The arrangements for call can vary greatly as you noted, but I’ll give you my experience as I was looking for jobs.

The first major factor is the “trauma” designation of the hospital your group covers. Level 1/2 Trauma requires a provider be IN HOUSE – so this means you’ll be there anywhere for 12-24 hours straight, usually with a “post call day” off. For smaller centers, call is typically from home and dependent on the willingness of the surgeons to work at night. Some groups will still give a post call day off, others will not. Occasionally, jobs at surgery centers can be found that have “no call, no weekends” which is the most lifestyle friendly.

I would say most typically for anesthesia is about 1 call a week, 1 weekend a month coverage. Most surveys also suggest anesthesiologists work about 40-50 hours a week on average.

My own experience is that our group averages right around the 1 call/week, 1 weekend/month, with post call day off. I work about 40 hours/week and get about 8 weeks of vacation. I felt this was a good set up and there are certainly more strenuous jobs out there. I pick up additional home call for extra $$ covering a critical access hospital, w/o a post call day, but with a call in percentage of <20%.

Hope this helps!

Ps. Love the name "Call me Maybe"