Engaging in extra, often paid, work outside of the regularly scheduled hours of a medical residency program is a practice wherein residents take on additional clinical responsibilities, usually in a different healthcare setting. This supplemental employment offers opportunities for residents to augment their income and gain further practical experience. For example, a resident in internal medicine might work shifts in an urgent care clinic or a rural hospital emergency department.
This activity can be a significant source of supplemental income for trainees, allowing them to offset the financial burdens associated with medical education and residency. Moreover, it allows for the development of greater clinical competence and exposure to diverse patient populations and healthcare delivery models beyond the scope of their primary training institution. Historically, the prevalence of such endeavors has been influenced by factors such as resident salaries, institutional policies, and the availability of external clinical opportunities.
