It seems that at any given program either the residents are amazing and the fellows are mediocre of vice versa.
It's a common fallacy to want an older, experienced physician vs. a resident or fellow. There are exceptions like specialized surgical procedures. Generally speaking though, when physicians leave the academic environment they rarely get better. Residents and fellows (and physicians who stay in academia) spend a huge amount of time on education - it's built into every day they're at work. Things like case conferences, morning reports, and Morbidity and Mortality reviews.
When you enter private practice it is completely up to you to stay educated and current. Sure, you may attend SGIM once a year and read monthly journals, but that is nothing compared to the structured learning environment they left behind.
I will take a good resident at a county hospital over a private hospitalist any day. Even at exceptional Tier one hospitals the level of dumb shot that happens with lazy private physicians can be jaw dropping.
The private hospitalist is going to order some labs and consults, round on you once a day (maybe) and that's about it.
A good resident will discuss your case at length with their interns, co-residents, fellows, and attendings.
It's a common fallacy to want an older, experienced physician vs. a resident or fellow. There are exceptions like specialized surgical procedures. Generally speaking though, when physicians leave the academic environment they rarely get better. Residents and fellows (and physicians who stay in academia) spend a huge amount of time on education - it's built into every day they're at work. Things like case conferences, morning reports, and Morbidity and Mortality reviews.
When you enter private practice it is completely up to you to stay educated and current. Sure, you may attend SGIM once a year and read monthly journals, but that is nothing compared to the structured learning environment they left behind.
I will take a good resident at a county hospital over a private hospitalist any day. Even at exceptional Tier one hospitals the level of dumb shot that happens with lazy private physicians can be jaw dropping.
The private hospitalist is going to order some labs and consults, round on you once a day (maybe) and that's about it.
A good resident will discuss your case at length with their interns, co-residents, fellows, and attendings.