< Back to front page Text size – +

What happens when doctors want to get a life?

E-mail | Print | Comments () Posted by Elizabeth Cooney April 29, 2008 04:17 PM

Facebook
E-mail

Young doctors are pushing to balance work and family life, a story in today's Wall Street Journal says.

While the workplace is becoming more flexible for this new breed of physician, this trend may strain a healthcare system already dealing with shortages in pediatrics, family medicine, and other specialties with lower pay and less predictable hours, according to the story. One solution replaces the "hero" model of physician-centric care with a team approach, including nurse practitioners and physician assistants. Another variation rotates doctors in shifts to keep their hours more manageable.

Then there's 1Life Healthcare, a primary-care company whose 10 physicians in four San Francisco locations see patients (who pay $100 a year to join) at the office only. The company was founded in 2003 by Dr. Tom Lee, a 40-year-old doctor who told the Journal he became disillusioned with primary care during his residency at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston in the late 1990s.

Facebook
E-mail

« Back to front page

About white coat notes

White Coat Notes covers the latest from the health care industry, hospitals, doctors offices, labs, insurers, and the corridors of government. Chelsea Conaboy previously covered health care for The Philadelphia Inquirer. Write her at cconaboy@boston.com. Follow her on Twitter: @cconaboy.

Daily Dose | More Health&Wellness

health answers

Long-term health consequences to being born prematurely? It's estimated that each year nearly 500,000 babies in the United States are born prematurely, or before 37 weeks of pregnancy. Submit question | More answers