17 July 2010
Posted in
Pearls in Ophthalmology
Maybe you've heard great things about working at Kaiser, or maybe you're just curious... but here's some of the inside scoop at working at a Kaiser in Ophthalmology...
Why Kaiser?
-To start, benefits are great and being salaried is nice. Benefits are extensive and include a retirement pension (which very few jobs in medicine offer), and being salaried means you don't have to worry as much about running a business. Some of the best things about Kaiser though is how they're completely electronic (EMR is amazing - allowing you to send a prescription down to the pharmacy, email a note to another consultant, or look at CT images, all with a click) and entirely integrated - delivering and coordinating care for patients is streamlined, and pretty easy.
Why not Kaiser?
-It's true you don't have much say in regards to your schedule, and there is overall very little autonomy. For many who went from private practice to Kaiser, this was a hard, if not impossible, transition and many return back to private practice. Maybe because I went straight from residency into Kaiser, it didn't seem so bad... especially when you're used to being at the mercy of VA clinics! Things can also move slowly (ordering equipment, etc.) as you would expect at a large institution. Also, if your goal is to make a zillion dollars a year, private practice may be a better option for you.
What might Kaiser Chiefs be looking for?
-They're basically looking for what other employers are looking for: someone who's hard working, nice to work with, and has a good head on their shoulders. But what's also important is that a potential hire is also a good team player. Kaiser Ophthalmology departments often have a large number of physicians working together, and often require you to consult with or be a consultant for other Kaiser physicians, and thus requires good communication and teamwork skills... much more than if you were in a solo or a small private practice.
