OK, I've been out of practice for a few years now needing to take care of family and childrens' health issues. Now I need to get back into clinical practice for personal as well as financial reasons.

I made some inquiries in this small town about returning part-time (I do NOT want to work full-time again) at local hospitals with outpt clinics.

Seems like as soon as I mentioned PT, no one wants anything to do with me! I was kept waiting for weeks despite leaving voice messages and e-mail messages. I finally called and left messages about every 2 hours one day and finally got an e-mail by one that said I wasn't needed right now.

I understand I've been out of practice for some time and told recruiters that I would be willing and want to be mentored on my time for awhile until I was comfortably back on my feet.

I have kept my certification and license UTD and been doing CME work editing and authoring for a board review firm. I also tried to volunteer at the free clinic here but kids are no longer seen as new insurance laws have them mostly covered.

Don't think I can even do locums work because it has been too long.

Has anyone else out there gone through this experience or has had experience with locums companies?

Is there anything I can do to get back into practice short of moving to a bigger town? (Not realistic as my husband has a good nonmedical job here).

I had high hopes of this last possiblity working out and it finally fell through so now I don't know what to do and am feeling pretty discouraged. Any ideas, suggestions, shoulders out there would be appreciated. Thanks

Are there any bigger towns within driving distance?

No, guess it's just too late for me.

Are you living in the town you used to practice in? If so, do you have any contacts still in your area? Your best chance for landing a job in medicine is through word of mouth. You say you are a pediatrician. Perhaps you could volunteer your time to serve on committees in the local school district, most districts have a wellness or public health related committee. Or perhaps you could offer to give talks to school nurses on medical topics. These things will increase your visibility in the community as a physician. Best of luck. I know from experience that part time jobs are not generally listed with head hunter. Let us know how you make out.

I don't think it's too late, pastpedmd. As above, you may find out about a job through word of mouth, or something may open up there in the future, or things may settle down to the point that you can consider a full-time job. As you know, if your husband were willing to move, you would probably have more options in a bigger city, preferably one where people know you professionally. In this economy, that is obviously not an easy decision, but maybe there is hope of a good (or better) job for him in a place that would meet your needs better. It may get harder for you to go back to medicine as more time passes, but it is not impossible!

Locums.

Thanks you for the suggestions, but no, I do not live in the town I used to practice in. Stopped when we moved for a much awaited break from a busy HMO practice, so no real contacts here.

Husband and family would not be willing to move, he has good job he enjoys and pays pretty well but we'll have a second child in college in a couple of years and the first has expensive ongoing medical issues and I'd also like to feel useful and contribute more, I need to.

I think locums companies require a nonpractice gap of no more than 2 years, at least the one I talked to, have a call into another.

I've made some cold calls to physician recruiters again (sounding abit more desperate) asking for anything available (still would not like to work FT but I might have to rethink that) or offering volunteer time (though I would need some mentoring). Guess this is probably unrealistic though.

So, can anyone think of any other jobs I might qualify for?

I know of physicians who have done medical transcription (search on MomMD for that), insurance physicals, telemedicine (one person lost her license as a result of that!), hospital administration, malpractice chart review, and medical-director jobs at insurance, pharmaceutical, and medical device companies. You may find more non-clinical ideas in a couple of books by the AMA Press: "Leaving the Bedside" and "Strategic Career Management for the 21st Century Physician." If you are thinking about other clinical jobs, your pediatric experience could be useful as a pediatric hospitalist or in peds ER or urgent care. And then there is a whole world of non-medical stuff. That is all I can think of at the moment.

Thanks.

Well, still running into mostly dead ends. Finally caught this hospital physician recruiter that I'm sure was screening my calls as I finally got her using my husbands cell phone. It was tough trying to remain civil after being ignored for so long and just to be told that, no there are no other opportunities PT or FT. I recall a time when physicians used to be respected (but then again that was mostly for male physicians).

Some of those non-clinical ideas seem interesting but guess they would be last resort as I feel clinical medicine is what I'm most qualified to do and I need to get out of the house.

I've been asking if I could volunteer some time with initial mentoring so I could at least become known and develop some potential references. Don't know if this is doable though as I don't have malpractice coverage and the only free clinic here that I could get coverage for (I believe) doesn't see enough kids.

In my web searching, I did come across some info on physician re-entry programs for those out of practice for pretty extended periods for one reason or another. One program at an OR teaching hospital sets up a 'mini-residency' tailored to a person based on how long they've been out, their skills or lack of, etc and plan a schedule for how many months is decided necessary to re-enter. Sounds pretty good except the cost runs about $5-10,000/month not including living expenses etc, and programs done so far have run from 3-5 months, groan .

Got a name of a supposedly supportive fellow pediatrician in town that I plan to contact next week and after that will start going through the phone book offering myself. Wish my luck please.

I know I waited too long, but I first needed a bad break after that crazy last HMO experience and then I was holding out for that ideal part-time or locums job that never surfaced and then my child needed me when he became so ill. At least he is doing much better, but now I need to help him and us financially.

Thanks for anyone reading.