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Transition Toolkit

The instruction Manual For Doctors Considering Career Change

Your Most Valuable Tool For Finding a Non-clinical Job

2/1/2020

9 Comments

 
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When I hear from doctors who are looking for good non-clinical jobs, physicians often include a list of positive attributes such as 'I work well with others,' 'I am eager to learn,' or 'I have a strong interest in starting my own business.'

While these attributes are valuable in achieving success, they often don't help in gaining credibility in the transition to the non-clinical workforce, or in negotiating a competitive salary.

Your most valuable tool for finding a non-clinical job is expertise in regulations and policies.

Expertise is one of the most valuable tools that health care professionals possess.  Doctors already have expertise in medical care. However, the current medical atmosphere has led to an overwhelming growth of policies in areas of coding, billing, licensing, accreditation, practice parameters, best models of health care, patient privacy, cost containment, documentation and electronic medical records- to name just a few of the complex regulatory matters that affect every aspect of health care.

Whether you aspire to work in an executive or administrative role or to start your own business, a mastery of these hard to grasp regulatory issues will serve you well and can potentially make you irreplaceable. When you customize your own areas of non-clinical healthcare policy expertise, you will reap the benefits of your invested time and energy.
There are a number of effective ways to master healthcare regulation. You can use the following approaches to build regulatory expertise. Most doctors do not need to use all of these methods, and instead mix and match these tools at a self-appointed pace.

  • Join one of your decision-driven hospital or university committees (such as pharmacy committee or payer relations or compliance or resident education or CME) You might not get appointed right away, but if you show interest, ask to attend a few meetings as a 'guest,' and contribute usefully to the discussion (or, at least, don't anger too many people) you are likely to get an appointment in the next appointment cycle.
  • If you are offered a part-time consulting job, consider it. Most doctors turn their noses up at chart-review jobs or consulting opportunities that pay $150-200/hr. However, the experience of doing 'behind the scenes' work provides more insight into the realities and complexities of healthcare policy than most formal courses.
  • Attend programs sponsored by your professional specialty association. Most regulation centered programs do not count as CME- but they can be worthwhile for your own educational and practical benefit. These presentations are generally well designed and relevant.
  • Take a course in healthcare policy at a local college to fill in the gaps of your regulatory knowledge and to tailor your learning.
  • Use free online resources. Almost everything anyone would ever want to know about healthcare laws, rules, regulations, payment, licensing and so forth is available online. Here are some links to introductory resources to get you started.
  • Consider getting an MBA, healthcare MBA, executive MBA or MPH. So many doctors are getting these extra degrees now, that many administrative positions unofficially require them. In considering whether to get an extra degree, it is important to keep in mind that these programs can provide a mechanism to help you understand healthcare regulation- but they might not. It depends on the curriculum of the program you are considering. There are some advantages to studying for an MBA, a healthcare or executive MBA or an MPH, and these different degrees are not all the same. You should carefully examine the curriculum of several programs to get insight into what the programs have to offer- and then decide whether a program can help you in achieving your objectives. A doctor shares her decision making process and experience with the dual MD/MBA degree.

Overall, expertise in medicine is not enough to catapult you to the next step in your career. The details of regulatory and policy issues are unfamiliar to most healthcare professionals. However, a mastery of these laws and rules is a necessary step if you want to attain a leadership role in the medical world.
9 Comments
Rehab Hamouda
9/16/2017 11:21:02 pm

I m a doctor from more than 25 years and i moved to usa recently from uk.
Can you help me to find a non clinical job

Reply
rahul
7/31/2018 10:01:30 am

i am MD Human Physiology ..want to do training in eeg without usmle

Reply
Heidi Moawad MD
8/2/2018 11:59:51 am

There are some electrophysiology courses you can sign up for: http://www.nonclinicaldoctors.com/careers-for-physicians-without-residency.html

Reply
srinivas Yamsani
3/7/2020 09:54:08 pm

I am interested in non clinical jobs in US. So far I was practicing Emergency medicine in India nd UK. Please can you guide me about this.

Reply
Heidi Moawad
3/11/2020 12:05:33 pm

Dr. Yamsani,
Some resources for you:
1. http://www.nonclinicaldoctors.com/careers-for-physicians-without-residency.html

2. http://www.nonclinicaldoctors.com/licensing-and-programs-for-international-physicians.html

Reply
Gabriela Fernandes
5/16/2020 05:02:10 am

I am a Dr from Venezuela graduated in 2003 and currently leaving in USA since 2004. I took USMLE STEP I and STEP2 but did not passed it, then i started working in Dental office and started working as an office manager until these days. Now, i feel stuck and would love to grow professionally and maybe get an MBA. My dilema is that i am a single mom of two kids and need to work to support them, but need to change job and i am not sure what job to look for.

Reply
Heidi Moawad
5/22/2020 11:41:21 am

Dr. Fernandes,

If you want management work, you can consider getting an MBA and if you are looking for more qualifications for work in the dental office, you can consider looking at your community college for courses and additional certification as a dental hygienist.

Reply
Dr Tilottama Nischal
7/2/2020 12:49:48 am

I am Doctor working as general practitioner in Internal Medicine department. I am Public Health specialist. I want to work in USA as non clinical doctor.

Reply
Brad Gurley
7/2/2020 07:02:20 am

I am a former board certified , residency trained family physician... due to medical issues I have left the clinical arena and seem non clinical options

Reply



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    Categories

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    How To Find A Non Clinical Job
    Is A Non Clinical Job Right For Me?
    Medical Entrepreneurs
    Medical Writing
    Residents And Medical Students

    Contents

    • There is more than one way to be a doctor
    • Additional income sources for doctors
    • The path to a non-clinical physician job
    • Teaching jobs for physicians
    • Managing your finances as an independent contractor
    • Is a non-clinical job right for you?
    • Becoming qualified for a non-clinical job
    • Other options for healthcare providers
    • Regulations know-how
    • Job search mistakes to avoid
    • Creating a website
    • Physician career continuum
    • Feeling trapped in medicine
    • Read this before you drop out if residency
    • Should you take the USMLE if you don't want patient care?
    • A health writing career
    • Health article guidelines
    • How to self publish a book
    • Burning bridges
    • I don't want to be pre-med anymore
    • Writing a book​
    • What are your priorities?
    • Solutions to medical career frustration
    • Quiz-do you want to leave medicine?
    • Solutions for physician mothers
    • Top 10 signs that you need to find a non-clinical job
    • I Know a doctor who seems miserable
    • Career management for the modern physician
    • 7 tips for marketing your book

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  • Non-clinical jobs for doctors
    • How to Find a Non-Clinical Job
    • Medical career strategies
    • Transition Toolkit
    • Physician Success Stories
    • Wound Care Physician
  • Where to find non clinical jobs
    • Job Openings
    • Medical Writing and Strategy Agencies
    • Medical Review Companies
    • Medical Writing Job
    • Clinical Research Training
  • Useful Links
  • Careers for Physicians Without Residency
    • Licensing and Programs for International Physicians
  • Resources For Physicians With Disability
  • Re-Entry Into Medicine
  • Tips from your doctor
  • How to Become a Licensed Physician in the USA