Shorter Shifts for Medical Residents Fail To Reduce Medical Errors

A regulatory effort aimed at reducing the risk of medical errors by fatigued medical residents has failed to have the desired result. If anything, medical errors have actually increased since the regulation went into effect.

The change, enacted in 2011, reduced medical residents’ maximum duty time from 30 consecutive hours to 16 hours. The purpose of the hour reduction was to help medical residents get some rest, and enhance patient safety.

But according to University of Michigan researchers, the shorter hours have not helped residents sleep longer or affected their rates of depression. The researchers surveyed residents about their overall well-being, sleep habits, mental health, work hours, and work performance. The study found that the number of medical errors harming patients increased 15-20 percent among residents with shorter hours. Approximately 20 percent of the medical residents surveyed showed symptoms of depression with the shorter hours.

Another study, by Johns Hopkins researchers, found that the shorter shifts increased the number of times the residents handed off care of patients. The residents also had less time for training. The Seattle medical malpractice lawyers at Morrow Kidman Tinker Macey-Cushman, PLLC hope that further research on physician and resident fatigue will demonstrate effective ways to improve patient safety.

The Seattle medical malpractice lawyers at Morrow Kidman Tinker Macey-Cushman, PLLC represent victims of medical negligence by doctors, nurses, technicians, and other medical personnel across Seattle.

Sources:

• http://consumer.healthday.com/Article.asp?AID=674704
• http://ur.umich.edu/1213/Apr01_13/4484-work-hour-restrictions-for