tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2760353953251845523.post6769980167753543212..comments2024-02-10T02:14:39.898-05:00Comments on Buckeye Surgeon: Traveling SurgeonsJeffrey Parks MD FACShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15650563299849196122noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2760353953251845523.post-69528234374300672922009-01-15T13:50:00.000-05:002009-01-15T13:50:00.000-05:00I am a locum tenems surgeon like Dr. Pepper in the...I am a locum tenems surgeon like Dr. Pepper in the article. I've been to the northernmost aspects of Alaska, to the cold winters of Montana, to the bayous of Louisiana and to the desert areas of Texas. No general surgeon in the US would ever want to work permanently at these places. So as a locum tenems surgeon, I provide a service where there is a great need. Yes, continuity of care is sacrificed, but the alternative is NO CARE. I had a classical small town practice in which I was the only general surgeon for three counties and a population of about 70K. I never went on vacation, and I never had a weekend off. There would be times that I would be up three nights in a row, for emergency appendectomies and csections, etc. And I didn't make much more than Dr. Pepper in the article. That is NO LIFE for a general surgeon!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2760353953251845523.post-31886722608216810972009-01-14T09:55:00.000-05:002009-01-14T09:55:00.000-05:00so why would hospitals pay for these traveling sur...so why would hospitals pay for these traveling surgeons indefinitely but be unwilling to support a local surgeon (for less money apparently) indefinitely? are there laws against it?<BR/>what about call issues if you support a local surgeon? it's better to have a surgeon one night in 4 than no nights in 4?<BR/>how much support do you think a rural community hospital needs to provide a general surgeon to keep them? 100k a year?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2760353953251845523.post-683914644711055272009-01-14T06:55:00.000-05:002009-01-14T06:55:00.000-05:00I love Locums Work, sorta like bein a pinch hitter...I love Locums Work, sorta like bein a pinch hitter in the Bigs...and your points are well taken...BUT...have you BEEN to Southwestern Georgia??? Even Jimmy Carter just flys over. And how'd you like to be the one surgeon in Upper Michigan right now...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com