Doctors driven to bankruptcy

Did you catch the article titled, "Doctors driven to bankruptcy" on CNN/Money? These physicians are not losing money from malpractice lawsuits. They are blaming the soft economy, shrinking insurance reimbursements, changing regulations, and the rising costs of malpractice insurance.

@DrJosephKim quoted in this @CNN @Money article about health care #jobs

I'm quoted in this CNN Money article titled, "Health care jobs a bright spot for hiring." Many people choose to pursue careers in health care because of the job stability associated with the health care market. These days, even in a depressed economy, there are many new health care jobs that are being added on a regular basis. Why is this happening? Here's the bottom line: the aging population coupled with changes driven by health care reform will add a number of new jobs in the health care industry.

There are also changing trends in the ways hospitals are hiring physicians or practice groups. Many independent private practice physicians are choosing to be employed by hospital systems and they are choosing salaried models of reimbursement. When a hospital hires a private practice physician to work as a salaried physician employee, that's considered a new job for the hospital. Technically, the physician switched from working as an independent contractor to a salaried employee for the hospital. The hospital records that they added and filled a new job position.

In reality, these health care job statistics published by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics may be a bit misleading right since so many physicians are switching from the private practice model to a salaried model.

Finding jobs despite criminal records

Physicians are not immune to criminal problems. Here's a CNN video titled, "Finding jobs despite criminal records." States are looking at ways those with criminal records can compete for jobs. CNN's Stephanie Elam reports.



You'll see that Dr. Victor Garcia (an ER doc, surgery and pediatrics professor) shares his views on this issue in this video clip.

Featured Physician Executive: Dr. Sanjay Gupta

Each week, we feature a physician executive. This week's featured physician is Dr. Sanjay Gupta on CNN. Here are some snippets about Dr. Gupta:

Dr. Sanjay Gupta is the Emmy®-award winning chief medical correspondent for the Health, Medical & Wellness unit at CNN. Gupta, also a practicing neurosurgeon, plays an integral role in the network's lead reporting on breaking medical news, regular health reports for American Morning and Anderson Cooper 360°, anchoring the weekend medical affairs program Sanjay Gupta, MD, and reporting for CNN documentaries. Gupta also contributes to CNN.com and CNNHealth.com, co-hosts “Accent Health” for Turner Private Networks, and writes a column for TIME magazine.

When did Dr. Gupta join CNN?

Based in Atlanta, Gupta joined CNN in the summer of 2001 and led CNN’s reporting on anthrax following the Sept. 11 attacks in New York City.

Does Dr. Gupta still practice medicine?

In addition to his work for CNN, Gupta is a member of the staff and faculty at the Emory University School of Medicine. He is associate chief of neurosurgery at Grady Memorial Hospital and regularly performs surgery at Emory University and Grady hospitals. He is a member of the American Association of Neurological Surgeons, Congress of Neurological Surgeons, and the Council on Foreign Relations. He serves as a diplomat of the American Board of Neurosurgery, is a certified medical investigator, and is a board member of the Lance Armstrong LiveStrong Foundation.

Did Dr. Gupta graduate from an Ivy League university?

Gupta received his undergraduate degree from the University of Michigan and a doctorate of medicine from the University of Michigan Medical School.

Fortune 100 Companies that are hiring (60,000 jobs)

According to this story on CNN Money.com, these 20 Fortune 100 companies have at least 200 openings each, totaling more than 60,000 jobs. Let's take a look at a few of these companies that revolve around the health care industry:

HCA 
hcahealthcare.com
Fortune 500 rank: 77
Current openings: 4,000
We're looking for RNs, ICU clinical managers, pharmacists, physical therapists, radiologists and laboratory specialists, as well as IT business analysts, health information technology managers and a wide variety of consultants and systems designers

UnitedHealth Group
www.uhc.com/about_us/careers.htm
Fortune 500 rank: 21
Current openings: 3,200
While we have openings across various functions and geographies, our greatest needs are within information technology and clinical (medical professionals).

Abbott Laboratories
http://www.abbott.com/careers
Fortune 500 rank: 75
Current openings: 346
Abbott is hiring in a number of areas, including research and development, regulatory affairs, manufacturing engineering, sales, business development, marketing, finance, legal and IT.

Medco Health Solutions
www.medcohealth.com/
Fortune 500 rank: 35
Current openings: Several hundred
Medco and its subsidiary operations of Accredo Health and Liberty Medical are seeking candidates to fill a range of opportunities, from entry-level customer call-center positions to physicians, pharmacists, nurses, researchers and computer technologists.

Mayo medical students can pursue journalism

It was great to see Dr. Sanjay Gupta from CNN at HIMSS10. When people think about medical journalism, they probably think about Sanjay. Well, if you'd like to pursue such a career path, here's something to consider:

According to several recent stories circulating on the Internet, Mayo Medical School is working with the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication to start a journalism degree program for its medical students. Mayo Medical School students from Rochester, Minnesota, will come to ASU after their second year of medical school to fulfill a dual master’s degree. They will be completing a mass communications degree.

The degree program at Cronkite is just one of five dual degree programs that ASU offers Mayo medical students. Other degree programs with ASU are medical-law degrees, medical-bio engineering and medical-MBA at W. P. Carey School of Business and medical-bio informatics.

Read more about this at the Stanford SCOPE blog. Or, you can also read the story on statepress.com.

Thanks to Paula from ReachMD for pointing me to this story.

Physician executives here at #HIMSS10

I'm trying to make the most out of every possible networking opportunity while I'm here at HIMSS10. This includes physicians who are no longer practicing medicine full-time because they're busy with non-clinical responsibilities or non-clinical careers. Here's a list of some of the people I've had a chance to meet while I've been here at HIMSS10 so far:

• Daniel Palestrant, MD; Founder and CEO of Sermo
• Adam Sharp, MD; Chief Medical Officer of Sermo
• Val Jones, MD; President and CEO of Better Health
• Steven Henkind, MD, PhD; Principal at the CCI Group 
• Glenn Laffel, MD, PhD; Senior VP of Clinical Affairs at Practice Fusion

There are certainly many more physician executives attending HIMSS10 (but I won't get a chance to meet all of them). Here are a few other names you'll likely recognize:

• David Blumenthal, MD, MPP;  the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology
• Mark Leavitt, MD, PhD;  Chair of the Certification Commission for Healthcare Information Technology (CCHIT).
• Sanjay Gupta, MD; Emmy®-award winning chief medical correspondent for the Health, Medical & Wellness unit at CNN

I look forward to hearing from Dr. Blumenthal tomorrow and from Dr. Gupta on Thurs.

Special thanks to HP for sponsoring me to attend and blog here at HIMSS10.

What are the best jobs in America?

What are the best jobs in America? I suppose the answer really depends on who you ask. According to CNN Money.com, the best jobs are those that provide "great pay and growth prospects." Care to see the list of 50 jobs? Let's start with the top 10:

1 Systems Engineer
2 Physician Assistant
3 College Professor
4 Nurse Practitioner
5 Information Technology Project Manager
6 Certified Public Accountant
7 Physical Therapist
8 Computer/Network Security Consultant
9 Intelligence Analyst
10 Sales Director

Notice how 3 out of the 10 are in the health care field? If you continue down the list, you'll also see Anesthesiologist (#11), Pharmacist (#13), Occupational Therapist (#14), Nurse Anesthetist (#15), Physician/General Practice (#19), Physician/Obstetrician/Gynecologist (#22), Clinical Psychologist (#23), Psychiatrist (#24), and the list just goes on...

To see the complete list of the "best jobs in America," click here.

Do you feel like you have a "best job?" How is your job satisfaction? You could have a nice salary and you could even have growth potential, but that doesn't define a great job in my opinion. You need to find satisfaction in your work and you also need to consider your stress level and the impact on your personal life. How important is work-life balance to you?

One of the biggest reasons why physicians are choosing to leave clinical medicine is because they want to reduce stress and improve their work-life balance. Many are even willing to reduce their potential income if they can be happier.

Angry reactions about the eBay doc

My blog gets syndicated through several different channels, and one of them happens to be the Trusted.MD network. After I wrote about the CNN story about the physician Dr. Jennifer Lickteig who makes more money selling items on eBay than in seeing patients ("Doc makes more cash selling clothes on eBay"), I received an onslaught of comments from people who must not have been satisfied with their eBay transactions with her. These comments could have been generated by only a few (or even a single) user - I have no way of knowing that. Some of the comments claim that she uses several different eBay user IDs. I tried to look up a few of them and nothing came up. So, I'm inclined to think that those comments may have been generated by a single angry customer.

In any case, I was trying to focus on the principle behind the story, not the actual story. The principle is that many physicians are looking for supplemental income because their day job isn't enough. They may find non-clinical jobs in the world of medical writing, sales, consulting, teaching, etc. Some are obviously more successful than others, but it's always interesting to meet physicians who have an entrepreneurial spirit. You can leverage common resources like eBay to build a business if you're creative and if you have the right business sense.

As for Dr. Jennifer Lickteig, I know nothing about her eBay activity beyond what's described in the CNN story. I've never purchased anything from her. I don't even know her eBay userID.

I missed an interview opportunity with CNN

A producer from CNN sent me by e-mail yesterday. She was interested in interviewing me for an article regarding physicians who have pursued a second career outside of medicine. I had also spoken briefly with a different CNN/Money.com reporter several weeks ago on a related topic. I don't know if this is a continuation of a series or if this is something different. Unfortunately, I replied indicating that I was not available at the time due to other commitments. However, I wish the CNN team the best as they write about physicians and non-clinical careers.

Speaking of reporters and interviews, a few months ago I was interviewed by a reporter who writes for the American Medical News (published by the American Medical Association or AMA) and she graciously included a link to this website on her article titled, "Job-hunting in a recession: It may take some searching" (read the American Medical News story here). I wrote about that experience here: American Medical News mentions NonClinicalJobs.com

Chatting with a CNNMoney.com reporter

The other day, I was chatting with a CNN/Money.com reporter. This reporter was looking for physicians (or medical students) who have transitioned entirely out of the world of medicine. I mean physicians who have decided to go into something completely unrelated to the healthcare industry. Real estate. Computer sales. Artistry. Poetry. Community college teacher. Interior designer. Becoming a lawyer (not to practice medical law). Day trading. Professional poker player. The list goes on, but you have to be really creative.

I don't qualify because I work in health education, so although I work in a non-clinical setting, my work is related to healthcare. Most of the non-clinical physicians I know also don't qualify because they work in some type of company or setting that is related to the healthcare industry.

Do you know any physicians who have entirely switched gears to do something entirely different? I know one person who graduated from medical school and decided to become a Christian pastor. There are physician authors out there who are writing novels that have nothing to do with medicine. I know of a family physician who is now teaching biology at a local community college. And of course, many physician moms end up being a full-time stay-at-home mom. Some of them may end up finding something to do on the side (such as selling things on eBay or becoming a day trader). I know one woman who stays at home and keeps a "mommy blog." Since mom's tend to act as caregivers (administering medications, treating illness, changing wound dressings, etc.), she tends to provide healthcare related advice on her blog.

Best non-clinical healthcare jobs for physicians

Many people naturally assume that physicians work in a traditional medical specialty. In other words, if you're a surgeon, then you probably perform surgery. Even CNN's Dr. Sanjay Gupta performs occasional neurosurgery. However, he is probably better recognized as the chief medical correspondent for the health and medical unit at CNN.

If you're a physician and you're interested in switching a non-clinical career, you may be wondering whether you should stay in the healthcare industry or whether you should transition into something entirely different. Some of the skills that we learn and develop during our medical careers may translate into the business world, but many of them may not. Therefore, it's important to be realistic about expectations and goals.

• Physicians naturally are teachers. We are expected to teach medical students during residency. You may not necessarily enjoy teaching, but you're probably talented.
  
• Physicians are problem solvers. We are expected to evaluate problems and find solutions for them.
• Physicians are able to handle large volumes of responsibility. The human life is sacred and we are given a tremendous amount of responsibility over life.
• Physicians are highly motivated. You can't go through medical school and residency without having a high degree of motivation. However, if you're experiencing burnout or career frustration, then you may be losing motivation.
  

So if we evaluate all these characteristics, we see that certain things are quite common among most physicians. So what's the "best" non-clinical healthcare job for physicians who wish to leave the clinical world of medicine?

I find that the answer really depends on the characteristics that make each physician unique.

• Some physicians really like to manage people. Others want independence.
  
• Some really like administrative challenges. Others hate administrative duties.
  
• Some may be good at teaching, but they may not really enjoy it. Others love to teach.
• Some love to solve scientific and clinical problems. Others like to keep things simple.
  
• Some love the challenges associated with research. Others have no experience in conducting research.
  
• Some really enjoy writing. Others are very poor writers.
• Some love to spend time with people. Others like to be alone.
• Some love gadgets and technology. Others don't have a computer at home.
  

This list could go on forever. The point I wish to make is that non-clinical healthcare jobs may involve multiple elements listed above. As a physician, you have to evaluate your strengths, skills, and talents to see where you would fit. What would motivate you? What do you think you would enjoy? If you've worked in the clinical setting for many years, you may have never stopped to ask those types of questions. If you're thinking about a career change, it's critical to evaluate these factors before making any decisions.

Emerging jobs poised for growth

As this country goes through major economic challenges, CNN/CareerBuilder has an article titled, "Seven emerging jobs poised for growth." Two of those seven jobs are in healthcare.

Let me focus on three of those jobs that are listed:

#2. Health informatics technician

Each time you go to the doctor, everything about the visit is added to your medical file. As health-care facilities everywhere make the change to electronic medical records, informatics technicians not only transition the files, but they use computer systems to help doctors analyze, diagnose and treat patients based on the information they are given. This computer data also improves care, controls costs and provides documentation for use in legal actions.

Industry umbrella: Health care
Job growth*: 18 percent
Salary**: $31,208

#6. Career counselor

Workers need jobs; employers need workers. With the present economy, career counselors are needed more than ever. They offer job seekers career guidance and job-hunting advice, and can to help them improve their well-being through their work.

Career counselors differ from a career coach in that not only will they help you in terms of your career, they will also seek to improve your overall mental health.

Industry umbrella: Human resources
Job growth: N/A
Salary: $47,074

#7. Patient advocate

Anyone who's ever had health issues knows that the health-care system is not the easiest thing to navigate, especially when you or a loved one is sick. That's what patient advocates are there for. As the population continues to age and health worsens, patient care advocates will become more important to the job market.

Advocates ensure that patients are informed, visiting with the right specialists and taking the right medicines, as well as educating family members on how to care for their sick relative. Perhaps most importantly, patient advocates will sort through medical bills and negotiate fees with health-care providers and insurance companies.

Industry umbrella: Health care
Job growth: 24 percent (for medical and public health social workers)
Salary: $47,560 (for medical and public health social workers), according to the BLS

So, do any of those sound interesting to you? I think the most potential lies in the health information technology (health IT) field. However, you have to be somewhat tech-savvy to really get into health IT. You don't necessarily need formal training in health IT or medical informatics, but such training would certainly be helpful.

You may also be wondering, why did I include "career counseling" in the list above? Well, the answer is because I see this area really growing within healthcare as physicians choose to pursue non-clinical jobs. If you're looking for career counseling services, please contact me because I may be able to help you. Otherwise, I encourage you to use this site as a resource and please tell others about it.

Speak about healthcare

Do you consider yourself to be a clinical expert? Are you a public speaker? Perhaps you'd like to get involved in some more public speaking (let me clarify: paid speaking). Well, perhaps you'd like to take a look at this:

Speakers on Healthcare (http://www.speakersonhealthcare.com)

Most of the speakers are politicians and celebrities (although maybe this is one way you can become a celebrity). Dr. Regina Benjamin (nominated this week to be the next surgeon general) was one of about 50 political and health celebrities signed up with Speakers on Healthcare. Who else is on the list of speakers? You have people like:

Lance Armstrong
* 7-time Tour De France winner and cancer survivor

Meredith Baxter
* Actress Best Known From the Sitcom "Family Ties"; Advocate for Women's Health Personal stories on breast cancer, substance abuse and domestic violence

Mehmet Oz, MD, MBA
* "America's Doctor" on Oprah

Richard Simmons
* The nation's most revered fitness expert
* Known for his "Sweating' to the Oldies" program
* Bestselling author of Never Say Diet, as well as three cookbooks

Francine Kaufman, MD
* One of the world’s leading authorities on the link between obesity and diabetes
* Past president of the American Diabetes Association who now heads the Center for Diabetes, Endocrinology & Metabolism at Children'

Peter Salgo, MD
* One Of This Country's Most Respected Healthcare Futuristss Hospital Los Angeles
* Author of Diabesity: The Obesity-Diabetes Epidemic That Threatens America

Julie Gerberding, MD
* Former Director of the Centers for Disease Control
* Time Magazine Top 100 Innovators of the Year
* Forbes Magazine Top 25 Most Powerful Women

Sanjay Gupta, MD
* CNN's Senior Medical Correspondent for Health and Medicine

Sounds quite interesting, doesn't it? Author a book or get on television. Before you know it, you could become a paid speaker.

Finding Jobs on Twitter and LinkedIn

Are you looking for a job? Have you tried using Twitter? How about LinkedIn?

There's a great story on CNN about someone who sent a tweet saying, "I just got laid off..." and within a very short period of time she had an offer. Amazing? We live in a world where social networking plays a huge role in career opportunities. Don't underestimate the power of online social networking tools like LinkedIn and Twitter.

I hope you'll follow me on Twitter. I currently have over 6,500 followers and I may be able to help you find a job if it relates to healthcare, medicine, public health, technology, continuing education, marketing, pharma, biotech, managed care, consulting, market research, medical writing, research, venture capital, health information technology, medical informatics, personal health records, consumer health, recruiting, healthcare administration, and more.

Image source: GetEntrepreneurial

Working at the CDC

Some of the most interesting non-clinical jobs are at the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention). CNN is reporting how the CDC control room is active 24/7. That's right - get ready to go back to your old residency days before the 80-hr-work-week was enforced: sleepless nights, mugs of coffee, and lots of gum (or Altoids). The CDC currently has 400 people working on the H1N1 swine flu situation. I think they're going to need more than that.

29th Annual Medical Communications Conference

The 29th Annual Medical Communications Conference is about to occur in Santa Ana Pueblo, New Mexico. The conference is presented by the AMA and this year, the National Association of Medical Communicator (NAMC) members have voted and the board members moved to officially nominate Dr. Sanjay Gupta for the first annual Health Communications Achievement Award. I've never attended this conference that started back in 1980, but I hope to some day.

Dr. Sanjay Gupta - Won't be the Next Surgeon General

Dr. Sanjay Gupta is the chief medical correspondent on CNN. He had been approached for the position of the US Surgeon General. However, he recently announced that he will not be pursuing this position and he will focus his time on neurosurgery and on his family. I'm sure he finds his current lifestyle fun and exciting - he gets to practice surgery at Emory and he travels the world to report for CNN. He has done an excellent job blending the clinical and non-clinical worlds.

The current Acting Surgeon General is Rear Admiral Steven K. Galson, M.D., M.P.H. and the Acting Deputy Surgeon General is Rear Admiral Robert C. Williams, P.E., DEE. John Maynard Woodworth (1871-1879) was the first Supervising Surgeon of the Marine Hospital Service.