Cross cover for physicians: an additional burden.

D K Knight-Davis; M G Fouweather; E D Srivastava; M C Allison

PubMed · 9597628

Cross cover for physicians: an additional burden.

D K Knight-Davis·M G Fouweather·E D Srivastava·M C Allison

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To examine the extra burden placed on consultant physicians when providing cross cover for colleagues who are absent on annual or study leave. METHODS: A questionnaire was sent to 455 consultant physicians with an interest in gastroenterology, practising in the UK in October 1996. RESULTS: The response rate was 77%, with 350 completed forms returned. Ninety percent of respondents participate in the acute intake; they provide 85% of cross cover for their colleagues. Only 2% of this burden is carried by the appointment of locums. CONCLUSION: Provision of satisfactory cover for inpatients under the care of absent colleagues can place serious demands on consultants at a time when their specialty commitments are also high. Future manpower planning must take these added burdens into consideration.

Explore related subjects

Absenteeism Burnout, Professional Data Collection Gastroenterology Holidays Hospital Departments Humans Interdepartmental Relations Patient Admission Personnel Staffing and Scheduling Referral and Consultation Surveys and Questionnaires United Kingdom Workforce Workload Journal Article

Keep this discovery

Explore connections, maps & timelines

BibTeX RIS

D K Knight-Davis, M G Fouweather, E D Srivastava, M C Allison. Cross cover for physicians: an additional burden.. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/9597628/

Cite the original work for its findings. Save a collection to share your selection of sources.

KEEP EXPLORING

Related citations

PubMed2007

National and state medical expenditures and lost earnings attributable to arthritis and other rheumatic conditions--United States, 2003.

Arthritis is the leading cause of disability in the United States, potentially limiting affected persons from walking a few blocks or climbing a flight of stairs. Using Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS) data, CDC analyzed national and state-specific direct costs (i.e., medical expenditures) and indirect costs (i.e., lost earnings) attributable to arthritis and other rheumatic conditions (AORC) in the United States during 2003. This report describes the results of that analysis, which indicated that, in 2003, the total cost of AORC in the United States was approximately 128 billion dollars (80.8 billion dollars in direct and 47.0 billion dollars in indirect costs), equivalent to 1.2% of the 2003 U.S. gross domestic product. Total costs attributable to AORC, by state/area, ranged from 225.5 million dollars in the District of Columbia to 12.1 billion dollars in California. Total costs attributable to AORC have increased substantially since 1997, and that increase is expected to continue because of the aging of the population and increases in obesity and physical inactivity. These findings signal the need for broader implementation of effective public health interventions, such as arthritis and chronic disease self-management programs, which can reduce medical expenditures among persons with AORC.

Absenteeism↗

PubMed2007

Utility loss and indirect costs following cardiovascular events in hypertensive patients: the ASCOT health economic substudy.

This study assessed the loss of utility and indirect costs associated with first cardiovascular events. Data was collected (using EQ-5D) prospectively at 3, 6, and 12 months following an event in the Swedish part of the Anglo-Scandinavian cardiac outcomes trial (ASCOT), including patients with mild to moderate hypertension and additional risk factors. Sixty patients were eligible for analysis. An event was associated with a one-year utility loss of 0.075 (95% CI: 0.038-0.114). For a stroke, the reduction was 0.145 (CI: 0.059-0.249) and for acute coronary syndromes (myocardial infarction or unstable angina) the loss was 0.051 (-0.003 to 0.103). The utility at baseline was no different to the utility in a control group. The indirect cost over the first 12 months (2003 Swedish Kronor, SEK) was 90028 SEK (CI: 46027-146754), 9866 euro for patients in the workforce. These results are helpful in future economic evaluations of primary preventive measures in cardiovascular medicine.

Absenteeism↗

PubMed2007

Long-term absenteeism due to sickness in Sweden. How long does it take and what happens after?

In this paper, we analyze exits from long-term sickness spells in Sweden. Using data for more than 2,500 people, the aim is to analyze the transition to different states: return to work, full disability pension, partial disability pension, and other exits from the labor force. Given the complexity of the exit decision, which encompasses both the individual's choice, the medical evaluation and the decision of the insurance adjudicator, we consider the outcome as being the result of two aspects of the exit process: one that governs the duration of a spell prior to the decision to exit, and another that governs the type of exit. Therefore, the analysis is done in two steps: first, we analyze the duration of the sickness spells, and then we analyze the process that governs the type of exit. The results indicate that both individual characteristics and push factors, such as regional unemployment, are important for both components of the decision process.

Absenteeism↗