Comments on: Surgeons don’t receive enough training when resident work-hours are capped

By: Blake

Blake — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 21:02:33 +0000

I’ll agree with jimmy z about this generation’s medical students (I’m a 2nd year), but, from what I have heard, a further cut to residency work hours would be met by a lengthening of the surgical residencies by 2 years. I don’t know many medical students who would choose to work 80+ hours in residency… but I also don’t know many who would choose to work 7 years as a resident to be a general surgeon.

And for the surgeons who are getting their hours by going on to do subspecialties; from what I hear in Washington, subspecialists are the problem. I say that with a *moderate* level of sarcasm because people don’t want them to work hard enough to be adequately trained in 5 years, but find that their extended training drives up health care costs! They’re damned if they do, damned if they don’t. I’m just damn glad I’m not one of ‘em.

By: jimmy z

jimmy z — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 02:16:18 +0000

The old school docs can bitch and moan about today’s resident hour restrictions, but my generation of medical students (I am a 4th year) weigh lifestyle and family over educational experience. Unless surgery programs alter their teaching structure towards more effective use of the residents time. there will be increasing shortage of surgeons as we avoid high demanding specialties.

By: John S. Ford, MD

John S. Ford, MD — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 02:10:47 +0000

In some ways surgical residency training MAY be being extended to make up for the shortened work week. I’ve heard anecdotally that many more general surgeons are opting for post graduate fellowships such as colorectal surgery, etc.

Quite possibly, the bulk of such added experience was rolled into a standard general surgery residency in the past.

John

By: arb

arb — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 22:24:37 +0000

Robert – just to clarify – the cost of a patient’s life or health during a resident’s training is justified because later, as an attending – patients will be saved? How many patients’ deaths/bad outcomes are acceptable per resident surgeon? Will there be a cap on these adverse events?

It may be that in the end working more hours is better for training surgeons – but let’s not sacrifice patient safety to do so. Perhaps a better way of training may be found – one that always ensures optimal patient safety as a primary goal – even if it takes longer to train a surgeon. Training efficiency at the cost of patient safety is not a benefit – ever.

By: Robert

Robert — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 18:35:45 +0000

Capping hours spent on educating and training surgeons is NEVER a good idea. The cost is worth the benefit, in my opinion.

By: Doc99

Doc99 — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 17:06:03 +0000

No good deed goes unpunished.

By: Steven Wynn

Steven Wynn — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 17:04:07 +0000

The EU has a work hour restriction of 48 hours??? How the heck are ANY medical specialties supposed to master their subject? Good luck finding any good new docs in the EU from now on.