[parenteral]

I'm a practicing hospitalist and I love it. I spend time on the hospital floor, time in the ED, and time covering patients in the ICU. Yeah, some days suck (I occasionally have to stay from 7 AM to past midnight, though that is quite rare), but overall I can't imagine doing anything else.

Also, I work 7 days in a row and then have 7 days off, which I absolutely love. I have the option of working 5-days every week and having weekends off, but I prefer my current schedule.

I think I'm pretty well-paid, but are there better/easier ways to make money? Yes, of course. My college roommate probably makes more than me and my understanding is that he just sits in meetings and adjusts Excel spreadsheets all day managing someone else's money. But hey, whatever. I could work at night instead of the day, it would be easier (no discharges), and I would make over 430k. But I don't want to do that. Instead, I work with a residency program and get to teach, which is very rewarding.

I think overall it's just a matter of perspective and expectations.

[dougmccune]

Even if there are people like yourself who actually want to work 17 hour days for 7 days in a row (!), shouldn't we as patients be able to have doctors who are not allowed to do that insanity? Medical error is the #3 cause of death in the US. It seems entirely irresponsible to take someone's life into your hands without proper rest.

[maxerickson]

work 17 hour days for 7 days in a row (!)

They explicitly said 17 hours was rare.

[dougmccune]

Ah, I probably misread the comment a bit. I read it as working 7am to past midnight is rare, making 7am to midnight (or just before) normal. But you're probably right in that what was meant was that there are other, more sane working hours (not defined in the comment) that are the normal conditions.

But yes, to agree with the sibling comment, I'd prefer to never have any doctor in any hospital seeing a patient after they have been working for 17 or more straight hours.

[parenteral]

I'm usually in around 0800-0830 and out by 1700-1800

[trowawee]

I don't really care how rare it is; I never want to be treated by someone who's been going for more than 8 hours, much less someone who's been going for 17.

[TheOneTrueKyle]

Sounds like you really enjoy what you do!

I hear about doctors like you, but I have never experienced someone like it in real life.

Maybe one day.