For resident and fellow housestaff, there has been another sequela from the hospitalist movement that was brought to my attention today: they are no longer employed as moonlighters to provide night coverage at many hospitals.
Residents now find themselves looking for other avenues of additional spending revenue during school, since they are often paid poorly. Like the "starving actor" stereotype, will we see them as waiters and waitresses soon?
-Wes
well if they were moonlighting, they might come to work too tired to learn. that would defeat the intent of the 80 hour rules.
ReplyDeleteAnony 3:11 PM:
ReplyDeleteThe 80-hour rule pertains to limits on hours spent during training per week, and represents a maximum. Many rotations require significantly fewer hours per week. Many residents I know would appreciate the opportunity to make a few extra dollars on lighter rotations, but this economic door has now been shut by the hospitalist movement. While most argue this might be in the best interest of patients, in general, others might see this as fewer hours spent with exposure to additional clinical volume. For the doctor-trainee, there are disadvantages on either side of this argument.
well don't tell the program directors. if they know the residents have light rotations then they will probably give them extra call to make sure the tough months do not violate the workweek rules.
ReplyDelete