Image-guided procedures sound like a lot of fun... until you realize that they're poorly reimbursed for the time expended. I say this as someone who enjoys procedures. In most groups -- academic or PP - people are not fighting for procedures... they're trying to divide the duty up in an equitable way. The more you want to do, the more others will let you do. So -- yes -- if you're in a group that does procedures, don't sweat, you probably can have all the procedures you want.
First, I agree 100% with this post. I have been working in general PP x 1.5yrs now in a group of 11. I shared a similar enthusiasm for procedures years ago. I participate in the procedural rotation by choice. We fill the gaps with diagnostic work. I can add a few facets to this.
1) People have a difficult time comparing apples to oranges (IR/DR) and your colleagues may not acknowlege the value provided in doing the procedural work. Hence, if you spend a substantial part of the day not reading cases while managing the inefficiencies inherent to patient care, (consent, waiting on labs, chasing a moving lung nodule, sticking multiple levels of an 87 year old spine, entering orders, writing notes, tracking down outside imaging, discussing cases with ordering providers, waiting for an RN, rad tech, pathologist, walking all over the dept instead of staying in a chair), some colleagues may resent that.
2) This is an undesirable rotation in my group. From my experience, it is most likely due to the frustrations of patient care, delays, frequent add-on cases late in the day, overbooking, unpredictable stop time and a frequently longer day. We have had recruits and partners opt out of procedure duty. Give some thought to how much of this you want in your life (a day a week is plenty for me). If not, you may get assigned a lot more than you'd like. Would expect more pay or vac if I'm consistently working longer than others.
3) Just because you have fellowship experience in anything (DR or IR) does not mean your future job will necessarily make any use of it. Be clear in your interview how much you'll be doing of anything that interests you. That is not necessarily bad, was just kind of unexpected for me. I figured the schedulers would route me things I was really good at. Nope. Scheduling office is in another state and we have multiple sites. The few cases of interest to me that come along go to some other guy. I have adapted to the needs of the practice and take whatever comes in the door.
4) Avg Volume for us is 4 CT/MR cases, 4 US drainages, and 2 LP's/joints. Others done by the IR guys.
