When the Right Decision Is to Move On
Many people—not just physicians—will allow a negative perspective to color their impression of the practice or company they work for. This is natural, of course, but also the origins of the "greener grass" admonition. External perspectives, or even formal consultations or audits, can help all involved understand how functional or dysfunctional a practice or company is and may be worth pursuing. However, it's also a truism that consultants often collect a high fee in order to tell people what they already know.
The best general advice is to avoid jumping to conclusions and try to be as objective as possible in reviewing the business conditions. Keep in mind that physicians tend to have a greater-than-average expectation for work satisfaction and fulfillment. A research report by the Society for Human Resource Management found that only 37% of general US workers are "very satisfied" with their job. The rest are either "somewhat satisfied" or not satisfied at all.[1]
If you decide that it's time to leave your job, you'll first want to create a wish list detailing what you would wish for in terms of opportunities, responsibilities, practice culture, compensation, and benefits. Most physicians, for a number of reasons that make perfect sense, need to conduct their job search while still maintaining their present position. They must purposefully plan their exit at the very same time that the plans for their new position are being crafted. Transition timelines, if you plan to stay within healthcare, are also important to have sufficient longevity to meet all requirements for recredentialing with payers. This typically takes much longer than the notification period required for patients.
These and many other considerations go into such a transition. Be sure to work proactively with your new practice or employer, as well as your soon-to-be-former one, in order to make this transition as seamless, engaging, and rewarding as possible.
Medscape Business of Medicine © 2016 WebMD, LLC
Any views expressed above are the author's own and do not necessarily reflect the views of WebMD or Medscape.
Cite this: Greg A. Hood. Has Stress Burned You Out? - Medscape - Sep 28, 2016.
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