It is recognized the Board of Directors of the American Osteopathic Association that excessive numbers of hours worked by intern and resident physicians can lead to errors in judgement and clinical decision making. These can impact on patient safety through medical errors, as well as the safety of the physician trainees through increased motor vehicle accidents, stress, depression and illness related to complications. The training institution and the director of medical education (DME) and intern program director must maintain a high degree of sensitivity to the physical and mental well being of interns and make every attempt to avoid scheduling excessive work hours leading to sleep deprivation, fatigue or inability to conduct personal activities.

The Northeast Osteopathic Medical Education Network, through its Board of Governors and Program Evaluation Committee, is committed to monitoring trainee scheduled work hours. This system includes periodic on-site review of trainee work schedules and timely response to complaints. Any intern or resident receiving postdoctoral training in a NEOMEN sponsored program is entitled to anonymously report alleged violations of the AOA Work Hour Policy and receive a timely informative review and response to the allegation. The following monitoring system is provided:

  

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