Surgeons hours?

Question

What is the normal time surgeons spend per week on the job? And if possible, is there a website that lists the hours of different types of surgeons (as in which surgeons work the least hours ect.)

Answer 1

In US residency programs, surgical residents (i.e have graduated medical school and are continuing their training) are limited to 80 hour work weeks (or 160 hours bi-weekly).

General surgeons will typically from 60-90 hour work weeks. Each week being variable due to the number of OR cases, time spent in clininc, consults, and peri/post-operative care.

While most surgical specialties are fairly equal in their work week, some have fewer emergencies. These would generally include plastics, oncology, and colorectal. The specialties with the worst hours are generally trauma/critical care, transplant, and the good old general surgeon. Pediatric, cardiothoracic, and vascular prettty much run middle of the road. This is assuming that they aren't cross-covering. Of course covering for a collegue during vacation will also increase the load.

Academic programs that have residents can make the life of an attending much easier as the chiefs in charge are usually pretty good and can shoulder a lot of decision making.

One thing I caution prospective surgeons on is this: if you can see yourself doing anything other than surgery...go for it. The training is too long and too hard, and if you are unsure, you'll probably spend every other waking moment wondering why the hell you didn't do something else.

Answer 2

Surgeons come in between 5 and 7 am in most places, and may be there 5 hours, 20 hours, or anywhere in between. It depends on how many surgeries are scheduled each day plus how many emergencies come in. They are on call a lot as well.

Answer 3

I once asked a surgeon. 60 to 80 hours.

While his office hours are only 9-5, he is on call for the practice every 3rd day, and on call for the hospital every 3 weeks.

Also, of the 3, they take turns doing hosptal rounds Sat and Sun. and holidays. And, yes, they may examine a patient Saturday ,morning, and see they need surgery right away. So much for an early quit.

Then there are meetings, office duties, reading new material, etc....And if one of them is on vacation, or a coleague is on vacation----it makes for a lot of hours.