Duty Hours Exceptions

PURPOSE:
The procedures that follow will be used by the GMEC to evaluate requests from individual programs for a maximum 10% increase in the 80 hour limit prior to submission to the appropriate RRC.

POLICY:
A program requesting a duty hour exception MUST be accredited in good standing, i.e., without a warning or a proposed or confirmed adverse action. It is the program's responsibility to make a clear showing that the exception is necessary for educational reasons.

The proposal to the GMEC must include the following documentation:

1. Patient Safety: Information must be submitted that describes how the program will monitor, evaluate, and ensure patient safety with extended resident work hours.
   
2. Educational Rationale: The request must be based on a sound educational rationale which should be described in relation to the program's stated goals and objectives for the particular assignments, rotations, and level(s) of training for which the increase is requested. Blanket exceptions for the entire educational program should be considered the exception, not the rule.
   
3. Moonlighting Policy: Specific information regarding the program's moonlighting policies for the periods in question must be included.
   
4. Call Schedules: Specific information regarding the resident call schedules during the times specified for the exception must be provided.
   
5. Faculty Monitoring: Evidence of faculty development activities regarding the effects of resident fatigue and sleep deprivation must be appended.
   
6. Institutional Endorsement: A documented written statement of institutional endorsement of the proposal signed by the Designated Institutional Official (DIO) or the Chair of the institutional GMEC will be provided upon approval.