Question: If you were just starting your career as a physician, would you choose employment or private practice? What factors would you consider in your decision?
Editor’s note: This response was edited lightly for brevity and clarity.
Dr. Lawrence Kaplan: If I was starting over, I would choose employment, primarily because I don’t believe anyone is “going out and hanging a shingle,” as it used to be called. The business aspect of medicine is unfortunately so complex that I don’t know if anyone is savvy enough to do it themselves, even if someone was thinking about direct primary care, concierge, etc. Realize that my answers are based on primary care/general internal medicine, which is what I do, but I believe that you’d get the same response from procedure-based specialists.
At the Becker's 23rd Annual Spine, Orthopedic and Pain Management-Driven ASC + The Future of Spine Conference, taking place June 18–20 in Chicago, spine surgeons, orthopedic leaders and ASC executives will come together to explore minimally invasive techniques, ASC growth strategies and innovations shaping the future of outpatient spine care. Apply for complimentary registration now.
