Carole Said:

Career Change but Not sorta...?

We Answered:

All indicators point to the Health Care industry as being one of the best places to be working right now, yet even they are having to restructure because of the economic crisis. STAY IN HEALTHCARE! But here are some ideas, if you want to go beyond patient care, or you want a more fulfilling "make a difference" position: ADMINISTRATION. With a minimum of a Masters, Hospital Administrators can not only easily make 6 figures, they can make a big difference in policy. A Bachelors degree will get you in the door, and having clinical education is a plus.
BUSINESS OFFICE. Like Administration, but "micro" rather than "macro" issues. Office Managers and supervisors, in Billing, Coding, Accounting.
HUMAN RESOURCES. Working with professionals takes special skills for the selection, retention, training, of medical staff.
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY. Here's my pick for the greatest need in the near future: President Obama has promised funding for the electronic transfer of healthcare records and point of service electronic healthcare information technology. According to the governments Occupational Outlook Handbook (www.bls.gov) claims that Medical Records and Health Information Technologies is expected to have double digit growth. Specifically mentioned is Professional Coding using HCPCS and ICD-9-CM. IT Programmers and professionals will be in high demand.

If you want to "work on the floor", positions such as UTILIZATION REVIEW COORDINATORS, which require both nursing and administrative skills; TRANSPLANTATION COORDINATORS, CANCER REGISTRARS and a host of other "coordinators" as hospitals and healthcare become more and more specialized.

Another option is to take your medical education to Big Pharma...hopefully keeping your altruistic values.

I hope this helps! I completed my Professional Coding Certification just last December, am a member of AAPC. Even though I have a B.A. and a Masters degree and have 20 years experience in the healthcare field, I believe that certification will eventually be required for reimbursement from government sources, with private insurances following closely behind. At that point, a CPC may make the difference for all administrative, support, and even some clinical positions!

Nellie Said:

Are there doctors failed in resident training?

We Answered:

yes, many hve failed, most do retry but some go for other careers

Bill Said:

Whats the point in becoming a doctor when the liberals want socialised medicine?

We Answered:

I'm not sure...maybe we should ask doctors. Oh wait, we have. 59 percent of doctors said they support legislation to establish a national health insurance program, while 32 percent said they opposed it, researchers reported in the journal Annals of Internal Medicine. Why would doctors support something that would make them poor? Perhaps because it won't?? Or maybe they are all desperate for a career change but can't do it without a push?

surprise! I do work for a living and I have health insurance. I work with countless families, however, who do not have health care for themselves or their preschool aged chidren.

Hector Said:

Any doctors who have completely changed careers?

We Answered:

Common problem. Bottom line is that you really have to love medicine in order to be happy as a doctor. I have seen people from other professions, like law, come to medical education. The reason, almost invariably, is that their expectations were quite different from reality. Also, realize that one of the reasons that medical school interviewers ask about motivation is that it is common for parents to transfer their hopes and wishes onto their children, which may not reflect what you really want to do. Trust me, if you are not happy with medicine, you will be miserable. That having been said, understand that you can do many things with an education in medicine that do not involve seeing patients, such as research, etc.. I'm sorry that your already in the second year of med. school. Whatever you do, do not get involved in another educational tract without knowing what it involves. I might advise that you wait until your third year to make a decision if you are unsure, because this is the beginning of a clinical year where you will interact and be more like a physician, which may help you decide. Good luck, think for yourself and don't be influenced by the expectations of family, because you will have to ultimately live the rest of your life with these choices.

Edit: Sorry, did you edit your original question, because I thought you were in medical school, not residency. If you are in residency, you can change specialties. Otherwise, just realize that residency is very difficult and demanding (if not abusive), and that life afterward is so much better. Good luck whatever you decide.

Velma Said:

Possible Career Change?

We Answered:

You may be able to find the information you need at the NMC site...
http://www.nmc-uk.org/