Which Specialty do you want & why?

[Hayden]

Quote: Originally Posted by Season

are general physicians GPs, except awesomer...?

I'm guessin the answer to that is no.

I'm in the psych wards at the moment, and I'm really enjoying the work and difference you can make. I met "jesus" the other day, he forgot to take his meds I also get the feeling I'm one of the few medical students that enjoys psych.

However, I definitely would like to try out paeds- adolescents not so much the littlies, emergency, GP, oncology, nephrology, immunology... and for some reason gastro (I loved UC and crohns).

Funny you say that, because not being able to make a difference is what many people don't like about psych. Over time, you'll see the same patients coming through the door with the same conditions, for the same reasons. Psychiatric disorders are almost invariably chronic and recurring/relapsing.

There are only so many times you can change their meds before they're on clozapine and then there really aren't any options after that...

[Jackie]

Actually sleep specialist sounds good at the moment.
Possibly surgery, paediatrics.

[diametric]

I've thought surgery for a while, wouldn't be surprised if that changes in the next 6ish years.

[woozy]

Emergency/Emergency (Paediatricts) dual specialisation through ACEM, ACRRM or FRACGP Rural, or Burns, Pallative Care. Neurology. Keeping quite a few things open for now.

I guess I have always been interested in all of the above. Keeping things open, but I hope alot of colleges have Recog of Prior Learning, as I think Emergency medicine is something that I won't be doing forever due the stress, attrition and high burn out rate of ED docs. I have always wanted to do an Emergency Physician of sorts to become a retrievalist or expedition doctor.

[Hayden]

Quote: Originally Posted by woozy

Emergency/Emergency (Paediatricts) dual specialisation through ACEM, ACRRM or FRACGP Rural, or Burns, Pallative Care. Neurology. Keeping quite a few things open for now.

I guess I have always been interested in all of the above. Keeping things open, but I hope alot of colleges have Recog of Prior Learning, as I think Emergency medicine is something that I won't be doing forever due the stress, attrition and high burn out rate of ED docs. I have always wanted to do an Emergency Physician of sorts to become a retrievalist or expedition doctor.

What has given you the idea that ED docs have a high burnout rate?

Re: recognition of prior learning - not a lot of the colleges do that, unfortunately. Some appear to be more flexible than others, but I would imagine that those colleges that do offer it would do so only after a ton of red tape and hoops to jump through...

[diametric]

I would think that ED doctors would have more burn out than other specialists, just logically thinking.

[Mana]

Recently I found oncology to be interesting. I am not sure how depressing it would be though...

[Hayden]

Quote: Originally Posted by diametric

I would think that ED doctors would have more burn out than other specialists, just logically thinking.

There's a lot of things in medicine that make sense when you think it through logically, but actually don't occur. That's why we have training in evidence-based medicine and decision making.

There may be a study that shows a higher attrition rate in FACEMs but I haven't seen/heard it, and the FACEMs that I know are all really quite happy and content. That's why I'm asking.

[chinaski]

Quote: Originally Posted by Hayden

There may be a study that shows a higher attrition rate in FACEMs but I haven't seen/heard it, and the FACEMs that I know are all really quite happy and content. That's why I'm asking.

I think if you were to go and visit some FACEMs in different hospitals, you may find they aren't so happy and content across the board (particularly those who work in hospitals in permanent bed block).

[lordgarlic]

Quote: Originally Posted by chinaski

I think if you were to go and visit some FACEMs in different hospitals, you may find they aren't so happy and content across the board (particularly those who work in hospitals in permanent bed block).

I agree it's very hospital dependent how happy the FACEMs are to be honest. Half the ones at Royal Brisbane seem content and happy with their jobs joking all the time. These are the ones that love teaching and only have 2 shifts on the floor a week. Then there are some permanently grumpy ones lol.

Like every job, there are variable personalities around. As to whether or not the burnout rate is higher, I don't know of any studies. I guess maybe the stress would cause it? In Royal though a lot of the FACEMs are PT, I don't think there are any 1.0 FTE ones