Advice on thriving as a PCP in FQHCs

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Specializes in ICU, Triage, Home Health, primary care FNP.

My heart belongs to the community health center and the population it serves, but as a new provider, I find myself feeling torn because the pay is so low and we are so overworked. For those of you who work in FQHCs/CHCs, what is your advice so that I can continue to work where my heart is? I also like to think that this will get better as I become a more efficient provider but that might be 2-3 years down the road. 

Specializes in psych/medical-surgical.

Having done my doctoral capstone at a FQHC, I am really sad to say that is not changing any time soon. I had to present my project to a board of NPs, MDs, and the CFO for approval - they had to put me on the itinerary in advance, and could have said no. The CFO was also hesistant on my project and barely let it slide. I can only imagine what you have to do for a raise in a place like that. 

I think sadly unless you want to dedicate yourself to policy, you might find the satisfaction somewhere else. You are going to be fighting through huge walls of red tape and the funding from what I have seen so far is really dependent on where you are, in public health/federally/state funded places - you are going to be overworked and underpaid independent of your relative location.

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