Moonlighting ... what counts as moonlighting and what doesnt?

[MD999]

Hey guys...
I've taken a look at some of the moonlighting threads, but this specific question hasnt been asked...

Is it considered moonlighting (by a resident) if the resident works in a capacity other than a physician outside of the residency's hospital? (ie, as a medical assistant, medical technician, etc) where you would not be "Dr X", but be "Medical assistant X"?

Also take into consideration that you wont be needing to use your DEA# or NPI# at all.

Do we even HAVE to report that to the residency program at all?

One last question... would this be counted towards the 80 hour ACGME designated max work week?

Thanks.

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[MD999]

Seventy views and no replies? Anybody out there with info about all this??

Thanks...

 

[NotAProgDirector]

I'm not sure there is a "standard" definition, but usually moonlighting = being a physician. If you renovate houses with your time off, or play in a band, that's just your life.

So, theoretically you can be a med assistant and it would not be "moonlighting".

However, even though it is completely unfair, you can be held to the standard of a physician when doing your med assist job -- i.e. if something goes badly and you should have "known better", you can't hide behind the "I was hired as a medical assistant" shield.

Some residents have worked as medical transcriptionists -- you can do that on your own time / off hours easily.

 

[gutonc]

Hey guys...
I've taken a look at some of the moonlighting threads, but this specific question hasnt been asked...

Is it considered moonlighting (by a resident) if the resident works in a capacity other than a physician outside of the residency's hospital? (ie, as a medical assistant, medical technician, etc) where you would not be "Dr X", but be "Medical assistant X"?

Also take into consideration that you wont be needing to use your DEA# or NPI# at all.

Do we even HAVE to report that to the residency program at all?

One last question... would this be counted towards the 80 hour ACGME designated max work week?

Thanks.

Any secondary job you have (regardless of whether your primary job is as a physician or a mechanic) is, by definition, moonlighting. Whether it's the kind of thing that GME offices get riled up about is a different story and the examples you give will likely be overlooked.

As for the work hours question, no, it won't count. Any moonlighting you do outside of your hospital (whether as a physician or a barista) will not count toward work hours. Keep in mind that 80 hours is already a lot of time to be at work in a week so the chance that you're going to want to work another 20 hours a week as a phlebotomist (or whatever) making $20 an hour or less is small.

As a fellow, when I'm on service I only work about 60 hours a week and still have a hard time getting excited about doing a 12h moonlighting shift that brings in a grand. If I were doing 80 there's no way (Sallie Mae and Citibank be damned) I'd be moonlighting.

 

[motheroftwo]

I've asked around, and not found anything to suggest that non-doctor work is considered moonlighting. I work MANY hours at my other job, being the mother of two kids, and no one has every suggested that it should count toward my 80 hour work week.

 

[doc20]

wonder if the GME would take the kids away if it was considered above 80 hour work limit ha ha

 

[Studebug]

Any secondary job you have (regardless of whether your primary job is as a physician or a mechanic) is, by definition, moonlighting. Whether it's the kind of thing that GME offices get riled up about is a different story and the examples you give will likely be overlooked.

As for the work hours question, no, it won't count. Any moonlighting you do outside of your hospital (whether as a physician or a barista) will not count toward work hours. Keep in mind that 80 hours is already a lot of time to be at work in a week so the chance that you're going to want to work another 20 hours a week as a phlebotomist (or whatever) making $20 an hour or less is small.

As a fellow, when I'm on service I only work about 60 hours a week and still have a hard time getting excited about doing a 12h moonlighting shift that brings in a grand. If I were doing 80 there's no way (Sallie Mae and Citibank be damned) I'd be moonlighting.

Are fellows held to the 80 hour work hour restrictions?

 

[docB]

I'm going out on a limb here and stepping into a realm I know nothing about (military medicine). One of the IM interns rotating through the ED this month who is in the Air Force told me that the military considers any job to be moonlighting and forbidden.

 

[Bobblehead]

As for the work hours question, no, it won't count. Any moonlighting you do outside of your hospital (whether as a physician or a barista) will not count toward work hours.

Keep in mind this may vary by institution and exactly the language your GME uses. Some institutions, by the contract you sign or by the malpractice insurance coverage you request/require, will make you report/count all hours towards the cap.

Are fellows held to the 80 hour work hour restrictions?

Yes, fellows are considered trainees and are therefore subject to the 80 hour work rule as well as other work hour restrictions.

 

[Winged Scapula]

Yes, fellows are considered trainees and are therefore subject to the 80 hour work rule as well as other work hour restrictions.

Not if the fellowship is not an ACGME one.

There are some fellowships which are accredited by different organizing bodies (Society of Surgical Oncology, for example accredited mine); they do not have to follow any ACGME/RRC rules and therefore, fellows can be exempt from these rules.

 

[Saipan]

I One of the IM interns rotating through the ED this month who is in the Air Force told me that the military considers any job to be moonlighting and forbidden.

Don't be surprised at this. An enlisted guy has to get his commander's permission before he can even take a part-time job at his local Home Depot or McDonald's.

 

[Moonglow]

Which goes to show that GME, like the military, owns your ass. 😀

 

[howelljolly]

It can be confusing. I asked about research opportunities at one of my residency interviews, and they mentioned something about how in-house research counts as moonlighting, and has to be within the 80 work hours.

 

[gutonc]

It can be confusing. I asked about research opportunities at one of my residency interviews, and they mentioned something about how in-house research counts as moonlighting, and has to be within the 80 work hours.

I don't know about calling it moonlighting but research DEFINITELY counts toward work hours.