Why I Don’t “Retire”

Mark L Friedman, MD, FACEP

After a long career in emergency medicine, I was slowing down, working fewer ER shifts, picking up more urgent care gigs. I thought about why. What was it that I didn’t like about the ED? What if I could fix it? What would be my ideal practice? Since I had previously taken a career detour into business, the thought did not seem that outlandish.

What if I could: practice from anywhere; work as much or as little and whenever I wanted; avoid exposure to infectious disease, hazards, assault; simplify medical record keeping; reduce malpractice litigation risk; and eliminate practice (hospital) politics?

And what if, at the same time, I could: increase patient access to care; reduce costs; reduce patient waiting time; and improve the patient experience, all while practicing good medicine?

This was the origin of First Stop Health. After 10 years, I am still learning how to practice medicine over the phone (How do you rule out appendicitis?) and seeing new and interesting cases (Schistosomiasis? Really?). I have treated hundreds of cases of COVID without personal exposure. I have done thousands of medical consultations in multiple states from four continents, from mountaintops, and at sea. I am continuing to work (and earn money) and enjoy practicing medicine at an age when most of my colleagues have long since retired.

Is this something to be considered by emergency physicians as they approach retirement? YOU BET!

Emergency physicians already possess the long years of experience, depth, and breadth of clinical knowledge that it takes to effectively (and safely) treat and triage patients via remote means. The continuing loss of experienced clinicians is a tragedy that contributes to the chronic, growing shortage of physicians and the erosion of health care. Why not become part of the solution?

Mark is an emergency physician and chief medical officer of First Stop Health.