choice of hours as a physician.

[DrewFromVA]

---

Members don't see this ad.

Once residency is completed is it possible to find work as a physician working 50 hours or less. I know different specialties work differing amounts of hours, but is it even possible to willingly take a cut in pay in order to work less hours? If anyone has heard of situations such this, I'm curious to hear how it can be accomplished. Thanks for your time.

 

[DrMom]

My guess is that most anything non-surgical can possibly be kept to 50 hrs/week. There are physicians who work part time &/or jobshare. There aren't very many professions where you can work part time and make really good money.

That said, most physicians work significant hours.

 

[DALABROKA]

I know a GP that limits his hours to 4 10"s a week. Also, I know a general surgeon that only works 4 days a week, but they are usually 12's. I think it mostly depends on how many people are in the group and how much money you want to make. One cardiologist I work with just stopped taking call and took a pay cut of about 1/2.


DALA

 

[southerndoc]

Private practice... you set your own hours.

Most of the docs in my hometown only work 4 days per week. They take home call that varies by specialty. This seems to be consistent with everyone except the surgeons and FP's. The hospital encourages them to only work 4 days per week (only 8:30-5 on those days in the office, and 7-8 in the hospital on morning rounds!). Even the physicians that the hospital recruits and employes, they only work 4 days per week.

So yea, it is possible.

 

[Sparkles]

I know an ER physician in a group, that works 2 days (12 hr shifts), then off 2 days, 2 more days (12 hr shifts) then off 6 days! So.... Do the math. He doesn't work much at ALL it seems like. Basically like 48 hours every OTHER week.

 

[xaelia]

The PI I work with at The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia works three 8-hour shifts a week in the ED. She has other responsibilities as well, but for the most part her schedule is pretty flexible and the other physicians swap and cover each others shifts whenever any of them would like a more extended break.

 

[DrewFromVA]

It's good to hear that there exist some flexibility in the profession. I don't mind the demands on my time and life in order to get through med school and residency, but I'd like to have the choice of a life outside of work once I get to that point. Thanks for the info everyone.