How is life as a doctor in Singapore?

Originally Posted by Unregistered

I have no interest in FCPS. While im young I want to work hard , willing to work long hours and make more money so I can invest more an retire early. My friends earn 20-30 k per month locuming as they are working long hours. This will be possible only while im in my young 30s, not possible once im in my 40s. Not willing to give up the possible higher income for FCFPS

I dont see how FCFPS will be valuable unless i want to climb the admin ranks in polyclinic, which im not interested in , because for the same hours of work and much lesser liability and stress i can locum. Like someone mentioned, who answers for the patients in court-> the FCFPS of course. I want to be the free locum ( who yes has liability but lesser ) and the person who makes more money and yet , can take off on a 1-2 month sabattical whenever i want

Originally Posted by Unregistered

I dont see how FCFPS will be valuable unless i want to climb the admin ranks in polyclinic, which im not interested in , because for the same hours of work and much lesser liability and stress i can locum. Like someone mentioned, who answers for the patients in court-> the FCFPS of course. I want to be the free locum ( who yes has liability but lesser ) and the person who makes more money and yet , can take off on a 1-2 month sabattical whenever i want

so now you’re leaving your patients just because u get mmed already.
you think you will be safe from the law if you do
something wrong? arrogant. didnt know we breed these kind of doctors these days.

Originally Posted by Unregistered

I have no interest in FCPS. While im young I want to work hard , willing to work long hours and make more money so I can invest more an retire early. My friends earn 20-30 k per month locuming as they are working long hours. This will be possible only while im in my young 30s, not possible once im in my 40s. Not willing to give up the possible higher income for FCFPS

If u become a fam med prof u can earn $400,000k per year
Fcfps is a must. And papers
When young shld do more project
When u become head, u can throw complaints as frivolous
Protect ur younglings
And be an inspiration to young docs

Originally Posted by Unregistered

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i already have MMED but i dont see the point staying on in polyclinic as I cannot accept staying back late on a daily basis to clear the large numbers of " walk in patients who expect the world"

I feel its unfair that my work hours is 8-5 , but im staying back till 6-630 with no additional remuneration. At least if i switch to locuming , I can get paid for myhard work on an hourly basis

If anyone knows how to join the locum google groups pls drop the link here thanks.
snarky commends are unwarranted. MMED is not a big deal, I have it and it holds no value nowadays unless u do fellowship in polyclinic. everyone has mmed.

Lastly, in polyclinic i am a slave to the patients. If the patient complains, my boss always supports the patients. whats the point

you really dont have to respond to the troll you know?

which cluster you at ? sounds like sing health who don't reject walk in and you have your own queue without anyone to help you.
if daily work till 6 to 630 pm , yea, can understand why u so dulan. I would be too. Maybe polyclinic practice not suitable for you.

outside the patient is also your boss la but frankly private patient actually better. One unique feature of Singaporeans where they are more demanding when the service is deemed to a be a 'national service'. Ask for the sky , heaven and 10 thousand standby meds. Private GP wait 2 hours no problem , come polyclinic wait 20 mins can complain why not being seen at appointment time.
Farking hell, as if i am drinking my tea inside and not attending to you.. can you FREAKING SEE THE CROWD OUT THERE? I'm doing my best and seeing u twenty minutes after your appointment time and YOU ARE SCREAMING AND ROLLING YOUR EYES AT ME?
I really hope u suffer a stroke, become paralyzed dually incontinent and die from bedsores after being tormented for months in your own urine being feasted by maggots.

fyi , it is considered abuse of healthcare workers if they demand service that is not reasonable. Many times we don't even know we are being abused.

Get complained is normal one la. If you have not being complained before, you probably are doing medically wrong things giving patient whatever they want. But sometimes must also reflect why you kenna complained. Sometimes it's justified and i think i am wrong too and i learn from it. Other times its just plain ********. Dun let it affect you.
Boss is important. You get those PC boss then better leave or switch polyclinic.

Originally Posted by Unregistered

If u become a fam med prof u can earn $400,000k per year
Fcfps is a must. And papers
When young shld do more project
When u become head, u can throw complaints as frivolous
Protect ur younglings
And be an inspiration to young docs

How long does it take to become a fam med prof?

You mean other poly clusters can turn away patients ?

I fail to understand why they happily allow any number to walk in with no limit. This is not sane for mental health of staff . Secondly, when they come in , labs , XR all closed . U just end up telling them to return the next day .

Originally Posted by Unregistered

You mean other poly clusters can turn away patients ?

I fail to understand why they happily allow any number to walk in with no limit. This is not sane for mental health of staff . Secondly, when they come in , labs , XR all closed . U just end up telling them to return the next day .

because the story goes that singhealth polyclinic once rejected a patient and he died of a heart attack subsequently.
Family complain and the people in singhealth ivory tower decreed henceforth that their polyclinic will not reject patients.
Doctor can die from stress but patient cannot reject. Sad hor?

my side can reject. We put up a huge board that says clinic is full so that people can see from FAR FAR away and auto dun come. Still turn up one nurse help triaged and turn away patient if they can. Of cse chest pain one we see and occasionally the bugger will tell you actually he no chest pain, but really need a MC to cover him because he got a headache and didn't turn up for work. I guess at least he is being honest instead of me wasting time doing ECG and what not.

I guess u probably doing too good a job , hence u can't clear your load. The foreigner RP from Philippines or malaysia anyhow copy and paste notes and 'cont meds, TCU 3 months' one surviving quite well if u notice. One fine example of act blur live longer. Their incompetency and possibly langauge barrier is helping them survive.

Sometimes have to do polyclinic style more la. You got m.med which means u probably know your stuff and have a fair bit of experience, internally have to triage one. Those auntie will always bring up ' chest tightness ' , ' hand numbness' , ' night time leg cramp' , ' vaginal very dry' sort of problem in addition to their 10 thousand issues.
You sit down there and go through all of them you will die.
Some of them no choice , sound like real one u have to settle but reality is a lot of them are bo liao one. Because to them asking is free mah. Wah, this doctor very friendly and seem to know his/her stuff, i better ask this time because if next time see that useless pinoy doctor everything also don't know.
You have to pretend didn't hear, anyhow explain them away or say wah, sound serious, i have to refer you to specialist at hospital but very expensive , you want? then referral letter just write ' patient request referral to neuro for numbness of fingers '.
Other times i act like a blur fumbling uncaring doctor not wanting to look at them but just stare my screen most of the time and talk while typing to get them out of the room.

Originally Posted by Unregistered

because the story goes that singhealth polyclinic once rejected a patient and he died of a heart attack subsequently.
Family complain and the people in singhealth ivory tower decreed henceforth that their polyclinic will not reject patients.
Doctor can die from stress but patient cannot reject. Sad hor?

my side can reject. We put up a huge board that says clinic is full so that people can see from FAR FAR away and auto dun come. Still turn up one nurse help triaged and turn away patient if they can. Of cse chest pain one we see and occasionally the bugger will tell you actually he no chest pain, but really need a MC to cover him because he got a headache and didn't turn up for work. I guess at least he is being honest instead of me wasting time doing ECG and what not.

I guess u probably doing too good a job , hence u can't clear your load. The foreigner RP from Philippines or malaysia anyhow copy and paste notes and 'cont meds, TCU 3 months' one surviving quite well if u notice. One fine example of act blur live longer. Their incompetency and possibly langauge barrier is helping them survive.

Sometimes have to do polyclinic style more la. You got m.med which means u probably know your stuff and have a fair bit of experience, internally have to triage one. Those auntie will always bring up ' chest tightness ' , ' hand numbness' , ' night time leg cramp' , ' vaginal very dry' sort of problem in addition to their 10 thousand issues.
You sit down there and go through all of them you will die.
Some of them no choice , sound like real one u have to settle but reality is a lot of them are bo liao one. Because to them asking is free mah. Wah, this doctor very friendly and seem to know his/her stuff, i better ask this time because if next time see that useless pinoy doctor everything also don't know.
You have to pretend didn't hear, anyhow explain them away or say wah, sound serious, i have to refer you to specialist at hospital but very expensive , you want? then referral letter just write ' patient request referral to neuro for numbness of fingers '.
Other times i act like a blur fumbling uncaring doctor not wanting to look at them but just stare my screen most of the time and talk while typing to get them out of the room.

Which SI i this? west side? i want to join. pay same as singhealth?

Once people complain me in URTI area that i am "uncaring doctor ". Hello, i wear mask + full PPE, aunty how to smile at you. I saw, gave you meds and mc not enough? My q still waiting outside to be cleared.

At least private can turn away patients once full or clinic close. My regular Gp even tells me " im tired in the morning , i need a rest , you come bac in the afternoon for minor procedure. and to be honest , I am perfectly fine with it. I would rather my doctor be alert and not tired. Whereas, polyclinic just squeeze you dry

Originally Posted by Unregistered

Once people complain me in URTI area that i am "uncaring doctor ". Hello, i wear mask + full PPE, aunty how to smile at you. I saw, gave you meds and mc not enough? My q still waiting outside to be cleared.

At least private can turn away patients once full or clinic close. My regular Gp even tells me " im tired in the morning , i need a rest , you come bac in the afternoon for minor procedure. and to be honest , I am perfectly fine with it. I would rather my doctor be alert and not tired. Whereas, polyclinic just squeeze you dry

Be dr long enough you will deal with enough people to realize that majoriry of humans are just selfish self centred me me me

That's the problem with medicine. Have to see patients one by one. Each patient want you to treat them like they are most important person in the world. Answer all their questions. Address all their concerns. Fix their med problems. All for....$30 or abouts.

Sure spend 1 hour talk and answer and address. $30 an hour.