Round-the-Clock Virtual Care Frees On-Call Doctors

The expectation of constant availability has long been a reality for primary care providers. Traditionally, when a practice is closed, a physician is on call to address urgent patient needs, ensuring continuous care. This system, while providing convenience for patients, has created challenges for the doctors themselves.

The Burden of “Always On”

For many primary care physicians, the on-call responsibility extends far beyond traditional work hours. They’ve faced the need to respond to urgent calls during personal time, potentially interrupting family events or sacrificing much-needed rest. This blurring of professional and personal boundaries has contributed to a growing sense of burnout among those dedicated to providing consistent patient care.

Did You Know? During flu season, a primary care provider could receive as many as 20 urgent calls over a single weekend.

Aileen John, DO, a family medicine doctor at Penn Family Medicine West Chester and a regional medical director of Penn Medicine Primary Care, described the demands of being on call. She noted the need to remain constantly accessible, even during personal time.

The Impact on Physicians

The constant availability required of primary care providers isn’t simply an inconvenience; it’s a significant factor in physician well-being. The need to be “next to your phone at all times,” as Dr. John described, can lead to exhaustion and a diminished ability to fully engage in personal life.

Expert Insight: The expectation of immediate availability highlights a fundamental tension in healthcare: the need for continuous patient access versus the necessity of protecting the well-being of the healthcare workforce. Sustaining a healthy and engaged physician population is critical to ensuring long-term access to quality care.

The current system, while designed to ensure patient access, may be unsustainable in the long run if it continues to contribute to physician burnout.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is on-call coverage?

On-call coverage is a system where a primary care provider is responsible for handling urgent patient needs when the office is closed, any time, day or night.

How does being on-call affect primary care providers?

Being on-call can require primary care providers to respond to urgent calls outside of traditional office hours, potentially interrupting personal time and contributing to burnout.

What was the experience of one doctor during on-call hours?

According to Aileen John, DO, she could receive two to three calls a night during the work week, and up to 20 calls over the weekend, depending on the season.

As healthcare evolves, will new models of care emerge to better balance patient access with the well-being of primary care providers?