Skip to content
  • About
  • Contact
  • Contribute
  • Book
  • Careers
  • Podcast
  • Recommended
  • Speaking
  • All
  • Physician
  • Practice
  • Policy
  • Finance
  • Conditions
  • .edu
  • Patient
  • Meds
  • Tech
  • Social
  • Video
    • All
    • Physician
    • Practice
    • Policy
    • Finance
    • Conditions
    • .edu
    • Patient
    • Meds
    • Tech
    • Social
    • Video
    • About
    • Contact
    • Contribute
    • Book
    • Careers
    • Podcast
    • Recommended
    • Speaking

This is what it’s like to be a military physician

Demis N. Lipe, MD
Physician
June 7, 2017
373 Shares
Share
Tweet
Share

After another long shift of patients with colds, bug bites, ankle sprains and sore throats I eagerly looked through the wine selection at the local grocery store. It was my wedding anniversary and nearing 9 p.m. at the beginning of a holiday weekend. While at the checkout line, an elderly woman in front of me thanked me for my service. At that moment, I realized that I was wearing my military uniform, which I typically did not do while grocery shopping. That elderly woman then proceeded to ask the cashier to credit my bill with $20, which she gave to her and asked her not to tell me. I was extremely humbled.

I quietly sat in my car, reflecting about why I had chosen emergency medicine as a career, and furthermore, why I had joined the United States Army. While I have enjoyed most of the past seven years of my military career, it was not the patriotism in me that drew me to the military. It was the opportunity to pay my student loans and the thought of an exciting lifestyle in military emergency medicine.

Military medicine is often described as cutting edge medicine with the latest technology, yet there are many reports of military health care system being subpar when compared to their civilian counterpart. This is due, in part, to not seeing as many high acuity patients, the culture of a compartmentalized system, the resistance to change and strict adherence to rank in the military medical department.

The reality is that the Army’s garrison clinical setting is not adequate for emergency physicians’ maintenance of critical procedural skills. This could have a tremendous impact on retention and satisfaction of emergency physicians.  To keep emergency medicine skills sharp and ready for deployment to conflict areas around the globe the military typically allows physicians to moonlight at civilian facilities in their free time. However, off-duty employment is highly regulated at the local level, and some commands make strict policies to ensure most physicians are not able to moonlight.

Increasing wages for military physicians could increase retention, however increasing the intellectual stimulation and allowing emergency physicians to easily moonlight and obtain a higher level of intellectual challenge might be more effective. Working in a medical center with residency programs might offer that challenge to some, however, most of the military treatment facilities are small community hospitals that just do not have the resources, or the sick patients needed to stay sharp in the profession.

There are many great physicians that have made the military a career, and I am thankful for them, but some of us long for something different. While I made a choice to put on the uniform, I wish the military had more to offer physicians. More autonomy in the practice of medicine and less influence of rank with concern to medical decisions. The money is not the issue with physician retention nor is the population we serve. The bureaucracy and administrative burdens are what frustrates physicians, along with the feeling of impotence and the daily struggle with moral and ethical dilemmas. Sometimes military physicians are challenged by an order to provide medical care that they believe is wrong or inadequate. This never ending internal conflict, this duel loyalty idea, at times just takes a toll.

I am thankful for those that find true passion and satisfaction in military medicine, but after over seven years of military service, I personally need a change. I realize, however, that no matter how I feel about my profession, there is honor in serving the country that has taken me as one of its own; the country that has freed me from a communist upbringing. Today at that checkout line, I was reminded that despite my lack of satisfaction with the system in which I practice, providing care to our country’s bravest is a privilege.  I was reminded of the honor that comes with helping preserve our country’s fighting strength and serving those who serve.

Demis N. Lipe is an emergency physician.

Image credit: Shutterstock.com

Prev

A nurse was raped and tortured at her hospital. Here's what you can do to help.

June 6, 2017 Kevin 1
…
Next

Don’t be one of those doctors

June 7, 2017 Kevin 2
…

Tagged as: Emergency Medicine

Post navigation

< Previous Post
A nurse was raped and tortured at her hospital. Here's what you can do to help.
Next Post >
Don’t be one of those doctors

Related Posts

  • A physician’s addiction to social media

    Amanda Xi, MD
  • Denying payment for emergency care: a physician defends insurers

    Michael Kirsch, MD
  • A prayer from an emergency physician

    Edwin Leap, MD
  • The climate crisis as viewed by an emergency physician

    Elizabeth M. Barreras-Rivest, MD
  • Why academic medicine needs to value physician contributions to online platforms

    Ariela L. Marshall, MD
  • How a physician keynote can highlight your conference

    Kevin Pho, MD

More in Physician

  • Challenging the diagnosis: dehydration or bias?

    Sydney Lou Bonnick, MD
  • Practicing medicine with conviction

    Arthur Lazarus, MD, MBA
  • The power of memory in shaping human identity

    Emily F. Peters and Sandeep Jauhar, MD, PhD
  • Physicians have no autonomy. Here’s how to change that.

    Diane W. Shannon, MD, MPH
  • The erosion of patient care

    Laura de la Torre, MD
  • Navigating adulthood in the digital age

    Eleanor Menzin, MD
  • Most Popular

  • Past Week

    • The erosion of patient care

      Laura de la Torre, MD | Physician
    • Reigniting after burnout: 3 physician stories

      Kim Downey, PT | Physician
    • Inside the grueling life of a surgery intern

      Randall S. Fong, MD | Physician
    • Challenging the diagnosis: dehydration or bias?

      Sydney Lou Bonnick, MD | Physician
    • COVID-19 unleashed an ongoing crisis of delirium in hospitals

      Christina Reppas-Rindlisbacher, MD, Nathan Stall, MD, and Paula Rochon, MD | Conditions
    • A teenager’s perspective: the pressing need for mental health days in schools

      Ruhi Saldanha | Conditions
  • Past 6 Months

    • Medical gaslighting: a growing challenge in today’s medical landscape

      Tami Burdick | Conditions
    • I want to be a doctor who can provide care for women: What states must I rule out for my medical education?

      Nandini Erodula | Education
    • Balancing opioid medication in chronic pain

      L. Joseph Parker, MD | Conditions
    • The erosion of patient care

      Laura de la Torre, MD | Physician
    • Mourning the silent epidemic: the physician suicide crisis and suggestions for change

      Amna Shabbir, MD | Physician
    • I’m a doctor, and I almost died during childbirth

      Bayo Curry-Winchell, MD | Physician
  • Recent Posts

    • Second chances and simple beauty in thrift stores

      Debbie Moore-Black, RN | Conditions
    • How to facilitate caregiver learning and support to improve clinical care outcomes

      Kerri Milyko, PhD | Tech
    • Air quality alert: Reducing our carbon footprint in health care

      Shreya Aggarwal, MD | Conditions
    • Exploring HIV care and advocacy [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast
    • A teenager’s perspective: the pressing need for mental health days in schools

      Ruhi Saldanha | Conditions
    • Challenging the diagnosis: dehydration or bias?

      Sydney Lou Bonnick, MD | Physician

Subscribe to KevinMD and never miss a story!

Get free updates delivered free to your inbox.


Find jobs at
Careers by KevinMD.com

Search thousands of physician, PA, NP, and CRNA jobs now.

Learn more

View 4 Comments >

Founded in 2004 by Kevin Pho, MD, KevinMD.com is the web’s leading platform where physicians, advanced practitioners, nurses, medical students, and patients share their insight and tell their stories.

Social

  • Like on Facebook
  • Follow on Twitter
  • Connect on Linkedin
  • Subscribe on Youtube
  • Instagram

CME Spotlights

From MedPage Today

Latest News

  • Primary Care Visits With NPs, PAs on the Rise; C. Diff in the Intensive Care Unit
  • Are Obesity Drugs for Adolescents Cost-Effective?
  • Lab Tests That Escape FDA Oversight May Come Under Agency Review
  • Fezolinetant Benefits Women Not Suited for Hormone Therapy
  • Low Tidal Volume Compliance Still Lacking in Mechanical Ventilation

Meeting Coverage

  • Fezolinetant Benefits Women Not Suited for Hormone Therapy
  • Plant-Based Estrogen Improves Lipids in Postmenopausal Women
  • New Schizophrenia Treatments Are Coming: Don't Panic
  • Loneliness Needs to Be Treated Like Any Other Health Condition, Researcher Suggests
  • Stopping Medical Misinformation Requires Early Detection
  • Most Popular

  • Past Week

    • The erosion of patient care

      Laura de la Torre, MD | Physician
    • Reigniting after burnout: 3 physician stories

      Kim Downey, PT | Physician
    • Inside the grueling life of a surgery intern

      Randall S. Fong, MD | Physician
    • Challenging the diagnosis: dehydration or bias?

      Sydney Lou Bonnick, MD | Physician
    • COVID-19 unleashed an ongoing crisis of delirium in hospitals

      Christina Reppas-Rindlisbacher, MD, Nathan Stall, MD, and Paula Rochon, MD | Conditions
    • A teenager’s perspective: the pressing need for mental health days in schools

      Ruhi Saldanha | Conditions
  • Past 6 Months

    • Medical gaslighting: a growing challenge in today’s medical landscape

      Tami Burdick | Conditions
    • I want to be a doctor who can provide care for women: What states must I rule out for my medical education?

      Nandini Erodula | Education
    • Balancing opioid medication in chronic pain

      L. Joseph Parker, MD | Conditions
    • The erosion of patient care

      Laura de la Torre, MD | Physician
    • Mourning the silent epidemic: the physician suicide crisis and suggestions for change

      Amna Shabbir, MD | Physician
    • I’m a doctor, and I almost died during childbirth

      Bayo Curry-Winchell, MD | Physician
  • Recent Posts

    • Second chances and simple beauty in thrift stores

      Debbie Moore-Black, RN | Conditions
    • How to facilitate caregiver learning and support to improve clinical care outcomes

      Kerri Milyko, PhD | Tech
    • Air quality alert: Reducing our carbon footprint in health care

      Shreya Aggarwal, MD | Conditions
    • Exploring HIV care and advocacy [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast
    • A teenager’s perspective: the pressing need for mental health days in schools

      Ruhi Saldanha | Conditions
    • Challenging the diagnosis: dehydration or bias?

      Sydney Lou Bonnick, MD | Physician

MedPage Today Professional

An Everyday Health Property Medpage Today
  • Terms of Use | Disclaimer
  • Privacy Policy
  • DMCA Policy
All Content © KevinMD, LLC
Site by Outthink Group

This is what it’s like to be a military physician
4 comments

Comments are moderated before they are published. Please read the comment policy.

Loading Comments...