Locums pay for covering an IMP

[Guest guest]

Hello all,

Some exciting news for those that didn't catch my facebook post is

that I'm expecting our 3rd child, due in September. I'm planning on

ramping down my practice _a lot_ before then (I'm working way too long

hours now, but that's a whole other topic) by closing to new patients

sometime in May or June, so that I estimate I'll have a panel of

around 325 or so (at around 280 now, open since end of June). I'm

going to be hiring a locums (a friend and colleague who was on family

med faculty and mow is home with her son, and periodically does locums

for people, and is actually considering an IMP practice and is excited

about experiencing an IMP practice for a bit) for 3 wks or so to cover

labor and delivery and that initial post-partum period (after which

I'm going to return back to office for just a few patients a day with

babe in tow as long as all is uncomplicated, have nanny back-up).

So my question for you all is what is reasonable to pay my friend for

the 24hr coverage of my practice? I'm envisioning 3-4 hours of time in

the office seeing acute patients (no or minimal pre-books) and doing

admin work (minimal, will handle billing, other financial stuff etc

when I return), for which I'll pay her a fair hourly rate (I did

locums pre-IMP and will just have to remind myself what I was paid).

But what to pay for that 24/7 IMP call? I don't envision too many

urgent calls (eg that get prioritized to go direct to cell phone

rather than just voicemail to address when she's in the office),

probably 1-3/day, but still it's 24/7 call. We touched on it when we

met this week, and she has no idea either. She's really not doing it

for the money (rather the experience) but I would never dream of

having someone work for me without being paid fairly. Any thoughts?

By the way, my due date (9/25) is too close to AAFP ASA and IMP camp,

so am so bummed to say I'll be missing it this year. Was so nice to

see do many of you in Seattle last summer and Rochester the summer

before! (yes, when I was also very pregnant -- front loading the

begining of my career with the family building years -- thank god for

a supportive husband!)

Thanks for your help!

-

Queenan, MD

Queenan Family Medicine and Maternity Care

" Mindful medicine for whole body, mind, and spirit "

1501 East Ave, Ste 211

Rochester, NY 14610

emilyqueenan@...

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