As a physician, you will have to move a few times throughout your life, sometimes across the country. Here are a few tips to help you get over the stressful experience of moving.
 
1. Go Green

There are several ways to go green with your move. Looking at it in this way also makes it a fun project, rather than a chore. In the US, you can order Recopacks, which are plastic bins made from hard-to-recycle plastics. For more, see Recopack’s site.
 
2. Hire a Mover

Doing everything yourself with your busy schedule is a recipe for disaster. One of these companies is Atlas Moving. Atlas is one of the largest moving companies in the US, and has an excellent reputation for speediness, efficiency, and protection of your precious household goods. There are also several green movers, that use items like biodiesel trucks, if you want to continue with the green theme.
 
3. Clean Everything Before Packing

Unpacking is almost as stressful as moving. If your books are dusty or your glasses are greasy, get rid of the dirt before you pack to save yourself unneeded stress in the unpacking phase.

4. Coordinate Flight Plans With Movers

Make sure that you are there to see your goods loaded into the truck before you catch your plane. Leaving keys with movers is never a good idea; while they are bondable, they are also very busy and fees to replace lost keys can be quite high with some landlords or apartment buildings. You also want to make sure that you or a member of your family is there to see that your goods are loaded safely, in case there are problems with breakage later. 
 
5. Everything Isn’t Covered By Moving Insurance

If one thing is consistent in life, it is that accidents can and will happen. Check your insurance policy before packing and take items with you that are not covered by insurance, such as jewelry, important documents, and precious metals. If you don’t feel comfortable taking these items on the plane, special couriers can be arranged to safely transport these goods to your new home.

6. Movers Can’t Take Certain Items

Movers can’t take hazardous goods, including paint and household cleaners. They also can’t take fertilizer, propane tanks, open liquor bottles, or aerosol cans. Get a full list of these items from your moving company prior to packing, and make sure to dispose of these items properly by contacting your local town for disposal details.
 
7. Take Stock of What You’re Taking

Unless you have a real Cadillac of a fridge, it probably isn’t worth the cost to transport it across the country. While buying or renting your new place, make sure it contains all necessary appliances. If it doesn’t, they can usually be found on local internet message boards such as Craigslist or Kijiji.

Obama’s stimulus bill has earmarked $200 Million for various health care professionals that spend two years at National Health Service Corps sites to repay their student loans. 3300 awards are being made to people who are working in underserved areas or that are treating the underinsured. This action is proof that the government is willing to stimulate the health care profession in rural and areas that are less desirable for physicians to live in. In order to qualify for the loan repayments, primary-care physicians, dentists, and mental health professionals have to commit to a service of two years with the Corps.

The new funds are supposed to stimulate the number of doctors. Proponents of the plan are hoping to swell the numbers of the Corps by 100% with the loan repayment offer.

If you are a physician just getting out of college or residency, you may want to consider joining the National Health Service Corps or moving to a rural area. There are often bonuses similar to the one being offered under the stimulus plan for doing so. Simply contact a physician recruiting agency or local health care organizations for more information, and of course sign up with the National Health Service Corps if you are interested in the loan repayment offer.

There are other benefits to living in rural areas, including a low cost of living. This will make it easy for you to save money towards a family or whatever future plans you may have. Add to that the low stress environment usually offered in a rural health care setting, and you have an idyllic work setting for the new physician.