Cancer and Blood Diseases Center

Night and Weekend Call

Beginning in 2010 and again in 2011-12, the call schedule format changed substantially compared to previous years, with the goals of maximizing fellow education and quality of life, resident education, and patient care. The new call schedule includes the addition of hospitalists who cover the Stem Cell Transplant (BMT service) call in-house from 5 pm to 8 am on Saturday through Thursday nights.

Fellows from all years take phone calls for the Hematology, Oncology and Stem Cell Transplant services overnight, including both in-hospital and outside calls. In some circumstances (for example, a new patient with leukemia), fellows may be asked to return to the hospital from home, but they are no longer obligated to stay in house every night. This change relieved fellows of overnight in-house Stem Cell Transplant call Saturday through Thursday of each week, allowing for adherence to duty hours and lessened fatigue. On the weekends, fellows cover all services.

One fellow takes in-house call for the BMT service on Friday night, and a separate fellow is on call during the daytime on Saturday and Sunday. The Hematology and Oncology services are covered by one fellow from Friday 5 pm until Sunday 5 pm. On Sunday night a different fellow assumes call, covering the Hematology and Oncology services from home from 5 pm to 8 am.

This new system has resulted in a significant decrease in fellow call, including a major reduction in in-house fellow call. This change constituted a major undertaking by the program, in order to maximize fellow education and productive research time.