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Flexible and mobile doctors as a strategy for capacity problems.
Heiligers, P., Vange, N. van der. Flexible and mobile doctors as a strategy for capacity problems. European Journal of Public Health: 2003, 13(4 sup) 44. Abstract van de 11th Annual Eupha Meeting 'Globalisation and Health in Europe: Harmonising Public Health Practices'. Rome, Italië op 20-22 November 2003.
Background: Medical specialists in the Netherlands are coping with a high workload and long waiting lists of patients. Most doctors are selfemployed and working in a partnership with colleagues. This system of small companies of doctors is restrictive to mobility and flexibility in careers, because every change within the partnership will cause income consequences for all members. Restrictions towards flexibility and mobility can have a negative effect on satisfaction and career challenge. In earlier research a loss of capacity is detected, caused by early retirement, turnover to other occupations and under-capacity (part-time) caused by inflexible work conditions. Aim: This study is focussed on the preferences and types of flexibility and mobility among doctors. Furthermore, insight in the relationship between preferred flexibility and satisfaction will be given and finally, the gain of capacity under flexible conditions can be traced. Methods: A questionnaire (online and a written version) was sent to all doctors in different (28) medical specialisms in almost all Dutch hospitals. Most doctors answered the online questionnaire. The response was 31% (N=2.746) which is moderate but acceptable for this population- wide survey. The response analysis showed comparable figures with earlier research.
Results: Flexibility in time is preferred by 80% of all respondents. Most doctors wish part time participation. Others want flexible schedules or a sabbatical. Especially part-time, young female doctors, who are not self-employed and who experience dissatisfaction with their workload and have work family conflicts, prefer flexibility in time. Flexibility in tasks is preferred by 60% of all respondents. Partly they wish to specialise on a part of their domain and prefer to drop all
management tasks. Night, and weekend shifts and several additional duties are also not favourable tasks. Doctors, who are dissatisfied with their work and the time they can spend on the main task, prefer flexibility in tasks. Mobility is preferred by almost 50% of all respondents. Partly a permanent change to another location/hospital is preferred. Others
would prefer a temporary change: stationed to another location. A combination of both options was often mentioned. Especially young self-employed doctors, who are dissatisfied with their work, would prefer more mobility. If flexible conditions as preferred would be facilitated respondents mentioned how much years extra they would work and also how much time (Fte) per year. 54% of all respondents intend to work more years as planned if the work conditions will be more flexible. Most of them would work 2 to 5 years longer. Only 18% of the respondents would work less. Conclusions: Conclusion is that most doctors are positive towards flexible work conditions. Self-employed doctors especially prefer mobility, and doctors who are contracted prefer flexibility in time. Flexibility in tasks is not influenced by the type of work relation. Finally, if flexible conditions are facilitated a lot of extra capacity would be activated. (aut. ref.)
Results: Flexibility in time is preferred by 80% of all respondents. Most doctors wish part time participation. Others want flexible schedules or a sabbatical. Especially part-time, young female doctors, who are not self-employed and who experience dissatisfaction with their workload and have work family conflicts, prefer flexibility in time. Flexibility in tasks is preferred by 60% of all respondents. Partly they wish to specialise on a part of their domain and prefer to drop all
management tasks. Night, and weekend shifts and several additional duties are also not favourable tasks. Doctors, who are dissatisfied with their work and the time they can spend on the main task, prefer flexibility in tasks. Mobility is preferred by almost 50% of all respondents. Partly a permanent change to another location/hospital is preferred. Others
would prefer a temporary change: stationed to another location. A combination of both options was often mentioned. Especially young self-employed doctors, who are dissatisfied with their work, would prefer more mobility. If flexible conditions as preferred would be facilitated respondents mentioned how much years extra they would work and also how much time (Fte) per year. 54% of all respondents intend to work more years as planned if the work conditions will be more flexible. Most of them would work 2 to 5 years longer. Only 18% of the respondents would work less. Conclusions: Conclusion is that most doctors are positive towards flexible work conditions. Self-employed doctors especially prefer mobility, and doctors who are contracted prefer flexibility in time. Flexibility in tasks is not influenced by the type of work relation. Finally, if flexible conditions are facilitated a lot of extra capacity would be activated. (aut. ref.)
Background: Medical specialists in the Netherlands are coping with a high workload and long waiting lists of patients. Most doctors are selfemployed and working in a partnership with colleagues. This system of small companies of doctors is restrictive to mobility and flexibility in careers, because every change within the partnership will cause income consequences for all members. Restrictions towards flexibility and mobility can have a negative effect on satisfaction and career challenge. In earlier research a loss of capacity is detected, caused by early retirement, turnover to other occupations and under-capacity (part-time) caused by inflexible work conditions. Aim: This study is focussed on the preferences and types of flexibility and mobility among doctors. Furthermore, insight in the relationship between preferred flexibility and satisfaction will be given and finally, the gain of capacity under flexible conditions can be traced. Methods: A questionnaire (online and a written version) was sent to all doctors in different (28) medical specialisms in almost all Dutch hospitals. Most doctors answered the online questionnaire. The response was 31% (N=2.746) which is moderate but acceptable for this population- wide survey. The response analysis showed comparable figures with earlier research.
Results: Flexibility in time is preferred by 80% of all respondents. Most doctors wish part time participation. Others want flexible schedules or a sabbatical. Especially part-time, young female doctors, who are not self-employed and who experience dissatisfaction with their workload and have work family conflicts, prefer flexibility in time. Flexibility in tasks is preferred by 60% of all respondents. Partly they wish to specialise on a part of their domain and prefer to drop all
management tasks. Night, and weekend shifts and several additional duties are also not favourable tasks. Doctors, who are dissatisfied with their work and the time they can spend on the main task, prefer flexibility in tasks. Mobility is preferred by almost 50% of all respondents. Partly a permanent change to another location/hospital is preferred. Others
would prefer a temporary change: stationed to another location. A combination of both options was often mentioned. Especially young self-employed doctors, who are dissatisfied with their work, would prefer more mobility. If flexible conditions as preferred would be facilitated respondents mentioned how much years extra they would work and also how much time (Fte) per year. 54% of all respondents intend to work more years as planned if the work conditions will be more flexible. Most of them would work 2 to 5 years longer. Only 18% of the respondents would work less. Conclusions: Conclusion is that most doctors are positive towards flexible work conditions. Self-employed doctors especially prefer mobility, and doctors who are contracted prefer flexibility in time. Flexibility in tasks is not influenced by the type of work relation. Finally, if flexible conditions are facilitated a lot of extra capacity would be activated. (aut. ref.)
Results: Flexibility in time is preferred by 80% of all respondents. Most doctors wish part time participation. Others want flexible schedules or a sabbatical. Especially part-time, young female doctors, who are not self-employed and who experience dissatisfaction with their workload and have work family conflicts, prefer flexibility in time. Flexibility in tasks is preferred by 60% of all respondents. Partly they wish to specialise on a part of their domain and prefer to drop all
management tasks. Night, and weekend shifts and several additional duties are also not favourable tasks. Doctors, who are dissatisfied with their work and the time they can spend on the main task, prefer flexibility in tasks. Mobility is preferred by almost 50% of all respondents. Partly a permanent change to another location/hospital is preferred. Others
would prefer a temporary change: stationed to another location. A combination of both options was often mentioned. Especially young self-employed doctors, who are dissatisfied with their work, would prefer more mobility. If flexible conditions as preferred would be facilitated respondents mentioned how much years extra they would work and also how much time (Fte) per year. 54% of all respondents intend to work more years as planned if the work conditions will be more flexible. Most of them would work 2 to 5 years longer. Only 18% of the respondents would work less. Conclusions: Conclusion is that most doctors are positive towards flexible work conditions. Self-employed doctors especially prefer mobility, and doctors who are contracted prefer flexibility in time. Flexibility in tasks is not influenced by the type of work relation. Finally, if flexible conditions are facilitated a lot of extra capacity would be activated. (aut. ref.)
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