Work-style Reform for Surgeons - Current Conditions at a Core Local Hospital -

Abstract

The “work-style reform bill” has been passed into law and for physicians will take effect in 2024. We examined the current work conditions of surgeons at a core local hospital and evaluated possible strategies to promote work-style reform. At our hospital, the average overtime per surgeon was 650 hours a year.

However, younger rotating physicians sent from universities worked 1,220 hours of overtime, about 2.6 times more than senior full-time surgeons. We must consider the field of specialty and age to evaluate the working hours of physicians. “Work-style reform” often places emphasis on shortening and limiting work hours, but for a “true reform” it is important to analyze factors in each work environment and to develop a strategy to reduce work load.

Multidisciplinary work sharing and task shifting are thought to be effective.