A successful sabbatical can take years of planning

Practice Management. By Karen Caffarini , AMNews staff. July 7, 2008.

Erica Weirich, MD, a family physician in Los Altos, Calif., recently returned from a two-month sabbatical, during which she traveled to Bhutan in Asia to study the Himalayan country's health care system.

The trip was more than educational and personally fulfilling. Dr. Weirich calls it a definite retention device, a way the Palo Alto (Calif.) Medical Foundation has rewarded her loyalty over the last 7½ years.

"Could I ever have imagined this much flexibility in my work life? No. It's been great. I will definitely look at taking more in the future," she said.

Physicians and medical groups offering sabbaticals say the incentive has a positive effect on them both, as physicians burned out from their long hours usually return revitalized and happy. And satisfied physicians equate to better quality care, they say.

Of course, taking a sabbatical is a luxury that not every physician -- or practice -- can afford. Coverage has to be arranged, often a locum tenens that will come at an extra cost to the practice. The doctor who leaves on sabbatical has to be ready to give up all practice income during the time he or she is gone. A practice also could risk losing patients who decide to see another physician or group during the doctor's absence, and then decide never to return.

Still, it is something some physicians and practices find worth the time and expense. Practice experts, as well as doctors who have taken sabbaticals and practices who have offered them, say the key to a successful sabbatical for all partners is years of planning, down to details such as what your family will do and how you'll let patients know what you're planning.