Medical Students, Residents Available For Comment On National Resident Matching Program Results

3/20/2002

From: Tim Clarke, Jr. of the American Medical Student Association (AMSA), 703-620-6600, ext. 207; Mobile: 301-814-2678; E-mail: prel@www.amsa.org; Web site: www.amsa.org

News Advisory:

Medical students, resident-physicians and consumer advocates leading a campaign to reform the resident work-hour system are available to comment on the results of 'Match Day' results from the National Resident Match Program. These reform advocates maintain that excessive hours forced on medical residents endanger patients and physicians and contributes to high rates of medical errors at our nation's hospitals.

The American Medical Student Association (AMSA), along with the Committee of Interns and Residents, Public Citizen, the American Medical Women's Association, the Center for Patient Advocacy, and the Service Employees International Union, has endorsed the Patient and Physician Safety & Protection Act of 2001 (PPSPA), introduced by Rep. John Conyers (D-Mich.). PPSPA calls for resident work hours to be limited to 80 hours per week and no more than 24 hours at one time. Most residents are typically required to work 36-hour shifts and 120-hour work weeks.

When: Thursday, March 21

What: Results of 'Match Day' announced by National Resident Matching Program (NRMP). 'Match Day' is the traditional day when graduating medical students learn where they will complete the next phase of training in their chosen specialty.

Who: American Medical Student Association (www.amsa.org) -- Jaya Agrawal, AMSA president, 703-620-6600, ext. 202; cell: 401-439-0035 -- Rob Levy, AMSA legislative affairs director, 703-620-6600, ext. 211; pager: 1-888-326-6893 -- Tim Clarke, Jr., AMSA PR director, 703-620-6600, ext. 207; cell: 301-814-2678; e-mail: prel@www.amsa.org

Committee of Interns and Residents (www.cirseiu.org) -- CIR President Ladi Haroona, M.D., 212-725-5500 -- CIR Vice President Ruth Potee, M.D., 617-414-5301

Public Citizen Health Research Group (www.citizen.org) -- Peter Lurie, M.D., M.P.H, 202-588-7881; e-mail: plurie@citizen.org

NOTE: A complete speakers list, including a selection of medical residents available for comment around the country, is available online at http://www.amsa.org/hp/rwhspeak.cfm. More information about resident overwork can be found online at http://www.amsa.org/hp/reswork.cfm.