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How is life being a family medicine physician?
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Rita’s Answer
I was a family medicine doctor and I hate to tell you this but primary care (family medicine, internal medicine, pediatrics) is extremely difficult. I think you need to look at what you want to do in family medicine. Do you want to work for a company or open your own office?
If you open your own office, I was seeing about 40 patients a day. That's a lot of patients. I started my day at 6:30 AM eating breakfast while refilling medicines, reviewing labs, and answering questions. I would then see patients at 8 AM until 4 pm. Although lunch is one hour, you usually don't have 1 hour of lunch. Between patients, there are many telephone calls-patient asking questions, wanting refills, etc. You continue to refill medications, answer questions, review labs, review specialist notes, reviewing mammograms, CT, MRI, ultrasounds etc. Patients are also very difficulty to deal with. You often leave work late.
My friend works for Kaiser and she could not tolerate working full time. When she changed to part time, it was more tolerable. She also had the same problem of spending extra time after work answering patient questions (which you don't get paid for). She spends an extra 1-2 hours per day on answering patient questions, reviewing labs, notes etc.
The majority of primary care doctors are burning out. I retired this year and have no desire to go back to primary care there are drastic changes in medicine. Many of my friends are changing to concierge medicine but that requires that you open your own practice and then patients need to pay extra money to see you ($3000 per year). I think this is a good option because you limit how many patients you see a day and can spend the time with patients. However, how many people have that money to spend every year and are they willing to spend it?
I see part of the problem with medicine is that the insurance companies are not increasing how much they pay doctors. If you open your own practice, that means you need to see more patients to survive. Employees expect a raise and they are leaving to big companies to get the raise. So you need to see more patients to make the same amount of money. Medicare is also cutting how much they pay doctors. Meanwhile, the insurance companies increase the monthly premium every year but don't share this with the doctors..
Doctors are also expected to do additional work-fill out paperwork, speak with families, etc. I read on NextDoor about a patient wanting a doctor that cares and doesn't stare at the computer when she sees him/her. I wanted to respond. So, while I'm looking at you when you are in the office, when do I have the chance to write my notes?
My feeling is that medicine has to collapse before anyone will do anything about it.
If you work for a company, I think they try to have you only see 20 patients a day. Most of the time, the patients don't come in with 1 problem. You have about 15-20 minutes per patient.
I recommend anyone interested in medicine work as a medical scribe. They pay you. You get to interact with doctors. The knowledge you learn will help you in medical school. I challenge you when you work for a doctor to go to work when the doctor starts work and leave when the doctor leaves. If you have dinner plans and you are working, you will need to change your plans. This will prepare you for what medicine will be like in the future.
I don't want you to think everything in medicine is negative but I'm warning you that it is not easy.
If you open your own office, I was seeing about 40 patients a day. That's a lot of patients. I started my day at 6:30 AM eating breakfast while refilling medicines, reviewing labs, and answering questions. I would then see patients at 8 AM until 4 pm. Although lunch is one hour, you usually don't have 1 hour of lunch. Between patients, there are many telephone calls-patient asking questions, wanting refills, etc. You continue to refill medications, answer questions, review labs, review specialist notes, reviewing mammograms, CT, MRI, ultrasounds etc. Patients are also very difficulty to deal with. You often leave work late.
My friend works for Kaiser and she could not tolerate working full time. When she changed to part time, it was more tolerable. She also had the same problem of spending extra time after work answering patient questions (which you don't get paid for). She spends an extra 1-2 hours per day on answering patient questions, reviewing labs, notes etc.
The majority of primary care doctors are burning out. I retired this year and have no desire to go back to primary care there are drastic changes in medicine. Many of my friends are changing to concierge medicine but that requires that you open your own practice and then patients need to pay extra money to see you ($3000 per year). I think this is a good option because you limit how many patients you see a day and can spend the time with patients. However, how many people have that money to spend every year and are they willing to spend it?
I see part of the problem with medicine is that the insurance companies are not increasing how much they pay doctors. If you open your own practice, that means you need to see more patients to survive. Employees expect a raise and they are leaving to big companies to get the raise. So you need to see more patients to make the same amount of money. Medicare is also cutting how much they pay doctors. Meanwhile, the insurance companies increase the monthly premium every year but don't share this with the doctors..
Doctors are also expected to do additional work-fill out paperwork, speak with families, etc. I read on NextDoor about a patient wanting a doctor that cares and doesn't stare at the computer when she sees him/her. I wanted to respond. So, while I'm looking at you when you are in the office, when do I have the chance to write my notes?
My feeling is that medicine has to collapse before anyone will do anything about it.
If you work for a company, I think they try to have you only see 20 patients a day. Most of the time, the patients don't come in with 1 problem. You have about 15-20 minutes per patient.
I recommend anyone interested in medicine work as a medical scribe. They pay you. You get to interact with doctors. The knowledge you learn will help you in medical school. I challenge you when you work for a doctor to go to work when the doctor starts work and leave when the doctor leaves. If you have dinner plans and you are working, you will need to change your plans. This will prepare you for what medicine will be like in the future.
I don't want you to think everything in medicine is negative but I'm warning you that it is not easy.
Updated
Douglas’s Answer
Being a family medicine physician is an enriching journey that involves caring for a diverse range of patients across all age groups, providing a comprehensive approach to their health requirements. This role often fosters enduring relationships with patients and their families, and generally offers a satisfying work-life balance due to the flexibility in practice settings and the breadth of care, a feature unique to this medical specialty. However, it also comes with its own set of challenges, such as addressing a multitude of medical conditions, handling administrative tasks, and occasionally managing intricate social factors that influence patients' health.
Key highlights of being a family medicine physician:
Diversity in patient demographics:
This role allows you to cater to patients of all ages, from newborns to the elderly, making your practice vibrant and versatile.
Holistic care:
It's not just about addressing medical issues but also considering social and lifestyle elements that affect health.
Continuity of care:
You have the opportunity to build lasting relationships with patients, understanding their medical history and family dynamics in depth.
Practice flexibility:
You have the freedom to choose your work environment, be it clinics, hospitals, or community health centers, based on your personal preference.
Work-life balance potential:
You often have greater control over your schedule and practice hours compared to other specialties.
Challenges in family medicine:
Administrative tasks: This includes dealing with paperwork, navigating insurance complexities, and managing prior authorizations.
Time management: You may need to handle a large volume of patients within limited appointment slots.
Complex social issues: You may need to address issues like poverty, food insecurity, and lack of access to healthcare that can affect patient health.
Broad knowledge requirement: You need to be skilled in diagnosing and treating a wide array of medical conditions across different age groups.
Key highlights of being a family medicine physician:
Diversity in patient demographics:
This role allows you to cater to patients of all ages, from newborns to the elderly, making your practice vibrant and versatile.
Holistic care:
It's not just about addressing medical issues but also considering social and lifestyle elements that affect health.
Continuity of care:
You have the opportunity to build lasting relationships with patients, understanding their medical history and family dynamics in depth.
Practice flexibility:
You have the freedom to choose your work environment, be it clinics, hospitals, or community health centers, based on your personal preference.
Work-life balance potential:
You often have greater control over your schedule and practice hours compared to other specialties.
Challenges in family medicine:
Administrative tasks: This includes dealing with paperwork, navigating insurance complexities, and managing prior authorizations.
Time management: You may need to handle a large volume of patients within limited appointment slots.
Complex social issues: You may need to address issues like poverty, food insecurity, and lack of access to healthcare that can affect patient health.
Broad knowledge requirement: You need to be skilled in diagnosing and treating a wide array of medical conditions across different age groups.