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đŸ©ș Plastic surgery frustrations

PLUS: HENRY tips, MOA hiring, and Tesla sales

It isn’t just you who’s celebrating the weekend. You may not have heard her name before this week, but Caitlin Clark and her Iowa college basketball team are also celebrating after booking their ticket to the NCAA finals on Friday. Why should you care?

  • Clark has the most career points in Division I history for women AND men

  • Iowa brought women’s college basketball its most watched game ever as they avenged their loss in the finals last year against LSU on Monday

    • More people watched this game than all but one of the NBA Finals last year (12.3M viewers)

  • They face a huge challenge in taking on South Carolina in the finals tonight, who are undefeated throughout this season.

Now here’s the weekend roundup! (4 minute read)

#whatisaw - Surgery Edition đŸ”Ș 

One day in the OR a plastic surgeon got super frustrated with the liposuction wand not liposuctioning. After a few minutes the nurse resolved the suction issue, but the surgeon was so pissed he yelled at everyone to gtfo and threw stuff on the floor. It was me (hiding behind the anesthesia machine), the scrub nurse, and the surgeon. Dead silent for a few minutes. Finally the surgeon looks up and asks me to put on some music, so I put on some relaxing Nora Jones, and he told me I was the only anesthesia resident he could trust with stereo privileges.

Anonymous, PGY3

The number one thing is that I have a hard time tolerating any inefficiency. Car in front of me doesn’t go the second the light turns green? Person in front of me in the grocery store checkout line is fumbling around their wallet to find their money? People walking too slowly down a hallway without a way to go around them? All of these are super triggering. I barely act on them and try not to appear annoyed because I know that not everyone lives life at the same pace, and that’s ok. But damn
at work I’m expected to do my job perfectly and without any delay, and it really irritates me when others around me don’t do the same.

This was MUCH worse during junior years, when I was a legitimately angry person. It’s a lot easier to deal with nowadays.

Anonymous, Neurosurgery

These stories are sourced from Postcall readers as well as across the internet. Have a riveting tale of your own? Send us your best “Guess What I Saw Today” from the OR, ED, or clinic (anonymized, obviously).

Still Looking for an MOA?

Sifting through a stack of resumes in search of a new Medical Office Administrator (MOA) can be as daunting as scrolling through endless Tinder profiles. So as you’re chilling this weekend, run through the checklist and see if you’re missing any steps:

  • Craft Your Profile: Before diving in, craft a detailed profile outlining your clinical practice's needs. From appointment scheduling to handling insurance claims, clarity is key to attracting (or turning away) the right people.

  • Compatibility Check: Compatibility is crucial. Physicians should assess candidates for their fit with the practice's culture. Ask about:

    • Previous jobs

    • How they would solve a complex task you see often

  • Tech-Savvy Skills: Prioritize candidates who are tech-savvy. Proficiency in electronic health records is only going to become more important.

  • Communication: Look for candidates who can maintain smooth conversation and writing proficiency. Trusting they can handle communications with patients and other team members is worth it.

  • Reference Check: This one is easy to pass over (who wants to make more phone calls), but we’ve heard some nightmare stories.

  • Not seeing enough interest?

    • Try a headhunter. They’ll do all the posting and preliminary interviews, only send you a shortlist of excellent candidates.

    • Post on unusual places. Non-english local forums (if you speak a second language). Community college admin job offices.

Remember, the journey doesn't end there. To maintain the relationship, you must ensure that your MOA and clinic staff participate in ongoing training and professional development opportunities to keep that spark alive.

Speed Reads đŸš€ 

1: ☀ If you haven’t taken the day off tomorrow, call your admins. The eclipse is coming (around 11AM-noon in most parts of the country), and here are the best cities to watch it from:

2: 📖 The oldest Christian book — possibly also one of the oldest books in existence — is going on sale in June at the auction house Christie’s. Produced in one of the first Christian monasteries between 250-350 AD, it’s expected to be sold for $2.6-$3.8M.

3: 😼‍💹 New UK research shows that what causes the most lung damage from asthma is “epithelial cell extrusion“. During an attack, cells lining airways are squeezed to destruction. Luckily, this gives an indication of what drugs might be needed to break the cycle.

4: 🚗 Due to increasing inventory, Tesla is introducing some deep discounts on new vehicles already early in Q2. For example, a Model Y rear-wheel-drive is getting a $7,520 price adjustment — and that’s before the $7500 federal tax credit. If you’re in the market - we expect prices to drop further in the next few months.

Wild that post-credit, this could be a $35K car.

5: đŸ· Two weeks after a patient received the first genetically edited kidney transplant, the recipient was discharged from the hospital and is “recovering well.”

6: đŸ€” Daniel Kahneman, renown economist and behavioral psychologist, passed away at 90 last week. We’re pouring one out for him, to say thanks for giving us the ability to sound smart at dinner conversations with terms like “loss aversion“, “sunk cost fallacy”, and “anchoring bias”.

Rx: Prosperity đŸ€“

HENRYs — High Earners, Not Rich Yet — is a group that many doctors find themselves in. Despite substantial incomes, 70% of doctors feel ill-prepared in the financial literacy needed to become wealthy.

But don’t worry — Postcall’s got four tips today to get you a bit closer.

  1. Malpractice Insurance 

Keeping detailed records of patient care and conversations could be a future lifesaver. Rates can vary significantly between states and insurance providers, so physicians should compare quotes from multiple companies. Oh, and it’s required by law in most states

Read: Medesk’s Medical Record Keeping Tips

  1. Loan Repayments:

Repaying debt sooner than later can significantly free up your income. Even with post-residency incomes hitting $300,000+, many of us will spend a decade or more paying off loans. For current med students, keep tabs on your tuition credits to reduce taxes for you and your family. 

Read: Forbes' Tips for Paying off Medical School Debt.

  1. Negotiating Contracts:

We often forget about negotiating when we see that first job offer. Don’t forget to stand up for yourself - there's usually room for discussion about relocation coverages, time off, budget, etc. And consider having a lawyer to look over your contract. 

  1. Asking for Financial Help 

Financial literacy is crucial, but takes time. Here’s where a specialized financial advisor can step in. But beware: some advisors prey on high-income clients with low financial literacy. When finding a financial advisor, vet their credentials, ask fellow peers for recommendations, and interview your candidates. And if they try to sell you whole life insurance
 🏃 

Laugh of the Day

This one won’t throw stuff on the floor.

Game â›łïž

Let’s say a hello to April - those showers bring crossword finishing powers đŸ’Ș

First question: What’s causes spoon shaped nails, seen in iron deficinecy, malnutrition, DM

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đŸ€˜ PS. If you’re reading this, you know that our readers are America’s best and brightest physicians, medical learners, and other smart, ambitious people. Learn about partnering with Postcall if you’d like to reach them.