Because on-call coverage payments for emergency department and trauma programs have increased significantly in the past five to seven years, hospitals are looking at alternative strategies to ensure on-call coverage while controlling high physician on-call compensation levels, according to a recent report from Integrated Healthcare Strategies.
Some of those strategies include employment of specialists with a minimum expectation of uncompensated call coverage built into the employment model. Mary Heymans, RN, senior vice president of physician services at IHS, also wrote that because call compensation for physicians is under increasing regulatory scrutiny, hospitals must create call coverage plans that are consistent with fair market value.
To establish fair market value for call coverage, hospitals must consider several factors, including type of call, payor mix, frequency of call, tertiary care status, average case acuity and more.
Some of those strategies include employment of specialists with a minimum expectation of uncompensated call coverage built into the employment model. Mary Heymans, RN, senior vice president of physician services at IHS, also wrote that because call compensation for physicians is under increasing regulatory scrutiny, hospitals must create call coverage plans that are consistent with fair market value.
To establish fair market value for call coverage, hospitals must consider several factors, including type of call, payor mix, frequency of call, tertiary care status, average case acuity and more.
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