ABS Supports ACGME Changes to Resident Shift Limits

Based in Portland, Oregon, Jonathan Daniel, MD, specializes in minimally invasive thoracic surgery and esophageal surgery. In addition to his day-to-day responsibilities, Jonathan Daniel, MD, stays up to date with current treatment methods and is certified to practice by the American Board of Surgery.

The American Board of Surgery (ABS) recently lent its endorsement to the new guidelines by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) which lift the mandatory requirement for a hard limit of 16 hours per shift for first-year surgical residents. ABS supports these changes, which could potentially mean better patient care as residents will have the option to stay with patients during vital stages of their treatment.

The new requirements were posted on the ACGME website last December, and surgical professionals were given the opportunity to provide feedback and input. Should they receive final approval from the ACGME board, they will become effective on July 1, 2017.

ABS supports these measures, as they are in line with the organization’s mission to provide the highest standards of development for surgeons, with patient care topping the list. ABS believes these changes to the ACGME guidelines help further that goal.