So what’s the solution? Dr. Wachter and Dr. Nelson said they aren’t sure. But Dr. Nelson said the holy grail, which is maximizing the number of days off, should be changed. “Pursuit of the maximum number of days off is backfiring, failing to see the big picture,” he said. Rather hospitalists should work more days, but fewer hours.
“Most of us will be happier tending to work more days rather than fewer,” Dr. Nelson said. “You’ll get out to your kids’ soccer game at 4 o’clock in the afternoon, things like that. And you won’t drive into work with a knot in your stomach wondering how you’re going to survive 12 brutal hours.”