Moonlightings?

This forum made possible through the generous support of SDN members, donors, and sponsors. Thank you.
A

alreadylernd

Junior Member
10+ Year Member
7+ Year Member
15+ Year Member
Joined
Jan 29, 2006
Messages
122
Reaction score
3
Points
4,531
  1. Attending Physician
Members do not see this ad.
I was checking out residency programs and some say whether of not you're allowed to moonlight in the hospital. Here's the question - who has time during residency to moonlight? I don't get it.
 
We have some surgery residents who moonlight. Usually during their research years, however.
 
Depends what specialty you're talking about. In general derm, ophtho, rads, PM&R, EM, anesthesia, and psych residents have time to moonlight.
 
DrRobert said:
Depends what specialty you're talking about. In general derm, ophtho, rads, PM&R, EM, anesthesia, and psych residents have time to moonlight.
Click to expand...

Moonlight for what though? They are only residents.
 
alreadylernd said:
Moonlight for what though? They are only residents.
Click to expand...

There are 2 types of moonlighting.

In-house moonlighting allows residents to pick up some extra hours within their specialty. For example, some anesthesia progams allow their residents to work extra hours and weekends. The going rate is anywhere from $40/hour to $100/hour.

Outside moonlighting requires the resident to get his/her permanent medical license and allows them to do extra shifts at local private hospitals. Most of the time this is ER work but can also involve other areas of medicine. Again, the going rate is anywhere from $40/hour to $100/hour. Again, this option requires getting your permanent medical license (which residents are usually eligible for after they pass Step 3) and usually some form of malpractice insurance.
 
DrRobert said:
...and usually some form of malpractice insurance.
Click to expand...
which may be covered by the residency sponsoring institution or the moonlighting hospital. but then again, it may not.
 
It depends on the program, but many fields will have time to moonlight at some point. In internal medicine, for example, you will have clinic months or electives with weekends off. You can easily make $500-1000 per night, sometimes sleeping during most of the shift ("Sleeping-for-dollars", "Doc-in-a-box"). Even if a program does not have moonlighting available officially, there is still usually opportunity to moonlight outside the program, and most program directors will turn a blind eye as long as it does not affect your work in the residency (it does not count as part of your 80hr work week maximum). Most places require the Step 3 be taken with some real clinic work under your belt before you can moonlight.
 
However, all hours moonlighting must also be counted towards the 80-hour work rules, meaning you may not be able to moonlight as much as you want...
 
NinerNiner999 said:
However, all hours moonlighting must also be counted towards the 80-hour work rules, meaning you may not be able to moonlight as much as you want...
Click to expand...

If you're moonlighting outside your institution the hours dont count towards 80.

Radiology provides many opportunities for moonlighting during residency. At some places I interviewed there were residents making over 200K/year moonlighting nights/weekends.
 
Ive heard of several places where anesthesiology residents can moonlight at Nursing facilities with ventilated patients. And of course there are OB residents at Planned Parenthood.
 
At our residency program, "internal" moonlighting (at our affiliated hospitals) counts towards your 80-hour workweek; "external" moonlighting, on the other hand, does not.
 
I find it interesting that whether or not external hours count towards the 80-hour week, isn't standardized between programs.
 
Our program has a gyn ER where we can moonlight up to our 80 hrs/wk. In most cases in order to moonlight you need to have finished intern year and passed step 3 and have a permanent medical licence. FMG's must have 24 months of residency is some instances.
 
Diane L. Evans said:
Our program has a gyn ER where we can moonlight up to our 80 hrs/wk. In most cases in order to moonlight you need to have finished intern year and passed step 3 and have a permanent medical licence. FMG's must have 24 months of residency is some instances.
Click to expand...

This is probably because many states require at least 2 years of post-grad training for FMGs to get a unrestricted medical license... Some states have the same requirements for USMGs as well.

jd
 
u_r_my_serenity said:
It depends on the program, but many fields will have time to moonlight at some point. In internal medicine, for example, you will have clinic months or electives with weekends off. You can easily make $500-1000 per night, sometimes sleeping during most of the shift ("Sleeping-for-dollars", "Doc-in-a-box"). Even if a program does not have moonlighting available officially, there is still usually opportunity to moonlight outside the program, and most program directors will turn a blind eye as long as it does not affect your work in the residency (it does not count as part of your 80hr work week maximum). Most places require the Step 3 be taken with some real clinic work under your belt before you can moonlight.
Click to expand...


pardon my ignorance, but


What does "Doc-in-a-box" mean exactly? any real-world scenarios for this?


Thanks alot. I can't think of any situation where a doctor is paid for just sitting in a box... like a parking garage attendant?
 
zzz1 said:
What does "Doc-in-a-box" mean exactly? any real-world scenarios for this?
Click to expand...

An urgent care clinic or a physician who accepts cash payments only. There is a growing number of physicians that no longer accept insurance. Instead, you pay cash for your visit and must file the insurance claim yourself. Walk-ins are the norm instead of appointments.
 
zzz1 said:
I can't think of any situation where a doctor is paid for just sitting in a box...
Click to expand...

Wouldn't that be nice??? Just hanging out in your refrigerator box, and cashing the checks at the end of the pay period... ahhhh, the life!

lol! 😀
 
Anyone knows whether the State of Pennsylvania allows residents to moonlight and what are the requirements?
 
Dr. MAXY said:
Anyone knows whether the State of Pennsylvania allows residents to moonlight and what are the requirements?
Click to expand...

The state should have nothing to do with it. It should be specific to the institution you train at and how long it takes you to get your license (some states make you wait two years rather than one before becoming fully licensed)

But you wont have any time for that anyway, Mr. Ortho
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top Bottom