AAMC sends ACGME response to IOM duty hour recommendations

By: Julie McCoy May 4th, 2009

The Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) is the latest organization to send the ACGME a letter responding to the Institute of Medicine’s (IOM) duty hour recommendations.

The AAMC said it does not believe that duty hours and schedules are the biggest problem, according to a Apr. 21 letter to ACGME. Instead, the AAMC said efforts should focus more on identifying and managing fatigue, resident supervision, trainee workload, and handoffs.

The AAMC’s letter also outlines its positions regarding the following:

Support of the 80-hour rule, but the AAMC says that scheduling should recognize the needs of patient care delivery and education of various specialties.
Moonlighting activities should count toward the 80-hour limit or prohibited all together.
The ACGME should maintain responsibility to monitor and enforce duty hour rules.
ACGME review committees should examine and determine appropriate workloads for residents.
ACGME review committees should establish new, enhanced supervision guidelines. The AAMC said supervision rules may include specific guidelines for when residents should consult with attending physicians or senior residents, or a requirement for the supervising physician to contact and check in with residents, rather than waiting to be contacted by trainees.
Institutions should develop specific handoff policies that meet the needs of the institutions and various specialties.