Physician shortage in Idaho (Boise, Sandpoint: 2013, employment, school)

[drmarkcraig]

Hey folks,

Would like to say what a pleasure it is to be posting here today.

For years I have wanted to make the move for Idaho and from a purely employment perspective it seems more propitious now than ever do to so. I will be finishing up my surgical residency here in next couple of years and I was wondering if anyone could tell me if they personally have been affected by the "shortage" of doctors that Idaho is experiencing? It seems very hard for me to believe that Idaho is in such needs of doctors as I have always considered it to be such a beautiful place and even more auspicious place to raise a family.

I would love to hear anybody's $.02 on the issue. Would be great just to speak to people in general from the different parts of the state. As an upstate New Yorker, I have not had the privilege of spending as much time out there as I would like having done undergrad, medical school and now residency in the New England.

- Mark

[elkotronics]

drmarkcraig - we had a great doctor at Kootenai Medical Center for my wife's gall-bladder removal surgery. I great Registered nurse as well there. That hospital has a Sleep Center but I don't know much about it. I ended up taking a Respiratory Therapy job way down in Alamogordo, NM, which allows me to do some of my hours at their Sleep Clinic. So I'm a happy camper down here. But I just wanted to throw in my $.02 worth and let you know what I learned while living in Coeur d' Alene, ID, for 7 months and Kellogg, ID (35 miles east of CDA right on I-90) for 15 months.

[monkeywrenching]

MY last Doctor moved from western Wisconsin to Boise, Idaho. I hope he enjoys it there. I always enjoyed his manners and abilities in the medical profession.

[brokencrayola]

I think there is just 1 or 2 general surgeons in Sandpoint. I know one GP in town that is struggling financially. He advertises trying to get more clients but I don't think he is doing well. I am sure any physician here would make less money than if they were practicing in a larger community like CDA or Spokane Wa.

[Mtn. States Resident]

[quote=drmarkcraig;30497468]Hey folks,

Would like to say what a pleasure it is to be posting here today.

For years I have wanted to make the move for Idaho and from a purely employment perspective it seems more propitious now than ever do to so. I will be finishing up my surgical residency here in next couple of years and I was wondering if anyone could tell me if they personally have been affected by the "shortage" of doctors that Idaho is experiencing? It seems very hard for me to believe that Idaho is in such needs of doctors as I have always considered it to be such a beautiful place and even more auspicious place to raise a family.

I would love to hear anybody's $.02 on the issue. Would be great just to speak to people in general from the different parts of the state. As an upstate New Yorker, I have not had the privilege of spending as much time out there as I would like having done undergrad, medical school and now residency in the New England.

- Mark

Hi Mark,

Interesting post and a subject I understand well for the region. BTW, congratulations on being a PL-III or IV.


Do you plan a fellowship? If so, in what? When CV and GS are lumped together as the AMA does, numbers usually don't tell the entire story. Plus you didn't write details about coverage and what level of Trauma Center you're the most comfortable with and want.

Feel free to send me a PM with the above info or post openly. I'm not a recruiter, I am guarded what I'll post openly. To date, I've helped 4 physicians/surgeons relocate to Idaho from CDF.


Check out what the editor of Medscape wrote last week about physician shortages. It's well worth your time.

I hope to hear from you and will be interested to know if you have an Ehrlich on staff

MSR

[mistyriver]

Originally Posted by brokencrayola

I think there is just 1 or 2 general surgeons in Sandpoint. I know one GP in town that is struggling financially. He advertises trying to get more clients but I don't think he is doing well. I am sure any physician here would make less money than if they were practicing in a larger community like CDA or Spokane Wa.

I just heard that Dr. Neher retired and Savarese moved away. I liked Savarese.

[pimit2]

I noted in the local paper recently that Dr. Gene Tortorella, M.D., passed away at age 47 on July 7, 2013. I didn't know Dr. Tortorella but I understand he was a board certified anesthesiologist who had practiced in Sandpoint for 9 years.


pimit2 (Bob)

[mistyriver]

Originally Posted by pimit2

I noted in the local paper recently that Dr. Gene Tortorella, M.D., passed away at age 47 on July 7, 2013. I didn't know Dr. Tortorella but I understand he was a board certified anesthesiologist who had practiced in Sandpoint for 9 years.


pimit2 (Bob)

So sad...that's way too young.

[brokencrayola]

Originally Posted by pimit2

I noted in the local paper recently that Dr. Gene Tortorella, M.D., passed away at age 47 on July 7, 2013. I didn't know Dr. Tortorella but I understand he was a board certified anesthesiologist who had practiced in Sandpoint for 9 years.


pimit2 (Bob)

I just read that in the newspaper. Dr. Neher has practiced here awhile, so that is 2 or 3 doctors gone just recently.

[nightlysparrow]

Idaho is one of the states not participating in the Medicaid expansion of the Affordable Care Act, so you might wish to consider that.

Where each state stands on ACA's Medicaid expansion | The Advisory Board Daily Briefing