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Shiftwork and emergency medical practice

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  21 May 2015

Jason R. Frank  and
Howard Ovens
Jason R. Frank*
Affiliation:
Division of Emergency Medicine, University of Ottawa, and Department of Emergency Medicine, Ottawa Hospital — General Campus, Ottawa, Ont
Howard Ovens
Affiliation:
Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, Ont
*
Emergency Department, Ottawa Hospital – General Campus, 501 Smyth Rd., Ottawa ON K1H 8L6[email protected]

Abstract

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Shiftwork has numerous negative effects on workers, but it is an essential component of the demanding 24/7 practice of emergency medicine. We conducted a systematic literature review to characterize the effects of shiftwork on physician health, well-being and practice, and to describe rational strategies to mitigate its impact on Canadian emergency physicians.

Keywords

shiftworkemergency medicinephysician healthcircadianschedulessleep error
Type
ED Administration • Administration de la MU
Information
Canadian Journal of Emergency Medicine , Volume 4 , Issue 6 , November 2002 , pp. 421 - 428
Copyright
Copyright © Canadian Association of Emergency Physicians 2002

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