Replacing an academic internal medicine residency program with a physician assistant–hospitalist model: a comparative analysis study.

Am J Med Qual. 2009 Mar-Apr;24(2):132-9

Authors: Dhuper S, Choksi S

This study describes a comparative analysis of replacing medical residents with physician assistants and hospitalists on patient outcomes in a community hospital. Prospective data during the physician assistants-hospitalists service for 2 years was compared with 2 years of retrospective data of the medical residents model. Outcome measures included mortality, adverse events, readmissions, and patient satisfaction. For physician assistants- hospitalists versus medical residents models, all-cause and case mix index-adjusted mortality was 107/5508 (1.94%) and 0.019 versus 156/5458 (2.85%) and 0.029, respectively (P < or = .001). The adverse event cases were 9 versus 5 ( P = .29), and the readmission rate within 30 days was 64 versus 69 (P = .34). Patient satisfaction was 95% versus 96% (P = .33). Quality of care provided by the physician assistants-hospitalists model was equivalent. All-cause and case mix index- adjusted mortality was significantly lower during the physician assistants-hospitalists period.Although the application of these findings to other institutions requires further study, the authors found no intrinsic barriers that would impede implementation elsewhere.

PMID: 19204122 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

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Spirometry utilization after hospitalization for patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease exacerbations.

Am J Med Qual. 2009 Jan-Feb;24(1):61-6

Authors: Volkova NB, Kodani A, Hilario D, Munyaradzi SM, Peterson MW

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in the US population. An area of improvement hinges on early detection and proper monitoring. Spirometry is an important interventional tool; its underuse among hospitalized patients with COPD could affect quality of care. This study evaluates spirometry use at the Community Medical Center-Sierra in hospitalized patients with COPD. A retrospective medical record review from January 1, 2000, to March 15, 2002, assesses 1507 inpatients with COPD. The effects are analyzed of age, sex, race/ethnicity, diagnosis, insurance status, disposition, and admitting service on spirometry use by physicians are analyzed. A questionnaire is used to evaluate the knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors of residents toward spirometry ordering. Baseline characteristics are similar between study groups. Only 3% of 1476 study patients have spirometry performed within the recommended time frame, and only 12.2% have at least 1 spirometry performed. Patients having a primary diagnosis of COPD have a greater likelihood of having spirometry performed (20.3% vs 11.1%, P < .001), as do patients who are discharged to home (13.4% vs 5.9%, P = .001). No significant effects are noted for sex, race/ethnicity, insurance status, or admitting service. The house staff surveys reveal that most do not know the indications for (72.0%) or how to order (46.0%) spirometry. Spirometry is underused among physicians who treat hospitalized patients with COPD. Future educational efforts aimed at improving physicians' ordering and use of spirometry are needed to address this disparity.

PMID: 19139465 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

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The tipping point: the relationship between volume and patient harm.

Am J Med Qual. 2008 Sep-Oct;23(5):336-41

Authors: Pedroja AT

This study purports to show the relationship between volume and patient harm due to health care error. Using 5 measures of volume and incident reports weighted for patient harm over the course of 515 days, it is shown that increased volume is related to increased harm to patients. As the number of areas in the hospital experiencing high volume increased, the likelihood of patients sustaining serious harm because of health care error also increased. This is attributed to reaching system capacity causing support services (ie, lab, pharmacy, radiology, housekeeping and engineering) to be overwhelmed and unable to keep up with requests from caregivers.

PMID: 18820138 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

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