A review in the British Medical Journal and accompanying editorial by Yale researcher Leora Horwitz, MD, examined why reduced hours has not resulted in a benefit for patients. The number of hours worked by physicians and medical residents is a common topic for debate due to concerns over the potential harm that could be caused by tired doctors and residents. This debate has resulted in shorter hours for physicians in the United States and Europe over the past 20 years, according to the release.
Dr. Horwitz offered two explanations for why a decrease in hours has not helped reduce mistakes and improve safety: (1) to accommodate the required decrease in physician working hours, staff members are asked to do the same amount of work in less time, and (2) the decrease in hours has increased discontinuity of care, handovers and transfers to other caregivers, according to the release.
Read the Yale news release about physician working hours.
Read more about patient safety:
– 8 Ways for Surgery Centers to Reduce Look-Alike/Sound-Alike Drug Errors
– Study: Higher Nurse Staffing Levels Can Reduce Infection Rates
– 15 Aircraft Safety Initiatives Could Help Improve Patient Safety
