 |
| Research article summary (published 15 Apr 2009): |
Cost and workforce implications of subjecting all physicians to aviation industry work-hour restrictions.
Full Abstract
BACKGROUND: Efforts to improve patient safety have attempted to incorporate aviation industry safety standards. We sought to evaluate the cost and workforce implications of applying aviation duty-hour restrictions to the entire practicing physician workforce. METHODS: The work hours and personnel deficit for United States residents and practicing physicians that would be created by the adoption of aviation standards were calculated. RESULTS: Application of aviation standards to the resident workforce creates an estimated annual cost of $6.5 billion, requiring a 174% increase in the number of residents to meet the deficit. Its application to practicing physicians creates an additional annual cost of $80.4 billion, requiring a 71% increase in the physician workforce. Adding in the aviation industry's mandatory retirement age (65 years) increases annual costs by $10.5 billion. The cost per life-year saved would be $1,035,227. CONCLUSIONS: Application of aviation duty-hour restrictions to the United States health care system would be prohibitively costly. Alternate approaches for improving patient safety are warranted.
Author information
Author/s: Payette, Michael (M); Chatterjee, Abhishek (A); Weeks, William B (WB);
Affiliation: School of Medicine, University of Connecticut, Farmington, CT, USA. Michael.J.Payette.02(-atsign-)alum.dartmouth.org
Journal and publication information
Publication Type: Journal Article; Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.
Journal: American journal of surgery (Am J Surg), published in United States. (Language: eng)
Reference: 2009-Jun; vol 197 (issue 6) : pp 820-5; discussion 826-7
Dates: Created 2009/06/05; Completed 2009/07/01;
PMID: 19375063, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 7/1/2009, IMS Date: 01 Jul 2009 00:00:00)
Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.
External Links for this article
(including full text providers, if available):
Click Electronic Full-text Provider Links to see options for finding the electronic full text links to this article. Note there may be a subscription or fee required for access to the full text. See our FAQ for information on finding FREE full text articles.
This article may also be located in paper journal collections available in many libraries. Use the Journal and Publication Information above to find the full article.
MeSH headings (categories)
This article was linked to the MESH Headings shown below.
Related articles
This article has not been indexed for related articles as yet, however you can still use the live related article search links below.
See a large map of 100+ related articles.