flexible careers for pediatricians finding the job that’s right for you updated by the aap...
TRANSCRIPT
Flexible Careers for Pediatricians
Finding the job that’s right for you
Updated by the AAP Division of Graduate Medical Education and Pediatric Workforce in spring 2006
Introduction
This presentation is designed to provide
you with important insights for finding a
job as a pediatrician that works for you.
We see this as a starting point for thinking
about what types of work options will
offer you the most rewards while
accommodating your individual needs.
Topic covered include these key pieces for planning your career• Types of practice arrangements available
• Special considerations: your needs and
family needs
• Questions to consider
• Identifying what you can & cannot live
without
• The importance of organization
Creating the job that is right for you
Key Pieces:
Family needs
Practice
arrangements
what you can live
without
Questions to consider
what you can’t
live without
Organize your search
Your needs
Types of practice arrangements
Before addressing the key pieces that
shape a job selection process, let’s review
some of the basics including:
• Practice arrangements that are generally
available
• Considerations that may influence your decisions
• What you need to learn about the practice(s)
you are interested in pursuing
Full-time practice
FTE (40 hours +) offers multiple
options:
• Solo vs. group
• Rural vs. urban
• Private, HMO, academic
Pediatricians by primary employment setting (excluding residents)Primary Employment Setting Percentage
Solo 2-physician practice 15.4
Pediatric Group, 3-10 Peds 28
Pediatric Group, >10 Peds 4.6
Multi-specialty Group 10
HMO 3.2
Hospital/Clinic 14.1
Medical School 14.3
Other 10
Source: AAP Division of Health Services Research, Periodic Survey of Fellows #61 thru #64, 2005
Hours: Average Per Week in Patient Care Activity(office-based pediatricians only)
3331
.9.7
2.4
64 3 4 4 4
.3 .70
10
20
30
40
Ho
urs
OfficePatientCare
EmergencyRoom
Operating/Deliveryroom
HospitalRounds
ConsultingWith patients& others
RecordKeeping
Other
Male
Female
Source: American Academy of PediatricsDivision of Health Policy ResearchPeriodic Survey of Fellow #43, 2000
Full-Time Practice
Pediatricians will find that there are a
growing number of full-time practice
arrangements. Some of the common
full-time practice options include:
• Flextime
• Telecommuting
• Compressed workweek
Full-time Options--Flextime
Flextime provides a flexible starting and/or
ending time for the work day. Advantages
include:
• Preserves visibility on the job
• Access by “your” patients
• Can arrange hours around your family or
personal activities
• Practice can offer extended hours for others
Full-time Options--Telecommuting
Telecommuting is working at home during
part of your scheduled hours of work.
• Does not work for patient care
• Can be an option for administrative/support
services
• May work for some aspects of academic
medicine
Full-time Options—Compressed work weekCompressed work week involves shortening the
number of days worked.Advantages:• Full day off • May mean you can commute outside of rush hours• Time for other activities that take place during normal work hours
(running errands, scheduling repairs to home, take part in school activities)
Disadvantages:• Must have stamina for longer work days• Often day off cannot be a Monday or Friday• Can cause resentment if you do have Monday or Friday off because you
always have a 3-day weekend and those days are often the most busy in terms of patient care
Part-time Practice ArrangementsSurvey data from the AAP indicates that a growing
number of residents are interested in part-time
or reduced hour practice options. These options
include:
• Shortened work day
• Shortened work week
• Job sharing
• Locums
Employment Status: Pediatricians (self-designated)
94%
68%
6%
32%
0102030405060708090
100
Percentageof Pediatricians
Male
Female
Source: AAP Division of Health PolicyResearch, Periodic Survey of Fellows, #54, 2003
P<.001 for M v F
Full-time Part-time
Part-time Practice Arrangements
In 2003, 17% of pediatricians worked part-time, averaging 32 hours/week
• Shortened work day– 5-7 hours/day
• Shortened work week – usually 4 days/week
• Less than 4 days/week (can be problematic for patients)
Part-time: Job sharing
Job sharing arrangements usually involve 2 persons sharing one full-time position.
May work best if:• Cooperative, give and take approach• Similar/complimentary skills• Similar work habits– on time, details, organized• Flexible to trade time around
How to find someone to job share:• Look at current workplace for someone with similar needs• Talk with placement offices and recruiters• Place an ad in a professional newsletter, magazine, journal• Network
Part-time: Locum Tenens
Locum Tenens comes from the Latin word meaning “to hold the place of.” Locum physicians fill temporary positions.
Advantages:• Can help you find out what the perfect job for you may
because you can work in a variety of settings for a short period of time
• Can decide to pick a region or group where you want to work
• Perfect for someone who is comfortable with not having their “own” patient groups.
Special Considerations:Things to think about when deciding what type of job will work for you
For women pediatricians the most common concerns include:
• Breastfeeding issues• Compensation (what to expect)• Negotiation skills• Time management (How will I manage
both my professional and personal roles?)
Special Considerations: BreastfeedingFor pediatricians who desire to work and breastfeed
consider the following:• Part-time work or job sharing may mean a shorter work day
and less need for breast pumping while at work• Talk with other women who have worked and breastfeed their
child(ren)• Compressed work week may be less desirable as more hours
worked may equal a minimum of two breast pumping times• Telecommuting for part of your work week may be ideal if parts
of your workload are suited for off-sight work• If no option is available other than a long work day consider
nighttime, prior to work feedings, breasts will adjust. Do this 1-2 weeks prior to your return to work. following work arrangements may be helpful
Special Considerations:CompensationWhat to consider:• Find out about average compensation in your area • Contract negotiations should be reviewed by an attorney• Review termination clauses• Insurance• Restrictive covenants• Expected services to perform• Review sample contracts (available on Web site such as
www.ama-assn.org/go/yps or conduct a Web site search for sample contracts)
Special Considerations:Time Management
It is important to schedule in time for
yourself. You need time to recharge too.
• Communicate with family members & significant
others regarding changes in your work schedule
• Make time to spend with family & friends
• Highly recommend vacation times
• Schedule time to do the things you love like
reading, hobbies and involvement in organized
medicine
Finding a Job that’s Right for YouThere is a host of basic and not so basic information
that can help you make an informed decision. Some things to consider:
• Weigh your options and identify what you can/cannot live without• How far are you willing to move?• Salary range• Benefits• Working weekends• Moving expenses• Signing bonus• Call schedule/triage call center• Office location• Buy into the practice
Determine what you want in a position:• Geographic location
•Family/partner
considerations:−Employment−Education opportunities−Cultural−Entertainment
•Opportunity for
research/teaching
•Time- call amount,
time off
•Compatibility with
partners/practice style
•Compensation
Where do you see yourself in the future?• What do you see yourself doing 1 year, 5 years, 10 years
from now?• What is your financial plan?
− Calculate the actual decrease in money if you are thinking about reducing your work hours
− Some items may actually be lower if working less hours– child care, meals out, commuting costs
• How supportive is your partner, family members and others impacted by your job choice?
• Think about possible extra stress and/or less stress on those important to you.
• How will this impact your work relationships?
Organizing Your Search
• Keep a record of each possible opportunity you come across
• Examine the pros and cons of working with a recruiter
• Network- most jobs are found through friends and colleagues
• Keep an up-to-date cover letter and CV• Research organizations, job possibilities and
locations on the Web• Find out what types of career related resources
your state and local medical society offers
Conclusion:Flexible Careers for Pediatricians
This presentation was adapted from a presentation originally given by Debra R. Sowell, MD, FAAP.
A handout listing additional questions and things to consider when searching for the job that is right for you is available on the AAP Women In Pediatrics Web site at http://www.aap.org/womenpeds/. This Web site also list books, articles and other electronic sources that may assist you.