The hidden corners of American medical residency
You may often find yourself sharing about your American medical residency journey – opportunities gold and the great benefits it brings. But the truth is that this path is not only rosy, but also contains many hidden corners and is not suitable for everyone.
Today, I want to tell you about those downsides, so you can consider more carefully before deciding to embark on this journey.
1. Time pressure and health
American medical residency is not an 8-hour/day job. American resident doctors can work 80 hours/week, sometimes even up to 100 hours, depending on the specialty.
A shift can last 24–28 hours, especially in specialties such as surgery or emergency medicine. Doctors may have to constantly operate, handle patients continuously, and sometimes only get a few hours of sleep on the sofa in the break room.
In addition, being a resident doctor in the US means you have to leave your family, friends, and familiar environment in Vietnam. You will face cultural differences: American communication styles, pressure to assimilate quickly, and sometimes prejudice against foreign-educated physicians (IMGs).
Therefore, taking care of your physical and mental health is extremely important to successfully complete a medical residency training program in the US.
2. Administrative burden
In Vietnam, you may be used to handling many patients at the same time with limited resources. However, in the US, the system focuses on each patient, with complicated paperwork and insurance processes (billing, coding) that resident doctors must get used to and face.
The reason is because in the US, doctors not only treat diseases but also have to deal with the health insurance system. Doctors need to take detailed notes to meet insurance payment requirements, sometimes spending hours every day on paperwork.
An error in the records can lead to insurance refusal to pay, directly affecting the income of doctors and hospitals.
3. “Customer is king”
In the US, patients are considered “customers,” and patient reviews not only affect a doctor’s reputation but can also impact a doctor’s career opportunities for advancement or income. This means that the doctor must not only cure the disease, but also satisfy the patient.
Patients in the US value personal freedom and want to participate in deciding their treatment. That’s why they often have a lot of questions for the doctor, and rarely accept the fact that “where the doctor puts it, the patient sits there.”
Therefore, the doctor must explain the patient’s condition, treatment plan, and the reason for refusing their request (sometimes very unreasonable) in an easy-to-understand, detailed, and gentle way, but still maintain professionalism.
Therefore, the ability to communicate effectively with patients in English is not just a soft skill – it is the deciding factor in the success or failure of doctors in the US. And all of these things the doctor must do well from the first days of residency.
In short, American medical residency is not an easy path – with many hidden corners and challenges. This journey is not only a story of expertise, but also a test of perseverance and adaptability.
If you feel like you’re not suitable, then maybe this isn’t the path for you. And if you want to challenge yourself and go to the end, then with your own experience, the sweet fruit at the end of the road is extremely worthy.
What do you think about these hidden corners?
Dr. Christina Nguyen
The Phoenix Medical Academy
