There is no easy answer here.
I have been in practice 18 years and this past year struggled with the same issue but in a different mode. The issue came up of having the hospitalists care for my inpatient needs, at first I was extremely resistant since I had dedicated 3 years of residency nearly exclusively geared toward inpatient medicine and felt I wss really good at it. But having a 9 year old and 11 year old at home becoming more involved with activities helped me make my decision as well. But I decided to go strictly outpatient only 8 months ago. I was rather suprised but my charges and income did not fall, in fact improved. I was able to start earlier and work later in the office. And looking back on things I realized that with aging, being 47, I wasn't handling the stress of managing everything as well as I did just 10 years ago.
Bottom line I had to let go of the notion I could manage a practice at the level I was without ramifications--It became all consuming. Do I still feel guilty not being there. Of course and that will never go away, but I have learned to narrow my responsibilities and focus just on what I can do as an outpatient internist, and let others take care of the needs I no longer provide.
I don't know what options are available in Brewer, but if there is any way you can start saying no and setting set hours and cutting off at 5pm so you and your staff can get away from the rat race, I would recommend it. It seems that the work will always be there and one can work oneself into oblivion and one of the hardest things I have learned is to say no.
I hope this doesn't sound condescending or simplistic, but sometimes the written word doesn't come out as intended.
I am rather new to this forum but you already have responded multiple times to my queries and have been quite helpful.
Hang in there. jimmie
