Policy on Duty Hours
- Duty hours are defined as all clinical and academic activities related to the residency program, ie, patient care (both inpatient and outpatient), administrative duties related to patient care, the provision for transfer of patient care, time spent in-house during call activities, and scheduled academic activities such as conferences. Duty hours include all hours spent in moonlighting activities. Duty hours do not include reading and preparation time spent away from the duty site.
- Duty hours must be limited to 80 hours per week, averaged over a four-week period, inclusive of all in-house activities.
- Residents must be provided with 1 day in 7 free from all educational and clinical responsibilities, averaged over a 4-week period, inclusive of call. One day is defined as one continuous 24-hour period free from all clinical, educational, and administrative activities.
- Adequate time for rest and personal activities must be provided. This should consist of a 10 hour time period provided between all daily duty periods and after in-house call.
- It is everyone's responsibility to abide and work within the duty hours policy. Programs must develop realistic schedules and mechanisms for off time coverage and transfer of patient responsibilities to others. Faculty must remain vigilant of the trainees under their supervision and frequently monitor the residents' activities. Residents must stay within the duty hours and notify chief/senior residents, faculty, and / or the program director if they are having difficulties in meeting daily or weekly hour requirements.
- The GMEC requires that all program directors monitor and assess compliance for their program and residents. The GME Office distributes a yearly questionnaire on duty hours to house staff each spring, which is one part of assessing compliance. Additionally, the UCLA GMEC requires an annual Program Director certification of compliance with duty hours.
- Concerns of duty hour violations should be reported to the Senior Associate Dean for GME and or the institutional Compliance Hotline at 800-296-7188.
- Continuous on-site duty, (admitting, inpatient call, etc.), must not exceed 24 consecutive hours. Residents may remain on duty for up to 6 additional hours to participate in didactic activities, transfer care of patients, conduct outpatient clinics, and maintain continuity of medical and surgical care as defined in Specialty and Subspecialty Program Requirements. Therefore, the total day may be up to 30 hours.
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