EPISODE DESCRIPTION

The episode delves into the world of QME (Qualified Medical Examiner) work, presented as a potential solution for healthcare professionals facing challenges like declining reimbursements,
rising costs, and burnout. The speaker, initially skeptical, found QME work rewarding, utilizing their clinical expertise while earning additional income, particularly in California’s liberal workers’ compensation system. The speaker highlights the benefits of QME work, including high demand for qualified examiners, and encourages others to explore this “secret” as a viable option. They discuss the pressures physicians face, such as spending less time with patients and feeling beholden to insurance companies, suggesting QME work as a way to regain work-life balance. Additionally, the speakers address the growing trend of physicians potentially being replaced by advanced practitioners, raising job security concerns. However, they propose that physicians
can leverage their extensive medical knowledge by taking on QME roles, which are in high demand, providing an additional income stream as the healthcare industry consolidates.

KEY LESSONS

Key learnings that are likely surprising to the reader:

• QME (Qualified Medical Examiner) work can provide an opportunity for physicians to utilize their clinical expertise and earn additional income, particularly in states with liberal interpretations of the workers’ compensation system.
• The growing trend of physicians potentially being replaced by advanced practitioners, such as nurse practitioners and physician assistants, can lead physicians to explore alternative options
  like QME work to maintain job security and income.
• As physicians get older, the physical demands of their work may become more challenging, making the QME role an appealing alternative that allows them to leverage their medical knowledge and expertise.

CHAPTERS

00:00 Sharing Secrets to Wellness and QME
02:22 The Benefits of California’s Liberal Workers’ Compensation System
04:11 Exploring the QME Acronym
05.13 Challenges of Clinical Practice: Declining Reimbursement and Rising Costs
06:18 The Increasing Costs and Challenges of Healthcare Delivery
08:11 Leveraging Expertise for Additional Income
09:39 Navigating the Challenges of Undocumented Workers and Aging Physicians in Healthcare

SUMMARY

The speaker, who describes himself as the “self-annoyed anti-wellness wellness guy,” shares his journey into QME (Qualified Medical Examiner) work. Initially skeptical, he found that QME
work provided an opportunity to utilize his clinical expertise and earn additional income, particularly in the state of California with its liberal interpretation of the workers’ compensation
system. The speaker emphasizes the potential benefits of QME work, including high demand for qualified examiners, while also acknowledging the concerns some may have about the field. He
aims to share this “secret” with others in similar situations, hoping to provide insight and encourage others to explore QME work as a viable option. The speaker discusses the challenges faced by healthcare professionals, such as declining clinical reimbursements, increasing insurance burdens, rising staff and equipment costs, and potential increases in malpractice insurance. They suggest that these factors can lead to physicians spending less time with patients and feeling beholden to insurance companies. The speaker then introduces the concept of QME (Qualified Medical Examiner) work as a potential solution, encouraging listeners to consider this option if they are experiencing burnout or seeking more work-life balance. The speakers are discussing the growing trend of physicians potentially being replaced by advanced practitioners, such as nurse practitioners and physician assistants. This raises concerns about job security for physicians. However, the speakers suggest that physicians can leverage their extensive medical knowledge and expertise to take on additional work as Qualified Medical Evaluators (QMEs), which is in high demand in California. This can provide an additional source of income as healthcare organizations and private equity firms continue to consolidate, potentially leading to less job security for some physicians. The speakers also note that as physicians get older, the physical demands of their work may become more challenging, making the QME role an appealing alternative.