The American Osteopathic Association recognizes that there are situations in which trainees working an excessive numbers of hours can lead to errors in judgment and clinical decision-making, and negatively impact the physical and mental well being of trainees. These errors can impact on patient safety, as well as the safety of the physician trainees through increased motor vehicle accidents, stress, depression and illness.
It is the policy of TUMEC to monitor each partner institution’s adherence with the work hour policies outlined by the American Osteopathic Association in the Basic Document for Postdoctoral Training Programs, except where they are superseded by State and/or Federal regulations. Monitoring is done at each hospital and reported at the Graduate Medical Education Committee (GMEC) meeting at that site and reported to the TUMEC Osteopathic Graduate Medical Education (OGME) meetings.
Interns and Residents in TUMEC programs have the right to report, without consequences, any infractions or breaches of the stated work hour policy at their institution. Any concerns with regards to the institution’s adherence to the policy should be reported to the Osteopathic Post Training Institute (OPTI) office.
Concerns may be reported through Intern and Resident representatives on the Osteopathic Medical Education Committee or directly to the OPTI office. They may contact via email Dr. Frederick Schaller, Frederick.schaller@tun.touro.edu or by phone at (702) 533-6678. Concerns reported to the OPTI office will be handled by the Chief Academic Officer contacting the DME and Program Director directly.
