sign out? ?

[snowinter]

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Hi guys,

I've been noticing a wide range of signout times at different institutions;

some programs signout at 5:30 -- which means you technically are finished around 6:30 or so

other places sign out at 7pm- -so you don't leave until 8pm

my question is: is it appropriate to e-mail the residency coordinator secretary to get details of signout times? It's not always posted on the website -- but I want to use that info in my decision making. I think 7pm signout is late -- you barely get any time at home before you come back -- especially if you have to deal with traffic.

any thoughts on how to get the signout info -- if it's not listed on the website? I obviously don't want to ask this question during interviews

thanks! snow 😍

 

[Wednesday]

I think this is a question you can ask the residents when you go for an interview. This is a "typical day" type question. Just my opinion though, haven't gone through this quite yet myself.

 

[Quijotemd]

I know UT Hermann has board checkout at 5PM. It often ends at 5:30 but if the chairman is present, he likes to teach and it can extend to about 6PM.

Houston Methodist, formerly St. Joseph's, had board checkout at 5PM, or at least they did at St. Joseph's. Their checkout would usually by done by 5:30.

UTMB Austin schedules their day L&D shifts till 7PM. I agree that 7PM does seem kind of late and affords less time in the evening to reading, family, self, etc. I don't understand why a program would do this. It makes the night shift a bit shorter but typically more months are spent on days than on nights.

Q

 

[snowinter]

I know UT Hermann has board checkout at 5PM. It often ends at 5:30 but if the chairman is present, he likes to teach and it can extend to about 6PM.

Houston Methodist, formerly St. Joseph's, had board checkout at 5PM, or at least they did at St. Joseph's. Their checkout would usually by done by 5:30.

UTMB Austin schedules their day L&D shifts till 7PM. I agree that 7PM does seem kind of late and affords less time in the evening to reading, family, self, etc. I don't understand why a program would do this. It makes the night shift a bit shorter but typically more months are spent on days than on nights.

Q

Hi Quijotemd,
thanks for the info. I totally agree! I don't understand why programs would have a 7pm signout. This is particulary true in larger cities where commute to home somtimes takes 40min - 1 hour even if you live < 5 miles away. What point is there in saving the night shift a few hours? either way you will have to sleep most of the following day. I sometimes wonder if OBGYN residency programs couldn't use a revision of schedules-- it might increase the popularity of OBGYN. There is no use in the schedule being so exhausting. And -- we *do* work better when life is more balanced between work and play. Ok sorry for the rant.

also : just FYI I didn't know and just found out that: things like signing out / rounds and even clinic can be considered "didactic" and NOT part of the 80 hour work-week.. did u guys know that?

snow! 😍