The 9 to 5 Primary Care Salary

[petomed]

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If opening your own practice in a small town or small city, how much should a primary care physician expect to make today? Working 9-5, not taking any charting home with you, using PA's/NP's as is feasible, but most importantly--spending time with the patient. I know how much time is appropriate is relative, but the sentiment here is that, on the spectrum of time spent with the patient, your practice is on the very liberal end. Without knowing much about insurance and reimbursement rates, lets say you decide to accept all insurance. I know there are startup costs and such associated with getting the office up and running, but what would you put the average physician salary at in this circumstance?

Are we talking 100k/yr with a full schedule? More towards 150k? Obviously money isn't the primary object in this scenario.

 

[DocJanItor]

Probably more like 200k minimum

 

[petomed]

200k/yr to be your own boss, work 40 hrs, and do what you enjoy? Why is this such a bad deal?

 

[Osminog]

200k/yr to be your own boss, work 40 hrs, and do what you enjoy? Why is this such a bad deal?

Paperwork, overhead/staff costs, regulations and legal liabilities, etc.

 

[petomed]

Paperwork, overhead/staff costs, regulations and legal liabilities, etc.

How is this different from any other small business owner?

 

[petomed]

It's really hard to do standalone primary care and not be part of a large system in today's healthcare system in the US due to multiple factors that cost a lot of money. Most primary care physicians are employees and they are told how many patients they need to see for a certain amount of money. If you want to open your own practice, do a surgical speciality perhaps, or become a veterinarian or a dentist.

Malpractice insurance, pa’s / np’s, secretary, billing, utilities, rent, and corporate debt. Apart from hiring more docs if volume permits, what are the other major annually recurring costs that make opening your own practice prohibitive?

 

[SLC]

I’m employed, but I work small town, 9-5, 4days per week, and make near $300k in primary care.