A fresh medical doctor walking the floors of a hospital, putting in a lot of work hours with a very small amount of rest as he or she starts several years of residency training, may be a ticking time-bomb. That's why, in some circles, July is viewed as being amongst the most hazardous times to fall ill. That's the time at which residency programs begin the start of their new year.
Hypothetically, each and every junior physician gets close supervision from more senior and experienced physicians in training and of course from attending. Unfortunately, when institutions become busy, less experienced physicians end up working excessive hours with very little in terms of supervision. Under these circumstances, the risk errors that result in harm to patients may occur.
HOSPITAL DIET
Starting in the year 2003, residency programs that received accreditation by the ACGME, had to cut resident work weeks from 120 to 80 hours. However, by December 2008, the Institute of Medicine, part of the National Academies of Sciences, made a different recommendation. More changes were made to increase patient safety in residency programs.
One of these changes came in the end of 24-hour shifts.
The ACGME is now practicing that recommendation. However, only in part. As of July 2011, residents who are in their first year, will be restricted to shifts lasting 16 hours. But, following their first year, residents may still be permitted to work a 24-hour shift. Several experts have opined that these longer shifts increase risks for patient harm due to sleep deprivation.
The 16-hour restriction placed on the first-years is one of many recommendations being suggested to the ACGME board for final approval.
The head of Public Citizen Health Research Group, has taken issue with the ACGME's failure to suggest a 16-hour limit for all: "The improvements in the new ACGME guidelines are largely swamped by the failure to cover the majority of medical residents with the protection of not having to work more than 16 hours continuously."
In the newest recommendation, first-year residents would be prohibited from moonlighting at other places of employment and from being "on call" in hospitals.
Hospital Injuries Can Be Prevented by Residency Hour Restrictions HOSPITAL DIET
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