I can tell you this: My best patient care is delivered in 9 eight hour shifts a month. Sure, my hospital is aware of how many people I see in a day and how many procedures I do, but the people I treat remember my ability to listen, to engage, and to understand. As my high school English teacher used to say, “The exigencies of life impinge.” Moreover, the product of our labor is difficult to quantify. I understand that if there are x number of individuals accepted to a medical school, one might expect y number of hours of doctoring out of them when they graduate. By recognizing how we have found it (or not) we can better empathize with our patients and their families. Finding balance is a constant process and it is not easy. We counsel people who are trying to lose weight, minimize stress and make ends meet. Some might argue that these benefits are unique to the world of pediatrics but I disagree.
If a rough week of stay-at-home parenting is capped off with a trip to see me in the emergency department, I can totally empathize. I left dishes in the sink, wet clothes in the washer and 2T Mickey Mouse underpants on the floor. After a particularly bad week home with the kids last month, I picked up and drove three hours to my parents’ house. I know the pain and stress of the incessant viral infections of the first year of day care. My son spent a year in full time day care. I love being able to do this without sweating whether I am sacrificing time with my kids.įinally (and perhaps most importantly) it helps with my patient interactions. My schedule is flexible enough that I can trade shifts and cover for coworkers without difficulty.
PART TIME ER DOCTOR SALARY HOW TO
In the details, I had time to grieve the loss of my second child (something I had not allowed myself to adequately do during the demands of my chief year) and figure out how to navigate pregnancy after loss.
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