I’ve worked in just about every type of radiology setting—hospital-based, telerad, outpatient. I’ve done VA reads. I’ve dealt with schedules planned six months in advance and vacation lotteries where you cross your fingers, hope for the best, and usually end up disappointed.

Every single one of those jobs had one thing in common: inflexibility.

You want to leave early to pick your kid up from school? Not allowed.
Want to block off a day for something important? Good luck. 

That kind of system just doesn’t work when you’re trying to achieve work-life balance in radiology.

What I Needed (That Nobody Was Offering)

When I first found DocPanel, what immediately stood out was the fact that flexibility is baked into the model.

There are turnaround times. That’s it. No one is stopping me from running an errand in the middle of the day or taking off to spend an hour with my son while he learns to ride a bike. I just log back in later and finish my list.

Honestly, that kind of freedom is priceless. Especially when you’ve been in places where leaving at 4:30 instead of 5 because you have an appointment is an issue. 

Fewer Distractions = Better Reads

One of the biggest differences in my day-to-day life now? No interruptions.

In a traditional practice, you’re constantly being pulled away from the work. Someone needs help with a case. A provider walks in with a question. The phone rings. All of it pulls you out of your reading flow.

With DocPanel, I sit down, I read, and I’m not distracted. If there’s a question, I get a message. I can handle it when it makes sense, not in the middle of a tricky case.

It might sound like a small thing, but for radiologists, those interruptions add up. Getting back into rhythm isn’t instant. Having uninterrupted time makes me faster, sharper, and more satisfied with the work I’m doing.

Remote is What You Make It

I technically work from home, but I don’t actually work at home. I rent a separate office space. It’s quiet, boring, and perfect. At home I’d get distracted… dishes, laundry, random chores. At the office, it’s just me and the reads. I’m way more efficient.

I usually start my day after dropping my son off at school, work through until I hit my target, and then head out. But the beauty of this setup is that no two days have to look the same. If it’s nice and sunny out, I’ll take a long break mid-day and finish up in the evening. Or I might hit the gym late afternoon to break up my day (something I couldn’t have imagined doing in my old roles). 

That control has made a huge difference in my quality of life.

The Jump from Salary to Independent

I know a lot of radiologists worry about giving up a salaried position. I get it. But I’ve never had a shortage of cases on DocPanel. In fact, I regularly get asked if I want to take on more.

If you’re motivated, if you have a realistic sense of how long it takes you to read and how much you want to earn, you’ll be fine. Better than fine.

Working as an independent contractor has its perks, but it also comes with tax complexity. My suggestion—get a good CPA and you’ll see the benefits. 

What I Got Back

Before DocPanel, I always felt like I was being watched. Did I take too long for lunch? Was I five minutes late? The micromanagement never really stopped.

Now I just get the work done. And, best of all, it’s the work I want to be doing. Nobody’s tracking my breaks. Nobody’s watching the clock. I read the cases. That’s all that matters. It’s the work-life balance that I think many radiologists are looking for. 

In the time I’ve gained back, I’ve been able to make space for what’s most important—being present for my family, showing up for the moments that count. 

Dr. Paul Baez is a musculoskeletal radiologist with 25 years of experience. He earned his medical degree from New York Medical College, followed by an internal medicine internship at North Shore University Hospital. He completed his diagnostic radiology residency at Westchester Medical Center and subsequently pursued fellowship training in Musculoskeletal Radiology at Henry Ford Hospital.

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