will work for free for pt. contact?

[suckerfree]

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So I was speaking with a pathologist and they made a side comment that as a pathologist you still don't have to give up patient contact completely, you can work in a free clinic for example. I didn't ask further at the time, but I thought about this and found it really interesting. Have any of you come across any pathologists who do anything like this or who do anything else to involve themselves in patient care in some way? Or is it altogether impossible to have patient contact as a pathologist?

Thanks!

 

[mlw03]

this topic has been discussed, and the consensus is usually something to the effect of: if you desire patient contact that badly, strongly reconsider your decision to do pathology.

there are a lot of potential problems with a pathologist working in a free clinic as a generalist: staying current on medication regimens, physical exam skills, lack of internship, lack of DEA # to rx controlled substances. and there's probably more i'm not thinking of at the moment. it's a noble idea, one i've thought about myself, and the conclusion i usually reach is that the best way to help the underserved as a pathologist is to do their pathology for free or steeply discounted. work in a group practice? agree to read X pap smears from the local free clinic or health department without charging. or team up with a surgeon to read breast FNA/excisional biopsies. or team up with an endocrinologist to review thyroid tissue. my point is that you will be trained as a pathologist, not a clinician. i simply don't feel pathologists are able to adequately practice clinical medicine, and to do so is not only a huge legal liability for the doctor, but also a disservice to the patient, who should be seen by a clinical MD.

 

[yaah]

I get patient contact every day. I go to the cafeteria for lunch and see them. I see them in the parking garage, etc. I have no desire to go back to clinics and do physical exams and all that BS. If you want a career in which you undress people, palpate lymph nodes, listen to hearts, take a sexual history, and do four hour neuro exams, then as said above, why on earth would you do pathology?

Don't forget: There are quite a few patients who are pretty miserable people and who will make your life a living hell if you actually use compassion and try to help them. Many are not, of course, but they usually stay healthy!

 

[PathOne]

this topic has been discussed, and the consensus is usually something to the effect of: if you desire patient contact that badly, strongly reconsider your decision to do pathology.

there are a lot of potential problems with a pathologist working in a free clinic as a generalist: staying current on medication regimens, physical exam skills, lack of internship, lack of DEA # to rx controlled substances. and there's probably more i'm not thinking of at the moment. it's a noble idea, one i've thought about myself, and the conclusion i usually reach is that the best way to help the underserved as a pathologist is to do their pathology for free or steeply discounted. work in a group practice? agree to read X pap smears from the local free clinic or health department without charging. or team up with a surgeon to read breast FNA/excisional biopsies. or team up with an endocrinologist to review thyroid tissue. my point is that you will be trained as a pathologist, not a clinician. i simply don't feel pathologists are able to adequately practice clinical medicine, and to do so is not only a huge legal liability for the doctor, but also a disservice to the patient, who should be seen by a clinical MD.

I agree... Until recently, I did some hours reading derm slides once a week for free at a public hospital. That's better, more efficient and safer than me seeing patients. Frankly, I don't miss seeing pt's, and don't consider myself any less of a physician because I don't interact with them or cut them open. It's my decision if somebody should undergo sometimes very painful and/or radical cancer treatment or not. That's plenty enough of responsibility for me.

 

[gungho]

I do some ER and local clinic moonlighting after practicing FP for a number of years-in 3rd yr. of Path residency. The work reminds me of one of the reasons I'm in Path now. But I am amazed at the number of new meds that have come out in the last 2.5 yr and how impossible it is to keep up. While I still think I am reasonably competent, I don't think that would continue without some serious effort and Path is just too difficult to do that well and also do clinical medicine. Maybe someone can, not I. Someone could probably work somewhere and see sore throats, otitis, routine physicals and do Path-but ...why???