Working 40 hours a week can be stressful at times. How would you like to work 80 hours per week? Easy right? Okay, how about 100 hours per week? I bet many people are not aware that the physicians that treat you in the emergency room may be in the middle of a 80 hour work week or longer. This is cause for concern. It is a proven fact that when someone is overly tired, they are not able to function at full mental capacity. The medical community is currently debating whether medical students should be required to work fewer hours and take naps to avoid potentially causing harm to the patients they are treating.
This may seem like a no brainer to most of you. However, doctors are overworked in hospitals in our country. Doctors may be called into the hospital in the middle of the night and end of being there for several hours. They are then required to maintain a normal office schedule during the day while seeing their patients in the hospital as well. The 80 hour week maximum was instituted because of patient injuries and even death as a result of overworked physicians that were treating them. One medical journal argues that patient harm would not be reduced by instituting a policy that medical residents be required to work fewer hours. This just doesn't make much sense to me at all. Everyone knows that when someone is lacking sufficient sleep they are not able to function at the same capacity as someone that is well rested.
To me this issue just seems like a no brainer. Physicians and students in their residency should not be forced to work 80 hours per week. This is unhealthy for both the practictioner and the patient. When someone goes to the hospital or the doctor for medical treatment, they expect to receive a certain level of quality of care. I think many times the patient doesn't realize that their doctor may be in the midst of a 12 hour work day or longer. This increases the potential for patient harm or misdiagnosis. This issue should be taken seriously by medical professionals, and steps should be put in place to ensure adequate medical staffing so that residents and Physicians are able to work fewer hours each week. I am interested in your opinions on this topic.
Source: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB124287226881642045.html
-Lee
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Tired physician, tired pilot, what's the difference eh? I don't know much about the requirements and regulations on the working week of any doctor but I certainly agree that 80 plus hours is too long for anyone to do anything. Why would they even respond to the call, are they required to, or do they just think, "what the hell, I need more money this week". Too many patients, not enough doc's I guess.
ReplyDeleteIt is true that the population is aging. The health care industry is a career safe investment. Doctors rotate call around amongst one another. When on call the doctor is required to answer it.
ReplyDelete-Lee
I have been witness to poor judgement made by a young resident. He was present during my son's procedure and was on call for 48 hours straight.
ReplyDeleteHe almost advised me to come in and have my baby's dressing removed prematurely, until the nurse warned him. He seemed totally out of it and of no use in his tired state.
I regret not heeding advice when I was younger to join the physician force. Who needs sleep when there is a decent living to be made!