Impact of the ACGME Work Hour Requirements

Abstract

The ACGME resident work hour requirements forced major system changes for some neurology programs in the way that patient care is delivered and residents are educated. Although potential issues such as continuity of care, patient safety, resident education, and shifting responsibilities onto academic staff were identified and justified prior to implementation,² the impact remains to be seen. This survey was undertaken to identify neurology resident and program director opinions as to the early impact of the standards, as well as to identify strategies used to institute and monitor the guidelines in neurology and to promote discussion of these issues.