I can't comment on how other practices operate but I'm an acute care surgeon with
http://www.emcare.com/ and can shed some light on this. Generally the schedule is 1 week on followed by 1 week off. If you have some life events you can make specific requests which will more than likely be accommodated. The schedules are made a quarter at a time a few months in advance so you can make plans. Travel may be involved but generally the practice tries to avoid travelling since this drives up costs as your travel expenses are covered. When you are on you may be assigned to take call at 1 or more low acuity hospitals (level 3 trauma or non-designated) or at one of their higher acuity level 2 trauma hospitals. Level 3 hospitals are covered 24/7 by the assigned surgeon with backup if needed. Level 2 hospitals are covered as 12 hr shifts 7a-7p/7p-7a in house and you are either the day guy or night guy. There's backup if needed. At most hospitals we have midlevel help during the day. They help with rounds and assist with cases. Typical day for me when I'm on at a level 3 hospital starts around 10-11am when I meet my midlevel for rounds. It is unusual to have a census of more than 7 and more than 2 add-on cases so I usually just add cases on for 11am unless they need to be done more urgently in which case they either get done at the time of consult or as a 7am case. I'm usually done with my day by 2-3pm.
Clinic is once a week and is staffed by the on call surgeons and midlevels in the area. We usually have 2-3 surgeons and 2-3 midlevels present and finish before lunch. When you are off you are off. There are no admin or other responsibilities.
