On July 1, the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education put into effect strict duty-hour limits on interns and medical residents and instituted related changes to the training environment. These changes are intended to reduce medical errors caused by residents’ fatigue.
The new UCLA study estimates that teaching hospitals nationwide will have to spend an aggregate $400 million-$1.3 billion each year to carry out the new hour limits and related changes. Teaching hospitals may need to commit those funds toward training on fatigue and patient safety; systematizing patient hand-offs; providing transportation or sleep facilities after extended shifts; hiring substitutes to replace the residents and more.
UCLA researchers also found duty-hour changes could cost $177-$982 million annually nationwide and associated changes to the training environment will cost an additional $204 million annually nationwide.
Related Articles on Resident Training:
Senate Committee Moves Children’s GME Bill Forward
Mayo Clinic: Burnout Persists Among Medical Residents, Despite Shortened Work Hours
Number of Medical Residents Choosing to Stay in New Jersey Plummets: Teaching Hospital Survey
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