päivystyspäivystykseen

päivystyspäivystykseen is a Finnish term that translates to "on-call duty for on-call duty" or "on-call for the on-call service." It refers to a situation where a healthcare professional who is already on call for a specific service or department is then required to be on call for another, often more specialized, service or even for a different facility. This can happen due to staffing shortages, unexpected surges in patient volume, or a lack of available personnel with the necessary expertise.

The concept implies a double burden of responsibility. The individual is expected to be available and ready to respond to emergencies within their primary on-call assignment, while simultaneously being prepared to handle calls or attend to patients related to their secondary on-call duty. This can lead to significant fatigue and increased stress for the healthcare professional, potentially impacting their ability to provide optimal care.

In a practical sense, this might mean a general practitioner on call for a local health center also being responsible for covering the on-call emergency physician duties at a nearby hospital if that hospital's designated on-call doctor is unavailable. Alternatively, a specialist in one area might be asked to cover on-call duties in a related, but different, specialty. The term highlights the challenges within healthcare systems to ensure adequate staffing and specialized coverage at all times.