12/07/2024 Edition

HEADLINES

• Philadelphia Physicians Move to Unionize: Over 3,000 physician trainees from 3 Philadelphia-based health systems are voting on whether to unionize due to extreme hours, understaffing, and a general lack of support. The physicians would join the Committee of Interns and Residents, an affiliate of SEIU Healthcare. Trainees at Penn Medicine also joined CIR/SEIU in October.
• Pediatric Inpatient Units Decline: A study recently published in JAMA Pediatrics found that U.S. hospitals closed almost 30% of pediatric inpatient units between 2008 and 2022. Only 4.4% of adult inpatient units were closed during that same period. Revenue discrepancies between pediatric and adult units, pediatric staff shortages, and complex pediatric hospitalizations are suspected to be driving the closures.
• 3-Year Medical School: Accelerated medical school programs are again gaining support in the U.S. following evidence that 3-year students perform as well as 4-year students through school and the first year of residency. These shortened programs have been utilized in the past to alleviate physician shortages and increase diversity in medicine. Researchers are wondering if accelerated schooling could also curb the current physician shortage which was exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic.

ARTICLES & EPISODES

Discounts for Doctors and Healthcare Workers in 2024

Jim Dahle, MD

Ever since the COVID-19 pandemic, more companies have been offering discounts to physicians and other healthcare workers. The White Coat Investor has begun publishing a long list of these discounts near the end of each year, and the updated list for 2024 is now live. Take a look, and maybe you can find a few things for yourself or a loved one over the holidays.

Choosing to Rent or Buy a Home in 2025

The Motivated M.D.

The choice between renting or buying a home is the source of much anxiety and debate in many of our lives, and physicians are no exception. We have been conditioned to believe that buying a home is superior to renting, but that is not always true due to a variety of situational factors. Here are some of the reasons why you should or should not consider buying a home in 2025.

Navigating Locum Tenens for Medical Professionals

Docs Outside the Box

Dr. Nii Darko takes time to explain his personal journey into locum tenens work and why he chose that path. Although it can mean time away from home and family, the level of autonomy, flexibility, and healthy work-life balance provided by locums work makes it worthwhile. Locum tenens may not be for everyone, but when paired with the right lifestyle, it can be a great option for physicians looking for an alternative to full-time employment.

THE RESOLVE BLOG

Non-Solicitation and Non-Disparagement Clauses

Bryce Krieger

Non-compete clauses have been a hot topic over the past year, and they are well known to cause trouble for physicians when changing jobs. However, a non-compete is just one type of restrictive covenant that physicians will want to watch out for in their contracts. It is common to encounter other restrictive covenants, such as non-solicitation and non-disparagement clauses, that govern post-employment conduct, including statements to others.

CONTRACTS

Pro Tip: Look out for contract clauses which result in your automatic termination if you cannot start work by a specified date. Your ability to start work may get delayed due to licensing, credentialing, and other factors. The last thing you want is to be out of a job before you even begin working.

JOB SEARCH

Upcoming Career Fairs:

• On Tuesday, December 10th, PracticeMatch will host a Cardiology, Nephrology, & Infectious Disease Virtual Career Fair from 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM CST.
• On Wednesday, December 11th, PracticeMatch will host a Gastroenterology, Rheumatology, & Pulmonary/CC Virtual Career Fair?from 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM CST.

Featured Job Listings:

Primary Care Physician

Centreville, MD

UM Shore Medical Group at Easton is seeking a full-time BE/BC family medicine or internal medicine physician to join their well-established practice. The listed salary range for this position is $286,592 to $348,963.

Neurologist

Pueblo, CO

UCHealth Medical Group is ready to welcome a general neurologist to their team in Pueblo, located south of Colorado Springs. The listed salary range for this position is $317,700 to $353,000.

Job listings provided by PracticeMatch