Call schedule IM

[4xpanda]

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Was wondering in general about call schedules as PGY-1s in IM. On average how many month Q what, day off or not?

I'm starting my intern year in IM and have 8 months of call generally q5-6, some q4. A friend of mine is starting Q5-6 all year long. Some other people I know have only 5-6 months of call in traditional or IM programs, and some of it is night float. My call is 7am to 1pm the next day (with no new pts 7am to 1 pm day 2), with 6:30 am back at work for day 3 afterwards

Comments? Is this pretty average or not?

 

[RTrain]

Yeah, all of that sounds pretty standard. Intern schedules vary widely among IM programs - from Q4 overnight all year, to 6 months of Q6 non-overnight, and everything in between.

My intern year was 8 blocks of Q5 overnight, 2 blocks of outpatient (no call), 1 block of subspecialty consults (no call), 1 block of ER (shift work), and 1 block of psych (Q4 home call).

 

[EternalMD]

My schedule has me q4 on all floor months and ICUs, 1 month of emergency medicine with 18-20shifts (12hrs), 1 month of night float, leaving the rest of elective as back-up call.

Q5-6 doesn't seem that bad year long

 

[gutonc]

Comments? Is this pretty average or not?

Your call schedule is very middle of the road (and very similar to the one I had). You're right though. I saw programs where it was Q5 without overnights for 6 months and others where it was Q4 overnight for 11 months.

 

[AK_MD2BE]

For those of you who have been on the interview trail, what percentage of programs use the night float system (estimate)?
It seeme like night float is a great deal...it may sound silly, but I am going to give much higher consideration to programs with the night float.
Given the fact that nothing is perfect, what are the drawbacks to the night float system? Thanks.

 

[NotAProgDirector]

For those of you who have been on the interview trail, what percentage of programs use the night float system (estimate)?
It seeme like night float is a great deal...it may sound silly, but I am going to give much higher consideration to programs with the night float.
Given the fact that nothing is perfect, what are the drawbacks to the night float system? Thanks.

The downsides of night float:

1. There are more handoffs rather that direct admissions. Some would say that you never really know your handoffs as well as you know your direct admissions.
2. Although there are no overnight call shifts, there are also no short post call days. Most weeks end up still close to 80 hours (often 6 days x 12-14 hour days). Every day is full.
3. When on night float, you usually miss all of the educational components of the residency. You could have 6 weeks of night float.
4. You can only do 5 (or maybe 6) night float shifts in a row. Therefore, there will need to be either A) "random NF shifts" added into your electives / outpatient months, or B) overnight call on the weekends.

Overall I am a fan of NF.

 

[4xpanda]

so does that mean it's too late to jump ship and go somewhere with a lot more night float? 🙂