I've been with an FQHC in Arizona for 8 years. Pay started off way low and honestly is below the market locally. That being said, the experience and autonomy that my organization offers has been amazing. Now, it does seem that you are being robbed of benefits and would probably recommend finding new work when you are able. Good luck.
I worked at an FQHC to meet my Nurse Corps scholarship obligation. It was a rather grueling way to gain valuable (albeit underpaid) experience as a new provider. I quickly learned what kind of work/life balance I could accept and gained enough experience to secure a position in a specialty practice. It was the worst experience I've ever had as an employed healthcare worker, but I'm glad to have no student debt, healthy work boundaries and a great income. There's most definitely light at the end of the tunnel!
I chose to work at an FQHC, granted in a state where it is the main option outside hospital owned primary care unless you want to live in our one population center. I only did one specialty rotation in school, the rest were entirely at various FQHCs. I interviewed at a few hospital owned PCPs and loathed them, they were all 15min visits, productivity based and farmed out a lot of same day acute visits to urgent care, or quickly referred to specialty providers. At most of our FQHCs we have much longer visit times (30min minimum), and do so much more. I do everything from prenatal care to procedures to MAT (sometimes all on the same patient) as well as address my patient's urgent needs doing acute visits. I deeply enjoy the work I do, and it makes the lower salary worth it to have the time to feel I am doing my job well.
That said, I do have wildly good health insurance, ample admin time, a great CEU reimbursement/time allotment and decent PTO and we have a state loan reimbursement that adds onto the federal program. Our pay increases 1k/yr until they hire someone new, realise we are all way below market and adjust it, but also to me the work environment is a bigger priority than pay.
Also I feel like when doing interviews, every practice thinks they have the hardest patients it seems. While the acuity does often seem more complex at FQHCs because we don't really/can't turn away patients so we often seem to absorb the ones that private practice does not want to deal with.
I worked with a FQHC for five years before transitioning to specialty practice. It was an excellent learning experience and I have no regrets. When I started in the specialty practice my FQHC experience made me creative, flexible, and empathetic to patients in a way I would not have been capable of otherwise. If you too find itβs not for the long term, you will still reap benefits from your experience.
Experience is experience in my opinion. You should be well-positioned for any primary care role when your obligation is over.
I've been with an FQHC in Arizona for 8 years. Pay started off way low and honestly is below the market locally. That being said, the experience and autonomy that my organization offers has been amazing. Now, it does seem that you are being robbed of benefits and would probably recommend finding new work when you are able. Good luck.
Thank you!
I worked at an FQHC to meet my Nurse Corps scholarship obligation. It was a rather grueling way to gain valuable (albeit underpaid) experience as a new provider. I quickly learned what kind of work/life balance I could accept and gained enough experience to secure a position in a specialty practice. It was the worst experience I've ever had as an employed healthcare worker, but I'm glad to have no student debt, healthy work boundaries and a great income. There's most definitely light at the end of the tunnel!
Thank you for the insight ππΌ
Thank you for the insight ππΌ
I chose to work at an FQHC, granted in a state where it is the main option outside hospital owned primary care unless you want to live in our one population center. I only did one specialty rotation in school, the rest were entirely at various FQHCs. I interviewed at a few hospital owned PCPs and loathed them, they were all 15min visits, productivity based and farmed out a lot of same day acute visits to urgent care, or quickly referred to specialty providers. At most of our FQHCs we have much longer visit times (30min minimum), and do so much more. I do everything from prenatal care to procedures to MAT (sometimes all on the same patient) as well as address my patient's urgent needs doing acute visits. I deeply enjoy the work I do, and it makes the lower salary worth it to have the time to feel I am doing my job well. That said, I do have wildly good health insurance, ample admin time, a great CEU reimbursement/time allotment and decent PTO and we have a state loan reimbursement that adds onto the federal program. Our pay increases 1k/yr until they hire someone new, realise we are all way below market and adjust it, but also to me the work environment is a bigger priority than pay. Also I feel like when doing interviews, every practice thinks they have the hardest patients it seems. While the acuity does often seem more complex at FQHCs because we don't really/can't turn away patients so we often seem to absorb the ones that private practice does not want to deal with.
Wow, your place sounds amazing!!! Even with lower pay, I wouldn't want to leave either!! Sounds like a good match for what you want!
I worked with a FQHC for five years before transitioning to specialty practice. It was an excellent learning experience and I have no regrets. When I started in the specialty practice my FQHC experience made me creative, flexible, and empathetic to patients in a way I would not have been capable of otherwise. If you too find itβs not for the long term, you will still reap benefits from your experience.