Help decipher call schedule on freida

[USMELL]

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Okay when checking out programs on FREIDA it tells you whether programs have a night float or not, however some programs say:

Yes, but residents DO NOT participate in the first year-Does that mean interns still have to do a regular Q4 schedule?

Then under most taxing schedule it says: Q4/10 mons, other schools Q4/4weeks- For example-So in the Q4/4weeks program those that mean there is only Q4 schedules 4 weeks out of the whole year, or you are Q4 every 4 weeks, which are 2 very different things.

sorry, if I am being anal about this, just trying to figure out how programs around the country work.

 

[gutonc]

You're probably just best off ignoring whatever it says on FREIDA and ignoring the call schedule in general when picking a program. Most of the info is out of date and, even if it is current, there's no guarantee it won't change before you get there. Also, a "easy call schedule (we had q5 w/ night float) at a program that is otherwise horrible will be much worse than a Q4 o/n for 10 mos at a program you really like.

 

[Winged Scapula]

Exactly. Please ignore most of the information on FREIDA except perhaps the address of the program and perhaps the Program Director (although I've even found that to be in error on rare occasion).

First, many programs do not change the data submitted year after year.

Secondly, many programs put a random or inaccurate number for the call schedule.

Thirdly, call schedules are fluid. That means that a program may *desire* to have you on call q4, but if the census is high and the resident count low, that could change to q3. Programs will adjust the call schedule based on the needs of the rotation.

Finally, the call schedule is not nearly the most important thing when it comes to choosing a residency. Asking about it on the interview is considered a faux pas (so I guess its better to ask here).

q4/10 months likely means that two months out of the year (or whatever time is left after vacation time) is a non call rotation.

q4/4 weeks? I have no idea since it is unlikely you would only have 4 weeks of call the entire year. If anything that means you are q4 for every 4 week rotation.

 

[dragonfly99]

agree with gutondoc
and wingedscapula

ignore what it says on FRIEDA

but the part you are asking about probably means that there is a night float but interns don't do night float. Night float is probably the 2nd years (if it's a medicine program). Just guessing. That may or may not mean that interns don't spend all night in the hospital. There are systems where night float resident just does crosscover and some overflow admissions, where interns might still be in house all night covering their own patients and some new admissions (I mean when they are on call).

 

[Blade28]

I wouldn't take those FREIDA self-reported surveys too seriously. Just ask about call schedules at the pre-interview dinners if it really matters to you.

 

[USMELL]

I wouldn't take those FREIDA self-reported surveys too seriously. Just ask about call schedules at the pre-interview dinners if it really matters to you.

Thanks every one, I am having a hard time selecting programs to interview at, and I was thinking of using this criteria, but maybe not, especially since it might be so inacurate

 

[RTrain]

Thanks every one, I am having a hard time selecting programs to interview at, and I was thinking of using this criteria, but maybe not, especially since it might be so inacurate

I would echo the wise posters above in suggesting that using call schedule as a criteria for interview/application planning would be short-sighted. The call schedule figures into your actual educational experience so minimally - you could be missing out on a lot by selecting only the "easiest" schedules.

FWIW, I have found that even the worst runs of call pass quickly and are less painful while actually doing it than all the dread you have going into it. Once you're into your internship the call schedule won't really matter much to you, most likely.

 

[NotAProgDirector]

Agree that FREIDA can be inaccurate. Remember that we are required to submit all of this information months earlier, so the time lag between when FREIDA data is required to be submitted and when you start internship is really long.

As for the q4/4 weeks, I think that means that the WORST call schedule is q4 for 4 weeks. It would mean that the rest of the year is q5 or better, or that the program has no overnight call except in an ICU (which you would do for 4 weeks).

 

[Blade28]

Usually people first decide where to apply based on a few factors:

*Location
*Urban vs. suburban vs. rural
*Academic vs. community
*"Prestige" based on conversations with residents/attendings/mentors
*Research/travel/elective opportunities, if applicable

Call schedules and the like will have to be sussed out during the receptions/interviews.

 

[soulofmpatel]

I checked out the self-reported hours/call schedules at some of the programs where I rotated, and they are woefully inaccurate with a tendency to underreport hours. No program is going to admit to the world that their residents do Q2 for two weeks when someone is on vacation. At the place where I did surgery, they listed 70 hours/wk where the residents worked like 100-105 on average. At my home neurology program, they list like 55 hours a week which is complete BS because after the 2 calls in a week...you would be done and have to take the other five days off.

 

[dragonfly99]

Agree with soulofmpatel
FREIDA call schedules likely to be dated, and they pretty much all under-report the actual hours you'll be working.
As an intern you should assume 80 hrs/week on your call months, probably more if you are a surgical intern. Less would be only if you do something like psych or path, and even if doing psych assume 80/week on your medicine inpatient months that you'll be required to do (I think it's 3 of them).

Don't pick the residency just by the call schedule...wait 'till the interviews and try to get the straight dope from current residents.

 

[Llenroc]

The stuff on FREIDA is bull****.

 

[3dtp]

The stuff on FREIDA is bull****.

😏 So, it seems we have a consensus: The best way to interpret freida is--

-- They lie...
-- They simply falsify