More are not willing to take the risks of specialty call in the ER. So hospitals are starting to show them the money:
Until recently, specialists accepted on-call shifts in return for admitting privileges. But many now expect to be compensated for keeping their beepers on during nights and weekends. The change in the relationship between specialists and hospitals is being debated in the medical community, with some doctors viewing it as a betrayal of long-held values.“Most of the older physicians felt it was their responsibility to do this. New physicians don’t see it that way,” said Dr. Kenneth Peelle , president of the Massachusetts Medical Society . “I think it’s unfortunate that we have gone in this direction.
Related posts:
- An on-call committee to disclose medical errors
- Emergency room specialist call
- Call coverage
- First night on call
- Neurosurgeon shortage
- My take: Paying for call, Muslims in medicine
- On call
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I was the only general surgeon in a small community hospital with the next hospital just under one hour away. One cannot possibly expect a single physician to be on call 24/7, 365 days a week. I brought that up to the hospital administration and they just shrugged their shoulders and quoted me EMTALA rules (which do not apply to physicians, anyway). Now, I’ve left to a better job, less call, and more money and that hospital had to close down their ED for lack of specialty coverage.
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