Hours Limits Associated With Decreased Mortality For High-Risk Patients 

Shetty, et. al. “Changes in Hospital Mortality Associated with Residency Work-Hour Regulations.” Annals of Internal Medicine, July 17, 2007;147. (Download in PDF.)

The restrictions on resident work hours instituted by the ACGME in July 2003 have led to a decrease in mortality among high-risk hospital patients, according to a study published in the July 17, 2007 edition of Annals of Internal Medicine. The study compared data on patients admitted to teaching hospitals with diagnoses associated with high mortality rates from 2001 to 2004, the periods immediately proceeding and following the implementation of the work hours reform. The study found that in the time after the implementation of the hours restrictions, high-risk patients faced a 3.75% lesser risk of mortality relative to the period preceding the hours reform.