PCCM fellows

[ResidentMD]

Anyone here who is already a PCCM fellow or an attending, involved in the selection process? I am starting PGY1 IM next year, and I would like to discuss some of the issues that the competitive academic programs look for in the application for PCCM, besides good letters of recommendation and publications.

Would like to discuss it either on the forum or via PM, whatever works, so will look forward.

Thanks!

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[RxnMan]

Try PM'ing a user named KGUNNER. He did IM/EM and then CC at Pitt. Not PCCM, but he knows/does academic CCM inside and out.

 

[ResidentMD]

Try PM'ing a user named KGUNNER. He did IM/EM and then CC at Pitt. Not PCCM, but he knows/does academic CCM inside and out.

Thanks so much! Initially I thought you were ribbing me (KGUNNER but yes, I read some of his posts and he does seem to have a lot of insight. Will get in touch. Thanks.

 

[draks]

Thanks so much! Initially I thought you were ribbing me (KGUNNER but yes, I read some of his posts and he does seem to have a lot of insight. Will get in touch. Thanks.

Guys, Hi. I am new to the forum. I wanted a pulmonary and critical care fellow or an attending to help me. I recently matched for pulmonary for next year and am debating between prim care versus pulmonary. Many of friends in prim care are doing great. How is life and salary in pulmonary and critical care and is it totally worth doing? I know it is not Cards or GI but what is it doing pulmonary like?

 

[VJWDO]

Seriously??

How could you match into pulmonology without even knowing what kind of specialty/lifestyle you were getting into?

Doesn't make sense to me.

 

[ResidentMD]

Seriously??

How could you match into pulmonology without even knowing what kind of specialty/lifestyle you were getting into?

Doesn't make sense to me.

That was the same thought I had. Btw, this poster has posted the same message on multiple threads.

 

[howelljolly]

Guys, Hi. I am new to the forum. I wanted a pulmonary and critical care fellow or an attending to help me. I recently matched for pulmonary for next year and am debating between prim care versus pulmonary. Many of friends in prim care are doing great. How is life and salary in pulmonary and critical care and is it totally worth doing? I know it is not Cards or GI but what is it doing pulmonary like?

Starting next week, specialists will no longer be paid for specialty consults. A patient visit pays the same for internists or pulmonologists.

Do the fellowship if you want to see only complicated pulm problems and drive a bronchoscope.

Do primary care if you want to make money over the next 2 years.

 

[howelljolly]

That was the same thought I had. Btw, this poster has posted the same message on multiple threads.

And posted it a few months ago, if I remember correctly....

 

[kpchal2]

hi howelljolly
doesnot make sense. why do the specialists not get paid for the consults. is it because of the new health care reform. care to explain. pardon my ignorance but i guess i have very little outreach these days.

 

[howelljolly]

hi howelljolly
doesnot make sense. why do the specialists not get paid for the consults. is it because of the new health care reform. care to explain. pardon my ignorance but i guess i have very little outreach these days.

Yup. The new healthcare plan. They decided to save money by taking away the consultation reimbursement. Now, a visit is a visit whether you are the primary, or a consultant.

Also, what they did last year was take away the specific billing for the procedures you do. You only can bill for bronchoscopy. While you're in there, you can do whatever you want - just look, do TBNA, EBUS, brush biopsy, washing, forceps biopsy.... but you can't bill for it. You just bill for the bronchoscopy. I dont know if this is on the national or state level though.

 

[jdh71]

Yup. The new healthcare plan. They decided to save money by taking away the consultation reimbursement. Now, a visit is a visit whether you are the primary, or a consultant.

Also, what they did last year was take away the specific billing for the procedures you do. You only can bill for bronchoscopy. While you're in there, you can do whatever you want - just look, do TBNA, EBUS, brush biopsy, washing, forceps biopsy.... but you can't bill for it. You just bill for the bronchoscopy. I dont know if this is on the national or state level though.

The new healthcare plan has not passed through the conference committee, nor has it been revoted on by both sides of the congress nor has it been signed by Obama. And even then, it's not supposed to take effect until 2014.

So the specialist billing issues must be a medicare rule/payment issue, not related to the healthcare bill.

 

[howelljolly]

The new healthcare plan has not passed through the conference committee, nor has it been revoted on by both sides of the congress nor has it been signed by Obama. And even then, it's not supposed to take effect until 2014.

So the specialist billing issues must be a medicare rule/payment issue, not related to the healthcare bill.

Oh... my baaaad. Youre probably right about it being a medicare issue. I read about it's passage on Dec1st or 2nd, I think - goes into effect Jan.1st

 

[jdh71]

Oh... my baaaad. Youre probably right about it being a medicare issue. I read about it's passage on Dec1st or 2nd, I think - goes into effect Jan.1st

Still. Your point stands. Don't go into pulm/cc for the pay (which will still be mildly better than primary care), do it because you like the medicine.

 

[Hernandez]

So the specialist billing issues must be a medicare rule/payment issue, not related to the healthcare bill.

The new billing issue is a medicare rule. They've done away with the consult E/M codes and now mandate that you utilize the 99231-99233 codes, the admitting physcian will now have to add AI to the initial hospital care code (99221-99223).

 

[drdev]

Hi Guys, I am new to this forum. I am currently working as a Hospitalist for almost 2 years now. Now planning to go to either Primary care- traditional versus Pulmonary and Critical Care. I am really confused between the two. Hospitalist is great but there is no room for growth after a point. Can someone help me decide between Primary care and PCCM. I know specialist codes have been gone but I believe that if I DONT do it now I will never bbe able to do it. I would appreciate any input from any attendings, fellows or Pulmonologits. Thank you.

Dev