Free From Clinic = Free Clinic

There are primarily two situations which cause this equation to be true.

The first is more applicable to the first year resident mostly responsible for the consultation services we provide. Should a morning, or more rarely an afternoon, come about when there isn't an immediate obligation to be in clinic, the consulting resident will likely have consults to field. Many of these may come from the ED, but several come from the floor as well. Either way, since most payers don't recognize consultation as a payable service, these people are getting a complete eye exam for free.

The second possible situation is when a clinic has been cancelled, and all responsible residents have that time opened up. Invariably, there will be patients to be worked in and be seen. Not a big deal, since we are after all there to learn and see patients. But here's the problem. There is this policy at JEI stating that all patients seen by residents in the clinic need to be staffed with an attending. While this is probably best for the patient and starting residents, it is certainly not always necessary. Either way, the only way to be paid for the visit is if an attending sees the patient. That all being said, then why the hell would you work patients into a clinic where there is no attending? If you do, so as not get anyone in trouble, I have to go through the often painful process of trying to find a staff. The solution is simple: work the dang patient into a staff's clinic instead of mine. They really just need to step up to the task, regardless of the patient's insurance status. And don't preach to me about how it's not like I'm busy then. Because let's face it, the patient load in almost any attending's private clinic is no where near the load in a private clinic outside the university setting.