New Docs May Get More Oversight, Shorter Hours
Associated Press—June 25th, 2010
Patients will be told when they’re being treated by rookie doctors, who would get shorter shifts and better supervision under proposed work changes for medical residents.
The draft regulations aim to promote patient safety and reduce medical errors by enhancing work conditions for sometimes sleep-deprived junior physicians.
The proposal slightly revises regulations adopted seven years ago and would have the biggest impact on interns — new doctors in their first year of residency training programs in hospitals after graduating from medical school. They would be more closely supervised by experienced doctors and the maximum length of their work shifts would be cut from 24 hours to 16 hours.
Maximum work shifts would remain 24 hours for residents in their second year and beyond. Maximum work weeks would remain at 80 hours for all hospital residents.
All residents and their supervisors also would be required to explain their roles to patients and explain that supervisors are ultimately in charge of their care.
The proposal comes from the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education. Dr. Thomas Nasca, the group’s CEO, said the changes are needed to meet the main goals of graduate medical education — assuring patient safety while teaching new doctors professionalism and putting patients’ needs above their own.
Read More: Bryan-College Station Eagle
