Sick coverage

[mtot]

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Question for any attending / well - informed resident out there: how does your department deal with call outs. Currently, our department secretary dials (frantically) anybody who could potentially work the uncovered shift. We do get overtime for coming in (which is nice), but it irks me that there isn't a more solid plan to deal with this (and it happens a lot). This was briefly discussed during a department meeting and the chair's plan was to pay the person a fairly modest amount of money on top of the overtime which we would be getting. It was met with a resounding "NO" from myself and the colleagues as the issue of definitive coverage wasn't dealt with. We wanted somebody definitively on call and to be compensated for being on call (even if we didn't come in) as one is bascially limited to one's home. This was rejected immediately and nothing has changed in 2 years.

 

[GeneralVeers]

We have an "on call" doc every day. Essentially you are paid $250 to be on call, and everyone is on call once a month. If you don't get called in, you get $250. If you do get called in you get paid the entire shift amount plus $250.

The system works really well if only one person is sick. If we have two call-outs then we lengthen some of the other shifts, and move a person from the less busy hospital to help out.

The on-call person also gets called in if one of our hospitals is getting slammed with volume. Usually that person sees some of the lower acuity stuff, stays for a couple of hours, then leaves when things are under control.

 

[southerndoc]

Some types of setups cannot have on call docs. For example, independent contractors cannot have on call docs. The IRS will classify them as an employee if you do this.

 

[TysonCook]

For the attendings at our dept we have an on call schedule built in, although it is easier for a group of our size rather than a small one. I've not been called in yet, but from what I understand it is appx 1 time every 30 call days that you may get called in (we usually have 1 call day/month). We do not get paid extra, and if you are called in, the other person is supposed to make up the shift to you.

 

[deuist]

For attendings, we have a weekly on call doc who will work only two scheduled shifts and spend the rest of the week sober and in town. He gets a small amount if he's not called in, and time and a half if he is.

For residents, we take two weeks at a time on backup call, usually during lighter off-service rotations. There is no extra payment for taking call or coming in when called.

 

[EctopicFetus]

My group has backup call. You get paid 1/24th (1 hour) of pay for being on backup. We do this once a month, rarely get called in last minute but I have 2x in 2 years been called into my backup shift once about a week out and another time the night before which helps.

This is great since if you have a family emergency you can get your shift covered and someone is "on the hook". If you get called in you get your hourly salary for the time you are there. It is a pain but it is a way our group has chosen to deal with this. You can also get called in if one of our hospitals is slammed or if one of the single coverage guys has to leave with a patient. which has happened twice that im aware of.

 

[The White Coat Investor]

We have no plan, but we have lots of people who work just a few shifts a month so finding coverage wouldn't be that big a deal. If you have advance notice, it's your job to find yourself some coverage, but the director will help you find coverage and everyone is good about it.