that only 35 percent of respondents feel they’re financially pre- pared to retire.”
Another finding that surprised Dr. Gong was that 76 percent said they hadn’t thought about medical liability insurance cov- erage they may need after they retire. (See “How to Hang Up the Stethoscope,” pages 20–21.) Dr. Speer stresses that competence, rather than mandatory
retirement due to age, should be the deciding factor regarding whether physicians should be able to continue practicing.
Dr. Guillory agrees. She took the maintenance of certifica- tion exam for neonatology this year. “What I realized immediately after I took the exam is experi- ence compensates for any mild decrease in efficiency a physi- cian may have. The exam gave me a concrete way to look at my capability as a physician. I’m glad I took the test. It proved to me that I’m up to date on what I’ve been teaching students,” she said.
When a gold watch isn’t enough
Physicians who do decide to retire may see their dreams of traveling, golfing, fishing, or just spending time with the grandchildren turn to nightmares. Many physicians may lose their professional identity, and their sense of self-worth may decline when they retire. “For many physicians, their lives are wrapped around their
careers. When they retire, the professional part of their lives is gone,” said Lois Killewich, MD, PhD, a member of the TMA Committee on Physician Health and Rehabilitation (PHR). “If they don’t recognize the potential emotional problems and have other interests to focus on after retirement, they could become stressed or depressed, which will take a negative toll on their lifestyle.”
The PHR Committee helps ensure safe patient care by pro- moting the health and well-being of Texas physicians and of- fers live presentations on several topics to county medical soci- eties, hospitals, and other groups upon request. Presentations provide physicians 1 AMA PRA Category 1 CreditTM
in ethics
and/or professional responsibility education. Dr. Killewich, 60, a professor in the Division of Vascular Sur-
gery at The University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston, averages one PHR presentation per month throughout Texas. Some of her presentations address health problems that may affect physicians as they age and the importance of properly preparing for retirement. “Addressing Impairment in the Aging Physician,” a live pre- sentation, discusses identification of common neurological, psychiatric, and other medical illnesses that may affect the ag- ing physician and his or her medical practice. The presentation covers ethical obligations to address conditions of impairment in colleagues to ensure safe patient care and intervention to recognize illnesses in aging physicians. “Physician Retirement: Personal and Ethical Issues” educates physicians on the importance of early planning for a success- ful and satisfying retirement. Highlights include identification of significant physician and patient care factors and ethical considerations in preparing for retirement and maintaining optimal patient care while planning for retirement. The PHR Committee also educates the medical community
through online and home study continuing medical education activities.
“Ethical Considerations in Physician Aging and Retirement,” an online course, discusses how to recognize signs of and ad- dress impairment in the aging physician and encourages par- ticipants to become more aware of the personal and ethical considerations involved in planning for a successful retirement. Participants receive 2 AMA PRA Category 1 CreditsTM
and 2 eth-
ics and/or professional responsibility education credits. For a complete list of live PHR Committee presentations, as well as online and home study courses, visit www.texmed .org/phrCourses. To schedule a live presentation, email TMA PHR Adminis- trative Assistant Sharon Chicano at
sharon.chicano@texmed .org, or call (800) 880-1300, ext. 1343, or (512) 370-1343. Dr. Killewich says making presentations about aging and
retirement across the state gave her information she can apply to her life. After 20 years in the medical field, Dr. Killewich will retire in February. “I’m retiring partly because I’m tired, but the main reason
is so that my husband and I can pursue our dream of sailing around the world,” she said.
She’s not too worried about adjusting to retired life. “I think I have enough interests that I probably won’t have
problems. I might work again at some point in the future in a part-time capacity in medicine or in another industry,” she said. For more information about the PHR Committee’s servic- es, email Linda Kuhn, TMA PHR program manager, at linda .
kuhn@texmed.org, or call (800) 880-1300, ext. 1342, or (512) 370-1342.
June 2012 TEXAS MEDICINE 19
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60