SCVPS
Your Voice for a Safer Tomorrow
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| Forum Home > General Discussion > Advocates call for safer work hrs./ better supervision for resident physicians | ||
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Site Owner Posts: 17 | I want to share something with you. This week, I joined more than 40 organizations and patient safety advocates in signing onto a public letter calling for safer work hours and better supervision for resident physicians. The ACGME, the organization that regulates resident work hours, is poised to come out with new guidelines this year, and we felt it was important that patient voices should not be left out when they make their decisions. Many people are shocked to learn that resident doctors regularly put in 80 hours a week or more, and work shifts of up to 30 consecutive hours, without sleep. All of us know how hard it is to function when we are sleep-deprived. Truck drivers, pilots, and nuclear energy workers comply with strict hours limits in order to protect the public. Why should doctors, who literally take our lives in their hands, be any different? When you combine extreme fatigue with inadequate supervision, it can be a deadly combination. We are proposing commonsense solutions to this problem, before any more patients pay the price. Signing onto the letter was only the first step. An online petition was created at www.wakeupdoctor.org, so that individuals who are affected by this issue can weigh in. At the website, you'll find resources and background information and you'll have the option, of sharing your own story, related to resident fatigue or poor supervision. We need your help to get the word out. There are two easy ways to get involved: Go to www.wakeupdoctor.org and sign a letter to the ACGME and the House of Representatives Energy and Commerce Committee, telling them you support safer hours and enhanced supervision for resident physicians. Spread the word! Please forward this email to friends, family and colleagues who are concerned about patient safety. You can also help by reposting on your blog, on Twitter, or on Facebook or Myspace. Together, we can improve patient safety. God bless, Jan S. Vick, Exec. Dir. SCVPS | |
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