Why Are Peds Specialists so Underpaid Compared to Adults? (and other musings)

[bgabes]

khlkjhklj

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[edmadison]

This is easy, because society does not value children.

Ed

 

[lushmd]

khlkjhklj

bgabes, why did you edit your post? I thought that it raised an interesting point . As one who is considering a peds specialty, its something that I don't understand (not that it will deter me...). I suppose that part of it is that perhaps peds specialists largely work at academic hospitals, which generally pay less (i.e. I recently spoke with an academic neonatologist who said that he could make >$500K by doing private practice work in a less desirable location). From a social policy standpoint, Ed's standpoint seems valid too. If it is OK with you (PM me or post here to let me know if its OK) I will re-post your original post (I have it open in another browser window) and the discussion can go on.

 

[bgabes]

yeah, my original was just some accumulated observations I've made these past few years but i didn't want to come off too cynical that's why i deleted it...you're more than welcome to repost if you'd like

Brian

 

[lushmd]

Why Are Peds Specialists so Underpaid Compared to Adults? (and other musings)

Maybe I should preface by stating I don't believe any physician is truly "underpaid" compared to the rest of our society, but why is is that ped specialists make so much less than their adult counterparts? Most of my friends outside medicine attribute greater importance to say a ped specialist (who's early interventions and treatments could provide a lifelong benefit) over adult specialists (who often treat conditions already chronic). Many of my friends and family also found it ironic and laughable that despite all the dogma in medical school regarding how selfless medical students and physicians are supposed to be (i go to a particularly conservative school), the most competitive field to get into is currently dermatology. Again my med school's pretty conservative, but I've been amazed at how 'out of touch' many within medicine (including our deans) appear with respect to mainstream America (ie politically naive and apathetic). Is it just me (and my med school), or does anyone else see medicine a little 'out of touch' with teh rest of our society? Has anybody else observed the same political naivete and apathy at their institutions? If so, what impact do you think this will have on the future of healthcare in our country? Does anybody foresee the current inequities within medicine (ie specialists vs generalists) changing anytime in the future?

 

[bgabes]

that's funny cause it's been my impression that both republicans and democrats support insuring children whereas the same can't be said for adults

 

[fourthyearmed]

Why Are Peds Specialists so Underpaid Compared to Adults? (and other musings)

Maybe I should preface by stating I don't believe any physician is truly "underpaid" compared to the rest of our society, but why is is that ped specialists make so much less than their adult counterparts? Most of my friends outside medicine attribute greater importance to say a ped specialist (who's early interventions and treatments could provide a lifelong benefit) over adult specialists (who often treat conditions already chronic). Many of my friends and family also found it ironic and laughable that despite all the dogma in medical school regarding how selfless medical students and physicians are supposed to be (i go to a particularly conservative school), the most competitive field to get into is currently dermatology. Again my med school's pretty conservative, but I've been amazed at how 'out of touch' many within medicine (including our deans) appear with respect to mainstream America (ie politically naive and apathetic). Is it just me (and my med school), or does anyone else see medicine a little 'out of touch' with teh rest of our society? Has anybody else observed the same political naivete and apathy at their institutions? If so, what impact do you think this will have on the future of healthcare in our country? Does anybody foresee the current inequities within medicine (ie specialists vs generalists) changing anytime in the future?

I've always found that physicians in academics are very liberal compared with private practice docs. I think that's part of what turns me off about academic practice.

 

[ItsGavinC]

that's funny cause it's been my impression that both republicans and democrats support insuring children whereas the same can't be said for adults

Bingo.

I saw this thread and thought I'd drop by and see what was happening. I also find it interesting because pediatric dentistry (which I'm applying to) has one of the highest income potentials of the dental specialties. It isn't unusual to see peds dentists earning $200-225 their first year out of school if they join an established (and busy) practice.

 

[bgabes]

yeah, it's crazy...most of the crnas start making more than ped attendings at hospitals i've rotated at

 

[Homunculus]

i don't particularly mind the pay discrepancy. it's a self selecting modifier that keeps the people searching for the big $$$ away from me, lol.

for the most part people go into peds for the right reasons. you'll never be in the poor house, and subspecialists still do pretty well. adult subspecialists make more but by definition have to put up with adults-- i'll take the lower pay and avoid the gomers, thank you very much

--your friendly neighborhood colleague enjoying caveman

 

[Vox Animo]

people who work with children do it because they have a passion for it. Whenever people have a passion for something, they do it for reasons other than money, so they are ok with being paid less. Most profession that work with children make less ie. elementary teachers for high school teachers. Just my opinion.


Just out of curiosity, how much less do some specialist or PCP make? I thought peds attendings started around 125-150 after residency

 

[wrx]

bgabes, why did you edit your post? I thought that it raised an interesting point . As one who is considering a peds specialty, its something that I don't understand (not that it will deter me...). I suppose that part of it is that perhaps peds specialists largely work at academic hospitals, which generally pay less (i.e. I recently spoke with an academic neonatologist who said that he could make >$500K by doing private practice work in a less desirable location). From a social policy standpoint, Ed's standpoint seems valid too. If it is OK with you (PM me or post here to let me know if its OK) I will re-post your original post (I have it open in another browser window) and the discussion can go on.

No way any neonatologist can make >500k. Extremely rare. I think they average ~170-200k. One neo doc I spoke to said private practice opportunities are minimal, and that almost all work for the hospital. Can anyone confirm this or have more info?

 

[f_w]

Why Are Peds Specialists so Underpaid Compared to Adults?

Little people, little money, little respect.

People with children either have:

-- no money --> kids on medicaid or child health plus --> low reimbursements
-- normal job --> kids on crappy HMO --> crappy reimbursement

The kids that are on daddys BC/BS that you get actually paid for just get lost in the sea of medicaid and CHP that fills the waiting room every day. This is a reflection of society as a whole and not necessarily their parents fault. Many large corporations don't insure dependents. So while the parents have some sort of coverage, the kids (and thereby the pediatricians) depend on handouts from state or federal goverment.

 

[lushmd]

No way any neonatologist can make >500k. Extremely rare. I think they average ~170-200k. One neo doc I spoke to said private practice opportunities are minimal, and that almost all work for the hospital. Can anyone confirm this or have more info?

This is just what I was told by an academic neonatologist. I too found it hard to beleive at the time, but the guy seemed pretty credible (what you say about there not being a lot of private practice gigs seems logical enough...at the same time, from what I hear, NICU bills are crazy).