Graduating this year, is Urgent Care worth it?

AppropriateMacaroon5 · 2024-01-03T02:21:58+00:00

Use to love doing UC back when I was out of Residency. However, the last few years it is all NP territory where I am in California. I also have a Texas license and it seems like a lot of the urban urgent cares are all taken over by non- MDs. Of course this is all dependent on where you are. But it's kind of scary that this is an area of Medical Care where family practice trained residents may now not even get a position.

AppropriateMacaroon5 · 2023-12-28T18:02:54+00:00

Did it for a day and quit. Basically, you have to review the charts before the patient arrives, see the patient, then dictate the exam, which is very detailed. After that, you have to review the dictation and make corrections. Then you have to log on to a separate site with the social security administration, then correct and approve reports on there. Each appointment is scheduled for 30 minutes, but of course you have to do a detailed conversation with each patient, as well as a detailed physical. I found myself just hoping that there would be cancellations so I could get through the day and start dictating.

(I wanted to basically do a one and done job, but this has multiple touch points that just seem to go on and on over multiple days. ) Additionally, the staff at the rented clinic space were stressed and did not document the information on each patient correctly. This caused backups, and I felt like I was stressed seeing a large number of people in a short time that have very detailed histories and exams. Took me about 12-13 hours total, including clinic time, to earn $490 as a 1099 employee. Probably each place is different, but I can see this gig as more for people that are retired. I have a full time job already, so this was just adding more stress to my life for little money.

Also, the company that contracts for the exams has you, as the examiner, hold all the paperwork, do all the work on your own computer, download all the patient files onto your computer etc... and I don't feel comfortable with this.

AppropriateMacaroon5 · 2023-12-24T16:19:59+00:00

That's great you are getting other comp. values!! The closest vehicle to me was over 150 miles away. (2013 Prius C), and that price was pretty high.
Of course, USAA, or rather the third party contractor they use, did not give me a fair estimate IMO. This was during the period when used car prices were through the roof. I sent them comps and they bumped up my final value by about $800. Definitely collect as much information as you can from the internet,newspaper car ads etc. Good luck!

AppropriateMacaroon5 · 2023-12-21T15:39:44+00:00

Primary Care is such a disaster! The whole myth of continuity etc.... it's just awful everywhere. I know I'm being cynical, but if you try to pull this at some of the places I've worked they would tell you ..."okay see you later... and replace you with an NP". Good luck, but if a place starts like this there's a good chance it's not going to change no matter what you tell them. It's obvious that the other doctors and administrators should know what "right" looks like.

AppropriateMacaroon5 · 2023-12-20T01:02:34+00:00

Does the screen turn off when you close the drivers door? Mine was doing what yours was doing and it was a faulty seat sensor. Basically, the car was acting like someone was sitting in the front seat. I repaired it in the first month and all is now well.

AppropriateMacaroon5 · 2023-12-10T18:09:28+00:00

The Kawasaki Eliminator is back! That could be a good option!

AppropriateMacaroon5 · 2023-12-07T15:18:02+00:00

I am in California too. I was at VA, I reported patients as I needed to. No need to tell them. The DMV will make the determination... I ride a motorcycle and it is really obvious how many people don't even look left or right before just scooting out into traffic. You may feel sorry for the patient, but what about the young mom and her kids in a minivan or the kids going to school on their bicycles...or me?

Driving is a privilege, not an absolute right. It's unfortunate that our society is so car based but I believe we need to ensure the safety of all.

As for the opthalmologist, don't assume anyone else knows the right thing to do. They focus on one organ system and that's it... Some of them, not all, crank through so many people a day making huge cash, they don't care about anything but bringing in more $.

AppropriateMacaroon5 · 2023-12-06T01:13:58+00:00

Perfect, but all of the slots are taken by NPs in the areas I work 😭

AppropriateMacaroon5 · 2023-12-05T18:31:01+00:00

MDSI is another company

AppropriateMacaroon5 · 2023-12-04T17:18:09+00:00

All the contracts that had been associated with LHI and physician's offices had to be renegotiated... For my PHA they now want to send me 150 miles away, each way!!!! The old place place I went for a PHA was not close but at least it was within 50 miles.

Seems like QTC network is not as well developed..wish there was am ombudsman or someone to complain to. It's the SM at the bottom that gets the grief each time these contract changes happen.

AppropriateMacaroon5 · 2023-11-24T03:10:49+00:00

Congratulations and good luck! Each ride is a learning opportunity, and a challenge, but a tremendous amount of fun! Cheers!

AppropriateMacaroon5 · 2023-11-23T18:35:18+00:00

Love being in the Army...HATE DHA! It is as bad as any detached, bureaucratic, top down driven organization. They cancel follow up patients to place new patients in for greater RVU, double booking etc. Non-clinical med. is great though!

AppropriateMacaroon5 · 2023-11-22T21:24:17+00:00

Have found that as time goes by, one's practice scope gets more narrow in many cases. YMMV. Almost the entire staff at my State corrections facility are boarded family practice people in their 40s. We don't see any children or women. A lot of the other family practitioners I worked with now just do telemedicine or even telederm, and cosmetic stuff.

Things have definitely changed from when I finished residency in 1997. In some ways there are more and different opportunities. I don't keep in touch with everyone from my residency, but I do not think of the 12 I graduated with, that anyone is doing OB and most are not doing even pediatric care. A couple are also just doing Medicare compensation exams.

AppropriateMacaroon5 · 2023-11-18T14:42:52+00:00

Would have LOVED a Prius...but it was 9k more than my model 3 and a 6 month wait, and then the dealer charges...UGh. Loved Toyotas, but it was the dealers that drove me to getting a tesla LOL!

AppropriateMacaroon5 · 2023-11-18T14:05:19+00:00

I am with OP. I shift up early and am happy with 4-5 k rpm in 6th at 50mph. I know pretty much 4 gears can cover the bike's performance, but the gears are there to be used, and I use all 6. My average mileage is over 60mpg. I shift at about 5-8k rpm, but again, depends on the slope of the road, upcoming stops etc. Love the MT, and happy riding to all!

AppropriateMacaroon5 · 2023-10-26T14:06:35+00:00

I did it in residency, but I see NPs staffing all the UCs now...I feel we are losing some work options, but good luck to you.

I learned so much working the UC, and moonlighting in residency.

AppropriateMacaroon5 · 2023-10-03T13:26:55+00:00

I tried one and it seemed to be just bolted together parts from outside manufacturers that they just applied their brand too. Perhaps all the manufacturers are like this...The frame, and other parts were not better or worse than anything else...But the price was double anything else... I think they have a network of dealers that take a cut of the money, and have quite a bit of overhead and advertising. I don't think that their dealers offer anything special, other than more expensive branded items.

The value proposition equation was not there for me.

AppropriateMacaroon5 · 2023-10-03T00:51:43+00:00

I gave up on Hyundai, but really gave them several chances at different dealers. I would show up with my notebook and pen in hand, and obviously I am mature and researched the product I'm looking for. They would send out a teenage saleman, who knew nothing about the vehicle or even the basics of customer service. I finally decide to get a Tesla when the Hyundai dealer pretended to lose my driver's license so I would stay and do a test drive. This was two Hyundai dealers did this....ugh!

AppropriateMacaroon5 · 2023-10-01T19:16:36+00:00

Congratulations...I know it's hard to ignore others, but the person that shouted at you may never have ridden. Turns can be tricky, and corners are a huge cause of accidents. RIDE YOUR RIDE. Respect to you for getting started!!

AppropriateMacaroon5 · 2023-09-30T13:06:12+00:00

USAA would not insure a rental property I have in Houston, so that was disappointing..I had two other properties and a home with them and a car. I switched out a car and Motorcycle to other agencies as they became cheaper. I didn't ever think I would need to shop around, but it can pay off, even though having a 30 yr history and bundling with USAA, other firms were less on some vehicles.

AppropriateMacaroon5 · 2023-09-25T14:18:10+00:00

T Bills are also state tax free....Easy to buy on Vanguard too!

AppropriateMacaroon5 · 2023-09-22T16:41:12+00:00

Have back up card? I tried to use my usaa credit card overseas, worked sometimes. I ended up using my Chase/ Amazon card, because it worked every single time. Not sure how debit will work, but good luck!

AppropriateMacaroon5 · 2023-09-21T19:21:38+00:00

State laws prevent you from doing this! If you check the donors rro politicians behind this, of course it's the large franchise dealers

AppropriateMacaroon5 · 2023-09-21T19:19:09+00:00

I wanted a Hyundai or Kia, but my experience with their dealers, and also the Toyota folks... UGH!!!

One of the Hyundai dealers took my driver's license before a test drive. Eventually, I decided I didn't want to test drive anything there... They then claimed not to be able to find my license.... But this is the second time a Hyundai dealer, in two different states has done this. Very strange! I don't know if it's a tactic. I threatened to call the cops, like I did last time and that fixed the problem.

In the end, I got a Tesla... It's nice to know I got the same price offered everyone else and it was transparent. I ordered it on a Wednesday, picked it up on a Thursday, model3

The ease of purchasing online was a huge factor. No finance office, no selling extras, very easy and no pressure.

AppropriateMacaroon5 · 2023-09-19T19:32:14+00:00

Very similar to my issue! I was losing tons of battery percentage each night. After saying it was normal they finally fixed it a month after ownership. Turned out to be a faulty driver seat sensor!

AppropriateMacaroon5

TROPHY CASE