The sleep factor: Do less tired physicians deliver safer care?
The debate on whether reducing the number of hours that graduate medical students can work consecutively, as well as per week, has had any effect on the safety of patient care continues, reports American Medical News. Last year the Institute of Medicine made even further recommendations for reducing the number of hours that residents can work, based on sleep science. Those suggestions have yet to be implemented. However, there is evidence both for and against further reducing the amount of hours that residents can work.
Since 2003, residents are allowed to work no more than 80 hours each work week. However, each time residents’ shifts are over, they must hand their patients off to new residents. More handoffs often lead to an increase in poor patient safety outcomes. However, tired residents also may not able to make appropriate decisions regarding patient care. Sleep deprivation affects each person differently. Additionally, it’s difficult to truly measure patient safety and what may affect it.
To read more from American Medical News, click here. Has your facility had any open discussions regarding resident hours?
About the Author: Heather Comak is a Managing Editor at HCPro, Inc., where she is the editor of the monthly publication Briefings on Patient Safety, as well as patient safety-related books, webcasts, and audio conferences. She is also is the Assistant Director of the Association for Healthcare Accreditation Professionals (www.accreditationprofessional.com) and manages Patient Safety Monitor (www.patientsafetymonitor.com), of which this blog is a part.
Contact Heather by e-mailing hcomak@hcpro.com
