Return after prolonged absence question...

[CoronaLight]

Hi All,

I am planning to return to practice in Anesthesia after a prolonged absence - 5 years. I followed another career choice for a while and now want to go back. I was in private practice for 7 years before leaving. I am having issues with most hospital / outpatient places holding back due to the prolonged absence. They are requiring some clinical experience within last 2 years. I am still BC but due to expire next year. Shadowing will not suffice for hospital / ASC credentialing. Anyone know of places that has a hands on mini re-entry fellowship? Or suggestions on other options ? Any help would be appreciated. Anyone know other anesthesiologists / colleagues with similar situations and how they overcame this hurdle.

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[Arch Guillotti]

Best bet may be a mini CA3 training period through a residency program.

 

[Big Swinging Doc]

Best bet may be a mini CA3 training period through a residency program

I'd talk to the program where you did your residency. We had a guy do something like you suggested. He was brought on as a "advanced" fellow (where he still rounded with an attending) for no more than a month or two before they let him supervise residents and get his case volume up. After six months, he had been rehabilitated and was returned to the wild.

I suspect, but I can't confirm, that they paid him more than a fellow.

I think you can do better than a "mini CA-3" year, unless they are paying you $150+/hour. There are loads of desperate, desperate locums jobs that will put you to work immediately. It'll suck for a month or two until you have sufficient case volume to qualify for other jobs, but it's got to be better than getting paid CA-3 wages to work under some junior attending's thumb.

 

[Arch Guillotti]

I'd talk to the program where you did your residency. We had a guy do something like you suggested. He was brought on as a "advanced" fellow (where he still rounded with an attending) for no more than a month or two before they let him supervise residents and get his case volume up. After six months, he had been rehabilitated and was returned to the wild.

I suspect, but I can't confirm, that they paid him more than a fellow.

I think you can do better than a "mini CA-3" year, unless they are paying you $150+/hour. There are loads of desperate, desperate locums jobs that will put you to work immediately. It'll suck for a month or two until you have sufficient case volume to qualify for other jobs, but it's got to be better than getting paid CA-3 wages to work under some junior attending's thumb.

I think that’s about what I was getting at.

 

[dabears505]

Curious as to what you did and why you want to go back to anesthesia.

 

[PainDrain]

Curious as to what you did and why you want to go back to anesthesia.

He ran an AMC.

 

[chocomorsel]

He ran an AMC.

Oh dear. Please do tell. Lol

 

[Mehd School]

This is ... bizarre to me. The barriers we make for ourselves are astounding. You know damn well a CRNA could leave for a decade, pay the dues to get license reinstated and be back at work no questions asked on Monday.

 

[dabears505]

This is ... bizarre to me. The barriers we make for ourselves are astounding. You know damn well a CRNA could leave for a decade, pay the dues to get license reinstated and be back at work no questions asked on Monday.

I think as a crna you mostly have supervision from someone who can bail you out or help you back along. If you can't intubate, your attending likely can. If you are a physician working alone, there might be some trouble if you have lost skills over a few years of not practicing.

 

[Mehd School]

I think as a crna you mostly have supervision from someone who can bail you out or help you back along. If you can't intubate, your attending likely can. If you are a physician working alone, there might be some trouble if you have lost skills over a few years of not practicing.

OP was a practicing anesthesiologist for nearly a decade before this absence. And I doubt his/her first shift will be night coverage or something where there are no resources around.

One of my favorite attendings was a private practice interventional pain specialist for 23 years. He got bored, got a job in my residency program and never looked back. As a CA2 I was his first case in the OR in 23 years. He asked me if he could intubate, and you would have thought the last time that guy intubated was two days prior. With the amount of training and procedural skills we pick up, I don't think you forget how to do those things in a few years of being away.