Fewer training hours for residents does not negatively impact patients

Physician burnout has been a growing concern, but a new studyshows that at least one step to curb the problem — cutting back on residency hours — does not have a detrimental effect on patient care. In 2003, the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education reduced medical resident hours from more than 100 hours a week to 80 a week, and in 2011 made changes to cap shift lengths. New research found that, despite concerns that fewer training hours could mean worse care, many measures of a doctor’s performance have stayed steady. There were no changes, for instance, in the number of patients being readmitted to the hospital or the number of patients who died within a 30-day period. One caveat: The study only looked at internists, so other specialties may perform differently.