On Call Policy

On-call policy and post-call procedures

On Call (Policy # CC-01)
Approved by: MD-PEC October 20, 2011

Lead Writer: L Davidson Last Revised: August 17, 2011

Background
Being on-call provides students the learning opportunity of being involved in the management of patients presenting after hours as well as that of patients admitted to hospital.

Policy
There are two types of call: evening call and overnight call. Courses may involve either evening or overnight call or a combination of both. Course directors will determine the type(s) of call required in their respective courses in consultation with the Clerkship Committee based on the educational objectives of the course. The designated student representatives will bring any issues or concerns about call to the Clerkship committee.

Note that some courses may employ shift work. This may include weekends and statutory holidays but will balance out to a predetermined number of shifts per rotation.

1. Evening call (following a regular working day) is from 5 pm until 10 pm. Students are expected to work a full day after an evening call.

2. Overnight call begins at 5 pm and lasts until 8 am the following day. Students are expected to handover to their team and may then leave “post-call”. Students should be relieved of all duties and home by 10 am at the latest. They are not expected to attend formal teaching, however are responsible for all the seminar topics and are expected to make up any missed sessions with independent study.

3. The student’s call (both evening and overnight) will average out to no more than 1 call every four days (over the course of a 6-week course).

4. Normally, in a four-week period, the student is only to be on call for one full weekend-equivalent (Friday, Saturday, Sunday). For example, a student may be scheduled on call twice in the month consisting of one Friday/Sunday combination and one Saturday.

5. The student is not to be on call or shift after 6 pm the night before an examination.

6. The student is not to be on call or shift after 10:00 am the last Sunday of the rotation.

7. Absence from duty without permission is considered unprofessional and will be reported to the Professionalism Advisory Committee.

8. If a student is unable to be on call or shift, he/she is responsible for switching with another student on the same rotation. It is also the student’s responsibility to notify all relevant parties (resident, nursing station, switchboard, etc).

9. Specific scheduling requests must be submitted to the relevant course clerkship administrator (or other designated individual such as departmental administrator) in writing a minimum of 6 weeks in advance of the start of the course.

10. Student safety is of paramount importance. Students assigned to evening work will be given the option of the Queen’s walk-home service (where and when available), taxi fare (if walk-home not available) or overnight accommodation in the hospital following their shift.