Regardless of that lack of high-quality data, vocal legislators, as well as some physician–leaders, are committed to reducing the length of the work shift in the hospital. Regulated short shifts are likely to be mandated for residents first and for attending physicians later.
Welcome your new practice partner
It is likely that, within another 6 years, residents who have never worked a shift longer than 16 hours will be applying to join practices in which partners have substantial experience in working shifts that are 24 and 48 hours long. This scenario raises interesting questions that, for now, remain speculative:
- Will these new graduates adapt to the practice patterns of their senior partners and begin to work long shifts?
- Or will senior partners adapt their patterns and change their coverage schedule to work 12- to 16-hour shifts?
- Or will we see a model of blended coverage develop, in which some senior partners work long shifts and younger partners work short shifts?
Given persistent interest among legislators about the possible relationship between hospital and physician errors and the length of work shifts, it’s probable that long work shifts will be discouraged—either by legislation or by regulation from The Joint Commission. A trend toward short work shifts will need to be carefully balanced by greater teamwork and an emphasis on seamless handoff from one physician to another at shift changes.