disneysteve
Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
- Joined
- Feb 10, 2021
- Messages
- 2,378
Sadly, medicine in general and especially primary care just doesn't work like this anymore. As we've transitioned from independent practices to a corporate and retail model for healthcare, the expectation that you'll be in the same place for decades has gotten increasingly unrealistic. On the patient's side, the likelihood that you'll have the same provider for decades is largely a thing of the past.I also want to find a job I can stay in for the next 20 years, rather than having to build another patient panel, only to leave them again. It is frustrating to grow a practice and build relationships with my patients, only to up and leave.
I work for a large healthcare system now. In the 5 years I've been with them, I've seen them open, move, and close many different offices in a variety of specialties. Everything is focused on the bottom line. I've seen new practices close in under a year if they weren't hitting whatever targets were set for them. I've seen providers shuffled around between locations. I've seen two locations merged, closing one of the sites. I've seen active, successful practices moved to new locations. And I won't even get into the changes that have happened as a result of COVID.
To be clear, I'm not saying any of that to discourage you. I LOVE my job and where I work now. It is worlds better than the 24 years I spent in private practice. You just need to go into it with realistic expectations.