Dori
10-02-2006, 07:04 AM
Hi, I'm new to this forum, but I must ask for some help. I am making a decision about a career change and having a terrible time doing it. My husband has Multiple Sclerosis, and is becoming more disabled every year. I am a rural family physician and my income is the major income for our family (our boys are all grown, but are just starting their lives and finishing educations and still occasionally need help.)
We live in a very rural area. I am one of only four physicians in the county who is qualified to perform a c-section, and I am the only female physician willing to provide obstetric services. I am the medical director for the sexual assault response team and have something close to 3,000 persons on my patient list.
I work for an FQHC and have been recently called upon to put in nearly 100 hours per week as there simply are not enough physicians in the county to cover the needed care. Needless to say, my husband and I are not seeing enough of each other, and I'm becoming tired and depressed. We are not experiencing any marital problems. I am blessed with a wonderful husband.
I have been asked to become chief physician and surgeon for a nearby maximum security prison which would pay about 2 1/2 times as much for about forty hours per week. It's not my calling, and difficult for me as I was a victim of violent crime at 26 years of age.
My current medical director has offered to allow me to work 7 to 3 with less call if I will stay. I don't need more money, but am not sure I can trust him to keep the schedule he's proposing. The prison wants my decision this week, and I'm torn. I've spent literally hours on my knees and praying with my husband and really just don't know which way to turn.
I love my patients, my job and caring for the underserved in this rural county. I have a voice in caring for the enormous number of teen moms and the victims/survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault. But at the prison I know I would have better money, benefits and retirement, and most importantly more guaranteed time at home. If my current boss sticks to his proposal, I'd be fine to stay on; but I absolutely cannot if he doesn't. I can't spend the remainder of my husbands functional years away from him. And I have to be available to take care of the heavy work at home that he can't anymore. I love my husband and very much want to bless him as he has blessed me.
It would mean leaving my practice taking care of families and having a ministry to my community; and providing medical care for maximum security prisoners in a mens' prison working with physicians who don't really care about what they are doing, in a system which is now in receivership. I could make a difference there, but the rewards are questionable to me.
Advice?
We live in a very rural area. I am one of only four physicians in the county who is qualified to perform a c-section, and I am the only female physician willing to provide obstetric services. I am the medical director for the sexual assault response team and have something close to 3,000 persons on my patient list.
I work for an FQHC and have been recently called upon to put in nearly 100 hours per week as there simply are not enough physicians in the county to cover the needed care. Needless to say, my husband and I are not seeing enough of each other, and I'm becoming tired and depressed. We are not experiencing any marital problems. I am blessed with a wonderful husband.
I have been asked to become chief physician and surgeon for a nearby maximum security prison which would pay about 2 1/2 times as much for about forty hours per week. It's not my calling, and difficult for me as I was a victim of violent crime at 26 years of age.
My current medical director has offered to allow me to work 7 to 3 with less call if I will stay. I don't need more money, but am not sure I can trust him to keep the schedule he's proposing. The prison wants my decision this week, and I'm torn. I've spent literally hours on my knees and praying with my husband and really just don't know which way to turn.
I love my patients, my job and caring for the underserved in this rural county. I have a voice in caring for the enormous number of teen moms and the victims/survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault. But at the prison I know I would have better money, benefits and retirement, and most importantly more guaranteed time at home. If my current boss sticks to his proposal, I'd be fine to stay on; but I absolutely cannot if he doesn't. I can't spend the remainder of my husbands functional years away from him. And I have to be available to take care of the heavy work at home that he can't anymore. I love my husband and very much want to bless him as he has blessed me.
It would mean leaving my practice taking care of families and having a ministry to my community; and providing medical care for maximum security prisoners in a mens' prison working with physicians who don't really care about what they are doing, in a system which is now in receivership. I could make a difference there, but the rewards are questionable to me.
Advice?