Study indicates that overworked doctors can put patients at risk

Syracuse (WSYR-TV/ABC News) – A survey of 506 physicians who work exclusively in hospitals – published in the Journal of the American Medical Association – could leave you worried sick.

40 percent reported having too many patients to care for safely at least once a month.

36 percent said such an overload happens once a week.

25 percent of the doctors reported that their workload prevented them from fully discussing treatment with patients and their families.

Over 20 percent said they ordered unnecessary procedures because they lacked time to evaluate patients in person.

5 percent reported that having too many patients had led to a patient death.