Expert: Ronald Levy, M.D. - 5/9/2008

Question
QUESTION: Hello Dr. Ronald Levy,

I am currently at a crossroads in my career. I am 28yrs old, I have a B.A from Boston University and I work as an EMT in the Emergency room setting.

I have decided to go back to school to study Anesthesia but am not too sure whether to take the route of nursing or MD...

A couple of questions that I have that will probably be the determining factor in my decision are:

1.Available free time? Not so much the weekly work load, but more the opportunity to vacation and take time off from work.

I am an avid traveler and outdoors person, so this is why the opportunity to take time off is so important to me.

2. How does the scope of practice differ between that of a Nurse Anesthetist and an Anesthesiologist MD?
It is not so much the difference in pay between these two professions that interests me but more of the actual role these 2 professions play in treating patients.

3. Finally is the cost of malpractice insurance as bad as the media makes it out to be? What is the average cost of insurance for an Anesthesiologist?

One last question. In your opinion what is the future job outlook for these two professions?

Thank you for your time


ANSWER: Depending on the type of practice you have, you can have free time with either profession. The main difference in the scope of practice has to do with supervision. A CRNA has to be "supervised" by an MD. In most places this is an anesthesiologist but in some, it is the surgeon. They are both qualified to do the same cases although MDAs have more training and are more likely in mixed practices to get the harder cases. As for malpractice, again it depends on where you work. I am not aware of CRNA malpractice rates but MD rates can be high. The future for both professions is good.

Hope this helps,

Ronald Levy, MD
Associate Professor of Anesthesiology
UTMB-Galveston

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: I think that it is very noble of you to provide this service for people that are interested in learning more about your profession.

I have a couple more questions. (I have many more but I do not want to bog you with them. jajajaj)

What does a typical week look like for a MDA? How often can one expect to be on call? Can a MDA work less hours if he/she so chooses? I realize that is is a very generalized question but what has your experience been?

During the anesthesiology residency does the resident earn a salary?
How competitive is it to get into a anesthesiology residency?

When you say that MD malpractice rates can be high are we talking higher than $100,000 or is 30-50k more of a ballpark figure? Generally speaking...

ANSWER: What does a typical week look like for a MDA? How often can one expect to be on call? Can a MDA work less hours if he/she so chooses? I realize that is is a very generalized question but what has your experience been?

Typically cases start at 7:15 and end anywhere from 3:00 to 6:00. Obviously you can choose to work less hours but at a decreased income. Call depends on how many people are in your practice. Small practices might have you on call every 3-5 nights. If you work in an academic setting it might be 3 calls/month.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
During the anesthesiology residency does the resident earn a salary?
How competitive is it to get into a anesthesiology residency?

You do earn a salary during residency. Right now, anesthesiology is very competitive but that could change in the next few years. It's cyclical.

>>>>>>>>>>>>
When you say that MD malpractice rates can be high are we talking higher than $100,000 or is 30-50k more of a ballpark figure?
Generally speaking...

I don't think it is as high as $100 K but $50 K is about right. Again it depends on your location and the types of cases you do.



Ronald Levy, MD
Associate Professor of Anesthesiology
UTMB-Galveston

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: When you talk about academic setting vs. practice what is an academic setting? Would that be a hospital belonging to a University?

Do MDAs that work for a hospital work directly with the hospital or do they work for a practice that that works at the hospital?

After becoming a MD how does the MD get into a MDA residency?

Thank you for your time.

Answer
All anesthesiologists work in a hospital. Some are employed by the hospital on salary and some are private contractors. An academic anesthesiologist works on salary in a hospital that has anesthesia residents and they not only provide anesthesia but teach at the same time.

After you get your MD you apply to anesthesiology residency programs.

Ronald Levy, MD
Associate Professor of Anesthesiology
UTMB-Galveston