Part-time work is admittedly easier to arrange in some situations than in others. Factors that make such an opportunity more likely include being part of a large group, and working in a shift-based specialty.
If you own a private practice and have significant overhead, are part of a small group, or are in a specialty where long-term patient relationships are paramount, part-time work may be more difficult to arrange.
If you fall into the latter categories, I wouldn’t throw in the towel. Creative solutions may allow you to work less if that’s what you really want to do. Locum tenens physicians can help fill in the gaps.
2. Work 72 hours at our hospital. Usually, at least half of the long weekend will be home call, but weekends can be busy at all hours.
3. Enjoy the remaining three-plus weeks of the month off.
Let’s say working full-time as a locum, I could gross $500,000 with $50,000 in fixed costs to cover my benefits. That works out to the same total compensation of $450,000 for full-time work.
Working 40% less would result in $300,000 in gross income, minus $50,000 in benefits for total compensation of $250,000. Now I’m earning 50% less for a 40% lighter workload.