The American surgeon
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The American surgeon · Jul 2012
Faculty clinical quality goals drive improvement in University HealthSystem Consortium outcome measures.
Mortality, length of stay (LOS), patient safety indicators (PSIs), and hospital-acquired conditions (HACs) are routinely reported by the University HealthSystem Consortium (UHC) to measure quality at academic health centers. We hypothesized that a clinical quality measurable goal assigned to individual faculty members would decrease UHC measures of mortality, LOS, PSIs, and HACs. For academic year (AY) 2010-2011, faculty members received a clinical quality goal related to mortality, LOS, PSIs, and HACs. ⋯ Seven (17.9%) of 39 faculty had quality grades that were average or below. Quality goals assigned to individual faculty members are associated with decreased average LOS index, PSIs, and HACs. Focused, relevant quality assignments that are tied to compensation improve patient safety and outcomes.
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Helicopter transport for trauma remains controversial because its appropriate utilization and efficacy with regard to improved survival is unproven. The purpose of this study was to assess rural trauma helicopter transport utilization and effect on patient survival. A retrospective chart review over a 2-year period (2007-2008) was performed of all rural helicopter and ground ambulance trauma patient transports to an urban Level I trauma center. ⋯ Helicopter transport does not improve survival and is associated with shorter travel distances in less severely injured (ISS < 10) patients in rural areas. This data questions effective helicopter utilization for trauma patients in rural areas. Further study with regard to helicopter transport effect on patient survival and cost-effective utilization is warranted.
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The American surgeon · Jul 2012
Use of the medical Ethics Consultation Service in a busy Level I trauma center: impact on decision-making and patient care.
The purposes of this study were to assess reasons for consultation of the Ethics Consultation Service for trauma patients and how consultations impacted care. We conducted a review of ethics consultations at a Level I trauma center from 2001 to 2010. Data included patient demographics, etiology of injury, and timing/type of the consult, categorized as: shared decision-making, end-of-life, privacy and confidentiality, resource allocation, and professionalism. ⋯ Average time to consultation was 25 days. Shared decision-making consults occurred much earlier than end-of-life consults as evidenced by a lower consult day/LOS ratio (consult day/LOS = 0.36 ± 0.3 vs 0.77 ± 0.3, P = 0.0001). Conclusions consisted of: 1) ethics consultation on trauma patients are most commonly for end-of-life and shared decision-making issues; 2) most ethics consultations occur while patients are in the intensive care unit; and 3) earlier ethics consultations are likely to be for shared decision-making issues.