Time: 6:25 p.m. “Dr. Goldman, it’s the emergency department calling,” says an emergency room ward clerk named Vivica. At the dinner table, my family sees me flinch. “Sorry to bother you, but the department is backing up,” says Vivica. “We’re hoping you can come in early.” There are times I want to let these calls go to voicemail, but our group of ER physicians long ago agreed to pitch in and arrive as early as two hours before the start of a scheduled shift when we’re needed.