Guidelines adopted by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education have put a limit on the number of hours doctors-in-training can work. The limits were put in place because of concerns that overworked doctors may not provide the best patient care. The new rules have caused some residency programs to hire more nurses, nurse practitioners and physician assistants to fill open shifts.
See "Young Doctors Working Fewer Hours", The New York Times, July 27, 2004