So, hi! I guess working full time, having a 4 year old and an almost 8 (!) year old in multiple activities, actually having a bit of a social life from time to time, and experiencing a intense sense of perfectionism if I do have the chance to write = no blogging for me.
We've been keeping very busy in the practice, and I have been navigating the waters of working with a large group of physicians, who may or may not treat patients in the exact way that I would treat them. Sometimes, with the really complicated patients, it almost feels like a game of "hot potato," with each physician hoping that they are not the one left "holding the bag," so to speak. I've never experienced this to such a degree, and there is one culprit who rises to mind beyond the others. It really ruffles my feathers, because I was always trained to do the best thing for the patient at the time, even if it was inconvenient for you, as the physician. I don't know if this is something that comes with being older in practice, more burnt out, perhaps? Being one of the junior partners, I can't help but feel, at times, that I am expected to "prove myself" to the more senior physicians in the group, by working just a little harder, complaining a little less, and dealing with getting the less than desirable cases. Kind of like being a glorified resident in many respects, and, let me tell you, that is d*mn tough to swallow. I also feel like I have to fight to bring up to date practice standards into the group managed patients, in this, I am having some success. This makes me happy because I think it benefits all of our patients. I am really hoping to adjust the way that we see patients while on-call, and have been hashing out some ideas to discuss in some upcoming meetings. I am happy to say my schedule is always full, but this is also daunting, because sometimes it is over-full (am I forever doomed to struggle with scheduling issues??), and I have had patients tell me it is difficult to get an appointment with me. I suppose all of these issues are swirling around my brain because in a few short months I will have the opportunity to become a full partner in the business, and I don't know what I don't know.
I'm excited and nervous to make the next big step in my career. Any wise words from those who have gone before me? Any questions to ask? Things I need to know before signing the dotted line?
6 comments:
Honestly, hearing your description of the practice situation (you, as the junior partner working to increase standards) makes me wish you were in academics, training residents! But I guess we all have to keep learning from each other.
I have nothing to contribute to your question as I am still in training myself and pondering the academics vs community question (although I would probably go the Kaiser route than private practice). I was really interested by your comment in the MiM site that the flexibility was a benefit of PP, because I never associated the two. I always thought, because of the bottom line issue, that PP was the least flexible. Keep blogging about how you come to this decision!
I went the private practice route because of my obsessive compulsion to keep other people from touching my patients. (Funny, huh?) I honestly enjoy teaching (in very small doses), but find the academic environment as a whole stifling and the undercurrent/drive to publish/climb the ladder unnerving. I think that the older physicians in my practice have just fallen behind in some current practice guidelines (WRT to GBS, GDM, etc.), not in a way that endangers patients, but I knew we could do better.
I do believe that private practice can be more flexible (once you are in the driver's seat, which, heretofore, I have not completely been). Some of my partners do GYN only, some of my partners work only 4 days a week instead of 5 (while still taking call), etc. They "eat what they kill," so they work as much or as little as they want to make in salary. That is where the flexibility lies...after partnership, supposedly, if I make it! :)
Nice to see you back. I know how busy things are with kids and a practice. I enjoy your posts as often as you can.
Private practice allows you to do what you want only if you are solo. If you are in a group practice, you still have somewhat of a committee mentality. That's what you are running into. You need to decide if the advantages of sharing patients and call make up for the restraints of having to do some things as a group.
Keep us posted on your decision process.
I don't have any answers but I'm very glad to see you blogging.
I have been a partner in a private practice for 10 years and would love to talk with you about this. You can email me or message me through bigtent...
Before you sign anything, read the contract yourself. Then make sure you have an attorney who has healthcare contracting experience review the contract. Then read it yourself again. Make sure you have all your questions answered and concerns addressed before you commit. Good luck!
Post a Comment