Moonlighting 101

by Sarah Rollins

The basic guide for beginning your journey as a moonlighting physician

Moonlighting is a win-win for hospitals and doctors alike; shifts get filled, and extra cash is made. For many doctors, particularly residents, this is a great opportunity to pay off those hefty student loans and gain additional experience in the field.

Want in? This article outlines three simple steps on how to add moonlighting to your career.

Step 1: Get Ready...

Before you dive head-first into the other steps to prepare as a moonlighter, take a minute or two to evaluate your situation and determine whether it’s a good option for you. Theses questions may help shed some light on the issue:

• Should you moonlight?
• Are you allowed to moonlight?

The first question addresses your personal situation - whether or not moonlighting is right for you. Think about your lifestyle. Do you have a partner or a family? Do you have other commitments or hobbies? As moonlighting could add a significant amount of extra work to your plate, would you be able to manage your life and avoid the dreaded “burn-out” of an overworked physician? These questions are not to scare you away. Moonlighting is attractive to many doctors because of the ultimate flexibility; you pick up shifts as they work for you. Rather, this exercise is to help ensure a positive experience as you decide to moonlight.

The next part of this is determining whether or not you are allowed to moonlight per hospital or program requirements. If you’re a resident seeking to moonlight, your program may have restrictions barring you from participating. Such restrictions may vary by program and specialty. Check with your program to see whether or not moonlighting is an option for residents of your specialty.

Done and done? Move on to the next step.

Step 2: Get Set...

Even when YOU know you want to moonlight, your prospective workplace may not. Healthcare facilities have a few legal hurdles to overcome before they can and will hire you, namely moonlighting-specific medical malpractice insurance and hospital credentialing. These parts take the most time; the faster you get them done, the less the HR bureaucracy will frustrate you.

Just as malpractice insurance is required when working as a practicing doctor, it’s no surprise that healthcare organizations require moonlighting doctors to have moonlighting-specific malpractice insurance. Depending on the organization’s regulations, this coverage may or may not be provided by the hospital. Discuss with your prospective workplace to see if they cover their moonlighters, otherwise, speak with an insurance agent to find the best option for you.

Now, onto credentialing. Your favorite part of the hiring process, we know. But this must be done before you can work for any healthcare organization. Give yourself 2-6 months for the credentialing to go through at your prospective workplace, after which you should be ready to start!

Step 3: GO!

You’re hired! Now what?

Get to work! Introduce yourself to the staff with whom you will be working. Though you may only be working a short time with certain staff members, do your best to integrate into the clinic and be a team player; part of your job is to make things easier for your colleagues by following all procedures to help get the work done properly. Be reliable. Be helpful. Be professional. For more tips and tricks, read our article, “Do’s and Don’ts of Moonlighting for Residents” found on our blog.

In addition to being a reliable employee and coworker, many hospitals require continued training. Such training courses would cover procedures and softwares of the hospital or department you must be familiar with when working. Most, if not all, of such trainings are administered online, so you can easily complete these during times which work for you.

It’s as simple as that! With three simple steps, you can be on your way to being a moonlighting doctor. Now get ready, get set, and GO!