How exactly do part-time pediatrics jobs work?

[CyberKnife19]

Let me begin by saying thank you in advance to all of those who contribute to this thread.

So, here is the situation: I have already matched and my wife, who is an MS-IV, is contemplating a career in Pediatrics but only wants to work part time so that she can spend more time with family and our children. Her other potential specialty choice is Child Psychiatry because it allows for a more predictable schedule and she has a passion for working with children who have been abused, neglected, major depressive disorder, PDD's, etc. Fortunately, I have matched into a field (you can probably guess by the screen name) that is well compensated, thereby making her very able to work part-time from a financial standpoint.

I realize that part-time jobs are highly variable, but which set-up is more likely:

1. Work 8-5 on MWF

2. Work 9-3 Monday thru Friday

3. Some combination of the above

I am not sure how pediatric practices are set up, but in my field there is a "eat what you kill" type of setup whereby you can basically set your own hours (within the normal 8-6 workday, of course) and see as many patients (q 15 mins or q 30 mins) as you like and your salary reflects the number of RVU's that you generate.

Does the same mentality hold in pediatrics?

Or, as a partner, are you expected to see x number of patients per day and the whole "pot" (earnings) is divided equally among parters?

Thank you so much for your advice. 🙂

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[twilightdoc]

You have asked an almost unanswerable question. "Part-time" positions in Peds vary wildly, both in academic departments and in community practices. It is difficult to generalize regarding hours per day, days per week, on-call requirements, etc. The same goes for the financial realities of a practice. I suspect that a part-time person in a community practice would start out being salaried, with an expectation that he/she would see "X" number of patients per day. And the same would probably be true in an academic department, many of which are adopting remuneration plans that have an "eat what you kill" component. This is an evolving area, and a person might get what looks like a perfect position, only to have the rules change later.

 

[oldbearprofessor]

Let me begin by saying thank you in advance to all of those who contribute to this thread.

So, here is the situation: I have already matched and my wife, who is an MS-IV, is contemplating a career in Pediatrics but only wants to work part time so that she can spend more time with family and our children. Her other potential specialty choice is Child Psychiatry because it allows for a more predictable schedule and she has a passion for working with children who have been abused, neglected, major depressive disorder, PDD's, etc. Fortunately, I have matched into a field (you can probably guess by the screen name) that is well compensated, thereby making her very able to work part-time from a financial standpoint.

I realize that part-time jobs are highly variable, but which set-up is more likely:

1. Work 8-5 on MWF

2. Work 9-3 Monday thru Friday

3. Some combination of the above

I am not sure how pediatric practices are set up, but in my field there is a "eat what you kill" type of setup whereby you can basically set your own hours (within the normal 8-6 workday, of course) and see as many patients (q 15 mins or q 30 mins) as you like and your salary reflects the number of RVU's that you generate.

Does the same mentality hold in pediatrics?

Or, as a partner, are you expected to see x number of patients per day and the whole "pot" (earnings) is divided equally among parters?

Thank you so much for your advice. 🙂

From what I've seen, in general pedi #1 is much more common. I'm unconvinced that child psych has better hours or more part-time hours than general pedi.

Of course, she could decide to do a fellowship too and then maybe make enough money as a neonatologist so YOU could work part-time and take care of the kids.😛

Really, she should do what she wants. Part-time in pedi is common and any type of schedule can be found. There are several articles on this that have appeared in Pediatrics over the years that you guys could hunt down.

Remember however, that part-time residencies are very uncommon.

 

[TexasRose]

I've worked in a salaried practice for a couple of years now (as my continuity clinic) and the part-time docs set their own schedule that totals 2 1/2 days per week. I believe they still do an equal share of the "mommy call" and I'm uncertain how they split the Saturday morning clinic.

I'm joining a private practice that is part of the "eat what you kill" scenario. The part timer at that location sets his own hours based on what he's willing to do (and be compensated for) but still participates in the call rotation as an equal partner.

There seem to be a fair number of parttime positions at the salaried practices around here. Lots of new docs starting practice with young families who want to work fewer hours.

 

[CyberKnife19]

Texas Rose and OldBear,
Thank you very much for your responses, I am very grateful for your insight. My wife and I are hoping to settle down after residency in a large city (Minneapolis), so I am sure that we will be able to find a setup that will allow her to work part-time.

Any other advice/insight would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks. 🙂

 

[Dr.PPBBB]

Keep in mind that there are many opportunities in Pediatric Urgent Care which would become available once your wife graduates from residency.

Lots of Urgent Care clinics, both hospital-based and privately-owned, work on an overlapping shift schedule, with shifts that range anywhere from 4-12 hours in length (depending on location). The number of shifts per week would vary with your individual commitment; full-time is likely 4 shifts per week.

Hospitals will very often hire their graduating residents for Urgent Care positions, because they're already familiar with their medical record system. Pediatric Residents often rotate through the urgent care clinic at their hospital as part of their training.