Music Teacher and Medical Doctor considering Hawaii (Pukalani, Makawao: transplants, insurance)

[abajorek]

First, thanks in advance for all of the helpful tips in this forum...there is so much information on this forum!

My wife and I are considering places for her residency, which requires relocation. We currently live in Northwestern PA (Erie) but we've both visited Hawaii and we love the place. We have a few questions - perhaps you can help?

1. (This one is pretty specific) I am a music teacher, and I realize Hawaii's music culture is much different than mine (from Erie, PA) - in your opinion, how much of an adjustment is it between music curriculums of our respective locations?

2. My wife is an osteopathic physician, meaning she can practice medicine just like an MD, but she has DO after her name instead. This is a growing field, but some places are still not DO-friendly. Any insight on this issue?

3. I've reseached cost-of-living and salary websites with little luck. Figures vary a great deal from website to website (one website quoted average teacher salaries as $27,000, while the other quoted $68,000 - here's hoping for that number! ). In your experience, what is the real cost of every-day things like groceries and whatnot? Do you have any insight on teacher salaries?

4. For those "transplants" - looking back, would you still make the move?

Thanks so much for your help. I do have more questions, but I'll reserve those for now - I'm looking forward to your responses!!!

[azriverfan.]

I'm a physician and I too would like to know what the physician market is like in Hawaii. Is it saturated? Is there a demand? How many weeks do you have to wait to see a physician there from your personal experience

[KonaKat]

I suggest both of you research a little and personally contact some physicians living and working here. We are losing them rapidly because of the pay structure with insurance here. It's very bad on some islands. Few specialists are available outside of Oahu. Medical care anywhere in Hawaii is not on a par with mainland areas.

[hothulamaui]

gosh we really do need more doctors and more teachers. our pay for both suck. the state right now is trying to make all state workers and teachers take a 3 day a month unpaid leave to help with the budget problems. people live here despite the high cost of living, no services, lack of medical care and education because of the islland itself. you either fall in love with hawaii or you don't. the people who don't get it will never understand why we pay som much for so little to be here. the cost of living is a bit like any big city. think NY or LA, beverly hills style.

[SkyBob]

Originally Posted by abajorek

2. My wife is an osteopathic physician, meaning she can practice medicine just like an MD, but she has DO after her name instead. This is a growing field, but some places are still not DO-friendly. Any insight on this issue?

I don't have an answer for your question but I was wondering... Is she REQUIRED to put DO after her name? If she can practice medicine just like an MD then why not put MD after her name in correspondence and on her resume? That would at least help her get her foot in the door then the person reading the resume would see the specifics of the schooling.

Bob

[newUHprof]

There's a link to the teacher salary grid on the left side of this page. Hawai'i's Public Schools

That's for working in a DOE school. My guess is anyone new to the system will enter at the minimum level for your degree... experience in other school systems usually doesn't count.

I don't know anything about private or charter schools, though.

[Brav989]

Originally Posted by SkyBob

I don't have an answer for your question but I was wondering... Is she REQUIRED to put DO after her name? If she can practice medicine just like an MD then why not put MD after her name in correspondence and on her resume? That would at least help her get her foot in the door then the person reading the resume would see the specifics of the schooling.

Bob

They're basically the same thing. Difference is the degree is Doctor of Osteopathy where MD is Doctor of Medicine. Two different names for a medical degree.

"According to the Cecil Textbook of Medicine, 22 ed., other than teaching manipulation, medical training for an osteopathic degree (DO) is now virtually indistinguishable from that which leads to the MD degree. Osteopathic physicians complete conventional residencies in hospitals and training programs; are licensed in all states; and have rights and responsibilities, such as military service, that are identical to MD qualified physicians and surgeons."

[azriverfan.]

Originally Posted by Brav989

They're basically the same thing. Difference is the degree is Doctor of Osteopathy where MD is Doctor of Medicine. Two different names for a medical degree.

"According to the Cecil Textbook of Medicine, 22 ed., other than teaching manipulation, medical training for an osteopathic degree (DO) is now virtually indistinguishable from that which leads to the MD degree. Osteopathic physicians complete conventional residencies in hospitals and training programs; are licensed in all states; and have rights and responsibilities, such as military service, that are identical to MD qualified physicians and surgeons."

I'm an M.D. and there is no difference. I was trained by many DO's who were residents in my program and one of my senior cardiology fellows who taught me how to place stents was a D.O. There really is no stigma any longer since the training is recognized as being equivalent by the law. Hawaiians tend to be very open minded in general and have been ahead of the curve with regard to that department for decades. I imagine if your wife is an excellent doctor and treats her patients well and with respect, she will have no problem. There are D.O.'s practicing all over Hawaii. I wouldn't be too concerned. What matters is where you trained for residency not what medical school you attended. There are DO's who train at Johns Hopkins and the Mayo Clinic beating out several thousand MD applicants in the process. If you are good, you are good regardless of your initials. Practices are interested in your personality first and where you did residency second.

My concern is with the pay because the cost of living is so high there. The reason I'm considering Hawaii is (1) a change in scenery although I love Arizona (2) I absolutely LOVE the people of Hawaii. They are just amazing people. The beauty of the islands isn't limited to it's geography. They are extremely warm and hospitable and don't take life too seriously. They are cocky in a fun way that makes you realize you shouldn't sweat the small things.

[stan4]

I spent a month of my residency working in Hawaii (Oahu in particular). I got to speak to several physicians who live and work there. The ones with the Kaiser system seem to be paid ok (still less than here)...going out to Maui or the other islands, the pay can really drop radically.

But a physician makes enough to have a life - maybe not the life they'd have on the mainland, but you kind of have to weigh what you want and choose accordingly.

I'd have to take anywhere between a 50 to 80 percent pay cut to work there, so I am not going (despite my great love for Hawaii and her people). Plus I hear bad things about the litigation atmosphere and specialist coverage/backup.

As to a D.O. applying with M.D. on his paperwork...I'd bet the state medical board would have a thing or two to say about it. That doesn't speak to the quality of the physicians, however.

[dancehallgirl]

Well while I do not live there. {yet}....We have been planning our escape to Paradise for a year now and are planning and learning much before we go. I know some of the negative comments come from natives that do not want anymore mainlanders to come there. While I understand their position it will not stop me, as that is like me telling people to stay out of California. Besides my husband and I plan on giving back to whatever community we move to. I am not moving there to sun my buns everyday and live the life of Riley as a perpetual tourist. Something grabbed me when I visited there. My back pain almost went away. I felt better physically and mentally. I would love to live up in up country in Maui. Pukalani or Makawao seem very nice. Good people for neighbors too I heard.

I would think alot of the haole stuff would be more experienced on Oahu. All the times I have been there I have found the old rule of treating others how you would like to be treated. Never failed me yet. That being said you can't be a Pollyanna either. There are local hangouts and they are for the locals or you are to be invited by a local but you don't ust go join in. Big deal that is in every city.

I would think a teacher would be snatched up real quick right now as the school system there leaves much to be desired. In fact I would homeschool my daughter if I could not get her into some kind of private school. Yes I have heard it is that bad. I am going to be done with my RN in a little overa year and have hear the hospitals need good nurses too. I would imagine good dr.s are hard to come by as well. My husband go sooooo sunburnt. He was itching so bad he was miserable and yet he could not be help it was like under his skin. I think he was reacting to the sun, well needless to say The Westin resort on Kaanipalli had a doc office. They gave my husband a shot of cortisol and it immediatley gave him relief. You could see it in his eyes. We were charged 250.00. They did not take insurance thank you. Not bad for a days work if you get a few sunburnt people your way. If I could legally administer shots, I would have a traveling one for tetnas and cortisone charge reasonable and make hotel calls and I think you would do very well. Plus you could have your own practice as this other Dr. said he did who did this on the side.