The Overhyping of the July Effect and What to Do About It

By HEMANT SINDHU, MD Filing into the auditorium, scanning the room hoping to spot a familiar face, there is a generalized sense of anxiety. Today is orientation, a day that marks the beginning of a new chapter in the lives of these bright-eyed young doctors, but also evokes an old story. Every year around this time, there is a rash of news coverage and discussion about the “July Effect,” a term used to characterize the increased risk of medical errors as interns begin their residency training and the demands on their supervising residents and attendings increase. While I believe the July Effect is overhyped (and the literature does not clearly support an increase in errors in July), I am not discounting the fears of patients who worry about being treated by newly-minted physicians. However, what many people don’t know is that these new resident physicians are actually leading the charge in making sure that patients are safe. In hospitals across the country, it is the residents who are spearheading innovative solutions to limit medical errors, communicate better with patients so they understand their conditions and can follow a course of treatment, and identifying ways to work safer and smarter. When I entered residency seven years ago this was not the case. Doctors were not encouraged to report errors and institutions did not foster transparency. The culture was completely different. Today, however, resident physicians see themselves as playing a pivotal rol...
Source: The Health Care Blog - Category: Consumer Health News Authors: Tags: THCB Hemant Sindhu July Effect Patient Safety Source Type: blogs