Is it Better to Open a Private Practice or Work for a Hospital?

Most medical students gravitate toward seeking full-time employment in hospitals after they finish their residencies because that’s considered the traditional career move. It’s more practical to find a hospital position that will provide them with a stable income than to risk unstable employment elsewhere, especially if they are dealing with student debt.

However, that will still depend on their financial status and family background because they might be more likely to start a private practice if they can afford to take risks. Figuring out the next career step is a big decision that shouldn’t be taken lightly or done without careful consideration.

If you’re undecided about your path after your residency, you’ve come to the right place. Weighing the pros and cons of your options is essential so that you won’t come to regret the decision you make later on. So, here are some advantages and disadvantages of starting your practice or finding employment in a hospital:

Start a Private Practice

Starting your practice can be more frightening than just accepting a job at a hospital because you must manage both the business and the physician sides. This means you’ll be responsible for attending to your future patients and ensuring the practice generates a profit.

This path will be perfect if you enjoy taking care of the administrative work because there will be a lot. You’ll learn how to handle your finances, dabble in bookkeeping, and ensure you’re not losing money. But you’ll still be able to help the people in need whenever they come to your clinic.

Not everyone likes tackling the business side of healthcare. However, it’s a win-win situation for doctors who want to retain their autonomy by being their boss. For instance, if you specialize in podiatry, it might be better to start your practice to cater to a niche market.

If you were to open a practice, you’d have more control over your working hours and the patients you receive. You’ll be able to decide what kind of podiatry practice management solution you’ll use to solve your front office problems without succumbing to stringent hospital policies.

And the best part is that you can create your own workplace culture. You won’t have to deal with the politics in renowned hospitals or compete with your colleagues for growth opportunities. With practice, you can decide your career trajectory and still have enough time to do what you love most — help others.

Work in a Hospital

Getting a full-time position in a hospital can be more your style if you prefer to stay out of the business side of things. If you get a job as a physician, your sole responsibility will be to your patients and their needs. You won’t have to worry about admin work, hiring employees, or patient billing because entire departments in the hospital take care of those.

You’ll likely have more opportunities for career growth because you won’t be starting at the top; instead, you’ll work your way to higher positions over time. This also means you can get better and higher pay as your career progresses because a large hospital receives more patients than a private practice.

However, one of the most significant disadvantages of working in a hospital is losing your autonomy as a physician. You’ll have to work on a fixed schedule, sometimes be on-call, and abide by stringent hospital policies. Not only that, but you’ll also have minimal to no say regarding the treatment you give to your patients.

But aside from those, working in a hospital can also be a dream. Instead of dealing with the hospital’s cash flow or how you can cut costs from the budget, your sole responsibility will be to cater to your patients and help them get better. You can focus on building your medical career and make waves in the community.

Both options have advantages and disadvantages, so you can’t base your decision on other people’s reasons. It’s going to be you who will live with your decision, so you have to choose what’s right for you. Where do you think you’ll thrive and achieve your goals faster?

The existence of private practices and hospitals shows that everyone has options. Like medical practitioners and healthcare professionals, patients can also choose where to receive their treatments. If money, working hours, and autonomy won’t help you decide, consider who you’re doing this for or how you can help them better.