Part-time doctors: reduced working hours for primary care physicians.
Women are entering the professional workforce in increasing numbers, and male professionals are more likely than ever to be involved in dual-career families. For primary care physicians the traditional 50-70-hour work week increasingly creates conflict between professional and other personal goals. Many believe that unless physicians work these long hours they will be unable to successfully provide personal, high-quality continuing care to their patients. Long-term career development for physicians who choose nontraditional arrangements has also presented problems. The authors review the literature on part-time work for physicians, then discuss their experiences as part-time family physicians at an academic health center. Various specific strategies are recommended for physicians and institutions considering part-time employment.
Wheeler
R
R
University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester.
Candib
L
L
Martin
M
M
D000328:Adult; D003142:Communication; D003266:Continuity of Patient Care; D005190:Family; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D010559:Personnel Management; D010561:Personnel Staffing and Scheduling; D010821:Physicians, Family; D010822:Physicians, Women; D014940:Work Schedule Tolerance