Easing the Pressures of a Packed Schedule
When my partner and I still did hospital rounds, we could be called in for emergencies without warning. Such situations make a car indispensable and a bike impractical. But for many physicians, the growth of hospitalists and other changes in healthcare practices have given them a choice of how they can commute to the office.
For those of us who don't live their professional lives in pajamas (scrubs), biking to work can be a great option.
Before I discuss what you'll need to consider, you might think, why bother? For one, you'll get some exercise. Also, you might even save some time. One of my colleagues says that once he factors in the time it takes him to find a spot in the parking garage at his medical center, and walk from there into the hospital, he actually saves time by biking and leaving the car at home.
Another reason may be found in an article published last year in the Journal of Transport & Health.[1] The author's study showed that workers in Portland, Oregon, who cycle to their jobs are happier with their commutes than their compatriots behind the wheel.
This sense of well-being is invaluable, especially given the fact that physicians have lost a lot of control of their lives over recent decades.
