The Department of Surgery supports high quality resident education and safe and effective patient care.

Excessive sleep loss, fatigue, and stress are serious matters that can compromise patient safety and physician well-being.

  • All faculty and residents are instructed to closely observe their colleagues for any signs of fatigue or undue stress.
  • Faculty and residents are expected to report concerns of resident absences, tardiness, sleepiness, inattentiveness, or other indicators of fatigue or excessive stress to the supervising attending or program director.
  • Appropriate relief or backup support will be provided when patient care responsibilities are especially difficult or prolonged.

Residents who are having issues with fatigue, stress, or work/life balance should be aware of the services available through the Employee Assistance Program.

Fatigue Mitigation

In the event a Resident is required to work unexpectedly (i.e. was not scheduled) past 11:00 pm, or is called into work or leaving work between the hours of 11:00 pm and 5:00 am, or after completing a shift of sixteen hours or more in length the Resident may be reimbursed the cost of transportation for a round trip to the Resident's residence or to the hospital, up to thirty-five dollars ($35) each leg of the trip.

UBER/LYFT

If a trainee prefers to use the services of Uber or Lyft they should submit the receipt to their coordinator for reimbursement.

This benefit is for fatigue use only.

Fatigue Ride Home Policy For Surgical Housestaff

The Division of Surgery Education will subsidize transportation for residents who are too fatigued to travel home safely. The cab service will drive home a fatigued resident (and drive the resident back to work the following day if necessary).

Company Contact: 215-GET-A-CAB

Procedure: Vouchers will be available in the resident lounge on 4 Maloney in the cupboard above the computer desk (or you may contact your coordinator.)

Housestaff should call 215-GET-A-CAB (215-438-2222) and tell the dispatcher the pick-up location and destination. Housestaff should tell the dispatcher that they are using a voucher if they are not asked.

The voucher must be completed in full (the Client/Firm Charge No. Box does not need to be filled out as the vouchers are pre-printed with our account code). The trainee must retain the TOP WHITE copy of the voucher and return it to your coordinator office as soon as possible. Used vouchers will be reconciled on a monthly basis with the cab company.

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