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Medical Student Work Hours Policy

All clinical rotations and elective rotations must adhere to the medical student work hour’s policy as defined below:

1. Each student shall work no more than 80 hours of assigned clinical duties per week, including on-call activities when averaged over the weekly length of any rotation. If a rotation is less than four weeks in duration, averaging must be done over the rotation.
2. Clinical rotations that are scheduled as shift work such as the emergency medicine clerkship and night float will be limited to approximately 12 consecutive hours of patient care. Shifts should be separated by 10 hours between work periods.
3. Students must be provided with one day in seven free from all required clinical and educational responsibilities when averaged over the length of the rotation. One day is equivalent to one continuous 24 hour period free from required educational or clinical activities.

Compliance

This policy will be monitored for compliance by the clerkship directors, elective course directors, the Vice Dean for Education and the Associate Dean for Curriculum. If it is found that students have worked beyond the allowable time frame as described above during the monitoring process via the course evaluations, the Vice Dean for Education, Associate Dean for Curriculum will meet with the specific clerkship director to assure compliance to the policy.

Non-retaliation

Retaliatory action against students who accurately report infractions of this policy is prohibited.  Persons, including attending physicians and residents, found responsible for retaliatory actions of any kind will be subject to disciplinary actions including sanctions pursuant to the Handbook for Faculty and Academic Administrators. 

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