On-Call Pay Position Statement
Approved by the ACFAS Board of Directors July 2024
Download PDFThe American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons (ACFAS) is a professional society of 8,000 foot and ankle surgeons. Founded in 1942, ACFAS seeks to promote the art and science of foot, ankle, and related lower extremity surgery, address the concerns of foot and ankle surgeons, advance and improve standards of education and surgical skill, and advance and advocate for the highest standards of patient care and safety.
ACFAS member physicians are Doctors of Podiatric Medicine (DPM) who completed four years of Podiatric Medical School. Foot and ankle surgeons have also completed post-graduate Podiatric Medicine and Surgery Residency, which is a minimum of three years. Fellows of the College are Board Certified in Foot and Ankle Surgery, Foot Surgery, and/or in Reconstructive Rearfoot/Ankle Surgery by the American Board of Foot and Ankle Surgery (ABFAS), which is recognized by the Council on Podiatric Medical Education (CPME).
The American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons supports access to emergency care for all patients. Podiatric foot and ankle surgeons have special expertise in managing emergent conditions of the foot and ankle, such as trauma and infections, including populations with extensive co-morbidities. These are often the most vulnerable patients presenting to the emergency department; the on-call services provided by foot and ankle surgeons are essential to delivering quality care for these patients, who often require extensive follow-up visits following the emergency care.
It is the position of The American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons that hospitals offering foot and ankle surgical services through their emergency department or consulting service should compensate podiatric surgeons at fair market value for providing emergency on-call services. This compensation should be in addition to any reimbursement received for direct care of individual patients. Hospital privileges should not be contingent on a foot and ankle surgeon providing unpaid emergency on-call services.