“Grey’s Anatomy” is paging Dr. Meredith Grey for a longer shift in Season 21. Ellen Pompeo has signed on to appear in at least seven episodes of the 18-episode season, TheWrap has learned, marking an increase in her onscreen role in the ABC medical drama since her character’s dramatic farewell midway through Season 19.

Pompeo initially reduced her role on “Grey’s” to make room for other projects, including the upcoming, still-untitled Orphan limited series at Hulu, in which she costars with Mark Duplass. The actress remains an executive producer on the longrunning drama series, and provides the voiceovers for nearly every episode in her absence.

The news should be a good sign for fans following the chaotic Season 20 finale, where virtually every key doctor at Grey Sloan Memorial was either fired — including Meredith — or threatened to walk out of the hospital.

After discovering that Meredith and Amelia (Caterina Scorsone) had...