Not only do the physicians cover for each other on holidays and vacations, they care for each other's patients weekly on their colleagues' scheduled days off. Sapio, for example, works just two half days a week in the practice. Her patients know they can see her during those hours, but on Sapio's days off, her patients with acute problems are seen by other physicians in the practice. It also breeds its own set of challenges. As long as group members are sensitive to keeping one another informed of significant patient care issues, continuity of care is maintained.
Patients seem to think it can work, too.
When new patients come into the practice, its nurses spend time explaining the system to them so that patients are well informed. So far, the practice has never been short on satisfied patients, and its best referral source has always been word of mouth. They know that, even though we work part time, they all have full-time care. Someone is always available no matter what time of the day. For Dunkerley, it's the chance to do two things he loves.