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Any Portland/Seattle MDs here?

Discussion in 'Northwest' started by PP Doc, Dec 31, 2006.

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  1. PP Doc

    PP Doc Karting

    Jul 3, 2004
    67
    Eugene, OR
    Full Name:
    Chris
    #1 PP Doc, Dec 31, 2006
    I'm thinking of moving back to the northwest (likely pdx or seattle) when I finish my training. I grew up in portland and my parents still live there, but I don't have a great sense of the medical climate in the northwest. Any docs on this board care to share info?

    thanks!
    -Chris
     
  2. BritBlaster

    BritBlaster F1 Rookie

    Jul 25, 2005
    2,865
    Bellevue, WA
    Full Name:
    Paul
    #2 BritBlaster, Dec 31, 2006
    Nice handle ;-)

    My friend did her residency at Harborview in Seattle which is the only level-1 trauma center in Washington (and for Montana, Idaho and Alaska) and it was a positive experience (well, as positive an experience that it can be, being required to work 80+ hours in a week).

    There are many hospitals in Seattle, and on the east side in Bellevue/Renton area.

    From wikipedia:
    Group Health Cooperative is a leading proponent and developer of managed care in the northwest, and the University of Washington is consistently ranked among the country's top leading institutions in medical research. Seattle has seen local developments of modern paramedic services with the establishment of Medic One in 1970.[59] In 1974, a 60 Minutes story on the success of the then four-year-old Medic One paramedic system called Seattle "the best place in the world to have a heart attack".

    Most of Seattle's hospitals are located on First Hill. Harborview Medical Center, the public county hospital, is the only Level I trauma hospital serving Washington, Alaska, Montana, and Idaho. Swedish Medical Center, Providence Medical Center and Virginia Mason Medical Center are also located in this part of Seattle. This concentration of hospitals resulted in the neighborhood's nicknames "Pill Hill" and "Hospital Hill".

    Located in the Laurelhurst neighborhood, Children’s Hospital and Regional Medical Center is the pediatric referral center for Washington, Alaska, Montana, and Idaho. The Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center has a campus in the Eastlake neighborhood and also shares facilities with the University of Washington Medical Center. Finally, in the University District is University of Washington Medical Center which, along with Harborview, is operated by the University of Washington.
     
  3. mw575

    mw575 F1 Rookie

    May 30, 2001
    2,924
    Lake Oswego,Or
    Full Name:
    Martin J Weiner,M.D.
    #3 mw575, Dec 31, 2006
    Chris,
    I am a retired med oncologist having trained and practiced in NYC until '92 then retired to Sanibel and 7 yrs ago Portland.I worked part time in the VA here in Portland area up to 3 yrs ago.
    OHSU is the med school/hospital/research center which is an excellent facility with an expansive campus here in Portland.There are many hospital groups which are non-profit and excellent.
    I see you are training in Urology-There is an excellent group practice of urologists at St Vincent Providence Hospital that I know from personal experience as a patient.
    If you need any details let me know and I'll be happy to provide them for you or research them for you.
    Marty
     
  4. Scotty

    Scotty F1 World Champ
    Silver Subscribed

    Oct 31, 2003
    10,447
    Oregon
    Full Name:
    Scotty Ferrari
    #4 Scotty, Jan 1, 2007
    Chris--I have been in practice in Portland since '91, as has my wife. Marty (who is a great guy) may not be aware of some of the subtle political subtext that exists with some of the "non-profit" groups in the area. I'd rather not put those issues in print, but I would be happy to discuss them with you over the phone if you would like. Feel free to PM me.

    I can't comment at all on Seattle.
     
  5. PP Doc

    PP Doc Karting

    Jul 3, 2004
    67
    Eugene, OR
    Full Name:
    Chris
    #5 PP Doc, Jan 1, 2007
    Thank you all for your prompt replies. Marty and Scotty, I will be in touch with you (check your PMs later this week)

    some background/clarification for my question:

    I am in my urology residency in miami until 2008, then will be in australia for a fellowship until 2009. Although my questions may seem premature, my wife (who is an ob/gyn) and I are trying to figure out where we want to settle down.

    The reason I asked about the "medical climate" in the northwest is twofold. First, when I was in high school (mid 90s) there seemed to be a lot of physicians (particularly specialists) leaving pdx for other areas due to the influx/domination of managed care. I wasn't sure if the environment has changed much.

    Second, the main reason we are not staying in south florida is the malpractice environment. My wife (like all other non-academic ob/gyns) does not (cannot) carry malpractice insurance. She has incredible difficulty getting specialists to see her pregnant patients (it would scare you to know what ob/gyns have to manage on their own due to lack of help). We love it here, but ultimately this is forcing us to leave south florida.

    I am just now in the process of researching practices in the area and making decisions about our eventual relocation. I appreciate your insights.
     
  6. drchako

    drchako Formula Junior

    Dec 29, 2003
    343
    Palo Alto, CA
    #6 drchako, Jan 1, 2007
    I can't help you with the medical climate because I'm in the Army, and we are the ultimate in managed care. I'm a radiologist in the Seattle/Tacoma area (I work at Madigan Army Medical Center) as a teaching chief. I can tell you that the actual climate is pretty much as billed (wet in the winter and the most beautiful place in the world in the summer), but I think you already know that.

    My gut feeling is that specialists make less here than in other places (I'm thinking of Texas here), but are willing to take less money for the location.

    Good luck with your choice.
     

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