Come north, Dr. Patterson
CMAJ 1997;157:1345
Re: "I don't own a house, but at least the lien is off my truck," CMAJ 1997;156[11]:1583-5 [full text], by Dr. R. Patterson
In response to: J.L. Wincott
As noted by Dr. Wincott, some communities experience difficulty recruiting physicians as some doctors search haphazardly for a position, unaware of openings across the country. How do we avoid this "ships-in-the-night" scenario? In the case of general surgeons, there has been a proposal to establish a page on the Web site of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada that would list permanent and locum opportunities.1 To date, this has not happened. When I contacted the college's webmaster, no definite start date was offered. When this service does appear, it should go a long way toward matching the needs of recruiters with those of physicians.
Wincott also claims that the salary for the position in Thompson is "very competitive." I assume this statement is based on Canadian standards. A quick search of the Internet using the key words "physician recruiting" turns up hundreds of positions in the US, where salaried general surgeons will earn US$160 000 to US$200 000 per year, plus benefits and bonuses. Fee-for-service surgeons can make considerably more. When one considers the exchange rate plus the significantly lower personal income tax rate south of the border, the money may be double what a Canadian general surgeon earns.
As my fellowship in Utah draws to a close, my wife and I must decide on which side of the border to make our future. Our decision involves much more than money: factors such as quality of life, proximity to our extended families, the atmosphere in which clinical medicine is practised, research funding and the fear that Canada may self-destruct in a few years all enter the equation. These decisions are always accompanied by introspection and trepidation. Time alone tells if the right decision was made.
Robert Patterson, MD
Fellow in Medical Informatics
University of Utah
Salt Lake City, Utah
Reference
- Taylor BR. Presidential address 1996: "Dear ministers of health . . . ." Can J Surg 1997;40[2]:101-7.
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