Call is very individualized. As an FP in a 7 man practice I would take call every 7th weekend, but get over 100 calls during that time (no joke). Now as a solo doc in a town of 12,000, I'm on call 24/7/365, but I get maybe 1 or 2 calls a week. Bert is right about patients respecting your time. They know I've got a family, other community commitments, etc. and that I'll always be there in the morning. They also know I'll come in at midnight to sew up their 2 yr old's coffee table laceration. As a group doc, I was just the guy on call and fair game for every 2am "What's the Tylenol dose for a 2 yr old?" question.
Chris, it's worth $49/month to have that little breather space between the page and the call-back. There's something psychological and empowering about that. A ring-thru means I have to immediately stop whatever I'm doing and take the call. I did that for 4 years (with the group) and felt like a slave to my patients.
Hey, everybody's different. That's why we like AC. Everybody uses it a little differently.
Dave
FP
(Don't call me)
