It isn’t just you who’s celebrating the weekend. You may not have heard her name before this week, but Caitlin Clark and her Iowa college basketball team are also celebrating after booking their ticket to the NCAA finals. Why should you care?

• Clark has the most career points in Division I history for women AND men

• Iowa brought women’s college basketball its most watched game ever as they avenged their loss in the finals last year against LSU on Monday

  • More people watched this game than all but one of the NBA Finals last year (12.3M viewers)

• They face a huge challenge in taking on South Carolina in the finals tomorrow, who are undefeated throughout this season.

Now here’s the weekend roundup! (4 minute read)

#whatisaw - Surgery Edition 🔪 

These stories are sourced from Postcall readers as well as across the internet. Have a riveting tale of your own? Send us your best “Guess What I Saw Today” from the OR, ED, or clinic (anonymized, obviously).

Still Looking for an MOA?

Sifting through a stack of resumes in search of a new Medical Office Administrator (MOA) can be as daunting as scrolling through endless Tinder profiles. So as you’re chilling this weekend, run through the checklist and see if you’re missing any steps:

• Craft Your Profile: Before diving in, craft a detailed profile outlining your clinical practice's needs. From appointment scheduling to handling insurance claims, clarity is key to attracting (or turning away) the right people.

• Compatibility Check: Compatibility is crucial. Physicians should assess candidates for their fit with the practice's culture. Ask about:

  • Previous jobs

  • How they would solve a complex task you see often

• Tech-Savvy Skills: Prioritize candidates who are tech-savvy. Proficiency in electronic health records is only going to become more important.

• Communication: Look for candidates who can maintain smooth conversation and writing proficiency. Trusting they can handle communications with patients and other team members is worth it.

• Reference Check: This one is easy to pass over (who wants to make more phone calls), but we’ve heard some nightmare stories.

• Not seeing enough interest?

  • Try a headhunter. They’ll do all the posting and preliminary interviews, only send you a shortlist of excellent candidates.

  • Post on unusual places. Non-english local forums (if you speak a second language). Community college admin job offices.

Remember, the journey doesn't end there. To maintain the relationship, you must ensure that your MOA and clinic staff participate in ongoing training and professional development opportunities to keep that spark alive.

Speed Reads 🚤 

1: 🏫 Ontario Premier Doug Ford, who was in Vaughan formally announcing a new medical school run by York University to train family physicians, says that all medical school spots in the province should be taken by students from Ontario.

2: 📖 The oldest Christian book — possibly also one of the oldest books in existence — is going on sale in June at the auction house Christie’s. Produced in one of the first Christian monasteries between 250-350 AD, it’s expected to be sold for $2.6-$3.8M.

3: 😮‍💨 New UK research shows that what causes the most lung damage from asthma is “epithelial cell extrusion“. During an attack, cells lining airways are squeezed to destruction. Luckily, this gives an indication of what drugs might be needed to break the cycle.

4: 🚗 Due to increasing inventory, Tesla is introducing some deep discounts on new vehicles already early in Q2. For example, a Model Y rear-wheel-drive is getting a $7,520 price adjustment — and that’s before the federal tax credits. If you’re in the market - we expect prices to drop further in the next few months. (also if you’re in Manitoba, you’re in luck).

5: 🐷 Two weeks after a patient received the first genetically edited kidney transplant, the recipient was discharged from the hospital and is “recovering well.”

6: 🤑 You might be getting some additional cash in the bank in the next couple days if you’re a med student or resident (or somehow had income below the cutoff of $69,105) - the GST/HST tax credit instalment for this quarter was sent out yesterday.

Rx: Prosperity 🤓

HENRYs — High Earners, Not Rich Yet — is a group that many doctors find themselves in. Despite substantial incomes, 70% of doctors feel ill-prepared in the financial literacy needed to become wealthy.

But don’t worry — Postcall’s got four tips today to get you a bit closer.

1. Malpractice Insurance 

Keeping detailed records of patient care and conversations could be a future lifesaver. Canadian doctors face fewer lawsuits compared to our US neighbours but malpractice claims are valid concerns. Pain and suffering damages max out at $400,000, but additional uncapped costs, like lost income and future medical bills, can add up. 

Read: Medesk’s Medical Record Keeping Tips

2. Loan Repayments:

Repaying debt sooner than later can significantly free up your income. Canadian medical students carry an average of $90,000. Even with post-residency incomes hitting $300,000, many will spend a decade or more paying off loans. Because student loans are interest free in many provinces, residents normally pay off high-interest lines of credit first. Doctors can also take advantage of Canada Student Loan forgiveness. For current med students, keep tabs on your tuition credits to reduce taxes for you and your family. 

Read: Forbes' Tips for Paying off Medical School Debt.

3. Negotiating Contracts:

We often forget about negotiating when it comes to post-residency contracts (independent contractor and all). But even if you’re looking at locums, there's usually room for discussion about relocation coverages, time off, budget, etc. Consider having a lawyer to look over your contract. 

Read: Never Split the Difference 

4. Asking for Financial Help 

Financial literacy is crucial, but takes time. Here’s where a specialized financial advisor can step in. But beware: some advisors prey on high-income clients with low financial literacy. When finding a financial advisor, vet their credentials, ask fellow peers for recommendations, and interview your candidates. And if they try to sell you whole life insurance… 🏃 

Read: The White Coat Investor (US-leaning) and beyond MD (Canadian)

Laugh of the Day

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🤘 PS. If you’re reading this, you know that our readers are Canada's best and brightest physicians, medical learners, and other smart, ambitious people. Learn about partnering with Postcall if you’d like to reach them.