The New York State Department of Health (DOH) sent a letter recently to New York teaching hospitals in which the Commissioner noted that the compliance rate for the resident working hours regulations improved substantially in the second year of the hospital reviews by IPRO. DOH contracts with IPRO to conduct these reviews. DOH also notes that during the final quarter of IPRO's second-year reviews, 74% of the annual compliance reviews found facilities in compliance. The third year of the IPRO contract began on October 1, 2003. Greater New York Hospital Association's understanding is that this positive trend is continuing as the third-year reviews have commenced. DOH also notes in the letter that a total of 13 facilities have been fined for noncompliance and that hospitals should expect that the level of oversight and attention to these regulations will continue.