Last month the Joint Commission issued a sentinel alert informing healthcare practitioners that drowsy doctors and nurses are more likely to be involved in adverse medical events than their rested counterparts.  The Commission is asking hospitals to make sure that doctors, nurses, and others do not work too many extended hour shifts consecutively and to allow workers to give feedback on scheduling.

The Commission does not want to tell hospitals exactly how to handle scheduling or how to solve this problem. However, it is offering advice to the hospitals it accredits. Specifically, it is urging hospitals to:

• Review extended work shift or hour policies.
• Assess patient hand off procedures at the end of shifts.
• Invite staff to be involved in making work schedules.
• Offer workers tips to fight fatigue.
• Educate staff about the need to be well rested.
• Consider fatigue as a possible reason when reporting adverse events.
• Provide appropriate nap rooms and accommodations, such as letting staff turn off pagers between shifts.

What do you think? Can fatigue and medical malpractice be prevented?

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