Prescription Medications - Z

Shorter Intern Shifts Mean Fewer Medical Errors

The decision was bolstered by two in-house studies showing that shorter work shifts for interns reduce treatment errors.

Internship is an important step in medical education that gives young doctors the experience to go out on their own. Decades ago, interns literally lived at the hospital, on call at any time and for any length of time.

"When I was in training, we worked 120 hours a week," said Dr. Andy Whittemore, chief medical officer at Brigham and Women's Hospital, where Harvard Medical School graduates train and practice.