Call Schedules

Orthopedic residents at The University of Iowa benefit from one of the most resident friendly call schedules. Interns take 24 hour in house call on weekends when they are on one of their six orthopedic or orthopedic related months. These six months include 2 months of Ortho Spine and one month of Ortho Trauma, Radiology, Anesthesiology, and Rheumatology. This translates to two to three 24 hour weekend ortho calls during each of these months and approximately 17-18 total 24 hour ortho calls during the intern year.

During the PGY2 year residents take in house weeknight call (5pm to 7am) once a week. The spine team resident takes call every Monday night. The hand team resident takes call every Tuesday night. The foot and ankle team resident takes call every Wednesday night. The joints team resident takes call every Thursday night. The sports team resident takes call every Friday night. The PGY 2 resident on Trauma does not take call during those two months. 

In the PGY3 year residents are no longer in house 1st call. They are now the midlevel on call and only come in to help the junior with reductions, more complex patient issues, and to operate. Call averages every 6th day. The PGY3 also covers VA call when they are on call.

PGY4 and PGY5 residents graduate to senior level call and usually only come in to operate. Since call is shared by 12 residents, call averages every 12th day.