Perks of medicine

[weeniegeniewife]

So often we talk about how stressful the medical lifestyle is most of the time. Today I am feeling grateful for the lifestyle, so I thought we could start a thread about the positives of medicine. I'll start!

I am thankful for the medical lifestyle today because of the "I'll scratch your back if you scratch mine" mindset amongst physicians. Case in point: I've had pretty bad tendinitis in my right arm for about 8 months, and it's very painful. Physical therapy has not helped. DH mentioned it to the hand surgeon at his hospital when he asked how I was doing in passing. Next thing I know, the hand surgeon's assistant is calling me offering an appointment for tomorrow! This guy is booked out 3 months in advance. His assistant said: "The Dr adores your husband and he shares the cookies you bake for him. He is happy to help!"

So nice. That is the kind of thing my DH does too, all the time. There are definite perks of medicine, so post some of yours!

[GrayMatterWife]

In general, the lifestyle affords:

-good pay
-rewarding work
-a certain level of automatic social respect
-can get good tables at restaurants playing the "Dr and Mrs" title in the reservation

[Chrisada]

No co-pays from our pediatrician. When I was a kid, we lived for going into the fully stocked doctors lounge at my dad's hospital!

[ms.conception]

Having a bunch of kids under 10, the "scratch your back" thing does come in handy. So far we've had a number of broken bones, heads and foreheads needing suturing and we've been able to get in and out of the sports medicine clinic fairly quickly (thanks to med-school friends of ours who went at the same time). A lot of consults over the phone and second opinions. When our son became sick this last year we were able to have 4 pediatricians help us navigate things. Sample drugs (my meds cost me about 300$ a month) we often get physician samples which really help out.

When I had my surgery - I was able to call ahead and find out who was on for anesthesia - which played a big part of my husbands comfort level in my going ahead with it.

Being able to be a stay-at-home mom. If my husband didn't work as hard as he does, it just would not be a reality for our family.

We have a huge amount of debt (which is comparable to many people we know) but... we will pay it off soon, and quickly.

The ability to have more of the two villains on our side - time and money - which we can put to good use in our community.

[Phoebe]

Extra knowledge of kid meds at home. Less dr visits on the weekend
The things that GMW said

[oceanchild]

I know full well that when it comes to my own career decisions, I have the kind of flexibility few people are afforded, and that's because I don't have to really worry about our family finances.

[Deebs]

- just found a new one - Field Passes to the Browns games (DH just became the med director for their ambulance service - yay!), and other events at the stadium
- a close connection to some awesome people - like all of you
- the ability and confidence to be a person who will stop and help someone who needs help

[diggitydot]

My favorite med peep hook-up: Getting in quickly with hard-to-schedule and popular specialists. Another good one for our klutzy brood is that DH can just throw some stitches into whichever dumbass cut themselves doing something stupid that they'd been warned would end in stitches.

[alison]

I'm pretty sure the Dr reservation thing would only garner laughs here, and all the towns we've lived in before. In fact, when we were first looking into financing a home (albeit in another state but with a national bank), the bank told us "you're only a doctor." .

We are thankful for the security that medicine provides. If dh lost his job here, he'd be able to find something somewhere without having to wait months or years.

[Gwendolyn]

I'm pretty sure the Dr reservation thing would only garner laughs here, and all the towns we've lived in before.

Agreed. Although we are moving this summer to the dream house and have gotten a Doc loan from a local bank with incredible terms...

I can't say enough about the "network" of Dr. Friends we have. Honestly, as medicine has fewer and fewer docs per patient needing a doc, being able to call favors is a huge perk. It has made all the difference in the world with my mom's care. The timing (getting in quickly) has mattered and the time spent on her case has mattered. I am sure that perk will only become more valuable as the problem increases.

Also, just having a person who can interpret for the docs who are not so awesome at communicating or having being able to hone in on the important questions, etc. again a perk that I would not have appreciated as much without having to deal with a major illness.

We've also appreciated DH's suture skills a few times. I always ask the kids if they want to see the doctor doctor or doctor dad. They always request Dr. Dad.

[Vanquisher]

This website. That's about all this bitter hag can think of.

[SoonerTexan]

The connections of this website...it is really really convenient having your kid watched by the wife of a pediatric genetic specialist (okay maybe not the genetic specialist part, but I may have sent vgirl a pic of a rash last week)

[niener]

The connections for sure. Along those lines, I love that regardless of what medical problem I'm having, I know someone within our circle of medical friends who can tell me what's going on (or who at least knows enough to tell me whether or not I should make an appointment).

I like that I can semi-interpret "doctor talk" and can use medical terminology without sounding like a complete imbecile.

Another big perk to me is the financial security. We may not be rolling in it like the general public thinks we are (well definitely not now, ha), but the fact that me working outside the home is optional and not a requirement is really valuable to both of us.

And I love how much DH loves his job. This may not be medicine specific, but to be in medicine I think you just really have to love what you do and I love that DH has that kind of passion about his career.

[houseelf]

Love this thread!

-DH absolutely loves what he does for a living. How many people can say that?
-In an absolute shit economy, he has a ridiculous amount of job offers.
-His knowledge has been useful in making health care decisions in both the immediate and extended family.
-Great pay and benefits.
-tuition reimbursement for the kids and me at the University in which he has privileges

[weeniegeniewife]

-tuition reimbursement for the kids and me at the University in which he has privileges

Whoa Kelly, that rocks!