From Burnout to Balance: Why It's Time to Rethink Cardiology Call Coverage
Med Axiom
April 10, 2025
Introduction
The field of cardiology is facing an inflection point. The demand for cardiovascular services is surging, driven by an aging population and rising rates of heart disease. Simultaneously, there is a concerning shortage of cardiologists, creating an imbalance that strains existing healthcare systems.
A MedAxiom analysis finds that the number of cardiologists entering the profession through U.S. fellowships is insufficient to replace the number who are either leaving (e.g., retirement, moving into administrative roles) or slowing down (e.g., intentional reductions in clinical schedules, smaller patient panels).
The Burden of Traditional Call
For most cardiologists, night and weekend call is just part of the job—yet it’s often the most draining part and leads to:
- Physician Burnout
The relentless demands of after-hours call contribute to high levels of burnout among cardiologists. A 2016 editorial published in the American Journal of Cardiology found that 47% of cardiologists reported experiencing burnout.5
A study published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology in 2020 found that burnout rates among cardiologists had increased to 58%.6 These alarming statistics underscore the urgent need to address this issue.
- Impact on Patient Care
Fatigued physicians may be more prone to errors and poor judgment. A 2000 study published in Occupational & Environmental Medicine found that sleep deprivation led to cognitive impairment on par with drinking alcohol.7
Additionally, the lack of readily available specialists can delay critical interventions, potentially impacting patient outcomes.
- Recruitment and Retention Challenges
The current generation of cardiologists entering the workforce has different expectations of work-life balance than those who came before them.
Call frequency and call burden are heavily scrutinized by new physician candidates as they analyze potential jobs. In such a tight market where candidates are scarce, any disadvantage can be devastating.
- Financial Strains
The costs associated with physician burnout, turnover, and the need for locum tenens physicians place a significant financial burden on healthcare organizations. Additionally, many programs institute a “post-call day” where after a physician’s night or weekend shift, the next work days are either reduced or eliminated to provide recovery time.
This lost production can be very expensive and pushes call burden to the other group members. Lastly, call burden is very expensive in terms of physician compensation. MedAxiom survey data from 2023 finds that cardiologists estimate the value of the burden of call anywhere from 10% to 50% of their total income, influenced heavily by both the frequency and volume of their individual call circumstances.
A Better Model: Contracted Call Relief
Moonlighting Solutions is at the forefront of revolutionizing cardiology call coverage with their Call Relief Program™. This program provides highly skilled, board-certified cardiologists to cover nights, weekends, and holidays. Moonlighting Solutions alleviates the call burden on in-house physicians, allowing them to focus on their core responsibilities during regular hours.
I predict this change will EXTEND CAREERS BY FIVE TO 10 YEARS, which is critical in an environment where we have such a shortage of cardiologists.
James “Jake” Hochrein, M.D., F.A.C.C.
Chief of the Cardiovascular Service Line, Cone Health
This innovative staffing model offers a multitude of benefits:
- Enhanced Physician Well-Being
By reducing the frequency and intensity of call shifts, Moonlighting Solutions helps prevent burnout, improves job satisfaction, and fosters a healthier work-life balance for cardiologists.
- Elevated Patient Care
Well-rested, focused physicians are better equipped to deliver high-quality care. Providing separate coverage at night and on weekends greatly reduces the number of fatigued physicians providing daytime services, increasing patient safety.
- Improved Recruitment and Retention
The prospect of a more manageable call schedule becomes a powerful recruitment tool, attracting top talent to cardiology programs. Additionally, it incentivizes existing physicians to remain in their roles longer, reducing costly turnover and gap coverage.
- Cost-Effectiveness
While the initial investment in Moonlighting Solutions may seem substantial, the long-term financial benefits are undeniable. Reduced turnover, decreased reliance on locum tenens physicians, and increased productivity all contribute to significant cost savings. In addition, programs can see an increase in daytime production as physicians eliminate or reduce post-call day absences.
