News

Study: Four-Week Shifts Don't Wrench Hospitalists' Work/Life Balance

Publish date: May 26, 2011

View on the News

Work/Life: An Individual Balancing Act

I believe work/life balance is significantly affected by each individual’s priorities and personality. For some, working nonstop is a better option because once they "get in a groove," so to speak, the work seems to flow more smoothly and they get accustomed to the taking care of specific patients and working with a particular group of coworkers. Being able to share their successes and frustrations with other physicians who understand their specific circumstances can have a calming impact on their stress level.


Dr. Ann Hester

However, for others, particularly those with small children, other significant relationships, and responsibilities that demand a great deal of time, working shorter periods is paramount. It is easier to throw yourself into your work when you realize that at the end of your shift you will have the much-needed time you desire to nurture those relationships and meet those responsibilities.

Dr. Ann Hester is a hospitalist at Baltimore-Washington Medical Center in Glen Burnie, Md. She is married and has a 2-year-old daughter.


 

FROM THE ANNUAL MEETING OF THE SOCIETY OF HOSPITAL MEDICINE

"Overall, these findings suggest that everyone has a little more work/life imbalance after a 4-week rotation, and that those feelings are greater for nonhospitalists," he said.

Before this study, Dr. Lucas said his hospital only offered 4-week rotations. Based on these data, it now allows physicians to choose which schedule might be the best fit. "Despite our findings, about a quarter of our attendings choose to do the 4-week rotation," he said. "My thought is that it works better for some people who don’t have some of these other personal or professional commitments."

As for trainee supervision, he expressed a different thought. "I think you have a better sense of your residents and medical students if you are with them for a full month at a time, rather than 2 weeks."

Dr. Lucas had no financial disclosures with regard to the study.

Pages