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Resident scheduling: night float programs.
V Seltzer1, H W Foster, M Gordon
1Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Queens Hospital Center affiliation of the Long Island Jewish Medical Center, Jamaica, New York.
Obstetrics and Gynecology
|June 1, 1991
Summary
Obstetrics and gynecology residency programs are implementing night float systems to reduce resident work hours. Programs in New York have stricter regulations on night float structure compared to those outside the state.
Area of Science:
- Medical Education
- Surgical Residency Programs
- Healthcare Administration
Background:
- Traditional obstetrics and gynecology residency programs involved long hospital hours.
- Night float systems were introduced to balance resident education, patient care, and reduced work hours.
Purpose of the Study:
- To survey obstetrics and gynecology program directors and residents in the US and Canada.
- To investigate the structure of night float programs and their perceived impact.
- To compare night float systems in New York State with those in other regions.
Main Methods:
- A survey was distributed to residency program directors and residents nationwide.
- 193 program directors (65% response rate) and 302 residents responded.
- Data on night float structure and perceived changes were collected and analyzed.
Main Results:
- Significant differences in night float program structure were observed between New York and other states.
- In New York, 63% of programs included residents from all 4 years, versus 10% outside New York.
- New York programs adhered to stricter state hospital code requirements regarding work hours and time off.
Conclusions:
- Night float program structures vary significantly, particularly between New York and other regions.
- Regulatory requirements influence the implementation and structure of night float systems in residency programs.
- Further evaluation of the twelve characteristics is needed to fully understand the impact of night float systems.