Pros
Patient Care paramount to system. Ethics are strong. Believe in their Mission and Values. Specialists are very knowledgable and very accessible. Excellent Clinical Guideline sources from specialities. Multiple Awards for Excellence in Medicine given to System. Low turnover, but that was changing. Adequate CME allowance, but not if used for High travel or hotel cost CME events. Business Expenses covered, probably usual amount. I did not use very often. Job offer comes quickly if offered.
Cons
Communication poor, although listed as very important. Tons of email once employed, but few of real value to a physician, ie. a lot of IT advisements, or general staff advisements. Understaffed, but may be OK in Main Center. Trending to a lot of MA's vs nurses, with very limited abilities related to their lack of education in nursing knowledge. They make poor nurse replacements and therefore poor helpmeets for physicians. Some can be outstanding, but you know they are not going to stay an MA for long. Vacation and CME time per usual, but very limited ability to take that time, with increasing restrictions on when one can use it, and then if not used, it disappears. Heavy emphasis on Leadership ability and being a Leader, but no time allowances for it. It all must be done on own time. Education offered but again own time used. No travel time allowances leading to need to be in 2 places at the same time. Confusing documentation system for work meetings, CME, vacation, sick time, etc. Everything on computer, eg. Doctor Handbook, and the other usual basics usually given in hard copy by other clinic systems, and updated yearly. No knowledge the Handbook existed, I found by accident. It contains essential information not mentioned unless specific questions asked. Need to be very savvy employee, to think of these questions during whirlwind interview visit. Interview is indeed whirlwind visit. Recruitment staff good, but there was a period after I accepted offer, where no communication came, and I was beginning to think I imagined it all. Need to establish and maintain contact yourself. They don't seem to have any established routines, but that was 6 years ago.
