Päivystyspidoke

Päivystyspidoke is a Finnish term that translates to "on-call retainer" or "emergency duty retainer" in English. It refers to a financial compensation or a contractual agreement that ensures the availability of a professional, typically a doctor or a specialist, for on-call duties. This retainer is paid to individuals who are obligated to be reachable and ready to respond to emergency situations outside of their regular working hours.

The purpose of a päivystyspidoke is to guarantee that essential services, such as emergency medical care, can be provided even when regular staff are not on duty. It compensates professionals for the disruption to their personal time and the commitment to be available for urgent cases. The specific terms and amounts of a päivystyspidoke vary depending on the sector, the profession, the number of on-call shifts, and the responsibilities involved.

This arrangement is common in healthcare settings, particularly in hospitals and emergency services, where immediate medical attention is critical. It can also be found in other fields requiring continuous availability for urgent issues, though it is most strongly associated with medical on-call services in Finland. The existence of a päivystyspidoke is a mechanism to ensure workforce availability and service continuity in critical situations.