How do I schedule and dispatch on-call and standby clinicians?
Configure on-call rosters, define standby hourly retainer rates, and dispatch activated clinicians seamlessly with differential billing rules.
To manage on-call clinicians in YourMedSoft, select Standby / On-Call when creating a shift, assign an on-call hourly retainer rate, and publish the roster. When activated for patient care, coordinators click Activate Shift to immediately switch compensation to contracted acute clinical bill rates and differential overtime.
What You Need Before Starting
- Facility standby bill rates must be configured under Foundation pay rules.
- Clinician must have active on-call availability set in their profile.
Clinical & Regulatory Compliance Standards
- Compliant with FLSA Department of Labor on-call and waiting time regulations (29 CFR § 785.17).
- Tracks guaranteed minimum hours clauses in accordance with state hospital contracts.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Select On-Call Shift Type
From the Scheduling calendar, click "Post Shift" and select "On-Call / Standby" from the Shift Type dropdown.
Define Standby Hours and Retainer Rate
Set the on-call coverage window (e.g., 19:00 to 07:00) and specify the hourly standby retainer rate (e.g., $6.00/hr standby).
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Assign Clinician to Standby Roster
Assign a qualified clinician who meets the facility unit requirements (e.g., OR Surgical Tech or Cath Lab RN).
Execute Activation Upon Call-In
If the hospital calls the clinician in for active surgery, open the shift card and click "Activate for Duty". The system switches pay and bill rates to full clinical time-and-a-half.
Pro-Tips & Best Practices
- Standby hours are tracked separately from active patient care hours on the generated invoice.
- Check whether the client contract requires a 2-hour minimum call-in guarantee when activated.
Troubleshooting & Operational Edge Cases
Issue: Clinician activated but invoice shows standby rate
Operational Resolution: Ensure the coordinator clicked "Activate for Duty" and specified the exact arrival time at the hospital.
Frequently Asked Questions & Troubleshooting
Does standby time count toward the 40-hour weekly overtime threshold?
Under FLSA, inactive standby where the clinician is free to use time for personal pursuits generally does not count toward overtime, but active call-in hours do. YourMedSoft tracks both categories distinctly.
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