ortho call

This forum made possible through the generous support of SDN members, donors, and sponsors. Thank you.

Kitra101

Senior Member
10+ Year Member
15+ Year Member
Joined
May 23, 2005
Messages
317
Reaction score
1
Points
4,656
Location
Somewhere out there
  1. Medical Student
Advertisement - Members don't see this ad
Hello,

I am looking on Freida and most programs appear to minimally have a Q4-Q3 call schedule for each year...especially the third. Also, most tend to work average 65-80 hr a week according to Freida. I came across U of Ill at Chicago who says 40 hour weeks with 1 call/week for 4 weeks for each year. How is that possible? Is it a mistake? Are there any programs out there that keep calls to once a week or which keep work hours truthfully below 70 hours/week (at least after the 1st year)?

Any help with this would be greatly appreciated.
 
I'd suggest looking to another field if you desire a cushy residency.
 
not looking for cushy, but looking for having some sort of a life during the next 6 years or so...how can one program offer 40 hour work weeks?
 
In my experience (medicine residency) the programs tend to fudge the hours (on the low side). So if it says 60-85 hours I'd expect 80 or more as an intern. You might get the 65 hours as a PGY5, if you are lucky. I can't believe there is any decent ortho residency or other surgical residency where you will be working 40 hours/week. I don't see how it could exist. Even internal medicine, which I trained in, works >>40 hours/week.
 
not looking for cushy, but looking for having some sort of a life during the next 6 years or so...how can one program offer 40 hour work weeks?

1. I'm fairly certain they don't.

2. If it's true, I'm absolutely certain I don't want to be a resident there if I expect to be taken seriously as an orthopedic surgeon.
 
80-hour work week, what's that?
 
i appreciate your duties and commitment and in the meantime pity your overtime works..i cant helpyou but wish you best of luck
 
I can't imagine that there is any ortho program where resident work 40 hours per week. It just isn't possible. The Ortho guys at my place have a night float and they still say that they're averaging ~70-75 hours/week.

Orthopods spend lots of time doing add-on cases every evening. Grandma came in last night with a hip fracture? She's getting done tonight after the scheduled cases or clinic. ***** in MVC has a floating knee? He's on for Saturday morning. Pretty typical.
 
I just finished a 3-month ortho trauma rotation in which I usually worked 80-100 hours a week. We had outside rotators from smaller hospitals (that weren't level I trauma centers) who worked significantly less hours at their programs and even took home call. I'm fairly positive that they all worked more than 40 hours a week though.
 
Top Bottom