Anyone know of any part time doctors?

[tgp511]

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Hey,

I was just wondering whether many doctors practice part time (35-40 hours a week), and how feasible it was (economically feasibile, feasible given the requirements of the job, etc.) It doesn't seem like I've met/heard of any part time docs. Thanks for any info.

- TP

 

[sunnyjohn]

Don't most EM attendings work less than 40hr/wk?

That's the impression I get from Quinn and the fellas in the EM forum.

 

[tulane06]

Hey,

I was just wondering whether many doctors practice part time (35-40 hours a week), and how feasible it was (economically feasibile, feasible given the requirements of the job, etc.) It doesn't seem like I've met/heard of any part time docs. Thanks for any info.

- TP

I know an ER doctor who only works around 20-30 hours a week. Her husband is also an M.D. and works around 40 hours a week, can't remember his field though.

 

[Law2Doc]

Hey,

I was just wondering whether many doctors practice part time (35-40 hours a week), and how feasible it was (economically feasibile, feasible given the requirements of the job, etc.) It doesn't seem like I've met/heard of any part time docs. Thanks for any info.

- TP

There are niche fields where part time work is currently doable. I've met ED and Peds docs with relatively part time schedules. But these positions are becoming progressively more in demand due to an increased focus by the current generation on lifestyle and family needs, and thus harder to come by. I predict that as reimbursements continue to fall and physicians have to find ways to increase throughput of patients/procedures in order to maintain the same incomes, you are going to see fewer and fewer part time positions to be had.

 

[flipgirl12]

My family doctor works about 3 mornings a week. Her family seems to be doing fine financially, so it is definitely possible.

 

[deleted87716]

40 hours/week is considered full-time. The docs that I know who work part-time (female FPs, internists, and pediatricians) usually work around half that, maybe 2-3 days/week.

 

[angel80]

I know of outpatient IM and Peds docs who work part time (25-30 hours a week). It's probably the same with FP. I can't see why you wouldn't be able to do the same in a hospital based specialty (Rads, EM, Anesthesia), seeing as they do shift-work. I'm now sure if it would be possible as an IM hospitalist, but as a hospitalist, you can definately do things like work 40 hours/wk x2 weeks, then be off for 2 wks.

 

[vtucci]

I know a husband-wife team who work either 8-1 or 1-6 M-F and split an internal med practice. The other is at home with the kids for that time.

I also know a number of people in derm, hem/onc, peds, allergy/immuno and psych that works less than 40 hours a week (some work only 20). Consider pathology-- you can get a number of straight 9-5 jobs there.

For financial reasons, it depends. What do you need to live on? 100K v. 200K? Part of it will depend on your loans and the rest, how much you need material possessions.

 

[Biscuit799]

It's pretty common in primary care fields. As a specialist, malpractice rates are generally prohibitive. Even then, you still can do it once you've managed your money and put in a couple years. I know a group of surgeons in Tampa where each doc works 3 days a week. Must be rough...

 

[Wizard of Oz]

I would go into medicine thinking that all of your options include an intense time commitment for ten years before you get to think about "part-time." I'm thus inclined to ignore the exceptions and focus on the trends, as the people I know who might qualify as "part time" are both few and good/experienced enough to have chosen their roles within the confines of their own practices.

 

[Pianoboe01]

I know of a female pediatric neurosurgeon who works part-time (although part-time is still about 40 hours)

 

[NonTradMed]

40 hours/week is considered full-time. The docs that I know who work part-time (female FPs, internists, and pediatricians) usually work around half that, maybe 2-3 days/week.

That's what I've heard as well. I've heard that 2-3 days a week is part time.

I would go into medicine thinking that all of your options include an intense time commitment for ten years before you get to think about "part-time." I'm thus inclined to ignore the exceptions and focus on the trends, as the people I know who might qualify as "part time" are both few and good/experienced enough to have chosen their roles within the confines of their own practices.

I've seen on www.MomMD.com instances where people have started out part time. Not sure how common that is, although it stands to reason that part time is more easily accessible for people with experience and some seniority.

I did have a friend whose sister worked temp locum as a ER doctor. This was a few years back but she made $50k/yr in the east coast working 5 months out of the year as a temp locum, then she went travelling the rest of the time! My friend was quite upset that she was working close to 70 hours/week and making the same amount of money and she didn't get 7 months out of the year off. 😉