Prepping for Primary Care

While trying to keep your head above water

David Chung, M.D.Primary Care Breakout, November 2013

About the presenterMedical degree Harvard Medical School

1997Graduate of BCRP 2000Pediatric Associates of Brockton August 2000

to presentCreated Beansprout Networks 1997 – an

Internet company the created free templatized websites for pediatricians to communicate with families

Interested in clinical research in obesity

About the presenter

How did you get here?

Looking for direction?

Where are you going?

Topics for conversationDeciding on an area of interestWriting a clear and concise CVWriting a cover letterHow to find potential employersHoning effective interview skillsUnderstanding practice structureEvaluating a contract

Deciding on an area of interest Primary care

Longitudinal relationships Median salary+bonus $199k, starting salary $125-145k (10/13) Autonomy = long hours

Hospitalist Shift work Medial salary+bonus $227k, lower LT salary potential Lack of autonomy

Specialty care 3+ years of indentured servitude Higher income potential Can be harder to find job

Industry High risk/high reward Corporate culture ≠ medical culture

Writing a CVContact InformationEducational BackgroundCertifications and Licensure ExperienceProfessional AffiliationsPublications, Presentations and AwardsReferencesPlease refer to written article for greater

detail

Good composition

Writing a cover letterOMG, I meant a cover emailTake your emails seriously

Write a draft or twoConsider having your first one proof-readDo not use emoticons or U will B :’ (

Think about your audienceRemember that emails can and will be

forwarded

How to find employersTo do list:

Check hourly labs and adjust K+ on DKA’erExamine tracheitis infant on hourly racemic epi

nebsTalk down father wanting to sign out anorexic

AMAGet a job

Network, network, networkDo not bite the hand that feeds youUse a recruiter at you own peril

Stand out from the flock

Honing interviewing skillsWhat the practices are looking for

Social competenceMedical competence

What you should be looking forTo be treated fairlyShort term versus long term considerations

Questions to be askedTell me about yourselfTell me about the practice

Practice structureStaff model (Atrius – aka Harvard Vanguard)Ownership model

Partnership opportunityPart-time/full-time

Evaluating a contractBenefits

Malpractice – occurrence versus claims-made + tail

Profit-sharingDisability and life insurance

Buy-ins/buy-outsBonus structure – refer to article 7 for nitty-

gritty

Trust your instinct

This is the most important slideHow do you determine if you will be treated

fairly?Spend time at the practiceTalk to as many of the docs at different phases

in their careerAsk the following questions:

How long is the buy-in process for partnership? How many docs are full partners, and how many are

in the buy in process? How many docs have left the practice in the last five

years?

Fairness mathThe average career length is approximately 30

yearsDivide the years of buy in by 30 yearsThis is the percentage of docs that should be

buying inThe remainder is the percentage of docs who are

full partnersIf there is a greater proportion of

partners:associates, then you will not be treated fairly

Long buy-in versus short buy-in pros/cons

Contact InfoDavid Chung, M.D.

Pediatric Associates of Brocktond5chung@yahoo.com