Informational Interview of an Emergency Physician Anna December 23, 2008

What is your job like? It is like being ready to do absolutely anything at a moments notice. Decisions that I make can be very simple or very complex. There are no set time schedules.

How did this type of work interest you? I enjoy helping people, and this job can offer the chance to help a great deal of people through very difficult times.

How did you get you job and what jobs and experiences have led to your present position? Jobs nationwide are placed through various agencies and in medical journals and papers. Experiences leading to me being a doctor were being a fireman, and EMT, then a medical technician in the Air Force Reserve. Going to medical school seemed like a natural position.

Can you suggest some ways a student could obtain this necessary experience? Being a doctor requires a college education, then four years of medical school and residency. Residency can be as short as three years or as long as nine years, depending on the specialty you choose.

What are the satisfactions and dissatisfactions connected with your occupation? Satisfactions-Giving and doing well for others Dissatisfactions-The time requirements and schedule issues

What things did you do before you entered this occupation? I was a coal miner, college student, and military member. What have been the most helpful? All of them. Every experience you have at anything can help you out in the future if you keep your mind open.

What are the various jobs in this field or organization? In Medicine, as a doctor there are many things. As an Emergency Physician, you work mainly in emergency departments.

Why did you decide to work for this company? I was looking at the general area in Charlotte and this company seemed the best choice.

What do you like most about this company? They only focus on emergency departments.

Do you find you job boring or exciting? Very exciting because of the constant work.

How does your company differ from its competitors? In emergency medicine, you can work for a group, for a hospital, or for a large company. Our company would be considered a large group which is controlled locally.

Why do customers choose this company? They really choose the hospital, most do not know or care how the company works.

Are you optimistic about the company’s future and your future with the company? Yes, I am.

What is the best way to enter this occupation? You have to study very hard and show that you are committed to learning. In medicine, the learning never stops and you are required to take short courses throughout your career to stay current on various topics.

What are the keys to your career advancement and how did you get where you are, and what are your long range goals? I am actually as far advanced as I intend to get. It took a lot of work and study to get here. Long Range-I hope to do my best at each opportunity.

What skills are important for a position in this field? Chemistry and hand eye coordination. You must be able to look at something and figure out a solution very rapidly, and be ready for the unknown.

What particular skills or talents are most essential to be effective in your job? Keeping a cool head and clear mind.

How would you describe the working atmosphere and the people with whom you work? Sometimes very tense, especially if there us a very sick child, or there are many people at once. The important thing is to manage tasks and do the most important things first.

What is the average length if time for an employee to stay in the job you hold? It depends on their training. Doctors not trained in emergency medicine last about ten years, but many can last up to thirty years.

What are the salary ranges for various levels of this field and is there a salary ceiling? From the mid 150’s to over 300,000 depending on the number of people you see and how ill they are. There is a ceiling set for each procedure and encounter, and you are limited by the amount if time you are capable to work.