physician careers

The field of hospital medicine arose in the 1990’s in response to hospitals’ need for greater access to primary care physicians. Hospitalists specifically coordinate patient care from admission to discharge. As Ratelle et al pointed out, there are now over 30,000 such inpatient practitioners, with organizations like the National Association of Inpatient Physicians and Society of Hospital Medicine. The field continues to grow, but it requires proficiency in multiple medical disciplines, as a day in the life of a hospitalist includes any number of tasks across the health care spectrum.

Hospitalist Duties

Hospitalists specialize in not having a specialization. In particular, they are experts in patient management and leadership of care personnel. According to Pak and Jones, they must have multiple skills on top of standard clinical expertise, including:

• The ability to communicate clearly with patients, families, and personnel,
• Problem-solving skills for prompt evaluation and treatment,
• Leadership of patients, staff, and hospital administrators,
• Teaching skills in analyzing and interpreting medical information,
• Compassion and interpersonal skills to provide comfort and care,
• And stamina to work long and wide-ranging shifts.

Altogether, these abilities ensure that hospitalists are able to balance, manage, and optimize the hospital health care system. In particular, they work to coordinate patients, family, residents and interns, nursing staff, healthcare professionals, and hospital administrators.

Educational Requirements

Until relatively recently, hospital medicine has been an uncommon career track. However, as Ratelle et al show, around a tenth of current internal medicine residents will end up in this growing field, with specializations in Family Medicine or Pediatric Internal Medicine. The Society of Hospital Medicine details how to become a hospitalist, as follows.

• Start by attaining a Bachelor’s degree in a related field.
• Then, complete 4 years at an E.S.-accredited medical school,
• Train for 3 to 9 years in a hospital residency of 3 to 8 years,
• Pursue other training, such as post-residency fellowships,
• Get a state license to practice, although standards vary,
• Lastly, pursue an optional board certification for specializations.

Licensing may require background checks, training, tests, or fees, and you must renew your credentials every 10 years. An increasing number of residency programs also offer hospital medicine specializations, as the number of related fellowship programs rises each year, as well.

Work Conditions & Compensation

Graduating hospitalists confront a growing and competitive market. However, as the US Bureau of Labor Statistics explains, compensation is high because the work requires fast decision-making in high-stress situations. In general, hospitalists work 12-hour days each day of the week, with every other week off, although schedules can be erratic. Usually, 3 to 4 hospitalists will work on day shifts, with only one at night, and each will care for 15 to 20 patients each day.

In 2014, the Society of Hospital Medicine estimated that there were around 44,000 practicing hospitalists in the United States. Since then, the field has only grown, and wages reflect growing need. In particular, the Medical Group Management Association’s recent survey found that hospitalists earn around $180,000 annually, with variation by location, teaching status, and practice size. In particular, Internal Medicine hospitalists on average earn $218,066 a year, while Pediatric specialists earn $160,038 per year.

The work of hospitalists is essential to coordinating hospital care. You should consider this field if your interests and abilities align with those detailed above. However, it is important to keep in mind that hospital medicine continues to evolve, with hospitalists taking on teaching positions and positions of authority in administration. Although their work is high-stress, hospitalists are essential members of health care teams and play a powerful role in shaping the quality and future of care in hospital contexts.

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Would you like to join Elliot Health System as a hospitalist? Browse our open hospitalist career opportunities today.

When you first embark on a medical career, there seems to be no limit to the practice options available. Specializations such as cardiology, neurology and orthopedics gain much of the attention, of course. However, callings such as family practice and internal medicine, while less glamorous, are no less meaningful or important. Depending on who you are and how you want your professional life to look, internal medicine may be the ideal physician career for you.

If a career that involves long-term relationships, experience with a wide range of health care issues, and continuity of care appeals to you, then being an internist may be the right path for you. However, even if your goal is to specialize, internal medicine may still be a good fit if you’re unsure of which specialty to pursue. Practicing as an internist can provide you with multiple opportunities to help you make that choice. Cardiology, nephrology, endocrinology, gastroenterology, infectious diseases or pulmonology are among the specialties commonly entered by internal medicine physicians. 

In addition, the American College of Physicians lists the following subspecialties that are available to internists upon completion of the requisite residency training:

• Allergy and Immunology
• Cardiovascular Disease 
• Advanced Heart Failure and Transplant Cardiology
• Interventional Cardiology
• Clinical Cardiac Electrophysiology
• Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Metabolism
• Gastroenterology 
• Transplant Hepatology
• Hematology
• Infectious Disease
• Nephrology
  
• Oncology 
• Pulmonary Disease
• Rheumatology 

Patients generally don’t understand that there is a difference between internists and family practitioners. Although both can serve as primary care providers, which one you want to be depends in part on who you want your patients to be. If you want to see “families” who present family problems, you’ll likely be providing health care to a large number of children during your time in practice. If, however, you prefer working with adults, than being an internist may be the better choice. 

Although internal medicine is not a specialty per se, it still involves the diagnosis, care and treatment of certain diseases and medical conditions. These include such afflictions as diabetes, heart disease, obesity, kidney and liver disease, and substance abuse. Family practitioners, on the other hand, are sought after more for wellness checks and less serious medical problems. 

In order to determine whether internal medicine is the right career for you, here are some questions you should ask yourself:

• Do I want to specialize? If so, what are the specialties that interest me? Given that internists have a stronger foundation for specialization, internal medicine would probably be a better fit for you. 
• Do I want my career to involve broad, all-inclusive, family-oriented challenges? If so, family medicine is perhaps more appropriate. 
• Am I interested in the social and community aspects of health care? A family medicine practice offers an environment in which you can develop and expand your responsibility to family and community as well as to your individual patients. 
• Am I the type of person who thrives finding solutions to complicated problems such as diagnosing and treating difficult, confusing or conflicting symptoms? Serving as an internist will provide you ample opportunity to take advantage of and nurture that characteristic.

There are, of course, other factors to be considered. Regardless of which path you choose, be it specialization, family practice or internal medicine, your community will benefit from your dedication, training, and expertise. At the end of the day, isn’t that just what the doctor ordered?

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Like most physicians, pediatricians typically choose their jobs based on a variety of factors, including family, location, opportunities for professional growth, lifestyle and income. 

And they’ve got options; pediatricians are in short supply and high demand.

But the path to a rewarding pediatric provider career isn’t likely to be paved with yellow bricks if you don’t take the time to consider the environment in which you’ll be spending your days (or nights). 

To help you find the road that’s right for you, take a look at these five different pediatric provider career options: 

The Solo Practice

Solo practitioners enjoy more individual freedom, ultimate decision-making authority when it comes to business decisions and incredibly close and personal relationships with their patients. 

It is often an outstanding career choice for enterprising physicians who possess entrepreneurial spirits. Solo practitioners typically get to immerse themselves in every aspect of the business–from real estate to human resources to technology to care protocols to business development and marketing. 

The vast majority (87 percent) of all pediatric office visits are provided in either private or group practices, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics. 

The Group Practice

Pediatricians working in group practices tend to want to work as part of a team in an environment that delivers shorter work hours, shared decision-making responsibilities and plenty of time to focus on patient care.

Group practices often appeal to newly minted physicians interested in joining established practices where they can jump right in with patients, consult with other physicians and learn from experienced mentors. 

Pediatricians who work in group practices have plenty of colleagues–the vast majority of pediatricians in the United States work in group practices, according to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics.

The Locum Tenens

In the 1970s, the federal government awarded a grant to the University of Utah to ensure that clinics in rural areas of the state would be staffed with physicians. Since then, the program has grown to include other areas of the country that are medically under-served. 

Locum tenen positions provide a temporary pediatric provider career path focused on community service. Locum tenens make tangible differences in the lives of children who might not otherwise have access to physicians with the training and skills to meet their needs. In addition, the opportunities allow pediatricians to gain valuable experience which can be used to hone their clinical skills.

Learn more about Locum tenens here. 

The Academic Health Center

The country needs pediatricians and it needs faculty to train them, conduct research to improve health care and develop innovations in delivery. 

This work typically occurs in academic health centers. 

Pediatricians who work in academic health centers work on teams, teach, conduct research and typically have access to the latest technology, tools, equipment and patients. They also enjoy a well-established benefit structure as well as a steady flow of income. 

Learn more about how academic pediatrics is improving the health and well-being of children.

The Community Hospital

Community hospitals play an incredibly important role in the country’s healthcare system. They meet the preventative, tertiary and critical care needs of patients in communities large and small–and they offer incredible opportunities for pediatricians. 

The American Hospital Association estimates that more than 33 million patients were admitted to community hospitals in 2016, and many were children. Pediatricians working in community hospitals often work on complex cases. They partner and collaborate with specialists. And they enjoy a steady flow of income that isn’t typically tied to patient census or clinical appointments. 

There are more than 4,000 community hospitals across the country, making it possible for pediatricians to work in rural, suburban or urban settings. 

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If a community hospital is a career path you’d like to walk down, consider Elliot Health System.

According to the Kaiser Family Foundation, nearly 50 percent of the country’s more than 900,000 MDs and DOs are primary care physicians. 

And that’s still not enough. 

In just three years, the United States will need another 20,400 primary care physicians, if projections from the U.S. Health Resources & Services Administration are correct. 

This is good news for the more than 440,000 physicians across the country who practice family medicine, internal medicine, gynecology, geriatrics and pediatrics. It’s equally good news for nurse practitioners and physician assistants, who are increasingly being called upon to play larger roles in caring for patients. 

But those who are most likely to benefit from the shortage of primary care physicians are people currently studying to become doctors, nurse practitioners and physician assistants, who are likely to have plenty of career options. 

Which way will you go? That depends on which option best aligns with your personal and professional goals:

The Primary Care Physician

Primary care physicians are the backbone of the country’s healthcare system. Their relationships with patients often span decades and can even include entire lifespans. For many healthcare professionals, the deep patient relationships and ability to have a significant influence a person’s overall health over long periods of time is what makes primary care so attractive.

Where you work. While many people consider primary care to be the specialty of ambulatory clinics, physicians can actually be found in community hospitals, teaching hospitals, birth centers, nursing homes and retirement communities. 

Beyond patient care. Primary care isn’t all about interacting with patients in a clinical setting. Because it plays such an important role in the nation’s healthcare system, there are ample opportunities to conduct research and teach. 

Currently, the U.S. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality is focusing research on increasing access to medication-assisted treatment of opioid abuse, developing new models of workforce configurations to address physician shortages and advancing heart health in family medicine, among other areas of research. 

In addition, teaching hospitals across the country will always need healthcare professionals who can effectively train the next generation of physicians. 

The Nurse Practitioner (NP)

In the last couple of years, nurse practitioners have begun playing a larger role in the country’s healthcare system. Part of this is due to the fact that NPs tend to work in areas of the country where the doctor shortage is most acute, part of it is due to people’s comfort with NPs. 

Where you work. Nurse practitioners can be found in community hospitals, academic settings, clinics and even in patients’ homes. 

Beyond patient care. According to the American Association of Colleges of Nursing, colleges and universities across the country are facing faculty shortages. This means there are ample opportunities for nurse practitioners to become faculty members and train the next generation of nurses. 

The Physician Assistant (PA)

After the passage of the Affordable Care Act, PAs were finally recognized as important members of the country’s team of professionals that delivers primary care. Since then, the physician shortage and a growing understanding of the important role PAs play in the healthcare system have sparked a movement in the country to remove regulations that prevent them from using their expanded functions. 

Where you work. PAs are unique because they can work autonomously as well as in collaboration with other members of the healthcare team. PAs treat patients in community hospitals, teaching hospitals, nursing homes, retail clinics and nursing homes. 

Beyond patient care. Because physician assistants are in such high demand, there are many academic jobs available for PAs who wish to teach. Most of the jobs are at colleges and universities.  

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Which option will you choose? Elliot Health System has options for all sorts of options for providers.

Each year, more than 130 million Americans suffer an injury or illness that is serious enough to lead them to emergency departments, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).  

Some injuries and illnesses are self-inflicted. Others appear out of the blue. All require exceptional trauma/critical care delivered by doctors who must be prepared for any situation at any time. 

Here is a look at five of the most common trauma/critical care situations providers see during their careers:

1) Chest Pain

Someone experiences myocardial infarction once every 43 seconds in the United States, according to the CDC. That adds up to 735,000 people who find themselves in desperate need of medical assistance. 

Thanks to awareness campaigns such as “Go Red for Women” and “Mission: Lifeline Act in Time,” many patients recognize both the symptoms and the importance of getting help as quickly as possible. And thanks to advances in technology and care, physicians have been able to increase survival rates for people who have suffered a heart attack and even cardiac arrest. 

2) Opioid Overdose

It’s estimated to cost the country $55 billion in health and social costs each year. The CDC says that it kills nearly 80 people a day. It’s been called an epidemic by the Department of Health & Human Services. 

It is opioid abuse, and no physicians seem to be immune from its effects. 

The epidemic presents challenges to physicians who have to provide the trauma/critical care for patients who have overdosed on opioids and prescribe the drugs with great care.   

3) Crash Victims

Last year in the United States, more than 35,000 people died after being involved in motor vehicle crashes, according to information released by the U.S. Department of Transportation. That’s a 7.2 percent increase from the previous year. In addition, another 2.44 million people were injured. 

Vehicle crash victims can be incredibly challenging for physicians because they often present with an array of injuries that require a variety of trauma/critical care protocols, including herniated disks, spinal damage, head injuries, muscle weakness and leg pain. 

4) Falls

The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality says that one person dies of an injury every three minutes in the United States–and many of those injuries occur after falls. 

In fact, nearly as many people die from injuries suffered in falls as those who are injured in vehicle crashes, and falls are the top reason people aged 65 and older receive trauma/critical care in emergency departments. 

Physicians who are treating people injured after falling most commonly provide care for head injuries and hip fractures, according to the CDC. 

5) Poisoning 

While not as common as heart attacks, opioid abuse, crashes or falls, poisoning is a common cause for emergency department visits. 

In 2014, more than 2 million people sought treatment after being exposed to some form of poison. According to Poison Control, a national organization that actively keeps tabs on the country’s 55 poison control centers, a person calls for assistance every 15 seconds in the United States.  

Most of the victims of poisoning are children younger than 6 who have been poisoned by personal care products, cleaning substances and pain medications. Most adults are poisoned by pain medication, sedatives, sleeping medications, antidepressants and pain medications. 

The Importance of Trauma/Critical Care

With more people than ever relying on emergency departments as their primary access point, physicians who are capable of delivering trauma/critical care play an important role in the country’s healthcare system.

This may change in the future, but for now, the country continues to depend on the expertise of those who can deliver trauma/critical care.  

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Are you interested in a trauma/critical care career at Elliot Health System?

Family medicine physicians are more than just doctors. They are the backbone of the public healthcare system, often identifying important public health trends before they can become more acute. They help improve access to care for people from all walks of life. They are among the most trusted professionals in the country.

But they also face the same challenges that are affecting all doctors and specialties these days.  

Government mandates, changing reimbursement models and increased administrative duties make the job as challenging as ever.

But it’s still an incredibly rewarding career–why else would nearly one-third of all physicians in the United States practice family medicine?

Yes, there are many great reasons to become a family medicine physician. Here’s a look at the top five benefits:

1) Job Security

The United States is in the throes of a physician shortage. According to the Association of American Medical Colleges, the country will be face a shortage of between 46,000 and 90,000 physicians by 2025. While that’s bad news for the country, it means that family medicine physicians will continue to be in demand. 

Having job security allows you to focus on delivering exceptional care without having to devote an inordinate amount of time to administrative duties such as marketing.

2) Variety

Unlike specialists, family medicine physicians care for the entire patient–from head to toe. This means a family medicine physician will never know what cases patients will bring through your door–from chronic illness to complicated medical and psychosocial issues to the common cold. 

The variety of cases keeps physicians sharp, intellectually engaged and on their game as it relates to diagnostic skills. In addition, the variety of cases makes family medicine physicians incredibly valuable in research settings, where their clinical experience provides a real-world perspective to discussions that are often steeped in theory. 

3) Longevity 

There is something that is incredibly rewarding about caring for patients across their lifespans. The family medicine physician often begins seeing patients when they are quite young and continues caring for them throughout their lives. 

This longevity creates bonds between physician and patients that last lifetimes, improve outcomes and truly allows for shared decision-making when it comes to determining the best courses of action. 

In a world where short office visits are more common, having the ability to really get to know patients is becoming increasingly rare–and perhaps the most rewarding aspect of being a family medicine physician. 

Work-life balance

According to the American Academy of Family Physicians, family medicine physicians consistently report higher levels of professional satisfaction than other physicians–and it is largely due to their ability to strike a better work-life balance. 

Family medicine tends to offer a higher degree of flexibility than other medical specialties. Because they are in such high demand, they can typically pick their practice environment, practice focus, hours and settings (large urban hospital versus a smaller community hospital, for example). 

These options allow family medicine physicians to strike a more rewarding work-life balance. 

5) The clinical settings

A family medicine physician can work anywhere in the country, from a community hospital to a small-town clinic to a bustling urban hospital complete with cath labs and helicopter pads. 

Being able to choose the clinical setting in which you want to work is one of the most intriguing benefits of being a family medicine physician. 

Many doctors cite a desire to work at community hospitals, where they are able to fully utilize the full range of their expanded functions, take on important leadership roles within the hospitals and enjoy the high quality of life that comes with living in a smaller community. 

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Elliot Health System is always interested in hearing from incredible family medicine physicians.

Each year, somewhere between 400,000 births in the United States are preterm, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Thanks to the exceptional work of neonatologists across the country, 95 percent of the preterm babies survive. 

While pediatricians are wonderful and can solve most of the common health problems newborns experience, neonatologists deal with the most complex cases.

Those physicians who make the decision to become neonatologists commit to three years of residency training in general pediatrics, three years of additional training in newborn intensive care and becoming certified by the American Board of Pediatrics and the Sub-board of Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine.

In return, they experience these three amazing benefits:

1) Medical and Economic Success

As recently as two decades ago, a neonatologist would not have been able to fathom just how successful–medically and economically–the profession would become. 

Since the first neonatologist achieved board certification in the 1970s, the profession has become critically important to both children who are born prematurely and the hospitals in which they are delivered.

In the United States, more babies with an extremely low birth weight (that which is less than 3.3 pounds) are born than in any other developed country, according to the Future of Children. 

These children are at increased risk for debilitating medical conditions, learning disabilities and death. 

But thanks to the expanding role of the neonatologist and neonatal intensive care units across the country, survival rates have increased dramatically. In 1960, for example, less than 10 percent of extremely low birth weight babies lived to their first birthday. Today, that percentage is higher than 60. 

The medical success of neonatologists has driven hospitals to invest heavily in their NICUs and physicians. Both afford the neonatologist the ability to enjoy medical and economic success.  

2) Research

For physicians who want to be on the cutting edge of medical research, neonatology offers ample opportunities. 

According to the National Institutes of Health, pediatrics (and infant mortality) is consistently among the most well-funded medical research area in the United States. 

Due to the complex nature of both the clinical work and the research, many neonatologists are invaluable when it comes to finding better ways to deliver critical care to babies who are born prematurely, with low birth rates or medical conditions that put their lives at risk. 

Having opportunities to practice medicine as both a clinician and a researcher is one of the key benefits that becoming a neonatologist delivers. 

3) Teamwork

Neonatal intensive care units have become incredibly important to hospitals. Not only have they helped neonatologists achieve medical success, but they have helped hospitals find solid financial footing.

None of these outcomes would be possible if not for the teamwork that takes place in the NICU. The neonatologist works closely with a charge nurse, a clinical nurse specialist, a neonatal nurse practitioner, a neonatal physician assistant, a social worker, registered nurses, technicians, respiratory therapists and other neonatologists. 

Many neonatologists say that the teamwork and camaraderie that exists in the NICU is unlike anything that takes place in other parts of the hospital. There are bonds that can only form when healthcare professionals come together to help children survive–and those bonds make being a neonatologist incredibly rewarding. 

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Are you interested in a Neonatology career with Elliot Health System?

As 2016 comes to a close, it’s time to start thinking about the future. That’s right, it’s time for physicians, physician assistants and nurse practitioners to make their New Year’s resolutions. 

Here’s a look at what you should resolve to accomplish in 2017:

Get on board the mHealth bandwagon

mHealth stands for “mobile health,” and it just might represent the future of health care. 

Right now, nearly 70 percent of all adults in the United States have smartphones, according to the Pew Research Center — and many of these people are using mobile apps to access their medical information, research illnesses and ailments and connect with their physicians. 

mHealth represents an incredible opportunity for physicians to improve efficiency, communications and outcomes. It also offers opportunities for you to grow your practice and keep costs under control. 

For these reasons (and more), the health care app industry is growing incredibly quickly. 

If you are not currently riding along on the mHealth bandwagon, resolve to get on board in 2017. Your patients and your practice will thank you for it. 

Partner with your patients

There was a time in the not-too-distant past when physicians and their teams were clearly in control of nearly every health care conversation. Patients were incredibly deferential (almost to a fault) to their doctors, physician assistants and nurse practitioners. 

Those days are over. 

Today, patients have much more control over their health care. Because patients are paying more for their care, they’re asking more questions, raising expectations and making more decisions about what type of care they receive. 

That’s why you have to partner with your patients. 

Make it as easy as possible for them to access their medical information. Include them in your decision-making process. Create a comfortable and welcoming environment for patients–both literally and figuratively. 

When you partner with your patients, you increase the likelihood that they will choose you for their medical needs–and recommend you to their friends and family. 

Consider a community hospital

If you’re being honest with yourself, it would be easy to admit that you have wondered what it would be like to work at a community hospital. 

You’ve heard the stories about physicians who have the freedom to work on all sorts of interesting cases without having to defer to teams of more senior doctors. You’ve talked to physician assistants who are trusted to use their expanded functions. You’ve read articles about nurse practitioners who are always treated as critically important parts of their medical teams.

And all of these stories have come out community hospitals.

If you have ever wondered what it would be like to work in an environment that offers health care professionals more opportunities and less bureaucracy, 2017 is the time to consider taking your career to a community hospital. 

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. 

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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.

What if there was a hospital that was large enough to allow you to grow as a medical professional, but community-oriented enough to ensure that you don’t get lost in the shuffle? A place where physicians have the full support of the administration — because most of the hospital’s leadership are former providers. 

If this sounds far fetched, you probably haven’t worked in a community hospital. 

Many physicians aspire to work in country’s largest hospitals. They’re attracted to the complex cases, large paychecks and opportunities to conduct cutting edge research. 

But, if they took the time to examine community hospitals, they’d likely find all those things and more. 

According to the American Hospital Association, there are more than 5,600 hospitals in the United States. Most are community hospitals. Many are the largest hospitals in the region and have cutting edge technology, specialty centers and opportunities for physicians to participate in research. 

They also provide opportunities to lead, shape the future of healthcare and enjoy a high quality of life. 

Here’s a look at what community hospitals offer physicians and why a community hospital might be a good fit for you. 

Efficiency

No, not the efficiency that is required by insurance companies and hospital administrators who are entirely focused on the bottom line. The type of efficiency you’ll find at many community hospitals comes in the form of streamlined performance and coordination between providers. 

This is far too often be chalked up to proximity; the distance between wards or operating rooms is often shorter in community hospitals. But in reality, the increased efficiency is a product of less bureaucracy, which can be quite pervasive in large research-based hospitals but less so at community hospitals. Smaller hospitals typically have fewer administrators forcing paperwork on physicians. As a result that makes doctors much more efficient–especially during emergency situations. 

Not dealing with unending bureaucracy is an intangible benefit of working at a community hospital. 

Financial Health

Most newly minted physicians have accumulated more than $180,000 in student loan debt by the time they graduate from medical school, according to the Association of American Medical Colleges. It can take decades of $2,000-a-month payments before physicians can finally enjoy the financial rewards of their hard work. 

However, if physicians find their first job at a community hospital, they may be able to enroll in a student loan repayment program that pays $75,000* or more of their loan balance simply for committing three years to a community hospital. 

Quickly reducing student loan debt while gaining valuable hands-on experience is one of the biggest benefits of working at a community hospital.

*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.

Experience

The best physicians possess practical wisdom, which is best described as the ability to leverage theory and practice to ensure the best possible outcomes for patients. 

The only way to gain practical wisdom is through experience and community hospitals offer ample opportunities to get real-world experience sooner rather than later. 

Many physicians at community hospitals are presented with complex cases they are not likely to come across in medical school or during a residency at a large urban hospital where there are layers of specialists and longtime physicians ready to provide care. 

Because the hospitals are smaller and typically don’t have as many specialists, community hospital physicians get to be “Jacks and Jills-of-all-trades.” They get to treat patients with a wide variety of symptoms and illnesses who otherwise might be passed off to specialists in larger hospitals. 

This experience often proves invaluable and makes physicians in community hospitals indispensable, which is why so many decide to build long, rewarding careers for themselves at community hospitals–long after they have paid off their student loans. 

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Would you like to investigate community hospital careers within Elliot Health System?