Comments on: Disposable Doctors

By: Supply of board-certified emergency physicians unlikely to meet projected needs across the U.S. « The Doc Whisperer

Sun, 18 Jan 2009 21:48:47 +0000

[...] Disposable Doctors 1 American Board of Physician Specialties PUMA MD US Alliance of Emergency Medicine News from AAPS [...]

By: Non-EM Residency Trained Docs: Post and Be Counted! « The Doc Whisperer

Non-EM Residency Trained Docs: Post and Be Counted! « The Doc Whisperer — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 19:02:15 +0000

[...] Disposable Doctors Disposable Doctors 2 Fighting to Level the Playing Field for ABPS in NY Not So Disposable Doctors [...]

By: Hear, Hear! NY Judge Decides AAPS Case Goes Forward « The Doc Whisperer

Hear, Hear! NY Judge Decides AAPS Case Goes Forward « The Doc Whisperer — Thu, 05 Jul 2007 15:51:24 +0000

[...] Posts the doc whispererNot So Disposable Doctors: Progress in ABPS-NY fight and othersDisposable DoctorsAn ER Doc’s Top Ten ListBMJ Study Confirms Male Surgeons Better LookingHAPPINESS TAKES [...]

By: docwhisperer

docwhisperer — Fri, 16 Feb 2007 14:45:18 +0000

This was the same situation with my ER friends (though not quite so isolated) when they started 15 years ago, back when the hospital did not have all the anesthesia, trauma, and surgery support staff it now has. Is it fair that after keeping the hospital and community afloat for so many years, once the hospital administration changed and the ER is now more attractive to EM trained docs (due to their efforts), my friends should suddenly be considered “sub-standard” and out of a job?

By: Alyce Garrity, MD

Alyce Garrity, MD — Fri, 16 Feb 2007 04:56:13 +0000

Alaska is also an “at-will” state — but if you’ve got an MD or DO behind your name (or PA-C or NP), and you’re willing to work by yourself in the bush when it’s 30 below and even the Coast Guard can’t make in in for a Medevac due to the weather, they’ll be glad to take you. I wonder how many of our Residency trained/BC colleagues could handle this situation. Right now I’m sitting on a gal in labor with a transverse lie — and no ultrasound to help with a version. and this isn’t even a bad night, because my only other patient is sleeping off his 530 ETOH level — he’s only needed Haldol once so far. And it’s a long time until daylight, when the Coast Guard is going to try again. I challenge any of them to come up here for a month — hell, they probably wouldn’t last a week!

By: docwhisperer

docwhisperer — Wed, 14 Feb 2007 21:48:54 +0000

Absolutely, Chris! And now ACEP is trying to push a bill that won’t even let the “grandfathered” ABEM certified docs who didn’t do an EM residency (and everyone else) advertise that they are certified in Emergency Medicine! (see Disposable Docs 2: Newsflash)
To top it off, my “disposed” colleagues just found out that their former employer who was supposed to cover their “tail insurance” and COBRA (for all those years they served in our ER) has not been making payments and they are now left to pick up a very expensive tab. Like my friends say, “This just keeps getting better”. I say they should seek legal representation.

By: Chris

Chris — Tue, 13 Feb 2007 20:48:26 +0000

The only option available to the dedicated EM docs (who may have 20 yrs of experience) that were closed out of ABEM grandfathering in 1987 is certification through ABPS. This process is more rigorous than ABEM’s now-defunct grandfather route. Yet ACEP, who is supposed to represent all ED docs, refuses to recognize it.

As the older (often grandfathered) ED docs begin to retire, the need for well trained physicians to staff our EDs wil not lessen. There aren’t enough residents graduating to do this. If ACEP truly cared about assuring quality care in every ED across the country, they would recognize, and encourage ABPS. Instead, they’re saying people like you colleagues are second class citizens, while realizing that they’re essential.

I’ve heard many stories of recent EM graduates who simply can’t function in a community hospital setting where they may not have 24 hr anesthesia, surgical subspecialists, medical consultants, trauma teams, CT, MRI, etc. And these folks are supposed to be the most knowledgeable…

By: Disposable Doctors 2: ER Docs Fight Back in NY « The Doc Whisperer

Disposable Doctors 2: ER Docs Fight Back in NY « The Doc Whisperer — Mon, 05 Feb 2007 00:21:18 +0000

By: trenchdoc

trenchdoc — Thu, 25 Jan 2007 23:22:29 +0000

No it is not a proof of greater competence to non-medical types but I believe they feel it is some proof of any competence.

By: tom

tom — Wed, 24 Jan 2007 18:08:02 +0000

Trenchy; my observations reflect a “30 year tour” as a Hospital Administrator. There still exists a role for the use of common sense in managing a hospital. I would like to know what the Nurses think about the non-ABEM certified docs=who would they choose in an emergency?