The scoop on Family Practice

[Mad Scientist]

Hi all,

I've been trying to decide between family practice and internal medicine. Right now I'm on my FP rotation and enjoying it immensely, and I'm thinking pretty seriously about going that direction. However, I get the impression that some people really look down on FP...certainly that was true in my Pediatrics rotation. Not that I really care that much what other specialties think, but I want to know if they have a legitimate point.

Does anyone have a good scoop on the training in a FP residency? Is it in general of comparable quality to other specialties?

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[Jim Picotte]

I love Family Docs, but it depends on where you're going to practice in the future as to how much you'll love being an FP. I think in bigger cities, with so many specialists, people do look down on FP's a lot because it's very difficult to know everything with only a 3 year residency. On the other hand, I'm from a fairly rural area (the U.P. of Michigan) and some of the family docs there do everything imaginable from C-sections, to staffing the ED at the smaller hospitals and acting as a specialist (can't ask for a cardiology, trauma surgeon, radiology consult when you're the only person in town).

 

[Sevo]

•••quote:•••Originally posted by Mad Scientist:
•Hi all,

I've been trying to decide between family practice and internal medicine. Right now I'm on my FP rotation and enjoying it immensely, and I'm thinking pretty seriously about going that direction. However, I get the impression that some people really look down on FP...certainly that was true in my Pediatrics rotation. Not that I really care that much what other specialties think, but I want to know if they have a legitimate point.

Does anyone have a good scoop on the training in a FP residency? Is it in general of comparable quality to other specialties?•••••Depends on where you train.

FP is one of those fields in which it would be fairly detrimental to train at a university hospital.

In general, in order to get as broad as possible clinical exposure and more importantly, to be able to do outpatient surgical & gynecological procedures, you need to train at a location in which the FP residents are unopposed. The best locations are often large community hospitals and rarely, university-run tertiary care facilities.

 

[LR6SO4]

Jim,
Yooper, eh?! Awesome, me too! And I can't wait to get back up there someday to practice. Regarding Family Practice up there it seems that there are opportunities, but there is a real need for specialists. Have you seen the MGH ads in the New England Journal running forever now? Everything from PM&R, Rads, Ophtho, Derm, etc. are in great need. In fact I know some docs up there who say it is really hard to find partners for their specialites. Of course that is in the metropolis known as Marquette, if I wanted to go real rural I would just set up a family practice clinic in Copper Harbor where there is no physician for miles and with the ski hill up there taking off I could treat some sports injuries too maybe...

 

[Mad Scientist]

Thanks for the replies. What you've said is basically what I've heard thus far about FP. My problem is that I want to go to a medium-sized city (Lubbock, TX) for residency. It is surrounded by lots of rural area, but the city itself has a tertiary care center. I don't know how that fits in to what I've heard about FP.

Also, it seems that even in a big city with tons of specialists (like Houston, where I live now) that primary care is still necessary. Why the problem with FPs?

(BTW, if anyone knows anything about Tech's FP residency, please let me know.)

 

[Sevo]

•••quote:•••Originally posted by Mad Scientist:
•Why the problem with FPs?

(BTW, if anyone knows anything about Tech's FP residency, please let me know.)•••••A lot of it has to do with money, to be honest with you. FPs do a number of things that's the bread and butter of other fields -- as a result, there's often a lot of resentment.

 

[Hybrid]

Well Mad Scientist, I know that I am a "prick" according to your earlier posts but will help you out (no hard feelings ok?)

I go to tech and am in Lubbock. The FP program here really kicks ass and there is a stronger emphasis on Hospital care than other FP programs. All of the residents here are really laid back, smart, and fun to be around and work with. The attendings are approachable and helpful. The president of our school is an FP (Homan). The program is really strong and I highly recommend it if you want to do FP. I want to do Medicine and will most likely leave the state. I have several friends who are 3rd years who are planning on staying here or FP and are all good guys. Hope this helps. If you have any questions let me know.

TT

 

[dctrben]

From what I have heard, the FP program there in Lubbock is excellent. One of my uncles did his residency there and absolutely loved it. I am interested in FP myself and have heard nothing but good about their program there.

Ben

 

[Voxel]

I want to echo the sentiments of previous statements for FP. You need to go to a place where there you get your hands dirty and where other services are not competing for the "good" cases and attention from the "good" teachers. This is especially important for Ob cases. I have seen OB attending/senior residents treat FP residents as 2nd class residents either on purpose or sub-consciously. If you will not be practicing Ob, then it may not matter.

 

[Mad Scientist]

OK, TT, now you're making me feel bad about losing my temper before.

I've really got my heart set on going back to Lubbock...sounds like there may be some real competition for the spots though. Thanks for the info.

 

[Hybrid]

Mad Scientist-

I saw the match list for our FP program here today and 4 residents were from UT-Southwestern, a couple from San Antonio, one from UT-Houston, UTMB, and one from Tech. I know next year there is a large number of people in my class who want to stay here so slots might be tight. Do an away rotation here and kiss ass. I think there are 8 slots, not postive though.
TT