in recent years on work-life balance.
Striking this critical balance enhances
physician career satisfaction, which
increases longevity in the profession.
The benefits, however, go beyond
that. The patient experience is greatly
improved when the physician is
well-rested, less stressed, and less
rushed. The leadership and staff are
also happier, healthier, and more
loyal to the practice long term when
they are afforded the opportunity to
strike this same balance."
"I think more and more, physi-
cians plan their work and personal
lives to achieve some balance," Dr.
Chan said. "Having access to tech-
nology we have now also helps. For
example, we can answer emails while
playing golf. It's important to priori-
tize having a good work-life balance,
otherwise one can easily be consumed
by work. Scheduling a personal day to
go to the spa or meet your spouse for
lunch can help to energize you and
reset your mental status for the next
work day." OB
Contact information
Chan: clarachanmd@gmail.com
Christmann: kindes.auge@gmail.com
Ristvedt: debbygess@hotmail.com
Spencer: kspencer@vec2020.com
hours could be mutually beneficial.
"Structure in your own mind
how it can be a win-win," she said.
Many think there is currently
more of an emphasis on work-life
balance in the field than in years
past.
"I think several years ago, it was
quite common to see docs putting
in what I would consider today to
be unnecessarily burdensome work
hours—sometimes 60- to 70-hour
weeks—and you just don't see that
anymore," said Ms. Spencer, who has
worked for more than 20 years as a
medical practice CEO. "I think there
has been a lot of positive emphasis
to try and figure it out and feel like your
job is in jeopardy on top of everything
else," Dr. Christmann said.
Choosing to be involved in
academia, research, industry, and/
or traveling to meetings or speaking
engagements, which can aid in pro-
fessional development, can cut into
home life as well.
Dr. Christmann recommended
people think about what they want
to achieve outside of work and find a
way to make it beneficial to the
practice. For example, if you want
to exercise in the morning, Dr.
Christmann said taking on later
evening hours or Saturday morning
"
If ophthalmologists are in a
practice where no matter
whether they work or not,
they have to pay a fixed
proportion of the overhead
costs, that would deter them
from taking significant time off.
"
Clara Chan, MD
July 2016 • Ophthalmology Business 19
