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This is kind of buried in multiple threads, but this is a big deal.
CMS just proposed a rule change for supervision level of hospital outpatient therapeutic services from direct to general. This doesn't sound like a big deal, but it is actually a HUGE deal.
What this means functionally, is that a radiation oncologist will not need to be present to treat patients in hospital settings (i.e. the majority of jobs currently). This means a single Rad Onc can provide supervision for 2-3 hospitals simultaneously. It has been, that the vast majority of clinics have required a radiation oncologist to be present at all times during treatment. This has artificially buoyed the number of rad oncs "needed" significantly.They will no longer be needed.
Bottom lining this: The demand for rad oncs just died. Flat lined. Done.
Couple this with oversupply (doubling resident spots in a decade), wide spread hypo fractionation adoption (less demand for services), and APM (6-8% less reimbursement, optimistically) there will not be jobs for all of you. Some of you WILL be unemployed and unemployable. Locums won't be an option as linac babysitters are no longer needed. This is like the worst case scenario, perfect storm for job market collapse.
Run, don't walk away. There is still time to figure your future out.
CMS just proposed a rule change for supervision level of hospital outpatient therapeutic services from direct to general. This doesn't sound like a big deal, but it is actually a HUGE deal.
What this means functionally, is that a radiation oncologist will not need to be present to treat patients in hospital settings (i.e. the majority of jobs currently). This means a single Rad Onc can provide supervision for 2-3 hospitals simultaneously. It has been, that the vast majority of clinics have required a radiation oncologist to be present at all times during treatment. This has artificially buoyed the number of rad oncs "needed" significantly.They will no longer be needed.
Bottom lining this: The demand for rad oncs just died. Flat lined. Done.
Couple this with oversupply (doubling resident spots in a decade), wide spread hypo fractionation adoption (less demand for services), and APM (6-8% less reimbursement, optimistically) there will not be jobs for all of you. Some of you WILL be unemployed and unemployable. Locums won't be an option as linac babysitters are no longer needed. This is like the worst case scenario, perfect storm for job market collapse.
Run, don't walk away. There is still time to figure your future out.
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