Question: What does it mean to “Be On Call”?
Answer: Residents on call stay in the hospital over night caring for patients on their team, other teams, and new admissions. A typical intern works every second, third, or fourth night (depending upon the guidelines at their training hospital) for a period of 30-36 hours with almost no sleep. Though some argue this tradition, it allows interns to see the amount of patients necessary to complete their program and provides the hospital with after-hour patient care. Alternatively, residents may leave the hospital but must carry a beeper and be prepared to return immediately if needed.
