MD Duty Hours Policy

The University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health developed a policy regarding the amount of time students spend in required activities, including the total required hours spent in clinical and educational activities during clinical rotations.

• Duty hours must be limited to 80 hours per week, averaged over a four-week period, inclusive of all in-house call activities
• No duty shift shall exceed 24 hours, plus six-hour signoff
• Students are required to have at least one 24-hour period off per week on average
• All students are advised to report overages to the designated clerkship administrator, or the assistant dean of students, or the ombudsperson

Students are made aware of this policy during Phase 2 orientation at the start of Phase 2. It is also posted on the Phase 2 block Canvas sites, and included in all block orientations and the UW School of Medicine and Public Health medical student handbook (PDF).