Blog

23
Dec

What’s Coming in 2017 for Primary Care Physicians

ThinkstockPhotos-616254340.jpg

The past year gave primary care physicians much to consider. 

From Zika virus fears to rising costs of prescription drugs to the election of Donald J. Trump as President of the United States, 2016 has certainly set the stage for a New Year many believe will be filled with ups, downs, starts, stops and ultimately, hope. 

Here’s a look at three things that are coming in 2017 for primary care physicians:

Technology will continue to transform healthcare communications 

Remember when the primary care physicians had to worry about getting patients comfortable with the idea (much less the implementation) of electronic medical records? How quickly things change!

These days, patients are pushing primary care physicians to make better use of technology. 

According to DMR, a website that specializes in curating statistics, there are more than 20 million registered Fitbit users in the United States–and that number is growing. Fitbits, are the wearable devices that allow users to track everything from number of steps taken to calories consumed to hours of quality sleep achieved each night. 

Wearable devices are giving patients more information about their overall health–and now patients want to share that information with their primary care physicians through interactive websites, mobile apps and other emerging technologies.

This year, look for more patients to expect to engage with you through wireless technology, which is known as mHealth and is growing by leaps and bounds. Other technology that will lead to large-scale transformations in the way primary care physicians treat patients are sure to emerge–and they could include concierge health, virtual health and video games as a means to promoting health an wellness. 

Your “webside manner” will matter

There may not be a lot of money to be made by individual physicians through mHealth or wearable devices, but telemedicine is proving to be a money-making machine–and that’s why your “webside manner” may matter an awful lot. 

Telemedicine continued to grow in 2016, thanks in large part to a paradigm shift that is moving more healthcare resources away from treating illness and towards proactively keeping people healthy. 

This trend is expected to continue in 2017, meaning you might be using teleconferencing tools to interact with patients in their homes, other clinics or other hospitals.

Virtual visits require physicians to be empathetic and compassionate without physically examining patients or reading their body language.  

Your webside manner matters–both for your patients and for your finances. According to an article on Modern Health Care’s website that cited a study that showed doctor-patient interactions can have a statistically significant effect on a patient’s health. In addition, the story also quoted a survey that said 71 percent of employers will offer telemedicine consults through health plans in 2017.  

The Affordable Care Act will get a second opinion

After the recent Presidential election, there’s only one thing that seems certain: The Affordable Care Act (ACA) will get a second opinion.

Before becoming President-elect, Donald Trump made it clear that he was no fan of the ACA and it became the general understanding that it would be repealed during his term.

Whether or not he will actually goes so far as to repeal the ACA remains to be seen. But one thing seems certain: Obamacare is going to get a second look, and it could lead to changes in the way primary care physicians treat patients. 

*The ideas related to the election noted within this blog are observations only and do not reflect a political position of any kind on behalf of Elliot Health System or any of its staff.

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22
Dec

Making an Impact on Children – Why Pediatricians Are So Important

Pediatrician

If children are fortunate, they have an array of people in their lives who care deeply about their well being. If they are very fortunate, they also have a pediatrician. 

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, nearly 4 million babies are born in the United States each year. Each newborn represents an opportunity to achieve wonderful things as well as the country’s hope for a brighter future. 

Of course health and wellness are critically important to a child’s ability to achieve wonderful things and build a bright future–and that’s where pediatricians come in to play. 

Here’s a look at why pediatricians are so incredibly important to children and the country alike:

Primary Care

Parents can’t do it alone. Sure, they can treat and take care of minor cuts, coughs and colds, but what about more complex illnesses, infections and injuries? And who is going to give physical exams to ensure children are developing properly? Primary care requires the partnership of a pediatrician. 

Even the smallest scrapes and bruises can send a parent into a panic. Knowing they have a well-trained, trusted pediatrician they can call on for everyday illnesses and injuries takes away some of the stress associated with raising children. 

Education 

In a world where inaccurate information is only a mouse click away, pediatricians have never been more important. 

According to a study conducted by the Pew Research Center, more than 70 percent of internet users said they looked online for medical or health information in 2012. Given the explosion of both internet users and websites claiming to be sources of reliable medical information, that percentage has surly grown over the past four years.

That’s a problem for parents, who can have a difficult time determining what information is accurate and which isn’t. From information about vaccinations to food allergies to treatments for the common cold, parents need a steady, reliable source for healthcare information.

Thankfully, there are pediatricians to fill that role. They provide information about health, safety, nutrition, fitness needs and development. But they also educate parents about how to prevent illnesses and explain clear, accurate and actionable information about treatment options when necessary. 

Early Intervention

Pediatricians are on the front lines in the battle against autism, obesity, behavioral disorders, emotional issues and all of the other emerging public health concerns affecting adolescents in America today. 

Well-child visits offer excellent opportunities for pediatricians to screen for and diagnose diseases and developmental early, which is critically important to preventing or delaying associated problems. 

Early intervention enhances the quality of kids’ lives by making sure they are able to learn and grow–to the best of their abilities–into healthy, educated teens, young adults and adults.  

This not only benefits the children and their parents, but society as a whole because kids who are healthy and able to learn are more likely to become productive adults. 

Advocacy

Caring for children is a pediatrician’s role in society, but what most people don’t realize is that caring involves more than healthcare. The pediatrician’s role often extend’s into advocacy

Children are among society’s most vulnerable, and they need people in their lives who are willing to advocate on their behalf. 

Without pediatricians, many more parents might ignore scientific research and make healthcare decisions that put both their children and entire communities at risk. Elected officials would be more likely to pass legislation that does more harm than good. It would take longer for emerging public health concerns to be addressed. And the kids who need an advocate the most would have one less caring person in their corner. 

Thank you pediatricians. Your contribution to the world is truly incredible. 

Are you a talented pediatrician who is seeking a new career? Consider what Elliot Health System has to offer.

Physician Careers

14
Dec

Southern New Hampshire Activities for Physicians and Their Families

Southern New Hampshire Activities

New Hampshire is most commonly known for being one of the 13 original colonies, fiercely independent and home to the fourteenth president of the United States, Franklin Pierce.

But those who live in the “Granite State” know something else about New Hampshire: It truly offers something for everyone–four distinct seasons. 

Southern New Hampshire alone is a cornucopia of adventures for families, with vast forests begging to be explored, easy access to the ocean and a full calendar of events that makes the absolute most of each time of year. 

Here is a look at a few of the most popular activities for physicians and their families in Southern New Hampshire:

Manchester: It’s all about the art

Manchester was built on innovation, entrepreneurship and the textile industry, but the city has always had an artists’ soul. 

Its willingness to embrace budding artists helped Manchester-raised comedians Adam Sandler, Seth Meyers and Sarah Silverman blossom into stars. But the city’s appreciation for the arts isn’t limited to the stage–it includes the fine arts as well.

Family Clay Day | $30

Learn to sculpt and paint with wet clay at these family workshop, which are held every Saturday in Manchester. You and your children create a unique piece of art from clay. The experts at the 550 Art Center fire it and have it ready for pickup in three to four weeks.

Learn more here.

Loudon: Giving the gift of lights

Loudon is home to the famed New Hampshire Motor Speedway, but you will want to take your time while winding your way through more than two miles of beautiful holiday lights. 

Gift of Lights | $15 – $20
The Loudon “Gift of Lights” display has become a holiday tradition for families across Southern New Hampshire. It boasts more than 60 scenes and 400 displays, including the breathtaking tunnel of lights. The display is open most evenings from 4:30 to 9 p.m. starting Friday, November 25. 

Learn more here. 

Durham: The perfect place to spend a fall day

Durham is located on the seacoast and in the shadows of the mountains. This makes it the perfect place to spend the day. You can hike the famous White Mountains, sit and watch the waves crash in on the Atlantic or make your way to one of the country’s oldest farms for an afternoon of traditional activities.

Emery Farms | Free to visit
Emery Farms was founded in the 1600s, making it one of the oldest farms in America. Today, it’s recognized as one of the must-visit places in Southern New Hampshire because of its fresh blueberries, apples, hayrides, cider donuts, all-natural ice cream and expansive Christmas tree offerings. 

Learn more here

Hillsboro: Well worth the hike

Hillsboro may not be located exactly in Southern New Hampshire, but it’s close enough and well worth the jaunt–especially if you and your family loves a good hike. Hillsboro is home to one of the premiere hiking forests in New England. 

Fox Research and Demonstration Forest | Free
It’s located on nearly 1,500 acres of pristine forest. It boasts more than 20 miles of well-marked trails that wind their way through impressive pines, maples, hemlocks and birth trees. And then there is Mud Pond and the boardwalk that allows you and your family to take in all of the natural beauty from another perspective.

Learn more here

Visit Southern New Hampshire

Southern New Hampshire is a perfect place for you and your family to have fun. You can learn about other activities by visiting VisitNH.gov. or by downloading our free adventure guide. Your family will be glad you did! 

Outdoor Adventures

13
Dec

Why Community Hospitals are Essential to Strong Communities

Community Hospitals

For many of us, a sense of community is very important. Although the word itself has several different meanings, the most commonly sought characteristics of a community probably include some combination of the following definitions:

  •  A particular area or place considered together with its inhabitants: ‘a rural community’ ‘local communities’ synonyms: groupbodysetcircleclique, etc
  • a feeling of fellowship with others, as a result of sharing common attitudes, interests, and goals: “the sense of community that organized religion can provide”

The thread woven through these two definitions (as well as others) touch on the notion of a group or collective the members of which have one or more things in common. The things shared may be location, belief system, some other group identifier, or something tangible that binds people together. In short, something that engenders a sense of community.

Community hospitals are an example of a tangible, physical feature that can contribute to stronger communal bonds. But why are community hospitals essential to strong communities? What is it about a medical facility that can create a sense of commonality and togetherness essential to fostering community spirit? 

To answer the question of why community hospitals are essential to strong communities, we should first agree on what a community hospital is. Although there are many definitions, perhaps the most relevant for our purposes is provided by Joe Lupica, chairman of Newpoint Healthcare Advisors: “A community hospital is a place where care can come to a patient, instead of forcing a patient to drive far away for care.” Perhaps we can put it another way: community hospitals not only serve their communities, their communities are fully aware they are being served. 

Let’s consider this point for a moment. If individuals (whether they be residents of a neighborhood, a district, a small town, or a rural area) are provided a service available to all, those folks certainly know they have that service in common, that they share in it communally. They can then take great comfort in knowing that they have the health care they need when they need it and that it’s available locally. 

Another compelling reason that a community hospital is important: it offers motivated individuals opportunities to become more involved in their community by participating in the facility’s volunteer program. Among the volunteer activities that exist at many hospitals

  • Desk Lobby Information
  • Mail/floral Delivery
  • Gift Shoppe
  • Nursing Units
  • Complimentary Patient Bingo
  • Making Heart Pillows for Cardiac Patients, beanies for Neonatal Babies and Surgical Caps for Children
  • Floral Arrangements for Gift Shoppe
  • Social Services
  • Same Day Surgery
  • Medical Library
  • Education

Regardless of what activity is chosen, many community hospitals offer nearby residents a chance to provide vital support and engage in many of the services that contribute to the quality of care and comfort of patients. This arrangement enhances the relationship between health care facilities and the communities they serve. 

Once people consider a hospital to be a “member” of the community, they learn to rely on it, to trust it. If we accept that trust is the cornerstone of any successful relationship, we can safely say that the mutual trust between community hospitals and the people they serve is a foundation upon which the sense of a strong community can be built. It should go without saying (but we’ll say it anyway) that this is a healthy scenario for all involved. 

Would you like to contribute to a community hospital? Consider a provider career with Elliot Health System.

Apply to Elliot Health System

Resources: 

5 Hospital Characteristics Necessary for Success 
10 Things Successful Hospital Boards Do 
Is the Community Hospital a Dying Model, or is it the Future of Healthcare? 
What Are Community Hospitals 
Community Hospital
The modern definition of a community hospital 

7
Dec

The Role of the Physician Assistant Within Modern Healthcare

Role of the Physician Assistant

It was the 1960s and the United States was facing challenges on several fronts. 

President John F. Kennedy, a charismatic and inspiring leader, had been assassinated. Young men from every major city and small town had been sent to a jungle thousands of miles away to fight an unpopular war. Millions of Americans were taking to the streets in support of the civil rights movement. 

Thank goodness for the physician assistant

While an assassinated president, a war and riots in the streets are the three events widely viewed as the decade’s most important, another issue from the time has proven to be every bit as critical to the country–the introduction of the physician assistant to health care.

While it didn’t generate many headlines, inspire people to take to the streets or throw the government into utter turmoil, the creation of physician assistant training in the 1960s did help the country deal with a physician shortage and forever changed the way healthcare services were delivered.

And today, the role of the physician assistant has never been more important. 

Here’s a look at three ways the physician assistant role has evolved to become indispensable within modern healthcare:

1) Expanded functions

The first physician assistants existed to provide basic medical services. They checked blood pressure, took temperatures and dealt with common, non-life-threatening illnesses. They truly were assistants to the physicians, there to expedite care and keep patients moving through clinics. 

Today, however, physician assistants are at the forefront of delivering care to patients who present with all types of ailments and illnesses. Physician assistants conduct physical exams, diagnose illnesses, develop treatment strategies, perform medical procedures, assist in surgery and even write prescriptions. 

And, there’s a good chance they’ll soon be doing even more. 

President Obama’s administration recently brought forward a proposal that would change federal rules and allow physician assistants to provide provide even more services to Medicare patients. 

2) Preventing illness

The very first physician assistants were largely reactionary. Patients showed up in the clinic or hospital, and the physician assistant would try to address their health problems. 

Not anymore. 

Today’s physician assistants are at the tip of the spear when it comes to preventing illness–and that’s a big deal to the federal government, insurance companies and patients. 

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has made keeping people healthy a priority, and physician assistants are national leaders in the effort. 

Physician assistants educate patients about how their lifestyle choices affect their overall health. They create treatment plans for patients that involve coordinated care across specialty areas of medicine. And, they work directly with patients to implement the plans–all in an effort to promote good health, prevent disease and reduce the cost of healthcare. 

3) Reform leaders

The nation’s healthcare system is and has been the focus of intense discussion and reform efforts. 

As the industry has been evaluated, two major issues of concern have emerged–access and cost. Physician assistants are leaders in working to reform both. 

A recent study published in the Journal of Clinical Outcomes Management showed that physician assistants significantly reduced healthcare costs. Researchers found that the higher the physician assistant-to-physician ratio, the less patients wound up paying for care. 

In addition, the country is once again in the throes of a doctor shortage. And once again, the country is turning to the physician assistant to ensure that people have access to the medical care they need. 

It took a half-century for it to happen, but physician assistants are finally being recognized for the important role they play–and have played–in shaping the past, present and future of healthcare. 

Are you a physician assistant searching for a rewarding role at a community hospital? Browse our open positions now.

Apply to Elliot Health System

5
Dec

Pay Off Physician Loans with a Career at a Community Hospital

Pay off physician loans

There are many reasons to consider starting your career as a physician at a community hospital

Deep and meaningful connections with patients. Opportunities to use your expanded functions. The ability to play a direct role in shaping the way health care is delivered. 

Small town life, a lower cost of living and the ability to quickly become a civic leader in your community.  

Yes, there’s a lot to love about being a physician at a community hospital, not the least of which is the ability to more quickly pay off your physician loans. 

A daunting amount of debt

According to the Association of American Medical Colleges, most newly minted physicians face $183,000 in student loan debt once they graduate from medical school. And that doesn’t even include loans associated with their undergraduate education.

That’s a daunting amount of debt. It’s a figure that can affect the choices new physicians make–especially about where to work and how to best address the debt. On a 10-year repayment plan, which is pretty standard, monthly payments are likely to be as much as $2,000. 

Many medical school graduates make the decision to chase the giant pay checks at a large, urban hospital. Most put their student loans into forbearance while they complete their residencies. Some choose another route, one that’s located along the road less traveled but often turns out to be a shortcut to debt-free living and long, rewarding careers.

Why a community hospital makes sense

Many new physicians find that starting their careers at a community hospital is not only a practical way to address physician loans but also a great long-term investment in their careers. 

Many states, New Hampshire included, offer loan repayment and forgiveness programs. In New Hampshire, the program is run by the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services. It provides funds to health care professionals who work in areas that have been designated as being medically underserved. To be eligible to participate in the loan repayment program, the physician needs to sign a three-year contract to work full time, usually at a community hospital. It’s a program that is open to doctors of allopathic or osteopathic medicine, psychologists, general surgeons and others. In return, the state offsets graduate and undergraduate loans by contributing up to $75,000 towards the debt. That sort of option can make a big dent in the overall debt burden new doctors face, but that’s not the only financial benefit of working at a community hospital. 

Beyond physician loans 

In addition to the debt repayment programs, community hospitals offer many other financial benefits. 

Most community hospitals are located in smaller cities or towns where the cost of living is less than it is in large, urban areas. This means physicians can enjoy a higher quality of life–nicer vehicles, larger homes, more time for travel. 

Starting your career at a community hospital also allows you to get involved sooner in a wider array of cases, which can significantly benefit your career as you grow older and decide which areas of medicine provide the greatest sense of career fulfillment. It can also make you more attractive as your career progresses and you look for other opportunities–either at another hospital or as a leader within your community hospital. 

Explore your options, pay off your physician loans

Community hospitals have a lot to offer, including leadership opportunities, real-world experience and the ability to quickly pay off your physician loans. 

And you don’t necessarily have to move to a rural area of the country to take advantage of community hospital benefits. 

Explore your options. Choose wisely. And make a sound financial decision. 

*Note: Make sure to check with individual hospitals regarding loan forgiveness or repayment policies. Every institution is different and the details in this article are not specific to any one community hospital.

 Would you like to start a physician career at a community hospital? Start by learning with Elliot Health System has to offer.

Physician Careers

29
Nov

3 Career Tools for Emergency Medicine Physicians

Emergency Medicine Physicians

There was a time in the not-too-distant past when emergency medicine physicians relied heavily on stethoscopes, blood pressure monitors, experience and maybe a phone call to a trusted colleague to treat any and all cases that walked (or rolled) through the door. 

Not anymore. 

Today’s emergency medicine physicians have gone high tech. Smartphones have become nearly ubiquitous in hospitals across the country, with eight out of every 10 doctors admitting to using them for work, according to a recent study conducted by Kantar Media. 

And those smartphones aren’t only being used to communicate with other physicians or keep track of appointments. They’re being used to access treatment guidelines, calculate complicated medical formulas, perform clinical ultrasound examinations at the bedside and more. 

Yes, today’s emergency medicine physicians have more tools than ever at their fingertips. Here’s a look at three of the best apps available:

1) EMRA PressorDex

The EMRA PressorDex app is sure to be found in any list of essential mobile tools tools for emergency medicine physicians. 

It’s a complete therapeutic guide to the seemingly endless list of pressors, vasoactive drugs, continuous infusions and other medications that are necessary to treat patients who are critically ill. 

What makes the app so effective is that it is written by emergency medicine physicians for emergency medicine physicians. It’s clear, concise and easy to use even during the busiest of shifts. 

EMRA PressorDex costs $16.99 and is available for iOS. Learn more and download the app

2) ERres

The ERres app is commonly referred to as the “Swiss army knife” of apps for emergency medicine physicians because it’s so easy to use and includes so many practical and valuable tools–especially when things get hectic. 

The app is perfect for bedside use, featuring various calculators, lists of medicine, algorithms, decision rules, clinical policies and core content that is frequently referenced by emergency providers. 

The ERres app is designed to allow you to make respond rapidly to emergency situations with the best possible information. In some situations, that’s the best you can hope to accomplish. 

ERres costs $4.99 for iOS users and $3.99 for Android users. Learn more and download the app for your iPhone or Android

3) SonoSupport

Perhaps no tool is as valuable in the emergency department than the bedside clinical ultrasound. It allows physicians to identify injuries that aren’t apparent during initial physical exams–bleeding into the peritoneal, pleural or pericardial spaces. 

Unfortunately, executing a bedside ultrasound while in the throes of an emergency can sometimes prove difficult–and that’s where the SonoSupport app comes in. 

The app provides all of the information needed to perform clinical exams at the bedside, including:

  • Easy-to-use guides and summaries of when and why to perform specific scans
  • Clear and concise step-by-step instructions for obtaining the needed images
  • Advice for selecting the proper probe and placing the transducer to ensure image quality
  • Samples of high-resolution normal sonographic anatomy as well as notable pathology
  • Critical image checklists

The SonoSupport app costs $9.99 and is available for iOS. Learn more and download the app

**Please note these apps are not endorsed by Elliot Health System and are being featured in order to bring attention to new medical technology within the industry. If you’d like to learn about more physician tools, read our physician app article here. 

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28
Nov

What Exactly IS a Community Hospital?

community hospital

Community hospital. For many people, the term conjures up images of a small, local, well-run quaint health care facility complete with friendly staff and kind doctors who all possess a folksy bedside manner. Reasonable sounding, isn’t it? But is there a formal definition, a generally accepted standard of what constitutes a community hospital? 

The American Hospital Association defines community hospitals as all non-federal, short-term, general, and other special hospitals including academic medical centers or other teaching hospitals. Interestingly enough, the definition included college and prison infirmaries prior to 1972. But, does this rather sterile definition truly explain what a “community hospital” is?  

The AHA also 
breaks down community hospitals further, distinguishing between rural community hospitals and urban community hospital. 

Or should we rely on Becker’s Hospital Review list of 100 Great Community Hospitals which only includes those that have fewer than 550 beds and minimal teaching programs?

Perhaps we should look at Medicare, which defines such a facility as any hospital: 

  • Located more than 35 road miles from another hospital
  • That, by reason of factors such as the time required for an individual to travel to the nearest alternative source of appropriate inpatient care…location, weather conditions, travel conditions, or absence of other like hospitals…is the sole source of inpatient hospital services reasonably available to individuals in a geographic area who are entitled to benefits under Medicare or, 
  • Designated as an essential access community hospital under Medicare. 

Clearly, then, there is no hard and fast rule as to what constitutes a community hospital. There are however, certain characteristics some would argue they all share. These likely include:

1. Communication: Prioritization of managing patient expectations.

In order for a community hospital to truly be a part of the community it serves, it must establish open, honest and clear communication that is conducive to a dialog between it and the people it serves. People should have a complete understanding of what the facility provides (and doesn’t provide), what the policies are regarding access, treatment protocols, payment requirements and other issues associated with health care. The hospital board and staff should welcome questions, suggestions, concerns and general comments for the stated purpose of ensuring that the community is provided the best care and treatment the facility can provide. 

2. They follow the money, but they ensure the money follows the health care needs of the community. 

Clearly, no healthcare facility can operate at a financial loss for any significant period of time. Donors must be courted, other funding sources secured. However, a community hospital must ensure that it attends to the needs of its patients in addition to focusing on the bottom line. Making financial decisions that maximize the resources of the facility and the staff that work there should be a top priority. Reputation is built on more than fundraising success and sparkling new equipment for its own sake – spending should have a specific, care-based focus.  

Local governance.

This doesn’t necessarily mean that the hospital is completely governed by the community in which it is located, simply that local facility management has meaningful input into how the hospital is run rather than being dictated to by the corporation that owns the hospital. 

Location, location, location. 

Joe Lupica, chairman of Newpoint Healthcare Advisors, succinctly sums up the point: “A community hospital is a place where care can come to a patient, instead of forcing a patient to drive far away for care.” The community must not only be served, it must be made to feel that it is being served. 

Elliot Health System is a community hospital. If you’d like to learn more about provider careers with us, click below.

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22
Nov

The Pros and Cons of Becoming a Physician Assistant Versus an MD

Physician assistant or a medical doctor

The country needs you. 

There’s a shortage of medical professionals in the United States, and everyone from the president to hospital administrators has put out the call for smart people to step forward and join the ranks of the caring and dedicated individuals who help keep the country healthy. 

So which one are you going to be–a physician assistant or a medical doctor? 

Both play critical roles promoting health and wellness by performing exams, diagnosing illnesses and prescribing treatments. Both professions are well-respected. Both are in high demand.

But they come with different expectations, requirements and pressures. 

If you are considering answering the call for more healthcare professionals, take a look at this list of pros and cons related to becoming a physician assistant versus a medical doctor:

The Pros

  • Fewer education requirements. Between an undergraduate degree, medical school and a residency, it can take up to 11 years before you become a medical doctor. On the other hand, it typically takes only six to seven years to become a physician assistant. 

    The total amount of training required for physician assistants is roughly 12,400 hours. For medical doctors, it is roughly 34,000 hours. 

  • Student loans. Naturally, the less time you spend in post-secondary courses, the less money you’ll have to pay for tuition. The average medical school graduate has about $180,000 in student loan debt upon graduation, according to the Association of American Medical Colleges.

    A study conducted by the Physician Assistant Education Association found that 75 percent of physician assistant students expected to take on around $50,000 in student loan debt before graduating. 

    A smaller debt load after graduation can go a long way towards improving your overall quality of life while you are establishing yourself in your new career. 

  • Flexibility. One of the biggest advantages of becoming a physician assistant is the professional flexibility the profession offers. After achieving your license, you can easily shift from one medical specialty to another–from an internist to a pediatrician, for example–without going back for additional training. 

    This level of flexibility helps ensure that you can continue to challenge yourself and grow professionally, without leaving the hospital for which you work. 

  • Teamwork. There is a movement afoot in the healthcare industry towards patient-centered, team-based primary care–and physician assistants are an important part of the team. You’ll work with doctors, nurses, licensed practical nurses and others to ensure that patients receive the best care possible. 
  • Financial rewards. According to a recent article published by Forbes, the average compensation for physician assistants in the United States is $100,000. That’s nearly double what the average American household makes per year, according to the U.S. Census Bureau

The Cons

  • Limits on your functions. Even though many physician assistants have the ability to care for patients outside of the clinic or hospital setting, there are rules that prohibit them from doing so. 
  • Lack of understanding. Even though physician assistants have been caring for patients since the mid-1960s, there is still a lack of understanding among some patients about the role they play in health care. Many physician assistants find that they spend a lot of time educating patients about what they do and how they do it. 
  • Lack of autonomy. If you’re a physician assistant, you will be able to work independently with patients, but your work will be closely supervised by a doctor. You also can’t open your own office–but that just means you’ll always be part of a team.

Have you already succeeded in becoming a physician assistant? Consider what Elliot Health System has to off you. 

Apply to Elliot Health System

21
Nov

Top Journals that Matter to Primary Care Physicians

medical journals

Never before have more words been so readily available. 

With the click of a keyboard or the swipe of a smartphone screen, primary care physicians put their hands on a seemingly unlimited amount of information. 

Blogs, magazines and online aggregators offer around-the-clock access to research, breaking news and human interest stories. 

But should physicians really be getting their news about research from websites run by 24-hour cable networks? 

The problem with having so much information immediately available is that it can be difficult to measure the quality of the words. That’s why many primary care physicians are eschewing online information sources in favor of tried and true, peer reviewed, accurate and ethical medical journals, which have been delivering trusted news about research, trends and treatments for centuries. 

Here’s a look at the top journals that matter the most to primary care physicians:

New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM)

The name and the acronym are synonymous with excellence. It’s by far the most well-respected and well-read general medicine journal available. Research covers all medical specialties, and all of the 5,000 article submissions the journal receives each year that actually get published go through an extensive peer review process, revisions and a statistical review. 

In short, the NEJM is a journal primary care physicians simply must read if they want to stay abreast of emerging trends, research and discoveries. 

Journal of Primary Care & Community Health

Primary care physicians are on the front lines of addressing public health concerns, and the Journal of Primary Care & Community Health is right there with them. The quarterly journal, which is currently transitioning to an open access format, offers peer-reviewed articles about the practice, impact and outcomes of community health programs. 

It’s a great tool and a must-read journal for physicians who are interested in bridging the gap between medicine and public health at a grass-roots level. 

Nature

Science waits for no one. That’s why it is imperative that primary care physicians read Nature, a medical journal that publishes weekly and features the latest findings in science research. Nature is one of the most difficult journals in which to be published, and it covers topics ranging from chemistry to evolution. 

Many, if not all, of the top medical journalists in the country rely heavily on Nature for story ideas. So if you want to know what your patients are likely to be hearing (and have the real story for yourself), read Nature

The Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA)

With more than 1.2 million people receiving its table of contents via email, no other medical journal is as widely circulated. JAMA is a journal comprised of the top articles from the American Medical Association’s other journals, including JAMA Cardiology, JAMA Dermatology, JAMA Pediatrics and JAMA Psychiatry. In other words, its the perfect news aggregator for primary care physicians. 

Read JAMA and sign up to have its table of contents delivered to your email inbox for free. 

American Family Physician

Published by the American Academy of Family Physicians, AFP includes articles from clinicians with the experience and wisdom to provide proven advice to their peers. The editors strive to find articles that provide a family medicine perspective and approaches to common clinical conditions. 

American Family Physician is what you want to read if you’re looking for practical wisdom that actually applies to your day-to-day practice of medicine. 

Annals of Medicine

For those interested in research, there is the Annals of Medicine. It’s delivers rapid publication of the latest peer-reviewed research related to medicine, from the bench to the bedside and back again.

If you are interested in reading blogs like this one to supplement your journal reading, feel free to subscribe.

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