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Open Access 01-12-2012 | Letter to the Editor

Resident work hour restrictions do not improve patient safety in surgery: a critical appraisal based on 7 years of experience in Switzerland

Authors: Adrian P Businger, Urban Laffer, Reto Kaderli

Published in: Patient Safety in Surgery | Issue 1/2012

Abstract

In 2005 the Swiss government implemented new work-hour limitations for all residency programs in Switzerland, including a 50-hour weekly limit. The reduction in the working hours of doctors in training implicate an increase in their rest time and suggest an amelioration of doctors' clinical performance and consequently in patients' outcomes and safety - which was not detectable in a preliminary study at a large referral center in Switzerland. It remains elusive why work-hour restrictions did not improve patient safety. We are well advised to thoroughly examine and eliminate the known adverse effects of reduced work-hours to improve our patients' safety.

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Title: Resident work hour restrictions do not improve patient safety in surgery: a critical appraisal based on 7 years of experience in Switzerland
Authors: Adrian P Businger
Urban Laffer
Reto Kaderli
Publication date: 01-12-2012
Publisher: BioMed Central
Published in: Patient Safety in Surgery / Issue 1/2012
Electronic ISSN: 1754-9493
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/1754-9493-6-17

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on sleep in brain health

Springer Medicine

Resident work hour restrictions do not improve patient safety in surgery: a critical appraisal based on 7 years of experience in Switzerland

Abstract

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on sleep in brain health

Springer Medicine

Abstract

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