Of course, you realize that the next generation of general surgeons will all be "surgilists"...
Dr. Dagny T. | 12.29.05 - 8:50 am | #

Actually, given my exerience with hospitalists, that is my recurring nightmare!
Aggravated DocSurg | Homepage | 12.29.05 - 9:24 am | #

I never understood the restriction on hours, at least for surgery residents, because you have to be where the action is, when it is happening.

Surgeries don't wait until you've had enough rest!
Kim | Homepage | 12.29.05 - 3:50 pm | #

This has been my anecdotal experience as well. Residents at my old training program tell me that the senior residents are doing more hernias and breast biopsies than they used to. These were cases that used to be done by the junior housestaff either with the attendings or with a senior resident as a teaching assistant.
Bard Parker | Homepage | 01.01.06 - 10:16 pm | #

My friends in academic surgery tell me the 80 hr week has engendered a "shift mentality."
Continutity has been replaced by "let the next shift worry about it." On the other hand, if the US ever gets serious about addressing healthcare cost, the citizenry will have to get used to a lot more than rotating doctors.
Dr. Sid | 01.05.06 - 1:26 am | #