In 2003, the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) created national guidelines for resident work hours to promote safe care and high-quality learning. However, some reports suggested that the 2003 rules did not reduce resident fatigue or improve patient care. Since July 2011, further restrictions have been in effect. The changes have been the source of much controversy regarding their impact on resident education and patient safety. We reviewed existing literature on the effects of the new and old rules, with a focus on the field of orthopaedics. In addition, we conducted a national survey of orthopaedic residents and residency directors to assess the general opinions of the orthopaedic community. Overall, only 19.7% of all respondents were satisfied with the new 2011 regulations, whereas 58.9% believe the 80-hour work week averaged over 4 weeks is appropriate. The results will inform discussions and decisions related to changing residency education in the future.
Copyright 2014 by the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.