Wednesday, December 26, 2012

Mayo Clinic study: Doctor Fatigue Raises Car Accident Risk (time to reinstitute call rooms?)

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/12/26/doctor-fatigue-car-accidents-medical-residents-sleepiness_n_2325703.html


Doctor Fatigue Raises Car Accident Risk: Study

Doctor fatigue isn't just a potential risk factor for accidents at the hospital -- it could be the cause of car accidents after long shifts, too, according to a new study.
Researchers from the Mayo Clinic found that 11 percent of medical interns included in the study reported getting into a car accident while in training, and 43 percent reported having a close call.
"The mere fact that motor vehicle incidents are common among residents brings theissues of resident fatigue, sleepiness and distress to a new level of priority," study researcher Dr. Colin West, M.D., Ph.D., who is an internal medicine physician at the Mayo Clinic, said in a statement. "New interventions designed to address both resident fatigue and distress may be needed to promote patient and resident safety."


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