Orthopedic surgery vs. critical care is one of the biggest debates among medical students interested in physiology. Both specialties allow you to explore the complex workings of the human body and use your skills to improve patient outcomes. However, they also have significant differences, such as the scope of practice, the work environment, and the training requirements.
How do you decide which one is right for you? In this article, we will provide helpful information and tips to help you make an intelligent decision on orthopedic surgery vs. critical care and find a fulfilling career that matches your interests and abilities. We will also help you evaluate practical factors such as job availability, salary, and training duration.
Orthopedic Surgery vs. Critical Care: Salary and Job Security
Orthopedic surgery might be your specialty if you want to earn a lot of money and have a steady demand for your services. But be prepared for a competitive job market, even if you graduate from a prestigious program.
Critical care, meanwhile, offers more job openings. You can easily find a hospital that needs intensivists, and the career outlook is positive, even if the salary is not as high as orthopedic surgery. But critical care also comes with some challenges, such as higher burnout and less job security, which we will discuss later.
According to recent data, orthopedists earn an average annual salary of $573,000, while intensivists have a lower average salary of $406,000. Of all medical specialties, only plastic surgeons have higher average annual salaries than orthopedists, with plastic surgeons earning $619,000.
Orthopedic Surgery vs. Critical Care: Competitiveness
Here we can assess the competitiveness of a specialty by looking at the unmatched rate – the % of people who apply and do not match into their preferred specialty Orthopedic surgery was the 2nd most competitive residency in the 2022 Match, with a 34.2% unmatched rate among US Seniors. Only plastic surgery had a higher percentage of 37.3%.
To pursue a career in critical care, you must first match into an internal medicine residency. Among US Seniors, the unmatched percentage for internal medicine residency was only 2%, making it less competitive than other residencies. However, this does not mean that critical care is less competitive. After completing your internal medicine residency, you will still need to match into a fellowship, which is generally more competitive than matching into a residency. Only 85 US seniors applied to the critical care medicine fellowship, with a 35.3% unmatched percentage.
Training Path: Residency
The training pathways for orthopedic surgery vs. critical care are not the same. Critical care involves a three-year internal medicine residency, followed by a two-year critical care fellowship. Orthopedic surgery involves a five-year orthopedic residency
Critical care fellowships are typically less competitive than orthopedic surgery residencies. Your USMLE scores, med school, and research are the main things for residency applications. Research is also a big thing for fellowship applications, and your residency program counts more, but your USMLE scores matter much less.
Orthopedic Surgery vs. Critical Care: Work-Life Balance
Work-life balance is a crucial factor for many medical professionals. Both orthopedic surgeons and intensivists have demanding schedules and on-call duties due to the nature of their work. However, it’s worth mentioning that intensivists are thought to be more easily replaced, as they don’t typically maintain a panel of patients like their orthopedic counterparts.
In comparison, orthopedic surgeons often have demanding surgical schedules and may work long hours in the operating room. They may also be on-call for emergencies such as trauma or accidents.
On average, orthopedic surgeons work 52.9 hours per week, which is above the middle of all medical specialties. In comparison, critical care averages 57.7 weekly working hours, ranking at the upper end of medical specialties.
Orthopedic surgeons spend an estimated 14 hours per week on administrative paperwork tasks, such as referral letters and diagnostic tests. In comparison, intensivists spend more hours, approximately 18 hours per week, due to extensive documentation requirements related to ICU admissions, daily progress notes, discharge summaries, and care coordination.
Training Duration and Subspecialties
The training duration is a key aspect to consider when choosing between orthopedic surgery vs. critical care. Critical Care requires a three-year internal medicine residency followed by a two-year fellowship. Orthopedic surgery has a minimum of five years of orthopedic residency.
After completing an orthopedic surgery residency program, some surgeons may choose to pursue additional fellowships to further specialize in a particular aspect of orthopedic surgery. This can increase the length of your orthopedic surgery training.
Orthopedic Surgery vs. Critical Care: Job Satisfaction and Burnout Rates
Job satisfaction plays a significant role in career fulfillment. According to various studies, orthopedic surgery tends to have higher job satisfaction rates than critical care. Many orthopedists express contentment with their career choice and would choose it again if given the chance. Additionally, orthopedic surgery has lower reported burnout rates than critical care.
According to recent data, orthopedic surgery ranked near the upper end of all medical specialties with 95% of orthopedists stating that they would choose the same specialty again, while critical care ranked lower with 78% of intensivists feeling the same way.
That being said, the burnout rate for orthopedic surgery was 45% which was near the lower end of all medical specialties. In comparison, critical care had a burnout rate of 55%, ranking above the middle of all medical specialties.
Orthopedic Surgery vs. Critical Care Comparison
To provide a visual overview, here’s a table comparing orthopedic surgery and critical care:
Aspect | Orthopedic Surgery | Critical Care |
---|---|---|
Average Salary | High, especially those focusing on high-demand joint/spine procedures | Lower than orthopedic surgery |
Job Security | High demand field as population ages. Injuries and sports will ensure job stability. | High demand due to the need for specialized care in critical care units |
Training Path | Typically involves 5 years of orthopedic surgery residency | Typically involves 3 years of internal medicine residency followed by a 2-3 year critical care fellowship |
Lifestyle | Predictable work schedule and increased opportunities for time off, but involve on-call responsibilities for trauma or accident cases | Demanding; involves long and irregular hours, including nights and weekends |
Administrative Paperwork | Moderate documentation requirements for surgery notes, consults, and orders. | Higher documentation requirements due to extensive documentation requirements related to ICU admissions, daily progress notes |
Job Satisfaction | Generally high, satisfaction tied to successful surgeries and patient outcomes | Lower |
Burnout Rates | Low to Moderate, depending on the workload and stress associated with surgical procedures | Higher |
Personality | Detail-oriented, mechanically inclined. Enjoy operative procedures. | Strong decision-making skills, ability to handle stress and pressure, good communication skills |
Please note that this table serves as a general comparison. To determine the most suitable career for you, consider your personal and career priorities and goals.
Concluding Thoughts
Choosing the right specialty between orthopedic surgery vs. critical care depends heavily on your priorities. To determine this, try reverse engineering your ideal life and identify your top priority. A helpful exercise is to write down the top five things you want to achieve in your career and personal life. Knowing these priorities will make finding a career that aligns with them easier. Often, the biggest obstacle is not a lack of knowledge about different fields but a lack of self-awareness about our own preferences.