Final answer:
A physician's mail is usually managed by a colleague or office staff during their vacation, with important communications handled as per the office's protocols and out-of-office replies set up on email and voicemail.
Step-by-step explanation:
When a physician is on vacation, the handling of their mail depends on the arrangements they've made prior to their absence. It is common practice for physicians to have a trusted colleague or office staff manage their mail and critical communications while they are away. Important patient correspondence and time-sensitive documents may be forwarded to another physician or handled according to predetermined protocols set by the medical office. In many cases, a healthcare provider will put an out-of-office reply on their email and voicemail indicating the duration of their absence and providing contact information for an alternative physician or instructions for patients in case of emergency.