Shift specialties which would allow me to work a few days per month?

[uphillBattle]

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I want to have the flexibility to say "ok this month I'll do a few more shifts and next month I'll do fewer".

Better yet, something where I can work a handful of shifts per month and shouldn't have a problem lateraling between different geographical hospital locations.

There is a reason for this and its not simply because I want to dick around for the rest of the time.

 

[masaraksh]

 

[VisionaryTics]

I want to have the flexibility to say "ok this month I'll do a few more shifts and next month I'll do fewer".

Better yet, something where I can work a handful of shifts per month and shouldn't have a problem lateraling between different geographical hospital locations.

There is a reason for this and its not simply because I want to dick around for the rest of the time.

Locum tenens emergency medicine.

 

[IlDestriero]

Locum tenens emergency medicine.

This is your best bet. If you are good you might be able to set up some regular jobs. However you're at the mercy of whoever needs locums coverage and for how long.
One can do locums work in anesthesia as well in this manner.
You might be able to find a part time job somewhere as an ED, Anesthesia, Hospitalist and locums elsewhere from time to time.

 

[tco]

Go into path and be a lab director at various small midwest hospitals. I think you can put your name on up to 4 labs. Grab 4 small blood banks (<20 bags per blood bank) and chill. You'll have to be on call 24/7, but chances are that you won't get called often. You only have to visit each lab once every year (I believe) to make sure things are running well.

It's better than shift work.

 

[Raryn]

I want to have the flexibility to say "ok this month I'll do a few more shifts and next month I'll do fewer".

Better yet, something where I can work a handful of shifts per month and shouldn't have a problem lateraling between different geographical hospital locations.

There is a reason for this and its not simply because I want to dick around for the rest of the time.

Your average EM guy works 12-16 days a month, some more and some less. Mind you, thats split up among weekdays/weekends/holidays and mornings/afternoons/nights, but that's the closest thing to pure shiftwork that's that spread out you can get.

Hospitalists will also frequently work 14-15 days/month, but it's set up in blocks of a week or so, so that's a very different schedule.

 

[AMEHigh]

Ob hospitalist is another option.

 

[Kahreek]

FM locum tenens

 

[alpinism]

Again?

Between here and the EM forum it seems like there's a new how-low-can-you-go part time thread every week.

Serious question: Why would you go through all the trouble of getting into med school, going through med school (incl. hundreds of hrs studying for step 1 and doing rotations), and going through residency (usually even longer hrs than med school) just so you can work 3-4 days a month?

Not to mention trying to pay off loans with that salary.

 

[uphillBattle]

Your average EM guy works 12-16 days a month, some more and some less. Mind you, thats split up among weekdays/weekends/holidays and mornings/afternoons/nights, but that's the closest thing to pure shiftwork that's that spread out you can get.

Hospitalists will also frequently work 14-15 days/month, but it's set up in blocks of a week or so, so that's a very different schedule.

Yea I'd prefer something that is mainly on the weekends. Also, I'm looking predominantly to California. I heard Hospitalist is like ER light. Do you know what their lifestyle and salary will be like?

Again?

Between here and the EM forum it seems like there's a new how-low-can-you-go part time thread every week.

Serious question: Why would you go through all the trouble of getting into med school, going through med school (incl. hundreds of hrs studying for step 1 and doing rotations), and going through residency (usually even longer hrs than med school) just so you can work 3-4 days a month?

Not to mention trying to pay off loans with that salary.

So I've been working in business for a few years already and can pay off a significant chunk of total cost. The last bit will be split between parents and loans making it much more manageable.

The reason for me wanting to do this is because I'm interested in more than just practicing and want to be able to devote time during the week for exploring certain opportunities.

 

[notbobtrustme]

The reason for me wanting to do this is because I'm interested in more than just practicing and want to be able to devote time during the week for exploring certain opportunities.

Go explore those opportunities. Like it or not, medicine is a major commitment. You can't half-ass it at any point, especially if you want to match e-med and get to the point where you can work 4 shifts a month or w/e ridiculous benchmark you have.

 

[uphillBattle]

Go explore those opportunities. Like it or not, medicine is a major commitment. You can't half-ass it at any point, especially if you want to match e-med and get to the point where you can work 4 shifts a month or w/e ridiculous benchmark you have.

they're medical related opportunities but don't revolve purely around practice.

 

[mvenus929]

Yea I'd prefer something that is mainly on the weekends. Also, I'm looking predominantly to California. I heard Hospitalist is like ER light. Do you know what their lifestyle and salary will be like?.

Most hospitalist positions have you working 7 days on and 7 days off. How long those days are depends on the size and acuity of the hospital, I imagine.

There are some FM docs out there who moonlight in a rural ED over the weekend, but that's probably not something you can realistically do right out of residency as your only job.

Locums is probably your best bet.

 

[Winged Scapula]

Fresh MS-1.

Working as little as possible.

Weekends only preferable.

California.

Asking about salary which would imply it is a factor in decision,

Interest in EM.

Wants to work in different geographical locations.

Got it.

Your options are limited; few employers want someone with fixed overhead costs (eg malpractice isn't less if you work part time) without working enough to cover those costs

As noted above, you are going to be very very limited in choices: EM, perhaps other fields where you would share a position, Locums (not conducive to a family or pets) etc. The weekends only and Cslifornia makes it even tougher,

My usual advice is to wait a couple of years and see what interests you and/or if your situation changes.

 

[Psai]

Winged scapula I know what you're saying but it takes time to develop and mature. I remember being interested in anesthesia for similar reasons. I'm still interested but my focus has definitely changed from the money, supposed lifestyle, etc to the actual practice.

Premeds and new med students don't have much to go on and they're young. Well I'm still pretty ignorant but more cognizant of the fact now. I remember making the same stupid arguments about prestige, salaries and urm admissions that they do daily which is why I try to take time to educate them the best I can.

 

[Winged Scapula]

I agree and appreciate everyone's input on the matter. I didn't mean to imply otherwise.

Winged scapula I know what you're saying but it takes time to develop and mature. I remember being interested in anesthesia for similar reasons. I'm still interested but my focus has definitely changed from the money, supposed lifestyle, etc to the actual practice.

Premeds and new med students don't have much to go on and they're young. Well I'm still pretty ignorant but more cognizant of the fact now. I remember making the same stupid arguments about prestige, salaries and urm admissions that they do daily which is why I try to take time to educate them the best I can.

 

[Raryn]

Yea I'd prefer something that is mainly on the weekends. Also, I'm looking predominantly to California. I heard Hospitalist is like ER light. Do you know what their lifestyle and salary will be like?

ER Light huh?



I don't know who would be more insulted at that, the internists or the emergency physicians.

 

[DermViser]

Again?

Between here and the EM forum it seems like there's a new how-low-can-you-go part time thread every week.

Serious question: Why would you go through all the trouble of getting into med school, going through med school (incl. hundreds of hrs studying for step 1 and doing rotations), and going through residency (usually even longer hrs than med school) just so you can work 3-4 days a month?

Not to mention trying to pay off loans with that salary.

Um, is this surprising to you? You're shocked that smart (as far as getting into med school) women who once they graduate from med school and then residency, feel they have the ability to make demands as to how much they will work and thus head for specialties that allow this. Good for them, IMHO. They don't owe jack to anyone, including society.

You realize a lot of medical students parents are rich themselves and not taking loans, right?

 

[DermViser]

Ob hospitalist is another option.

I hope you're kidding.

 

[Mad Jack]

I heard Hospitalist is like ER light.

😆🤣

 

[Mad Jack]

Premeds and new med students don't have much to go on and they're young.

God I wish.

 

[AMEHigh]

I hope you're kidding.

I didn't see the part about working in different locations. So I take it back.

But as far as being able to work different shifts throughout the month, I know a few ob hospitalists that do that and I see a decent amount of jobs advertised for such a thing.

 

[Awared]

There's always private industry 9-5 jobs

 

[J ROD]

people like rainbows and puppy dogs too.

This is medicine. Not fantasy land.

Sure, you might can find some deal like that with the EM or Anes but I would not count on it. But most of that would be locum tenens and would take you where the work is. Not just Cali.

Medicine is not a PT job. It is a lifestyle so if you do not want to live the lifestyle. Then, just get out and go and do whatever opportunities you want to pursue. Your future patients will thank you.

Ridiculous..........

 

[PhillyMed777]

.

 

[pilotjoe]

I worked as a scribe in an ER and we had a couple locums, one of which only worked a few times/month at different hospitals. Definitely doable. Are you wanting open up some Urgent Cares?

 

[uphillBattle]

Fresh MS-1.

Working as little as possible.

Weekends only preferable.

California.

Asking about salary which would imply it is a factor in decision,

Interest in EM.

Wants to work in different geographical locations.

Got it.

Your options are limited; few employers want someone with fixed overhead costs (eg malpractice isn't less if you work part time) without working enough to cover those costs

As noted above, you are going to be very very limited in choices: EM, perhaps other fields where you would share a position, Locums (not conducive to a family or pets) etc. The weekends only and Cslifornia makes it even tougher,

My usual advice is to wait a couple of years and see what interests you and/or if your situation changes.

Appreciate it. Well a few days during the week wouldn't be bad either but something where I can focus on another job during the week would be ideal.

people like rainbows and puppy dogs too.

This is medicine. Not fantasy land.

Sure, you might can find some deal like that with the EM or Anes but I would not count on it. But most of that would be locum tenens and would take you where the work is. Not just Cali.

Medicine is not a PT job. It is a lifestyle so if you do not want to live the lifestyle. Then, just get out and go and do whatever opportunities you want to pursue. Your future patients will thank you.

Ridiculous..........

You have no idea of why I want to do this and my potential skillset as a doctor. Besides, most physicians only spend a fraction of time with their patients anyway so I won't lose sleep over that. Obviously I'll be staying on top of my medical knowledge.

I worked as a scribe in an ER and we had a couple locums, one of which only worked a few times/month at different hospitals. Definitely doable. Are you wanting open up some Urgent Cares?

Thinking about healthcare venture opportunities. Where did you work as a scribe?

 

[pilotjoe]

Appreciate it. Well a few days during the week wouldn't be bad either but something where I can focus on another job during the week would be ideal.



You have no idea of why I want to do this and my potential skillset as a doctor. Besides, most physicians only spend a fraction of time with their patients anyway so I won't lose sleep over that. Obviously I'll be staying on top of my medical knowledge.



Thinking about healthcare venture opportunities. Where did you work as a scribe?

Southwest Missouri. The locum physician worked SE Kansas, SW Missouri and occasionally NW Arkansas.

 

[Arkangeloid]

I hope you're kidding.

What is an OB Hospitalist? Never heard of it.

 

[Raryn]

What is an OB Hospitalist? Never heard of it.

Otherwise known as a "laborist". They take call for a group and just deliver babies for however long the period they're covering is, frequently for women who they had never met before.

 

[elyswim]

Go explore those opportunities. Like it or not, medicine is a major commitment. You can't half-ass it at any point, especially if you want to match e-med and get to the point where you can work 4 shifts a month or w/e ridiculous benchmark you have.

As someone with similar goals as the OP, I never understand why wanting to work part time is "half assing" it. My interests outside of medicine says absolutely nothing about my commitment to the field or my patients.

 

[Raryn]

As someone with similar goals as the OP, I never understand why wanting to work part time is "half assing" it. My interests outside of medicine says absolutely nothing about my commitment to the field or my patients.

Because how good you are at medicine is directly correlated with how much medicine you do. If you just work a few days a month, your skills atrophy over time. Hell, there's even studies that show surgeons skills are worse even when they've been away from the OR for more than a single day (as in, somewhat surprisingly, you're more likely to have complications on Monday after a weekend off than Monday after working all weekend). Now non-surgical fields aren't probably as extreme, but to think that working 4 days a month is somehow comparable is a joke.

 

[maxxor]

Otherwise known as a "laborist". They take call for a group and just deliver babies for however long the period they're covering is, frequently for women who they had never met before.

This sounds like a malpractice nightmare.

 

[Wordead]

Working 4 days a month but will still keep totally up to date with literature.....yeah, okay.

 

[Wilf]

This is medicine. Not fantasy land.

Sure, you might can find some deal like that with the EM or Anes but I would not count on it. But most of that would be locum tenens and would take you where the work is. Not just Cali.

Medicine is not a PT job. It is a lifestyle so if you do not want to live the lifestyle. Then, just get out and go and do whatever opportunities you want to pursue. Your future patients will thank you.

Ridiculous..........

This kind of mindset is the reason doctors have been getting screwed in recent years and might continue to be. It's sad.

 

[Jabbed]

Can't the shift work with CCM be pretty flexible? Particularly if you're going the EM route?

 

[LostinLift]

Does anyone know of any surgeons that did locums for a while and what their thoughts were on it?

 

[sinombre]

Does anyone know of any surgeons that did locums for a while and what their thoughts were on it?

If you haven't even started med school yet and you're already thinking about eventually working part time... surgery probably isn't for you.

 

[zeppelinpage4]

I sympathize with OP on this. Medicine is a big commitment, but there's nothing wrong in wanting balance in your career, which is very possible if one chooses the right specialty and plans accordingly.

No idea if there's any particular specialty matching the hours you're asking about, but EM is the only field I'm aware of with shift work. Though from what I here, it's no cake walk either.

 

[DermViser]

I sympathize with OP on this. Medicine is a big commitment, but there's nothing wrong in wanting balance in your career, which is very possible if one chooses the right specialty and plans accordingly.

No idea if there's any particular specialty matching the hours you're asking about, but EM is the only field I'm aware of with shift work. Though from what I here, it's no cake walk either.

It's controlled lifestyle bc it has to be, or EM docs would be throwing themselves off ledges in mass.

 

[LostinLift]

If you haven't even started med school yet and you're already thinking about eventually working part time... surgery probably isn't for you.

The reason I want to do locums is to change locations several times within a period of a few years before settling down in a practice, not that I want to work part-time. I would prefer a busier caseload/call schedule and wondering if this combination is possible with locums.

 

[Kahreek]

Medicine is not a PT job. It is a lifestyle so if you do not want to live the lifestyle. Then, just get out and go and do whatever opportunities you want to pursue. Your future patients will thank you.

Ridiculous..........

Damn you just dont use the atomic bomb on newbies, that is just mean.

 

[Kahreek]

(as in, somewhat surprisingly, you're more likely to have complications on Monday after a weekend off than Monday after working all weekend)

by surgeons for surgeons

 

[TheWeeIceMan]

The reason I want to do locums is to change locations several times within a period of a few years before settling down in a practice, not that I want to work part-time. I would prefer a busier caseload/call schedule and wondering if this combination is possible with locums.

I recall hearing that doing locums for a few years right out of residency may not be the smartest thing to do if you want to settle into PP in a few years. I'm curious if this is actually the case. I don't really know.

 

[LostinLift]

I recall hearing that doing locums for a few years right out of residency may not be the smartest thing to do if you want to settle into PP in a few years. I'm curious if this is actually the case. I don't really know.

My tentative plan was to do 1-2 years in a rural-ish area, live super frugally and invest all that money, do locums and DWB to see a bit more of the country and the world, then settle in an area.

Would love to hear stories of any surgeons (or really any specialty) doing this. I'll ask around once school starts (2 weeks ahh!)

 

[IlDestriero]

I recall hearing that doing locums for a few years right out of residency may not be the smartest thing to do if you want to settle into PP in a few years. I'm curious if this is actually the case. I don't really know.

Locums attracts a lot of people with problems. There's often a reason they aren't in a regular job. Not all, but many.

 

[Raryn]

by surgeons for surgeons

I'm sorry? That's a quote of my post, and I'm certainly not a surgeon. You couldn't pay me enough.

 

[Smurfette]

Locums attracts a lot of people with problems. There's often a reason they aren't in a regular job. Not all, but many.

This is often true but I don't know of many people who intended to do locums for more than a couple years. Some of the ones without 'problems' tend to not do it long term because they have a pick of job offers at places they've been to, or are trying to fill a gap year before doing a fellowship. There are also some semi-retired docs who make some money doing locums part time and just want to travel.

 

[sloh]

I sympathize with OP on this. Medicine is a big commitment, but there's nothing wrong in wanting balance in your career, which is very possible if one chooses the right specialty and plans accordingly.

No idea if there's any particular specialty matching the hours you're asking about, but EM is the only field I'm aware of with shift work. Though from what I here, it's no cake walk either.

Agree here, when I was choosing what career path to take as an undergrad I knew lifestyle would be a top priority for me. It was by serendipity that I heard about PM&R and after some researching to ensure I was interested in this specialty, I went ahead and applied to medical school with aspirations of going into PM&R. As a 4th year right now, I'm going to be pursuing PM&R.

 

[tco]

When I was still thinking medicine, I debated doing locum work. It would be a great way to see a lot of the country and get paid for it.