Residency reform: Anticipated effects of ACGME guidelines on general surgery and internal medicine residency programs

Program directors anticipate improved resident safety and well-being. However, education, continuity of care, and board certification success are not expected to improve. Increased cost to institutions is anticipated. Surgery program directors feel medical errors will not decrease; medicine program directors are neutral. To facilitate compliance, surgery program directors anticipate employing physicians' assistants and technology, whereas medicine program directors may implement night float. Neither surgery nor medicine program directors expects increased quantity or quality of applicants. Program directors agree resident work hour reform is essential; however, varied methodology and outcomes are expected.