Healthcare Career Blog, Physician Blogs

How to write a winning CV

Author Healthcare Career Blogger | 23.06.2009 | Category Healthcare Career Blog, Physician CV, Physicians

Experts reveal physician resume keys to success

Writing a winning physician CV is a necessary ingredient for success in any job search; writing a winning physician resume, with all its density and required information, however, can be a particularly daunting and overwhelming task. For those finishing medical school or completing a physician residency, this could be your first time in the job market; fortunately, there are a number of physician resources available for those who are new to or who may be out of practice with the physician job search.

The key to writing a strong physician resume is remembering that this is your first chance to market yourself to a potential employer. To do so successfully, you need to give employers a clear picture of your experience in the most efficient way possible. Physician resumes, like all resumes, are most effective when they focus on quality over quantity.

Quick tips for writing a winning CV:

• Keep your CV short and to the point.
• Focus on relevant experiences that highlight your specialty.
• List experience and education in reverse-chronological order, including the dates and duration of each.
• Include any relevant honors and awards you have received and any committees, conferences or publications you have been a part of.
• Include licensure and certification information, including dates.
• List professional references, first making sure to ask those who may be willing to speak on your behalf.
• Be professional – avoid informal language or irrelevant personal details, use good-quality paper for both your physician resume and cover letter, and be sure to proofread carefully.
• Make sure to organize your CV in a way that is clear and easy-to-follow.

Visit again next week for more advice about writing a physician CV and cover letter. In the meantime, check out some of our other resources for medical professionals.

Does a smart phone make a smart physician?

Author Healthcare Career Blogger | 09.06.2009 | Category Healthcare Career Blog

In the past, some physicians have been resistant to computer-based medical technology because they were either unfamiliar with it, thought it was too time-consuming or felt it might chain them to a desk. But medical technology on the mobile phone has changed many physicians’ minds.

The AMA’s news site, amednews.com, reports that that 64% of doctors are using smartphones: iPhones, BlackBerrys, Treos and other hand-held devices with voice, wireless Internet access and powerful applications that turn the cell phone into a mobile computer.

An article in mobilehealthnews reports that in November of 2008 a medical student lobbied Apple to create a “medical” category for applications in the AppStore that would include applications for physicians, nurses and other healthcare workers. The medical category is now the third-fastest growing type of application for the iPhone.

According to Manhattan Research, some of the most widely used mobile applications for physician jobs are drug and clinical references, as well as clinical tools such as dosage calculators. The Diffusion Group conducted a study two years ago which concluded that mobile devices are unlikely to replace desktop systems entirely, but they can help physicians become more efficient by bringing applications to the point of care. Mobile devices also provide an opportunity for more data feedback from patients, both anecdotal and from medical monitoring devices. For example, a Bluetooth-enabled blood glucose monitor synchs up to a diabetes management application running on the iPhone.

While support for medical accessories is nothing new, an application called AirStrip is promising much more with its AirStrip CC (Critical Care) app. A demonstration showed that the app can take live sensor data and feed it to the iPhone over the Internet in real-time, giving doctors access to data when they’re not at the hospital. The touchscreen lets physicians measure statistics, like the distance between unusual heartbeats, by tapping two points.

In more conventional applications, smart phones are used as voice, alarm, text and paging devices for medical staff.

Interestingly some healthcare reform advocates have switched their focus from pushing desktop-based medical systems and are now advocating mobile-only. Though mobile systems offer a compelling upside of speeding up research and care for medical doctor jobs, mobile devices also present an opportunity for information overload. Even the first physicians who purchased plain-old cell phones quickly realized they were never really “out of the office.” We can only imagine what it will mean when an EKG can be viewed over the phone in real time.

For a list of top paid and free medical apps for an iphone, click here: itunes-medical

Rural Doctor Bill to Help Repay Medical Student Loans up to $160,000

Author Healthcare Career Blogger | 04.06.2009 | Category Education, Hospitals, Medical Student Loans, Physician Shortage, Physicians

The Texas House of Representatives passed a bill that will make it very attractive for a new medical school graduate to work in rural Texas or areas that are underserved.

HB 2154, initiated by Pampa Republican Warren Chisum who represents the largest number of rural counties in the House, will set up a fund to repay medical student loans of up to $160,000 to any medical school graduate who agrees to practice in a rural county in the state for at least four years. You ask, “Where will the money for this fund come from?” Mr. Chisum added into the bill that the money will come from a tax placed on smokeless tobacco products.

Adding to this exciting news, HB 3485 was also passed that will allow hospitals in counties with populations no greater than 50,000 to hire physicians as their employees. Texas is one of a few states where doctors are self employed, even if they only work at hospitals.

So not only will you get assistance to pay off your loans, you will have the security of knowing that you will have a paying job to go to without having to worry about paying office overhead. For a medical school graduate starting out, this is a wonderful opportunity to jump on!

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