Best Practices

While the dangers of having resident physicians work long hours are clear, moving towards a schedule that reduces resident work hours to safer levels can prove challenging in many US hospitals where long hours have long been the norm. Any scheduling change must demonstrate its ability to maintain, if not improve, both the quality of patient care and the value of educational training provided in the residency program. Below are some “Best Practice” resources on how residency programs have been able to do just that – reduce work hours while enhancing patient care and resident education. It is Hours Watch’s hope that by sharing these best practices, other residency programs might be aided in their own efforts to pursue similar goals.

Focusing on Sign-Outs
An ongoing opportunity for improved patient safety.

London’s “Hospital at Night”
How teamwork and innovation reduce hours while improving patient care.

Ob-Gyn Chair Thinks ‘Outside the Box’ in Brooklyn, NY
Saying good-bye to ‘on call’ brings educational & quality of life improvements.

32 Ideas for Achieving Work-Hours Compliance
Practical suggestions from a surgical residency program director.

Creative Ancillary Staffing at DC Children’s Hospital
New staffing positions increase the efficiency of resident physicians.

Thinking Critically About Rules and Patient-Care Scenarios
A commentary on when resident duty hours and patient care collide.

Best Practices In Brief
A synopsis report from a 2003 Hours Reform Conference in Los Angeles, CA.