Vacation time and your program

[HbyHA]

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How does your program structure vacation time? Is coverage provided for you by the program (ie schedule it in in at the beginning of the year) or do you have to find your own coverage? Do you take vacation on any or all type of rotations (is surg path a no no?) Is the program small or large?

Thanks!

 

[caffeinegirl]

In our program, which is large, you request your vacations ahead of time prior to making out the schedule for the following year. You rank them in order of importance, about four+ choices for four weeks of vacation. Then, you find out what you get when the schedule is made (and you usually get all your requests). Since our AP and CP happens throughout the year (we switch around every four months), you can choose to be away during any of them. Coverage is provided/built into the schedule, and overall it's a pretty fair process.

 

[yaah]

Depends on what rotation you're on whether you need coverage. If we are on an AP rotation, usually we have to find someone to cover. Most of CP, don't need to. Prior to the start of the year the rotation schedule is made up for the entire year, and if you know you are going to be away in a certain month, you ask for a light month or an elective so that you don't have to worry about coverage.

 

[listeriaismfb]

I went to a mid-sized program. There was no up-front request for vacation time prior to scheduling. There was also no need to find your own coverage. There were restrictions - no vacation on SP, BB, or hemepath, and they discouraged more than 2 weeks off in a given month.

 

[HbyHA]

so it sounds like taking vacation doesn't have to be as bass-ackwards as we have made it.

do most people take all of their vacation? for us, it depends how much you enjoy getting the hairy eyeball from CP or cyto...

 

[listeriaismfb]

so it sounds like taking vacation doesn't have to be as bass-ackwards as we have made it.

do most people take all of their vacation? for us, it depends how much you enjoy getting the hairy eyeball from CP or cyto...

At my program, most people took all of their vacation (4 weeks) as long as they were within the rules I mentioned before.

For example if your schedule during second year was 3 mo SP, 3 mo HP, 2 mo Autopsy, 2 mo Chemistry & 2 mo BB, you would probably end up taking your time off during Autopsy, Chemistry, and if you somehow sucked up really well you could possibly get a week off in BB. The week off in BB would come with a complimentary hairy eyeball though...

 

[docbiohazard]

At Methodist, we get 16 days first year, 21 days every year after that, and weekend days don't count. It's PTO, so sick and vacation in one pool. It rolls over and they'll pay you back for the balance when you leave, up to one years worth (21 days).

In general, its first come first served and you ask as early as possible, but in general at least the month before you need off, so the schedule can be arranged. If you're on call, you find someone to swap with. If an emergency comes up, we have enough PAs and people we can make things work, no worries.

I know some of the CP rotations get antsy if you take too much time off because they only get you for a month or two to begin with, and in SP you have to make sure service duties are covered. Rule of thumb is the longer the absense the earlier it needs to be planned for.

All in all, I think we have a good system.

 

[112641]

Here you have to take vacation during CP rotations and never more than 8 working days at a time. No vacation is allowed during surg path or autopsy months. For an emergency you have to get coverage if you're on SP or Autopsy..that's happened once in the 3.5 years I've been here and the other 9 residents rotated covering her work for a week - not a big deal. If you know ahead of time when you want vacation you can request a CP month be scheduled during that month when the schedules are made in May.. or switch a month with someone.