VCOM Institutional Policy and Procedure Manual

VCOM Policy and Procedure

Policy #U031

8.4 Identification of a Fatigued Physician/Student Involved in Patient Care Professionalism is demonstrated through a personal role in the following: • Assurance of one’s fitness for duty. • Time management before, during and after clinical assignments. • Assurance of safety and welfare of patients. • Acting on impairment in oneself and others. • Healthcare professionals must be aware of the negative effects of sleep deprivation and fatigue on their ability to provide safe and effective patient care. 8.4.1 Responsibilities of the Supervising Clinical Faculty Member If the supervising clinical faculty member or other healthcare professional believes there is sufficient evidence that a student on clinical assignment is excessively fatigued and/or stressed and appears to be unfit for duty (i.e. unable to provide safe patient care), the supervising clinical faculty member should immediately release the student from any further patient care responsibilities and the DSME and Associate Dean for Clinical Affairs/Associate Dean for OMS 4 and GME must be notified within 24 hours. Depending on the clinical assignment and the circumstances (e.g. patient volume, acuity, assigned work area), backup may be called in to ensure the continuation of safe patient care. The supervising clinical faculty member should direct the fatigued student to rest at the hospital (e.g. call room) prior to driving home, or ensure that alternate transportation is arranged. Any healthcare professional in the clinical setting has the authority and the responsibility, to raise concern about observed fatigue in a student. The supervising clinical faculty member and Associate Dean for Clinical Affairs/Associate Dean for OMS 4 and GME shall privately discuss their assessment with the fatigued/stressed student, attempt to identify the underlying reasons for impairment and discuss the circumstances of their release and fitness to return to duty. A student who is released from a clinical assignment due to fatigue must have permission to resume work from the Associate Dean for Clinical Affairs/Associate Dean for OMS 4 and GME. 8.4.2 Responsibilities of the Student Students who are removed from clinical duties due to fatigue should rest at the hospital/clinical site (e.g. call room) prior to driving home or arrange alternative transportation. After resting, if they remain too fatigued to transport themselves home safely, the student should initiate a ride through a commercial service or have a friend/family member pick them up and drive them home.

VCOM Campus Safety and Health Policy

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