[Attractive work schedules--the Sinsheim model]

The head of the anaesthetic department in a teaching district general hospital affiliated to the University Heidelberg, gives an appraisal of her 20 year experience in dealing with organising part-time employment for doctors in her department. The project proved so successful that most doctors in the department changed from full-time to part-time employment. On average two thirds of the doctors choosing part-time employment are female, one third male. The advantages exceeded by far the disadvantages. The greater number of colleagues aids problem-solving. The disadvantages were overcome by organisational means and also by the active participation of the highly motivated colleagues. This project proved it is possible to make hospital work more attractive.