PATIENT:
adjective: bearing pains or trials calmly or without complaint
noun: an individual awaiting or under medical care and treatment
from Merriam-Webster Online
Photo by frances 1972
But, like it or not, the world is filled with situations where we commonly have to do so. Sometimes the waits are excusable and even predictable, and other times they are not. At most doctors’ offices, one can expect to wait to varying degrees beyond their scheduled appointment time. It’s predictable. But is it excusable?
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I’ve previously written about the many challenges of practicing medicine in correctional settings. But if there are so many cons (pun intended), why should anyone consider such a career?
Well, there are many benefits to it as well. If you are a psychiatrist or primary care physician and are either looking for a change or just starting your career, you may want to consider correctional medicine.
Although I’ve done correctional work for quite a few years, my experience has been limited to one geographical area of the country. I contacted correctional healthcare recruiter, Vikkie Schill, from MHM Services, Inc., to help me to convey accurate information about this topic. I want to take this opportunity to thank her for her input. I have no relationship either with Ms. Schill or with MHM Services, Inc.
Here are my top 5 reasons to consider a career in correctional medicine:
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I know an elderly psychiatrist who used to do some small-time farming. I was always impressed with how many things he could buy without his wife objecting. Many of the items he purchased could have been considered, depending on one’s viewpoint, “tools” or “toys” (power tools, trucks, old tractors, etc.). There seemed to be two reasons he was able to do so. First, he had a great strategy. Anytime he bought something for himself, he either bought the same thing for his wife or bought her something equivalent. If he bought a Grand Cherokee, she got one, too. It must have been expensive, but it probably helped him to avoid years of marital discord and ultimately Dr. Phil telling him to “get real.” The second reason he got away with buying so much stuff was, as he told me, because “the tool always creates the job.” He loved all of these toys, and he had a special knack for always proving how useful each of them was because he inevitably would find the “need” that the tool would fulfill.
Is the social media craze similar to my psychiatrist friend’s farm tools?
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I used to have a more “normal” job.
Early in my career I worked in a large medical center and hospital and rotated through a call schedule. I got called into the ER regularly. I covered the inpatient unit and performed consultations on the medical and surgical units. I did all of the typical work tasks associated with a traditional practice.
Then I left it all.
I started working half-time in correctional psychiatry. I have worked in various other less traditional settings to fill the other half of my schedule over the years, but most of it has been spent working with people with developmental disabilities.
My work life is
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A few months ago I performed an inpatient consultation on a non-incarcerated patient. His psychiatric care was being managed by a neurologist in another community.
I was shocked and disappointed when his family informed me that the neurologist told them that if the patient sought a medical opinion elsewhere, the neurologist would no longer treat the patient.
Even on a bad day I cannot fathom exuding such arrogance and insecurity! Hopefully this doctor’s attitude about second opinions is the exception and not the rule among physicians. However, this situation sparked my curiosity about second opinions.
Throughout my career, I’ve often encouraged my patients to obtain second opinions, either when
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