Reducing medical residents' hours may not decrease surgical deaths — 6 notes

The 2011 restriction on medical residents' hours do not seem to have significantly reduced the risk of death or serious injury from surgery, according to Reuters.

Here are six notes:

1. Researchers compared data on surgical outcomes both one year before the duty hour reforms and two hours afterward. They compared state for five specialties ¬— neurosurgery, obstetrics, orthopedics, urology and vascular surgery.

2. Rates of injury and death did fall, but the changes were so insignificant that they may be attributed to chance.

3. The 2011 changes limited first-year residents to 16-hour shifts and a required eight hours off between work periods for residents. Additionally, residents had 14-hour breaks after 24-hour shifts.

4. Researchers analyzed deaths and complications including surgical site infections, pneumonia, heart attacks, sepsis or unplanned repeat operations within 30 days of their initial procedures.

5. Results proved the duty hour reforms were not directly linked to the reduction in deaths or serious complications for any of the specialties.

6. Many experts claim the new reforms inhibit resident education and negatively impact patient care.

More articles on surgery centers:
EHRs in ASCs: 5 thoughts for the present and future
6 notes on primary care physicians' outlook on healthcare technology
7 things to ASC leaders to know for Thursday — July 30, 2015

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