ortho lifestyle

[icebreakers]

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could some please clear up something for me, and help me make a decision.

i've heard from people i know that in ortho you barely get time off once practicing. however, i really like ortho....AND I really really love my family, and have lots of other interests i would like pursue.

do I have to choose between the two? or will i have the power to make my own schedule once practicing?

thanks

 

[bla_3x]

We had a local orthopedic surgeon come in and help in our anatomy lab earlier this year and I spoke with him about just that. He says that it really just depends on the group you get into. He, for instance, works at the most, four days a week and gets 12-15wks off/year.
His main point was that it is SO important to choose the group that you join VERY carefully. He was very informative and approachable. I too love my family and there are so many routs in medicine that interest me at this point. Good or me that I am only an msI and have time to sort it out.

 

[fourthyear]

You always have the power to choose your practice opportunities. Just remember, less work = less money, so if you're okay with that, you can have some time off to enjoy life. But, residency is at least 5 years of your young life, so you've got to committ to the busy lifestyle for at least your training years in residency. It's getting better, the hours, but you still need be committed to your profession coming first at times during residency or you won't be happy in a surgical specialty.

 

[huktonfonix]

True, it depends on the group you join, which often depends on the location you wish to practice in. If location is not as important you will be able to get into a group somewhere with a good schedule. If location for yourself or family matters than I would check out the location and groups first.

 

[bustbones26]

Group and hospital matter. If you're group has privleges at a large hospital that has a trauma center, then you're gonna get busy being called for all of the trauma cases.

 

[edmadison]

Yeah, the nice thing about ortho is that it is easier to work less for less money because you start so high. Try doing that in FP or Peds.

Ed

 

[Voxel]

I know a guy who does ortho spine (lumbar) surgeries (and nothing else unless it's an emergent case) 4 days a week and 1 days a week of clinic. He takes ortho general call about 1 in 6 weekdays and weekends in a non-level I trauma hospital. He has a great life and makes plenty of greenbacks (which aren't as green as they used to be).