Month: February 2023

Shows like Star Trek depict medicine and medical procedures as easy and painless as an afternoon on a lounge chair. A doctor waves an instrument over the patient’s body and voila! All is fixed. Although we’re not quite that advanced (yet), we’re getting closer and closer. Medical advances in the last twenty years have included wearable devices, HPV and COVID vaccines, and bionic limbs, making medical procedures and healthcare in general faster, smoother, and less painful. Now, with the technologies of interventional radiology, patients can be treated for a variety of diseases, including cancer, without surgery, anesthesia, or pain.

Originally founded in the 1960s by Charles Dotter, MD, interventional radiology (IR) treats a variety of conditions, including stroke, transplant support, and cancer. These conditions and diseases are treated through minimally invasive, image-guided treatment that once required surgery, says the Society of Interventional Radiology. This example of modern medicine is performed by board certified interventional radiologists who are trained in radiology and in minimally invasive therapies, says the article.

The term interventional radiology may sound vague to some, however, a more in-depth description of what is actually done is this: to diagnose and treat many diseases, an IR can, in many cases, forego surgery and hospitalization by inserting various instruments into the body, says John Hopkins Medicine. Catheters, wires, x-rays, CT scans, and ultrasound technology help guide the IR to internally see the patient and treat the issue. The cuts involved in inserting the tools can be as small as a pinhole, says WebMD.

Interventional radiology is monumental in cancer treatment, says WebMD. By placing chemotherapy and radioactive medicines into the affected areas, it directly treats the disease, prevents bleeding (during surgery). It also aids in pain from cancer treatment side effects such as blood clots and fluid buildup, says the article. More amazing procedures IRs can perform for cancer are killing cancer tumors via heat through radio waves or electric currents, or freezing them with ice crystals. IR also treats conditions with blood vessels, kidneys, and gallstones.

Training to become an IR is extensive. IRs are medical doctors that are trained in radiology, minimally invasive procedures, radiation safety and physics, and must have a comprehensive knowledge of the latest procedures available as well as diagnostic and clinical experience, says Radiologyinfo. IRs can be hospital based, meaning they travel to and from a couple of different hospitals within their work week, and/or they can be a part of specialty group practices, outside of the hospital, says the American Medical Association. An IR usually spends four days a week treating patients, and about one day a week doing administrative work, referring physicians, consults, and completing notes, says the article. They have become an integral part of a treatment team within hospitals and private practices. 

We are living in an exciting time of medicine, where seeing and treating the body is becoming less about invasive exploration and more about advanced imagery. It’s not quite body scanners and needle-free hyposprays, but it’s safe to say we are learning and going places, medically, where no man has gone before.

Looking for the Perfect IR Placement?

Balancing work and life as an interventional radiologist can prove challenging. Finding a position that offers the compensation you deserve and the hours that allow you to have your own free time is important. Luckily, Momentum Healthcare Staffing helps match IRs with the best hospitals. Please contact us to learn more and be sure to bookmark our jobs page for the latest Locums Tenens and permanent placements.

To be a medically practicing physician or nurse in California, students must maintain a medical license with the proper accreditation. Once licensed, physicians can diagnose patients, prescribe medication, and administer treatment.

Physicians and Nurse Practitioners must continue their education to maintain their licenses. After graduating, nurses and physicians must continue their education to obtain their licenses. In the years following, they’ll need to renew their licenses.

Physicians — Board-Approved Postgraduate Training

To earn their license, physicians must participate in 12 months of training from the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME).

Physicians may also complete their training in Canada. Accreditation may come from The College of Family Physicians of Canada (CFPC) or the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada (RCPSC).

After completion, they will receive a postgraduate training license (PTL). The PTL is valid for 90 days after completing their 12-month training to allow time for licensure.

After the first 12 months of training, trainees must get a California Physician and Surgeon license.

Physicians — Renewing Your License

Licenses don’t last forever, so physicians need to apply to renew them. Licenses expire every two years; those received after July 1, 2018, expire at midnight on the expiration date.

Physicians need to verify that they’ve gotten credit for 36 months of postgraduate training approved by the board. Twenty-four months of that training must be through the same training program.

Physicians — Continuing Education

Working in the medical field entails physicians continuing their education long after graduating.

In California, MDs must have 50 hours of approved continuing medical education (CME) credits every license cycle. All of these credits must be Category 1 approved.

DOs must also have 50 hours of approved CME credits every license cycle. But 20 of those hours must be an AOA category 1A or 1B.

Most physicians must complete a one-time training in treating terminally ill patients and pain management. Radiologists and pathologists are the only ones exempt from this training.

Nurses & Nurse Practitioners — Maintaining An Active License

Registered nurses (RNs) in California must complete 30 hours of continuing education every two years. RNs must take the courses through a provider that the Board of Registered Nursing recognizes.

Continuing education courses must be relevant to nursing and improve student knowledge. Students should have learned more through the course than is required for practice.

RNs must keep records of grade slips or certificates for four years after course completion because they are proof that nurses have completed the required continuing education. All registered nurses may be subject to random audits.

Nurses renewing their license for the first time do not have to complete these requirements if they took the exam less than two years prior. However, nurses within their first two years of licensure must still complete one credit hour in an implicit bias course.

Nurse practitioners are not required to take additional continuing education classes outside the necessary 30 hours.

Conclusion

To practice medicine in California, nurses and physicians must take continuing education courses and maintain their licenses. Licenses expire every two years, and practitioners and nurses must continue taking classes to renew their licenses.

Seeking a Career Boost or Change?

It is not unusual for doctors or nurse practitioners to feel burned out or even not fairly compensated from their jobs. In these unfortunate common cases, it can leave a doctor or NP to feel deflated and with no options. The good news is, when you partner with a healthcare recruiting agency like Momentum, we help find you the best employers and hospitals to work with based on your desired salary and work schedule. Please bookmark our jobs page or call us now to get help finding the permanent or Locum Tenens assignment you deserve!.

Urgent care centers are gaining immense popularity in recent years due to the convenience and quality of care they provide. These centers provide quick, convenient access to medical care, allowing patients to get the care they need without having to wait for days or weeks for an appointment with a primary care provider. Interest is growing 7 percent each year, with over 11,000 urgent cares currently running, according to the Urgent Care Association.

Why Do Americans Go To Urgent Care Centers?

Urgent care centers have shorter wait times than many hospitals or emergency rooms, making them an ideal option for those who need medical care quickly. Most patients are seen in less than an hour, which varies greatly from several hours to days before being seen by a doctor.

Medical Ailments Treated at an Urgent Care

Urgent care centers provide a wide range of services and treatments, as well as access to specialists, which can help ensure that patients get the care they need when they need it. This can be especially helpful for those who do not have reliable access to healthcare or who have chronic illnesses that require frequent medical attention. Furthermore, urgent care centers have shorter wait times than many hospitals or emergency rooms, making them an ideal option for those who need medical care quickly.

Urgent care centers offer medical assistance for minor to limited-type severe issues. Normal treatments provided include general primary care, lab work, X-rays, and minor surgical procedures, which can be completed in a short amount of time. This makes them an ideal option for those who need medical care but do not have the time or resources to wait for an appointment. Additionally, these centers are often more affordable than visiting a hospital or emergency room, and they often have extended hours, making them accessible to a wider range of people.

Since 2019, urgent cares have seen more than 50 percent spike in growth. Covid-19 was a major factor in the increase. Many centers provided Covid-19 testing, and this was a draw towards urgent care because you could get a test much sooner than if you would make an appointment with a primary care provider. The convenience and cost-effectiveness of urgent care centers have made them a popular choice for people seeking prompt medical attention, which was seen widely during the pandemic.

Urgent care centers are staffed by experienced medical professionals to include nurse practitioners, medical assistants, etc., and can provide an affordable option for those who do not have access to traditional primary care providers. Also, they can provide a much-needed bridge between primary care and emergency care, helping to ensure that people receive the right level of medical attention when they need it most.

Conclusion

In short, urgent care centers are becoming increasingly popular due to their convenience, affordability, and wide range of services. They provide quick access to medical care and can often be more affordable than traditional options, making them an ideal option for those who need medical care but cannot wait for an appointment. Additionally, they provide access to specialists and can help ensure that patients get the care they need when they need it.

Staffing Your Urgent Care Center

If you operate an urgent care center, staffing with top notch clinical professionals is of paramount importance. At Momentum Healthcare Staffing, we match you with the best nurse practitioners and physicians and we handle for permanent and Locum Tenens assignments. Contact us if you have any questions: (877) 558-3782.