaurants, phone service, golf, etc), CME allowances, free food on call, free breakfast daily, etc.

Maybe you could PM me which program this is so I can be sure they are on my ERAS?? 😉

 

[22031 Alum]

My residents eat for free in the hospital cafeteria and have a lounge stocked with snacks 24/7. I eat for free too, of course, but I think of all the PB&J I ate as a resident and seethe with jealousy.

 

[startswithb]

$3500 yearly "housing + educational" stipend and health, vision, and dental insurance for $0 premium for self and dependents, including spouse. That's actually worth quite a lot. I think people take that for granted. (this is in a very very desirable area)

Less desirable area I know of gave a $10,000 signing bonus for new interns for matching in primary care specialties, including OBGYN. Free food all the time and a competitive salary in a mid-market area with low COL.

 

[NickNaylor]

$3500 yearly "housing + educational" stipend and health, vision, and dental insurance for $0 premium for self and dependents, including spouse. That's actually worth quite a lot. I think people take that for granted. (this is in a very very desirable area)

Less desirable area I know of gave a $10,000 signing bonus for new interns for matching in primary care specialties, including OBGYN. Free food all the time and a competitive salary in a mid-market area with low COL.

The free insurance is pretty outstanding. I interviewed at a couple of programs that offered that. Particularly if you're married with kids, that can be hugely valuable.

Sadly, my wife and I (otherwise healthy mid 20s folks) pay $600/mo to be on my health system's insurance plan.

 

[DrBowtie]

The free insurance is pretty outstanding. I interviewed at a couple of programs that offered that. Particularly if you're married with kids, that can be hugely valuable.

Sadly, my wife and I (otherwise healthy mid 20s folks) pay $600/mo to be on my health system's insurance plan.

Ouch. I'm at one of those free insurance for myself, spouse, family places. While it's not great insurance, it definitely works out to less than $600 per month when we've had to use it.

Seems like shopping for independent insurance may even be cheaper.

 

[NickNaylor]

Ouch. I'm at one of those free insurance for myself, spouse, family places. While it's not great insurance, it definitely works out to less than $600 per month when we've had to use it.

Seems like shopping for independent insurance may even be cheaper.

Yeah, we might do that next year. I think we were a tad spoiled at my medical school, but even the insurance I got there was better than what I currently have and cheaper.

 

[dermie1985]

I feel like we have some pretty sweet benefits. Free parking (usually $140/month), free breakfast and lunch every weekday, free "cold" dinner (i.e. sandwiches) after 6 PM if you're still there anyday, free Keurig coffee (sooooo essential), free hot dinner on call days, free health insurance, free dental insurance, $300 "technology" credit (bought an Apple Watch), $500 book fund, free Step 3 USMLE World QBank, $2000 for conference travel.

 

[Wordead]

God this thread makes me irritated. We pay for insurance (which isnt that great), step 3, parking, dental, etc etc. And it's a huge academic institution with a fair bit of money. Bah.

 

[mvenus929]

We have free parking adjacent to the hospital, candy and (Keurig) coffee (and hot chocolate and cider!) available 24/7 in our residency office, personalized scrubs every year, a modest book fund on top of having most rotations provide a textbook free of charge, a sizable food stipend for overnight and weekend shifts at the hospital next door, and an unlimited food stipend in our cafeteria during the week, in addition to lunch provided daily and breakfast provided twice per week. Also a modest relocation bonus our first paycheck to assist with moving expenses. And an iPad provided by the program.

 

[KnuxNole]

I don't think I could afford 600 a month on insurance. I would have to get some Medicaid 😛

 

[Smurfette]

Our "perks" were:
Free parking (actually, unlike most everything on my list, this was a true "perk" compared to residents at nearby hospitals who had to pay monthly fees).
Free non-monogrammed, non-personalized white coats. (i.e. not a "real" perk)
Free access to scrubs. (also not a real perk)
Locker, even for non-surgical specialties.
Pager. (seriously, this was listed in our contracts as a benefit).
Free meals when on call (up to a certain limit).
Call rooms (sometimes actually conveniently located and sometimes with actual clean sheets) 🙄
Free BLS/ACLS/ATLS/PALS/ALSO courses.
Hospital employee discounts (including for cell phone plans, gym memberships, etc.).
Small annual hospital bookstore stipend.
Free acute prescription meds for residents (antibiotics, inhalers, etc. if not a "regular" med), and free hormonal contraceptives to resident or resident's spouse. Basically if it kept you able to work, it was free (including if sick on call, the hospital pharmacy would send you what you needed free of charge, except narcotics, of course)
My residency hospital also provided insurance benefits to same-sex partners, and has since at least the early 2000s (would hope this is now standard anyhow, but it was a HUGE deal for my GLBTQ colleagues at the time).

We had to pay for our own licenses and step 3 exams.

 

[DeucesHigh3]

What are some of the best perks you've heard of at a residency? Supposedly some place in Cali gives you a near $1000 monthly food stipend? Some give out laptops, tablets... movie tickets. Sounds ridiculous/awesome to me, but just curious if you know of any insane perks at residencies.

Highest base salary in the area
$5000 signing-bonus for preliminary interns
$2000 salary advance in July
$500 relocation reimbursement ($1000 if >50 miles)
$375 reimbursement for electronics
$400 in July and January for on-call meals, with 7% discount at the caf
Step 3 paid
Licensure paid
ACLS/BLS
Funded to attend 1 conference
Hospital employee discounts (cell phone plans, gyms, restaurants, etc.).
Free on-site gym
Clean, convenient call-rooms with a bathroom for every 2 rooms, and unlimited clean linens
Health insurance is ~twenty/month for resident plus spouse

 

[slopes23]

What are some typical perks for the children of residents? (If any exist?)

 

[IlDestriero]

What are some typical perks for the children of residents? (If any exist?)

Not having to see your annoying parent for days at time, sometimes whole weekends.
Getting extra gifts from their parents to try to compensate for the above.
Increased anxiety due to marital discord caused by the above and maybe financial problems as well.
Free enrollment in pediatric studies looking at the deleterious affect of residency on dependent children.
And maybe free healthcare insurance. They offered free family coverage where I did my fellowship, which was a nice perk. My wife could have covered them with her plan, but the university plan was actually quite good, and free.
Some hospital perks like discount movie and amusement park tickets might be a perk for the children.

 

[slopes23]

Not having to see your annoying parent for days at time, sometimes whole weekends.
Getting extra gifts from their parents to try to compensate for the above.
Increased anxiety due to marital discord caused by the above and maybe financial problems as well.
Free enrollment in pediatric studies looking at the deleterious affect of residency on dependent children.
And maybe free healthcare insurance. They offered free family coverage where I did my fellowship, which was a nice perk. My wife could have covered them with her plan, but the university plan was actually quite good, and free.
Some hospital perks like discount movie and amusement park tickets might be a perk for the children.

So much to look forward to!

 

[gators21]

Interviewed at a hospital that had a concierge service for residents. Basically they would do anything you asked. Forgot to pick up a mothers day card, they would do it. Need an oil change, just give them your keys. No time to grocery shop, just give them your list and they will deliver it to you. You had to pay for what you needed, but they provided the service for free. It looked pretty sweet

 

[W19]

Why did I rank my program so high? I won't even get free meals...

 

[ewax]

Our program gets free Chicago Bulls tickets...don't know if that's a perk or a punishment, though...

 

[slurpy15]

The best perk you could get would be 401k dollars...

 

[kb1900]

Interviewed at a hospital that had a concierge service for residents. Basically they would do anything you asked. Forgot to pick up a mothers day card, they would do it. Need an oil change, just give them your keys. No time to grocery shop, just give them your list and they will deliver it to you. You had to pay for what you needed, but they provided the service for free. It looked pretty sweet

What... where???

 

[siliso]

Zero premium health insurance was great (whole family on a very decent plan). That was probably the most financially beneficial for us.
We also got iPads instead of book money, didn’t think that was the greatest use of funds.

The community family medicine residencies around here offer large signing/relocation bonuses and significantly higher salary than university programs of other specialties, and way more free food too. It’s all in the supply and demand.

 

[MudPhudHopeful]

What... where???

I heard that this occurs at Cincinnati Children's. It is a way for the parents of really sick children, who have to stay there long-term, to give back. Groceries, car maintenance...you name it. You just leave the instructions with money to pay for the service. The only thing they charge is a driving charge (per mile) if they have to drive their own car.

 

[libertyyne]

What... where???

there are some hospitals that do this for all employees. I doubt it is a perk just for the residents.

 

[libertyyne]

Is there a way to look up benefits prior to applying?

 

[Oso]

Is there a way to look up benefits prior to applying?

Most program websites have some sort of "salary & benefits" section.

And discuss benefits during the interview day, especially if they think they will make the program more attractive.

 

[AnatomyGrey12]

Is there a way to look up benefits prior to applying?

A lot of programs will have a whole "salary and benefits" page on their websites. Tedious to go through but a lot of info is hidden away in these pages.