How is life as a doctor in Singapore?

Question to mopex mos, how do you guys cope if you are posted to a posting that you hate or not your choice?
Is there still any point of trying your best given that you know you are not going to stay there beyond 6mths? (Or you should adopt the army Chao keng attitude?)

Originally Posted by Unregistered

There are quite a few random questions presumably from young / jaded doctors, and answers from jaded and seemingly disillusioned doctors.
Please take replies with a pinch of salt and speak to people with actual wisdom.

This question is akin to asking whether driving BMW or Mercedes is better?
If someone asks you such a question, your next followup question is…
Better in what way?
What is your end goal?

Abe to all who say FM residency is useless / subpar in Singapore.
You either have not gone through FM residency yourself, or you happy practicing as an incompetent GP. Residency and MMed prepares you to be a competent FP, managing multitude of issues and coordinating care for your patients, many of whom come to you as the first port of call, trusting you to navigate them accurately and efficiently through the complex healthcare system.
If you practice post man style GP specializing in referrology then you only need MBBS.

I think FM residency has good and bad points. It offers you exposure to a variety of specialities but the learning value of some postings are really questionable. I think it is good for fresh hos who are interested in FM but are unsure where they want to practice in the future. For the more experienced mos, (pgy 3-4) who already know what they want (e.g gpland or ops or Community hospital) it might be better to just continue mopexing in the relevant postings until your bond end

I have gone through FM residency myself and passed mmed last year. I have joined private practice (chain group) since the start of the year and the learning curve is really steep. I compare myself to my colleague who only has gdfm and I can safely say that he is better than me, in terms of both communication skills, procedure skills (I mean he can do H&L and I&D comfortably), as well as practical knowledge (e.g occupational medicine stuff). I would certainly say he is more competent than me even though he has no mmed. (Of course he is 3-4 years more senior than me and has worked in the chain group for past 3-4 years.)

Originally Posted by Unregistered

I think FM residency has good and bad points. It offers you exposure to a variety of specialities but the learning value of some postings are really questionable. I think it is good for fresh hos who are interested in FM but are unsure where they want to practice in the future. For the more experienced mos, (pgy 3-4) who already know what they want (e.g gpland or ops or Community hospital) it might be better to just continue mopexing in the relevant postings until your bond end

I have gone through FM residency myself and passed mmed last year. I have joined private practice (chain group) since the start of the year and the learning curve is really steep. I compare myself to my colleague who only has gdfm and I can safely say that he is better than me, in terms of both communication skills, procedure skills (I mean he can do H&L and I&D comfortably), as well as practical knowledge (e.g occupational medicine stuff). I would certainly say he is more competent than me even though he has no mmed. (Of course he is 3-4 years more senior than me and has worked in the chain group for past 3-4 years.)

It is the same everywhere. The academics teach stuff that is not really applicable in the private sector. And with the communications stuff. Some of the things we do in the private sector cannot and probably will not be able to be taught in the training program.

If you want to do private GP work. Do the GDFM good enough. Then learn on the job. 80% of what is done in pte GP land cannot be taught by academia.

Originally Posted by Unregistered

I think FM residency has good and bad points. It offers you exposure to a variety of specialities but the learning value of some postings are really questionable. I think it is good for fresh hos who are interested in FM but are unsure where they want to practice in the future. For the more experienced mos, (pgy 3-4) who already know what they want (e.g gpland or ops or Community hospital) it might be better to just continue mopexing in the relevant postings until your bond end

I have gone through FM residency myself and passed mmed last year. I have joined private practice (chain group) since the start of the year and the learning curve is really steep. I compare myself to my colleague who only has gdfm and I can safely say that he is better than me, in terms of both communication skills, procedure skills (I mean he can do H&L and I&D comfortably), as well as practical knowledge (e.g occupational medicine stuff). I would certainly say he is more competent than me even though he has no mmed. (Of course he is 3-4 years more senior than me and has worked in the chain group for past 3-4 years.)

I bet you a big part of what is not taught to you is how to manage the bill size and charging for patients and communicate cost of medicine and tests to patients. Also private insurance coverage. How best can patients access their plans? Maximize? This is huge in private sector. It also directly translates into your clinic takings.

In the public sector this side of medicine is always about what MOH determines is cost effective. The same approach will not work in the private sector. But no training program will ever teach these skills properly to you for obvious reasons.

Hi, can I find out if it's possible to convert to an MO for reservist after finishing local medical school (I finished my NS before enrolling into YLL). I've deferred all my reservist so far.

Originally Posted by Unregistered

Hi, can I find out if it's possible to convert to an MO for reservist after finishing local medical school (I finished my NS before enrolling into YLL). I've deferred all my reservist so far.

Yes it is possible. You can do MOCC as reservist first.

Originally Posted by Unregistered

It is the same everywhere. The academics teach stuff that is not really applicable in the private sector. And with the communications stuff. Some of the things we do in the private sector cannot and probably will not be able to be taught in the training program.

If you want to do private GP work. Do the GDFM good enough. Then learn on the job. 80% of what is done in pte GP land cannot be taught by academia.

Yup private GP land level of fam med is mostly basic medicine. MBBS +/- GDFM enough, and learn on the job. That's why NS boys can locum at GP clinics. Because you really don't need to know a lot. No need to know complex level management of multiple chronic issues.

Complicated patients in the community are almost exclusively managed in the OPS simply by virtue of the fact that they need so many medications and close followup which would be very burdensome on the average Singaporean income.

Originally Posted by Unregistered

Yup private GP land level of fam med is mostly basic medicine. MBBS +/- GDFM enough, and learn on the job. That's why NS boys can locum at GP clinics. Because you really don't need to know a lot. No need to know complex level management of multiple chronic issues.

Complicated patients in the community are almost exclusively managed in the OPS simply by virtue of the fact that they need so many medications and close followup which would be very burdensome on the average Singaporean income.

Many new GPs think that if they know more can do more procedure etc means they will be more successful as GPs in pte. Sure you know more means you can do more. But how you gonna charge? Pte land is all about $$$ and very soon you learn the patients dowan to pay. You charge higher cos you do more then they say too expensive. Plus the time you spend doing procedures. Take consent. Explain etc. Then charge how much? You soon find it is not worth it. Especially when the pts want you charge cheap cheap.
Aesthetics patients will pay. But not T&S lump excision etc. H&L who dare do?

Originally Posted by Unregistered

I think FM residency has good and bad points. It offers you exposure to a variety of specialities but the learning value of some postings are really questionable. I think it is good for fresh hos who are interested in FM but are unsure where they want to practice in the future. For the more experienced mos, (pgy 3-4) who already know what they want (e.g gpland or ops or Community hospital) it might be better to just continue mopexing in the relevant postings until your bond end

I have gone through FM residency myself and passed mmed last year. I have joined private practice (chain group) since the start of the year and the learning curve is really steep. I compare myself to my colleague who only has gdfm and I can safely say that he is better than me, in terms of both communication skills, procedure skills (I mean he can do H&L and I&D comfortably), as well as practical knowledge (e.g occupational medicine stuff). I would certainly say he is more competent than me even though he has no mmed. (Of course he is 3-4 years more senior than me and has worked in the chain group for past 3-4 years.)

I think you are too generous with your assessment of FM Mmed, it is rubbish for becoming a GP. Not even recognised in Malaysia. Want to be GP just finish your bond and gain more experience in the real world. GDFM optional.

Originally Posted by Unregistered

I think you are too generous with your assessment of FM Mmed, it is rubbish for becoming a GP. Not even recognised in Malaysia. Want to be GP just finish your bond and gain more experience in the real world. GDFM optional.

Indeed a case of you don't know what you don't know but think you are v smart.