· career reflections · 3 min read
Supply and Demand
As a 1099 anesthesia provider, I cherish the extra time on maternity leave and the ability to start back when I feel ready, without any external pressure or timeline. I saved enough to stay home for 6 months to settle into our new routine as a family of four.
Today, I’m at home with our 5-month-old, feeling very lucky to watch him play while enjoying my coffee on this sunny, crisp Fall day. As a 1099 anesthesia provider, I cherish the extra time on maternity leave and the ability to start back when I feel ready, without any external pressure or timeline. I saved enough to stay home for 6 months to settle into our new routine as a family of four.
However, the date is fast approaching when I will start my 3-month contract at a local surgery center, thankfully after my little guy is now sleeping amazingly well. I feel rested and have invested in daily exercise and good nutrition, so that I am practicing at the top of my physical and cognitive capabilities. I’m reflecting on how grateful I am for this upcoming opportunity and for the time I had to adapt to this wonderful addition to our family. I definitely didn’t experience this the last time with my 8-year-old son, and the trauma still lingers at times. Since then, I’ve taken intentional actions to remove the stress that was so overwhelming. The requirement to return to work exactly at 3 months detracted from my ability to be an effective parent and partner, while pushing myself on very little rest to perform to the highest standards at a demanding workplace. Now I am embracing the balance that I so craved before and was determined to achieve over this time.
Finally, I feel like some aspects of my life are restful and joyful, and my mental well-being is being prioritized. My passion and joy in my career have been reignited, and I’m actually looking forward to working again! I’ll be driving just 30 minutes each way and plan to listen to books or podcasts during that time for self-care. Every Friday, the surgery center is closed, so the 4-day work week is going to be amazing! This time of year, many surgery centers are booked to capacity as patients try to squeeze in procedures once their insurance deductibles have been met, so we may stay longer some days. Demand for our profession is high, and often the supply is low, so hospitals and clinics have a limited number of spots (or “block time”) available for surgeons to book. We have a unique position to negotiate contracts that benefit both parties and not just the institution.
To secure this contract position, I networked online to find the job, contacted the facility, procured my contract, and requested my own salary, to which they agreed without any hesitation. How? Because demand in our profession (and really all healthcare providers) is exceptionally high now, and the supply is low. Now is the time to embrace all the options we have and to choose the job that best fits your own values and priorities.
I started the process of transitioning to 1099 from W-2 about a year ago, and it has been a wild journey full of administrative tasks and learning about self-employment options. I now have a guideline detailing how others can also move forward with their dream to have more control over their schedules and family lives. Join us at Karuna Health to inquire about how you can start this incredible process too!