How many hours do doctors work a week on call?

Doctors' working schedules can vary widely depending on their field, specialty, years of experience, and work setting, such as hospitals, clinics, or private practice. It's important to note that the number of on-call hours can also vary within the same field or specialty.

In general, doctors who are on call may work long and irregular hours, including weekends and holidays. The number of on-call hours can range from a few hours to several days, and it may be spread throughout the week or concentrated in specific periods. Resident doctors, who are doctors-in-training, often work longer on-call hours compared to attending physicians or fully licensed doctors.

As a reference point based on studies and surveys:

1. Resident doctors: Resident doctors in the US may work up to 80 hours a week on average. According to the American Medical Association, some surgical specialties may have residents working over 100 hours a week on average.

2. Attending physicians: Hospital-based attending physicians may work around 60 hours a week on average, including clinical work and administrative tasks. Depending on the field and patient load, some attending physicians may work more hours, including on-call hours.

3. Private practice physicians: Physicians in private practice may have more flexibility in managing their schedules, but they may also have unpredictable on-call hours depending on their patient needs.

It's important to note that these are averages, and the actual on-call hours may vary significantly depending on individual circumstances and the healthcare system in which the doctors are working.