Why radiology residency positions filled by US Seniors decrease in Match 2015 compared by 2014?

[agabozy]

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I have noticed that radiology residency positions filled by US Seniors decreased in match 2015 by more than 10 % compared with 2014, and also the offered positions decreased in 2015 compared with 2014 , why radiology became less competitive this year ?

 

[FranzLO]

The job market. This trend will probably continue unless it turns around.

 

[Surf123]

Radiology has a bad job market. Often have to be very flexible to get a job.

Many of the available jobs are of poor quality (not career type positions)- contract employee, nights, bad location, etc.

Work day in many settings is non stop pedal to the floor. Many weekends, evenings and nights.

Job stability for existing rads is lower due to consolidations, takeovers, cut backs.

Pay is declining for many and work going up.

Poor return on investment for 6+ years of post med school training.

 

[Leo Aquarius]

You forgot to mention radiology reimbursement by insurance got hit HARD. Like one of the hardest of the specialties. Job opportunities tend to dwindle after things like that.

 

[shark2000]

Radiology has a bad job market. Often have to be very flexible to get a job.

Many of the available jobs are of poor quality (not career type positions)- contract employee, nights, bad location, etc.

Work day in many settings is non stop pedal to the floor. Many weekends, evenings and nights.

Job stability for existing rads is lower due to consolidations, takeovers, cut backs.

Pay is declining for many and work going up.

Poor return on investment for 6+ years of post med school training.

I don't know what is your definition of poor return.

Most radiologists in my area work less night, evening and weekends that other specialists, saving derm, rad-onc, ophtho and very few other fields. The salary is similar to many other higher paid specialists except for spine surgeons, orthopods and very few other surgical fields.

 

[Leo Aquarius]

Definition of poor return is having your reimbursements slashed.

I invite anyone simply to ask a radiologist about how happy they are with what they get paid after the cuts. Get the details. Don't just go by "it looks like they do this and that." No. Get details.

 

[Surf123]

I don't know what is your definition of poor return.

Most radiologists in my area work less night, evening and weekends that other specialists, saving derm, rad-onc, ophtho and very few other fields. The salary is similar to many other higher paid specialists except for spine surgeons, orthopods and very few other surgical fields

Perhaps for some partnered established rads. But those coming out of training have much worse income prospects. Getting true partnership type jobs anywhere near a popular/metro area these days is difficult. And if you do, there is a good chance that you will be an employee by the time the health system gets taken over or consolidated etc.

 

[Surf123]

I don't know what is your definition of poor return.

Most radiologists in my area work less night, evening and weekends that other specialists, saving derm, rad-onc, ophtho and very few other fields. The salary is similar to many other higher paid specialists except for spine surgeons, orthopods and very few other surgical fields.

Perhaps for some partnered established rads. But those coming out of training have much worse income prospects. Getting true partnership type jobs anywhere near a popular/metro area these days is difficult. And if you do, there is a good chance that you will be an employee by the time the health system gets taken over or consolidated etc.

 

[shark2000]

Perhaps for some partnered established rads. But those coming out of training have much worse income prospects. Getting true partnership type jobs anywhere near a popular/metro area these days is difficult. And if you do, there is a good chance that you will be an employee by the time the health system gets taken over or consolidated etc.

Becoming a hospital employee is not something specific to radiology. It is a general trend in today's medicine. Still employee physicians make good money, esp for the amount of work they do.

 

[Surf123]

I am an employee who's group got bought out. There was no extra help hired in fact the opposite when this transition happened. I work just as hard as in PP for less money, autonomy and stability. It is an alarming trend in radiology and medicine. Maybe the new generation of physicians will be ok since they do not know better.

 

[shark2000]

I am an employee who's group got bought out. There was no extra help hired in fact the opposite when this transition happened. I work just as hard as in PP for less money, autonomy and stability. It is an alarming trend in radiology and medicine. Maybe the new generation of physicians will be ok since they do not know better.

Hospital employee jobs are usually very stable jobs.

Pay is lower than private practice. The autonomy is much less. I agree that this is alarming, but I don't think it is sustainable.

I feel after a while hospitals will start to lose money on employed physicians and the trend will reverse. A study a few years ago showed that a private practice doctor is paid (much) less for one unit of work compared to a VA physician.