Nature of after-hours calls at a tertiary-level rehabilitation center.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the incidence and nature of calls for on-call physicians after hours at a tertiary-level rehabilitation center.


METHODS
Prospective survey of on-call physicians during 1 year.


METHODS
A tertiary-level rehabilitation center with 66 beds in Nova Scotia.


METHODS
Residents, clinical associates, and staff physicians covering calls.


METHODS
Not applicable.


METHODS
Number of calls during 1 year, types of calls, medical issues dealt with, and time spent in center after hours dealing with calls.


RESULTS
The overall response rate by on-call physicians was 75%. In the 274 days for which surveys were returned, 467 calls were received. Of these calls, 53% were for medication orders, 36% for medical issues, 7% for procedures, and 5% for incidents.


CONCLUSIONS
For a 65-bed unit, on-call staff were called a median of once per night. The most common call was for medication orders. House staff were required to come in about once in every 9 calls (11%) and stayed less than 1 hour in most cases.
Pike
Jeff H
JH
Division of Physical and Medicine and Rehabilitation, Queen Elizabeth II Health Sciences Center, Nova Scotia Rehabilitation Site, Doahousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada. jeffhpike@hotmail.com
D039602:After-Hours Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003953:Diagnosis-Related Groups / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004630:Emergencies; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006743:Hospital Bed Capacity, under 100; D006801:Humans; D008503:Medical Staff / Q000193:education / Q000706:statistics & numerical data / Q000600:supply & distribution; D020380:Needs Assessment; D009551:Night Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D009674:Nova Scotia / Q000453:epidemiology; D010561:Personnel Staffing and Scheduling / Q000458:organization & administration; D010810:Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine / Q000193:education; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians' / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012047:Rehabilitation Centers / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors; D000078329:Workforce; D016526:Workload