RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 A physician-centered intervention to shorten hospital stay: a pilot study
JF Canadian Medical Association Journal
JO CMAJ
FD Canadian Medical Association
SP 1735
OP 1737
VO 160
IS 12
A1 J. C. Setrakian
A1 K. M. Flegel
A1 T. A. Hutchinson
A1 S. Charest
A1 L. Côté
A1 MDDB. Edwardes
A1 I. B. Corbett
YR 1999
UL http://www.cmaj.ca/content/160/12/1735.abstract
AB BACKGROUND: Studies of length of stay (LOS) in hospital usually focus on physician-independent factors. In this study, the authors identified physician-dependent factors and tested an intervention aimed at them to determine its effect on LOS. METHODS: A prospective comparison of LOS on 2 general medical wards in a tertiary care teaching hospital before and after the intervention. The pre-intervention (control) period and the intervention period were each 4 weeks. The intervention consisted of a checklist for planning management and discharge. RESULTS: Overall, the mean LOS was shorter during the intervention period than during the control period, but the difference was not statistically significant (12.0 and 14.4 days respectively, p = 0.13). The difference was significant on ward A (11.0 v. 14.7 days respectively, p = 0.02) but not on ward B (13.0 and 14.0 days respectively, p = 0.90). INTERPRETATION: An intervention at the level of the admitting physician may help to shorten LOS on a general medical ward.