Opinion

Work limits touted, but postresidency reality can mean even longer hours

LETTER — Posted Jan. 19, 2009

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Regarding "IOM urges more rest for residents in push to improve patient safety" (Article, Dec. 22/29, 2008): For the last several years I have read about proposed changes and changes in resident work hours and schedules, designed primarily to improve patient safety. The secondary purpose of these changes is to improve the residents' quality of life.

What none of these articles covers is what happens following residency.

Once residency is completed, we no longer have any restriction on our work hours. Many surgeons have had the experience of working all day, and then being up all night operating, and then working all the following day.

I am suggesting that the long hours worked during residency actually prepare us better for the long hours that we frequently will have to work in practice. I am concerned that restricting resident work hours too much actually becomes counterproductive, both in terms of educational experience and future patient care.

Anthony Musto, MD, New Haven, Conn.

Note: This item originally appeared at http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2009/01/19/edlt0119.htm.

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