5 Day Work Week?

[Dawkter]

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Curious… how many of you are working 5 days a week and taking call? I am noticing physically that by Thursday or Friday waking up early in the morning does get more challenging with the conventional M-F anesthesia work week. I would love to know more about different groups monthly schedules + vacation time pertaining to longevity in this career.

 

[rowsdower88]

7 years out of residency, I'm working full time which averages out to 4 days a week with one to two post-call days and one weekend a month. 8 weeks vacation. 3 guys in my group graduated residency after me and are already working 0.8 with one fewer workday, I'm envying these younger guys more as time goes on.

 

[aneftp]

7 years out of residency, I'm working full time which averages out to 4 days a week with one to two post-call days and one weekend a month. 8 weeks vacation. 3 guys in my group graduated residency after me and are already working 0.8 with one fewer workday, I'm envying these younger guys more as time goes on.

The times are changing. Unless you are making close to 7 figures with your work schedule on 44 weeks off.

We are literally moving towards an EM type of 10-14 days working “shifts” each month model.

I live in Florida. And almost every single job with reasonable alternative schedules gets filled rapidly.

As for me. I rotate between working 2 weeks days (40 hr each week). One week nights (starting at 5p) (not in house) (40 hr usually). 2 weeks off. My previous job was 2 weeks on including calls light beeper every other day and 3 weeks off.

I cannot imagine doing the q3-5 call schedule plus with pre and post call and 8 weeks off.

So unless you are a fully vested private practice partner with equity stake how profits can be siphon off junior partner track employees. Working your schedule will lead to burn out quickly.

 

[Mman]

Curious… how many of you are working 5 days a week and taking call? I am noticing physically that by Thursday or Friday waking up early in the morning does get more challenging with the conventional M-F anesthesia work week. I would love to know more about different groups monthly schedules + vacation time pertaining to longevity in this career.

Full time and going strong. I'm curious how waking up early gets tougher? After 20 years of waking up at the crack of dawn for work, I can't sleep past about 7 AM even on vacation.

 

[pmichaelmd]

Agreed, times are changing and rapidly. We work a 5 day week with 1:5 call more or less, post-call days off. As our practice has expanded its scope (CV, neurosurg, more out-of-OR locations) we are starting to feel the grind. 9 wks PTO. We are actively seeking ways to make our schedule more flexible but it has been challenging due to administrative desires to maintain the current structure. I am 19 years out of residency.

 

[agolden1]

Curious… how many of you are working 5 days a week and taking call? I am noticing physically that by Thursday or Friday waking up early in the morning does get more challenging with the conventional M-F anesthesia work week. I would love to know more about different groups monthly schedules + vacation time pertaining to longevity in this career.

I work in a group with cardiac, pedi, pain, and generalists. Five day work week for all, one weekend a month, one week day overnight a month and usually one-ish late call a week with somewhat early out before and after late call. 9 weeks vaca before 10 years with the group.

Most of the pedi and generalists are 0.9 FTE which equates to more weeks off, but not a four day work week. Most cardiac and pain have remained full time. I’m pain trained. I think the variance between anesthesia and pain clinic days as well as some admin work keeps me feeling balanced and not too burned out.

Admittedly if I have a week or two which is anesthesia heavy, particularly if sitting my own cases, I feel it.

 

[gasman11]

7 years out of training, I've been doing locums for 3 years now and I work 5 days a week Mon-Fri 55-60 hours a week, no call, no weekends, taking off about 6 weeks/year. The job is about 70% solo/30% supervision. The income is good but Its definitely a grind and I do feel it by day 5. I do take a 4 day week every now and then just for my own mental health and do not see this as a long term plan.

 

[aneftp]

7 years out of training, I've been doing locums for 3 years now and I work 5 days a week Mon-Fri 55-60 hours a week, no call, no weekends, taking off about 6 weeks/year. The job is about 70% solo/30% supervision. The income is good but Its definitely a grind and I do feel it by day 5. I do take a 4 day week every now and then just for my own mental health and do not see this as a long term plan.

The key is u are making around 7 figures. Without calls

The Op likely isn’t making anywhere near 7 figures plus doing calls.

It’s like this doc hates ob call 24 hrs. But he changed his mind when they were offering him $10800 on weekends continuously.

Money talks. And lessens the mental stress

 

[Dawkter]

The key is u are making around 7 figures. Without calls

The Op likely isn’t making anywhere near 7 figures plus doing calls.

It’s like this doc hates ob call 24 hrs. But he changed his mind when they were offering him $10800 on weekends continuously.

Money talks. And lessens the mental stress

Correct, nowhere close. It seems like most sustainable option across the board is to cut down to 0.8 FTE.

 

[aneftp]

Correct, nowhere close. It seems like most sustainable option across the board is to cut down to 0.8 FTE.

Go to 0.8fte. Start filling up some prn 1099 gigs. Sniff around till you feel comfortable. Doesn’t mean you will be working on your off days. But it’s plan B at this stage. If you can’t get Fridays off. Go for Tuesdays. I know that sounds weird. But that allows you to piggy back Mondays pto off for long weekend.

 

[IVdoc]

I've seen jobs advertise for $500K for 26 weeks work. They sound attractive. When I inquired via email about these jobs, they tell me it's 90-100hrs/week, 7 days per week with no post-call days off. Plus they have a busy OB, all physician group, working all day OR, on-call at night from home for OR and OB is in hospital. That works out to be $192/hr 1099. For those who just see the $500K and 26 weeks, it sounds like a dream job. But the devil is in the details. Pass

 

[rowsdower88]

The times are changing. Unless you are making close to 7 figures with your work schedule on 44 weeks off.

We are literally moving towards an EM type of 10-14 days working “shifts” each month model.

I live in Florida. And almost every single job with reasonable alternative schedules gets filled rapidly.

As for me. I rotate between working 2 weeks days (40 hr each week). One week nights (starting at 5p) (not in house) (40 hr usually). 2 weeks off. My previous job was 2 weeks on including calls light beeper every other day and 3 weeks off.

I cannot imagine doing the q3-5 call schedule plus with pre and post call and 8 weeks off.

So unless you are a fully vested private practice partner with equity stake how profits can be siphon off junior partner track employees. Working your schedule will lead to burn out quickly.

Made close to seven figures two years ago with some extra call. Not taking the extra call more recently has hurt the bottom line, but likely will still be around 700-800. No hearts, no ob, no peds, no trauma, home call, good colleagues and surgeons, LCOL. Lots of trade-offs that can make a job you find unappealing worth sticking around for for others. Even my 1st calls usually aren't that bad and those are once or twice a month. Plus (big one) my wife likes her job here.

We're close to our FIRE number. So downshifting to 0.8 or lower and doing more international work is something I'll be doing soon.

 

[jon stewart]

What do you think is appropriate weekend compensation for call that involves being back call Friday (home call), 24 hr on Saturday that ends 7am Sunday then being backup into Monday morning 7am, no post call day off Monday but on the list to go home on the earlier side?

There is a Crna for your back up Friday night and then another attending if needed. The Saturday call backup would be another attending at night with a CRNA during the day 7a-7p


When you folks are saying post call days off you mean after being in house overnight right?

 

[aneftp]

What do you think is appropriate weekend compensation for call that involves being back call Friday (home call), 24 hr on Saturday that ends 7am Sunday then being backup into Monday morning 7am, no post call day off Monday but on the list to go home on the earlier side?

There is a Crna for your back up Friday night and then another attending if needed. The Saturday call backup would be another attending at night with a CRNA during the day 7a-7p


When you folks are saying post call days off you mean after being in house overnight right?

60 hrs beeper call coverage on the low end is 18k guaranteed (min) up to 25k regardless if it’s beeper or not.

The way I see is is
$3500 at min to be on beeper 7p-7a Friday night that’s at min plus whatever hours you work

24 hrs beeper on Saturday is at min $8000 regards if u do one case or not. Up to 12k.

Same for Sunday. $8000 on the low end beeper ip to 12k if u work say at least 20 of those hours.

I’ve seen crnas get $2800 just for 12 hr beeper coverage plus 4 hr call back guarantee. On weekends.

I keep reiterating our time is valuable on beeper. Our weekends at valuable.

Anesthesia Docs need to learn from locums crnas. They don’t leave a dime on the table.

 

[jon stewart]

60 hrs beeper call coverage on the low end is 18k guaranteed (min) up to 25k regardless if it’s beeper or not.

The way I see is is
$3500 at min to be on beeper 7p-7a Friday night that’s at min plus whatever hours you work

24 hrs beeper on Saturday is at min $8000 regards if u do one case or not. Up to 12k.

Same for Sunday. $8000 on the low end beeper ip to 12k if u work say at least 20 of those hours.

I’ve seen crnas get $2800 just for 12 hr beeper coverage plus 4 hr call back guarantee. On weekends.

I keep reiterating our time is valuable on beeper. Our weekends at valuable.

Anesthesia Docs need to learn from locums crnas. They don’t leave a dime on the table.

Makes sense why the senior partners don’t do many if any of these calls. The rate of reimbursement of these shifts is abysmal compared to what you just mentioned!

 

[dabears505]

What do you think is appropriate weekend compensation for call that involves being back call Friday (home call), 24 hr on Saturday that ends 7am Sunday then being backup into Monday morning 7am, no post call day off Monday but on the list to go home on the earlier side?

There is a Crna for your back up Friday night and then another attending if needed. The Saturday call backup would be another attending at night with a CRNA during the day 7a-7p


When you folks are saying post call days off you mean after being in house overnight right?

A lot of places give 1500 for friday night plus an hourly rate for hours worked. About 2500 for being on call over weekend plus hourly. Not common in desirable areas to get 18k. People in my area fight over who gets these calls for the rate I listed.

 

[jon stewart]

A lot of places give 1500 for friday night plus an hourly rate for hours worked. About 2500 for being on call over weekend plus hourly. Not common in desirable areas to get 18k. People in my area fight over who gets these calls for the rate I listed.

I guess the location is a big factor aswell.
No doubt for 18k it would be desirable !

 

[aneftp]

A lot of places give 1500 for friday night plus an hourly rate for hours worked. About 2500 for being on call over weekend plus hourly. Not common in desirable areas to get 18k. People in my area fight over who gets these calls for the rate I listed.

It’s it’s w2 extra pay for weekend that’s close to pure stupidity to be taking even those rates.

Friday night maybe since u are working Friday days already but that’s about it.

 

[spike7585]

6 x 24 hour in house shifts spread out throughout the month - small community hospital, no trauma

Comes out to 1700ish hours a year

Effectively comes out to low 30 hours a week on a 52 week average. Or right at 40 hours a week on a 44 week a year system (8 weeks off)

 

[aneftp]

6 x 24 hour in house shifts spread out throughout the month - small community hospital, no trauma

Comes out to 1700ish hours a year

Effectively comes out to low 30 hours a week on a 52 week average. Or right at 40 hours a week on a 44 week a year system (8 weeks off)

So u have 293 days off a year give or take as well. Right?

 

[spike7585]

So u have 293 days off a year give or take as well. Right?

Correct