Duty Hours Regulations

Duty Hours Regulations set limits on how long healthcare professionals, like residents and interns, can work to ensure safety and avoid fatigue. Typically, these rules restrict work shifts to around 80 hours per week, including overnight shifts, and mandate rest periods between shifts. They also limit consecutive working hours, requiring designated time off to allow adequate recovery. The goal is to balance providing high-quality patient care with protecting providers' well-being by preventing burnout and errors caused by exhaustion. These regulations are established by organizations like the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) to promote safer healthcare practices.