Comments on: How doctors can look for the right non-clinical medical job

By: Joseph Kim, MD, MPH

Joseph Kim, MD, MPH — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 16:21:37 +0000

The sad reality is that so many unhappy physicians feel “trapped” because they can’t imaging rebuilding a career outside of clinical medicine. Burdened with school loans and financial obligations, many physicians continue to practice medicine even though they would prefer to do something else. To add on top of that, I doubt that these major healthcare reform changes will boost primary care physician career satisfaction in the United States.

By: Enough is enough

Enough is enough — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 15:09:17 +0000

Gerridoc:

I think I’m going to be a much happier person, too. Good for you.

By: gerridoc

gerridoc — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 13:25:43 +0000

Six months ago, I left clinical medicine after 26 years in practice. I am a much happier person, and I don’t miss taking care of patients. Yes, it is difficult to find a non-clinical job, but I am very thankful that I was able to find one that I truly enjoy. My advice: Keep looking!

By: Hospitalist

Hospitalist — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 07:09:50 +0000

Anyone else find it a little funny that this post about leaving clinical medicine is in between two other posts detailing horrible experiences in the doctor’s office. And then those posts are followed by comments of others sharing their similar tales of woe.

My biggest source of frustration comes from the negative sentiments we receive as physicians. I’m sorry I make more money than most people. But I work hard and I do the best I can. And most of the physicians I know are good, caring people who don’t want to fail their patients. But, apparently having dull grey walls makes you a bad person and a failure as a physician. I’m sorry that we can never meet anyone’s expectations. I’m sick of saying I’m sorry for everything. But I am sorry I went into medicine.

Studies have actually found that having TVs in the ER contributed most to improved patient satisfaction. Our hospital spent A LOT of money on flat screen TVs for every room. A TV in every room does not equal good medical care. Just sad.

By: Enough is enough

Enough is enough — Sun, 17 Jan 2010 17:35:17 +0000

In the next year I will be leaving clinical practice due to burnout, but health care reform has nothing to do with it: I’m a veterinarian. I’m tired of unreasonable clients, declining actual income, chasing bad debt, poor benefits (I’m the practice owner), long hours and a brutal on-call schedule. Sound familiar?

It’s true it was not easy to find mentors. I have been very fortunate, but met one of my most helpful mentors socially, purely by chance (she’s been in the industry I hope to enter for more than 20 years and travelled a path similar to mine).

Not everyone capable of making a positive contribution to health care must work in clinical practice. If a physician (or veterinarian) is considering a change for the right reasons, I think that’s a reasonable option. As for who will provide care to my patients – someone will, probably from a large, regional practice with multiple doctors. It will take longer to schedule an appointment be more expensive. Care will be less personal. That’s the trend in many businesses, not just veterinary and human medicine.

By: Dr. Mary Johnson

Dr. Mary Johnson — Sun, 17 Jan 2010 16:09:35 +0000

I think this is the saddest post I’ve read in a long time – mostly because (lately) leaving medicine altogether is a thought that often crosses my mind. Our voices are not being heard and our stories-of-woe are not being told. Doctors are left to bang their heads against a wall of disinterest and entitlement.

WHY subject yourself to this garbage?

YOU SIMPLY CANNOT HAVE HEALTHCARE REFORM WITHOUT CONSIDERING THE NEEDS OF THE PEOPLE PROVIDING IT!!

And even now, with Congress fighting over two healthcare bills (that will give birth to far more problems than they solve) NOBODY-but-NOBODY cares about that.