|
|
Residency Policies & Procedures
X. GENERAL PROGRAM POLICIES
CALL DUTY POLICIES; HOURS OF DUTY STATEMENT
Definition of duty hours
Duty hours are defined as all clinical and academic activities related
to the residency program, i.e. patient care, administrative duties related
to patient care, the provision for transfer of patient care, time spent
in-house during call, and scheduled academic activities such as didactics
and conferences. Duty hours do not include reading and preparation time
spent away from the duty site.
Duty hours policies
- Duty hours must not exceed 80 hours a week, averaged over a four-week
period, inclusive of all in-house call activities.
- Residents must have one day in seven free from all educational and
clinical responsibilities, including call, averaged over a four-week
period. One day is defined as one continuous 24-hour period free from
all clinical, educational, and administrative activities.
- Adequate time for rest and personal activities must be provided. This
should consist of a 10-hour time period provided between all daily duty
periods and after in-house call.
- On Thursdays, Residents are exempt from clinical duties for didactics,
T-group, and business meetings either 12-5pm (R1s, including R1s on
Medicine, Pediatrics, or Neurology) or 8am-1:30pm (R2s-R4s). R2s-R4s
must resume duties at their assigned clinical site by 2:00pm on Thursdays
(unless they are post-call; see below).
On-Call Activities
In-house call is defined as those duty hours beyond the normal work day
when residents are required to be immediately available at the assigned
institution. At-home (pager) call is defined as call taken from outside
the assigned institution.
- In-house or at-home call must occur no more frequently than every
third night, averaged over a four-week period. Night float rotations
are not subject to this constraint.
- Continuous duty, including in-house or at-home call, must not exceed
24 consecutive hours. Residents are relieved of all clinical duties
after their in-house or at-home call shift.
- When residents are called into the hospital from home, the hours residents
spend in-house are counted towards the 80-hour limit.
Frequency of on-call night rotations (this does not include night
float which is considered a clinical rotation)
R-1s: 6-7 equivalents per 6 months (during Psychiatry
rotations)
R-2s: 13 equivalents per 6 months
R-3s: 12 equivalents per 6 months
R-4s: 6 equivalents per 6 months
* Equivalents = one weeknight or a day or night weekend
call shift is 1 equivalent; 24-hour weekend call is 2 equivalents
Adjustments to Call
- R-3s and R-4s are typically assigned one week each
of first and second backup. Residents who are given an extra week of
first backup call receive two call equivalents credit, while residents
given an extra week of second backup call receive one call equivalent
credit.
- Members of the call committee each receive a reduction
of four call equivalents.
- If individuals owe you calls, you must work these
out individually. The only exception to this is if a backup Resident
is called in by an R-1 or R-2. In this instance, the call committee
should be notified and the appropriate assignment of 1 extra call to
the R-1 or R-2 and call break to the R-3 or R-4 will be made in the
next call cycle.
Other Call Issues
1. Backup Resident:
- In case of illness or emergency beginning
prior to the onset of call, the sick Resident must attempt to trade
the call if this is physically possible.
- If the illness or emergency occurs while on call,
the Resident must personally call the backup Resident as soon as possible.
- The backup Resident must respond PROMPTLY.
2. The backup Resident is to be called only by other Residents.
Hours of Call
HMC 8:00 p.m.-8:00 a.m., weeknights
8:00 a.m.-8:00 p.m. or 8:00 p.m.-8:00 a.m., weekends and holidays
UWMC 6:00 p.m.-8:00 a.m., weeknights
24hr call 8 a.m.-8 a.m., or split shifts 8 a.m.-6 p.m. and 6 p.m.-8
a.m. weekends and holidays
VAMC 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 a.m., weeknights
24hr call 8 a.m.-8 a.m., or split shifts 8 a.m.-6 p.m. and 6 p.m.-8
a.m. weekends and holidays
Call Switch
In order to make changes to the 6-Month Call Schedule you must do each
of the following:
- Inform the Chief Resident at the appropriate site
- Inform the call schedule coordinator at the appropriate site:
NOTE: If the site call schedule differs from the original document
on file in the Residency Program Office, it will be assumed to be incorrect
until the matter can be cleared up.
Backup Call Schedule
During the week of your assigned backup call, the Resident's
responsibility is to be available for weeknight and weekend call in the
event of illness, injury to, or sudden attrition of the assigned Residents
during that week. The person absent will make restitution for days covered
to the backup Resident.
|
