Journal of the American College of Surgeons
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Comparative Study
Transforming Patient Value: Comparison of Hospital, Surgical, and General Surgery Patients.
Patient value (V) is enhanced when quality (Q) is increased and cost (C) is diminished (V = Q/C). However, calculating value has been inhibited by a lack of risk-adjusted cost data. The aim of this analysis was to measure patient value before and after implementation of quality improvement and cost reduction programs. ⋯ Multidisciplinary quality and cost efforts resulted in significant improvements in value for all hospitalized patients as well as general surgery patients. Mortality improved the most in general surgery patients, and satisfaction was highest among surgical patients.
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Comparative Study
Are Surgeons Being Paid Fairly by Medicaid? A National Comparison of Typical Payments for General Surgeons.
Both the Medicare (MCR) and Medicaid (MCD) programs turn 50 this year. Medicare has developed a national resource-based payment methodology for physicians' services, with broad input by specialty societies, and MCD payments are set by individual states by various means. ⋯ These findings call into question the fairness of MCD reimbursement for general surgery services in the United States. This discount to MCR could act as a disincentive for surgeons to care for some patients, based on the state of residence. These unexplained discounts could have considerable long-term effects for patients dependent on the MCD program. Our study should act as a stimulus for states to examine their payment methodologies to provide more uniform and fairer payments for surgical procedures.
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Observational Study
Provider Bias Impacts Tidal Volume Selection and Ventilator Days in Trauma Patients.
The ARDSnet (Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome Clinical Network) study demonstrated that low tidal volume (Vt) reduces mortality from ARDS. It is unknown whether low Vt is beneficial in at-risk trauma patients. We hypothesized that Vt selection would be low in accordance with ARDSnet criteria and that subsequent outcomes would be improved. ⋯ Trauma patients receiving high Vt were shorter, had higher BMI, and were more likely to be female. The consequences included longer ICU stays and more ventilator days. Formal calculation of PBW and subsequent Vt is advocated.
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Full trauma team activation in evaluating injured patients is based on triage criteria and associated with significant costs and resources that should be focused on patients who truly need them. Overtriage leads to inefficient care, particularly when resources are finite, and it diverts care from other vital areas. Although shock and gunshot wounds to the abdomen are accepted indicators for full trauma activation, intubation as the sole criterion is controversial. We evaluated our experience to assess if intubation alone merited the highest level of trauma activation. ⋯ When appropriately triaged, selected intubated trauma patients do not require full trauma activation to receive timely, efficient care.
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There is increasing interest in implementing comprehensive perioperative protocols, including preoperative optimization and education, perioperative goal-directed fluid management, and postoperative fast tracking, to enhance recovery after surgery. Data on the outcomes of these protocols in pancreatic surgery, however, are limited. ⋯ Implementation of an enhanced recovery after pancreatic surgery protocol significantly decreased length of stay and hospital cost without increasing readmission or morbidity. Despite patient complexity and the potential need for individualization of care, enhanced recovery protocols can be valuable and effective in high-risk patient populations, including pancreatic surgery patients.