I. PURPOSE
The goal of achieving compliance with duty hours is to provide the student with adequate time for rest and personal activities, and to maximize the clinical learning environment experience. (LCME Standard 8.8: Monitoring Student Time)
II. POLICY
It is the policy of New York Medical College School of Medicine (“NYMC SOM”) that all medical student clinical programs will be bound by duty hour guidelines that resemble the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (“ACGME”) and New York State duty hour guidelines.
In general, duty hour guidelines for clinical students will be assigned according to the following parameters:
• Students must not work longer than 80 hours per week, inclusive of in-house call activities
• The maximum duty period length is 24 consecutive hours
• Students may have up to 3 hours for transition of care after the end of a duty period
• Students must have at least 8, preferably 10 hours free of duty after 16 hours of duty
• Students must have at least 14 hours free of duty after 24 hours of duty
• Students must have at least one continuous 24 hour period per week free of all responsibilities
• Students must have in-house call no more frequently than every-third-night
• Student should not exceed 6 consecutive night duty sessions
III. SCOPE
This policy applies to Clerkship Directors & Coordinators, Site Directors, Student Affairs, Medical Student and teaching faculty at all clinical sites.
IV. DEFINITIONS
Duty hours - any clinical work or required educational experiences (e.g. attending conference, lectures, exams, EMR notes required for patient care); they do not include time at home to study, completing assignments, or travel time to and from clinical sites.
V. PROCEDURES
Clerkship directors are responsible for ensuring duty hour policy is being followed at all of their clinical sites.
VI. EFFECTIVE DATE
This policy is effective immediately.
VII. POLICY MANAGEMENT
Executive Stakeholder: Dean, SOM
Oversight Office: Office of Undergraduate Medical Education
VIII. REFERENCES
LCME Element 8.8: Monitoring Student Time
The medical school faculty committee responsible for the medical curriculum and the program’s administration and leadership ensure the development and implementation of effective policies and procedures regarding the amount of time medical students spend in required activities, including the total number of hours medical students are required to spend in clinical and educational activities during clerkships.
