The Resident Work Hour Issue

AMSA has been at the forefront of the Residency Work Hours movement, active at every level of the debate to protect resident physicians from overwork and promote patient safety. In response to our efforts, the ACGME issued new residency work hour regulations, effective July 1, 2003.

Ongoing efforts are needed to ensure that the ACGME regulations are enforced and create an improved working environment that ensures patient safety without compromising medical education. The loopholes and flaws in the regulations and the inherent conflict of interest that results from self-regulation make this outcome very questionable under the current framework. Residents across the country have already reported violations of the new regulations to AMSA.

AMSA supports the Patient and Physician Safety and Protection Act (S 1297/HR 1228) as the best way to protect residents and patients and foster change. AMSA also supports the numerous state-level initiatives regarding residency work hours, and the need for ongoing research and education on the effects of sleep deprivation and overwork on resident health and medical errors.

The Latest

On June 8, 2005, AMSA presented testimony for a committee of the Massachusetts State Legislature about Resident Work Hours language in a larger health care access bill -- sections 39 and 40 of S 2042. We were joined on the panel by CIR, and Drs. Charles Czeisler and Christopher Landrigan, the authors of the recent studies published in the New England Journal of Medicine concerning the effects of long shifts on the safety of residents and patients. Read AMSA's testimony.

Long Hours for Medical Interns Contribute to Auto Accidents (NPR)
Listen to AMSA Resident Simon Ahtaridis as he speaks out on the recent New England Journal of Medicine study on the long resident and the increased automobile accidents. WFCR, Public Radio for Western New England

Resident Work Hours Project-In-A-Box

New England Journal of Medicine Study Proves Current Work Hour Guidelines are Unsafe (Press Release - 1/12/05)

New England Journal Reports Medical Errors Relate to Work Hours: Validates AMSA's Call for Federal Regulations (Press Release - 10/27/04)

Hear AMSA Debate Work Hour Regulations

(Provided courtesy WAMU 88.5 FM American University Radio and the Kojo Nnamdi Show)

Medical students react to study findings that link nursing errors to long hours (Press Release - 7/7/04)

One Year Later: Are the Current Resident Work Hour Regulations Effective? (Press Release - 6/21/04)

A Whistleblower's Story: Reflections on making that report (TNP, 6/04)

LCME Issues Student Work Hours Regulations

The ACGME Regulations vs Federal Legislation
The ACGME regulations are far from perfect. Learn about the ACGME regulations, the problems with them, and the proposed federal legislation that would offer the best framework to address the residency work hours issue.

State Efforts
In addition to the federal legislation, there are numerous state-level efforts aimed at the resident work hour issue.

Student Work Hours
LCME Issues Student Work Hours Regulations

Educational Resources
Resources to educate yourself and others, including AMSA's RWH primer and a library of academic literature.

AMSA Resources and Tools for Action
View the wealth of resources AMSA offers on the issue, and to take action in support of Residency Work Hours Reform! Includes AMSA's Work Hour Stories From the Front Lines, tools for action, and past press releases.