Moonlighting as a Rads. resident

[bulletproof]

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1. Is this possible?
2. Can you moonlight in the ER after internship, Radiology dept. reading films once in categorical years etc.?
3. At what stage is this possible ie. PGY2, PGY3 etc.?
4. Does it reimburse well?
5. Anyone have any experience with it?


I am considering Radiology as a career, and am trying to gather as much info as possible. I would love to get a head start on maybe paying back some private loans, and possibly buy some property as opposed to renting. In which respect moonlighting would help a bunch. I gleaned some info. off of Auntminnie, but not as much as I would have liked. Thanks in advance for any and all informative responses.

 

[lokobo]

1. it depends on the program
2/3. you usually don't read films until end of PGY-3, but you can moonlight in urgent care seeing patients, etc
4. depends on where you go and what you do, the range is probably anywhere from 500 - 2000/shift
5. not personally, just from talking with residents

 

[Whisker Barrel Cortex]

1. Is this possible?
2. Can you moonlight in the ER after internship, Radiology dept. reading films once in categorical years etc.?
3. At what stage is this possible ie. PGY2, PGY3 etc.?
4. Does it reimburse well?
5. Anyone have any experience with it?

1. In most programs, there is at least some available, but the amount and pay is variable.
2. Some confident residents can moonlight in a clinical field early on. Usually its less intense (i.e. you are not the only ER doc in a department overnight). This usually translates into less pay. For lower levels (1-2 year rads), some programs have some sort internal moonlighting. This can range from babysitting scanners for contrast reactions to reading studies (with attendings) on the weekends. The pay is usually not great for these.

As you progress, the opportunities usually get better. Some institutions (such as our own) have internal opportunities where you cover an outlying hospital, staffing the studies out the next day with an attending. At our program, this can add an additional 5-6 thousand per year. However, this is usually not available before your 3rd year of radiology. The benefit of internal moonlighting is that liability coverage is included in your residency.

As you reach the end of 3rd year and through 4th year, there may be opportunities at outside hospitals to moonlight for more pay. These are generally better paying, but involve more liability and are usually not covered by your resident malpractice. Depending on the location of the program, these opportunities may be abundant or completely absent. Generally, the closer you are to rural or less popular locales, the more opportunities there are near by.

3. See above.

4. The pay is, as described above, highly variable. In house limited moonlighting can pay only a couple hundred for a full day. The outside moonlighting opportunities involving final reads and higher liability can pay much higher (PM me if you want more details).

5. I've done the in house moonlighting covering an outlying hospital and it was a pretty good experience and not as stressful. I have also done outside hospital shifts for much better income, but much higher stress given the stakes.

 

[bulletproof]

Lokobo, and Whisker Barrel Cortex, thank you both. Anyone else care to share their moonlighting experience/program rules regarding moonlighting?

 

[nutcancer]

is it wise to choose a residency based on moonlighting opportunities?

 

[bulletproof]

is it wise to choose a residency based on moonlighting opportunities?

No. In fact you'd pretty much have to be a ***** to do so. What is wise however, is having the most information available when deciding on a program where you will spend 4/5 years. Being informed, generally speaking, is regarded as a good thing.

The original question was posed to gauge a general feel for opportunities within the field of Radiology during residency. The decision to pursue Radiology as a career, at least in my case, is based upon rather more substantive criteria. I would hope this would be the case for anyone with a modicum of intellect.

 

[f_w]

is it wise to choose a residency based on moonlighting opportunities?

Not as the only criterion.

The 'babysitting' type moonlighting is a very good opportunity to get paid while you study. Often this is for times from 5-8pm and can fit well into a residents work-day.

'Real' moonlighting in higher years is a tremendous learning opportunity. Once your name is the only one under a report, you start to really agonize over seeminly inane stuff. It also teaches you to be fast.

Some programs credit a couple of weeks of moonlighting during 4th year as 'community radiology' rotation. They realize that their residents come back if not smarter, certainly more mature.

If you go to places where they grow corn to moonlight, the money can be substantial .

 

[nutcancer]

No. In fact you'd pretty much have to be a ***** to do so. What is wise however, is having the most information available when deciding on a program where you will spend 4/5 years. Being informed, generally speaking, is regarded as a good thing.

The original question was posed to gauge a general feel for opportunities within the field of Radiology during residency. The decision to pursue Radiology as a career, at least in my case, is based upon rather more substantive criteria. I would hope this would be the case for anyone with a modicum of intellect.

being a ***** is not beneath me my friend

 

[bulletproof]

being a ***** is not beneath me my friend

Glad to see we have that in common. But then, give anyone enough tequila....😀 Thankfully, I tend not to make drastic lifeshaping decisions when inebriated.

 

[bulletproof]

The 'babysitting' type moonlighting is a very good opportunity to get paid while you study. Often this is for times from 5-8pm and can fit well into a residents work-day.

'Real' moonlighting in higher years is a tremendous learning opportunity. Once your name is the only one under a report, you start to really agonize over seeminly inane stuff. It also teaches you to be fast.

Some programs credit a couple of weeks of moonlighting during 4th year as 'community radiology' rotation. They realize that their residents come back if not smarter, certainly more mature.

If you go to places where they grow corn to moonlight, the money can be substantial .

Interesting. Thanks f w.