Why the Indian Health Care Improvement Act Has Failed to Effectively Fund Workforce Development for the Indian Health Service.

The Indian Health Service (IHS) faces severe workforce shortages due to underfunding and underdevelopment of clinical training programs. Unlike other direct federal health care systems that have implemented clinical training paradigms as central parts of their success, the IHS has no formalized process for developing such programs internally or in partnership with academic institutions. While the Indian Health Care Improvement Act (IHCIA) authorizes mechanisms by which the IHS can support overall workforce development, a critical portion of the act (U.S. Code 1616p) intended for developing clinical training programs within the agency remains unfunded. Here, we review the funding challenges of the IHCIA, as well as its authorized and funded workforce development programs that have only partially addressed workforce shortages. We propose that through additional funding to 1616p, the IHS could implement clinical training programs needed to prepare a larger workforce more capable of meeting the needs of American Indian/Alaska Native communities.

Barriers and enablers for externally and internally driven implementation processes in healthcare: a qualitative cross-case study.

BACKGROUND: Quality in healthcare is a subject in need of continuous attention. Quality improvement (QI) programmes with the purpose of increasing service quality are therefore of priority for healthcare leaders and governments. This study explores the implementation process of two different QI programmes, one externally driven implementation and one internally driven, in Norwegian nursing homes and home care services. The aim for the study was to identify enablers and barriers for externally and internally driven implementation processes in nursing homes and homecare services, and furthermore to explore if identified enablers and barriers are different or similar across the different implementation processes. METHODS: This study is based on an exploratory qualitative methodology. The empirical data was collected through the 'Improving Quality and Safety in Primary Care - Implementing a Leadership Intervention in Nursing Homes and Homecare' (SAFE-LEAD) project. The SAFE-LEAD project is a multiple case study of two different QI programmes in primary care in Norway. A large externally driven implementation process was supplemented with a tracer project involving an internally driven implementation process to identify differences and similarities. The empirical data was inductively analysed in accordance with grounded theory. RESULTS: Enablers for both external and internal implementation processes were found to be technology and tools, dedication, and ownership. Other more implementation process specific enablers entailed continuous learning, simulation training, knowledge sharing, perceived relevance, dedication, ownership, technology and tools, a systematic approach and coordination. Only workload was identified as coincident barriers across both externally and internally implementation processes. Implementation process specific barriers included turnover, coping with given responsibilities, staff variety, challenges in coordination, technology and tools, standardizations not aligned with work, extensive documentation, lack of knowledge sharing. CONCLUSION: This study provides understanding that some enablers and barriers are present in both externally and internally driven implementation processes, while other are more implementation process specific. Dedication, engagement, technology and tools are coinciding enablers which can be drawn upon in different implementation processes, while workload acted as the main barrier in both externally and internally driven implementation processes. This means that some enablers and barriers can be expected in implementation of QI programmes in nursing homes and home care services, while others require contextual understanding of their setting and work.

Development of a Web-Based Oxygenation Dashboard for Preterm Neonates: A Quality Improvement Initiative.

BACKGROUND: Preterm neonates are extensively monitored to require strict oxygen target attainment for optimal outcomes. In daily practice, detailed oxygenation data are hardly used and crucial patterns may be missed due to the snapshot presentations and subjective observations. This study aimed to develop a web-based dashboard with both detailed and summarized oxygenation data in real-time and to test its feasibility to support clinical decision making. METHODS: Data from pulse oximeters and ventilators were synchronized and stored to enable real-time and retrospective trend visualizations in a web-based viewer. The dashboard was designed based on interviews with clinicians. A preliminary version was evaluated during daily clinical rounds. The routine evaluation of the respiratory condition of neonates (gestational age < 32 weeks) with respiratory support at the NICU was compared to an assessment with the assistance of the dashboard. RESULTS: The web-based dashboard included data on the oxygen saturation (SpO2), fraction of inspired oxygen (FiO2), SpO2/FiO2 ratio, and area < 80% and > 95% SpO2 curve during time intervals that could be varied. The distribution of SpO2 values was visualized as histograms. In 65% of the patient evaluations (n = 86) the level of hypoxia was assessed differently with the use of the dashboard. In 75% of the patients the dashboard was judged to provide added value for the clinicians in supporting clinical decisions. CONCLUSIONS: A web-based customized oxygenation dashboard for preterm neonates at the NICU was developed and found feasible during evaluation. More clear and objective information was found supportive for clinicians during the daily rounds in tailoring treatment strategies.

Navigating Transitions in Oncology Care: From Emergency Department to Outpatient Clinic.

OBJECTIVE: This quality improvement project was a collaborative effort with Penn Medicine's emergency department (ED) and oncology nurse navigators (ONNs). The goal of the project was to streamline patient transitions from the ED to the outpatient oncology clinic by developing a standardized referral process. The main objectives were to simplify and automate the referral process using the electronic medical record, improve multidisciplinary communication across the care continuum, ensure timely follow-up, and address barriers to oncology care. METHODS: The ED providers placed a consult to ONNs. The ONNs reached out to the patient within 48 hours of the consult. They maintained a database of patient referrals and collected information such as patient demographics, reason for referral, insurance, and patient outcomes. RESULTS: The ED providers referred 204 patients to the ONNs from April 2022 to September 2023. The development of a standardized referral process from the ED to the outpatient oncology clinic proved successful. Of the patients referred, the ONNs facilitated 98 cancer diagnoses and 80 of those patients are receiving oncology care at Penn Medicine. The median time to the patient's first appointments was seven days, diagnosis was 15 days, and treatment initiation occurred within 32 days. CONCLUSION: The project team achieved their goal of facilitating timely access to oncology care, ensuring continuity, and addressing patient-specific barriers. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING PRACTICE: This quality improvement initiative highlights the ONNs' role in enhancing access and equity in cancer care delivery. The success of the project underscores the ONN's expertise and leadership in addressing healthcare disparities in oncology care. Collaboratively, the teams created a new referral workflow improving care transitions from the ED to the outpatient oncology clinic. The project sets a precedent for optimizing patient care transitions, demonstrating the positive impact of ONNs as key members of the multidisciplinary healthcare team.

Improving outcomes in emergency general surgery: Construct of a collaborative quality initiative.

BACKGROUND: Emergency general surgery conditions are common, costly, and highly morbid. The proportion of excess morbidity due to variation in health systems and processes of care is poorly understood. We constructed a collaborative quality initiative for emergency general surgery to investigate the emergency general surgery care provided and guide process improvements. METHODS: We collected data at 10 hospitals from July 2019 to December 2022. Five cohorts were defined: acute appendicitis, acute gallbladder disease, small bowel obstruction, emergency laparotomy, and overall aggregate. Processes and inpatient outcomes investigated included operative versus nonoperative management, mortality, morbidity (mortality and/or complication), readmissions, and length of stay. Multivariable risk adjustment accounted for variations in demographic, comorbid, anatomic, and disease traits. RESULTS: Of the 19,956 emergency general surgery patients, 56.8% were female and 82.8% were White, and the mean (SD) age was 53.3 (20.8) years. After accounting for patient and disease factors, the adjusted aggregate mortality rate was 3.5% (95% confidence interval [CI], 3.2-3.7), morbidity rate was 27.6% (95% CI, 27.0-28.3), and the readmission rate was 15.1% (95% CI, 14.6-15.6). Operative management varied between hospitals from 70.9% to 96.9% for acute appendicitis and 19.8% to 79.4% for small bowel obstruction. Significant differences in outcomes between hospitals were observed with high- and low-outlier performers identified after risk adjustment in the overall cohort for mortality, morbidity, and readmissions. The use of a Gastrografin challenge in patients with a small bowel obstruction ranged from 10.7% to 61.4% of patients. In patients who underwent initial nonoperative management of acute cholecystitis, 51.5% had a cholecystostomy tube placed. The cholecystostomy tube placement rate ranged from 23.5% to 62.1% across hospitals. CONCLUSION: A multihospital emergency general surgery collaborative reveals high morbidity with substantial variability in processes and outcomes among hospitals. A targeted collaborative quality improvement effort can identify outliers in emergency general surgery care and may provide a mechanism to optimize outcomes. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Therapeutic/Care Management; Level III.

A Quality Improvement Project to Support Post-Intensive Care Unit Patients with COVID-19: Structured Telephone Support.

BACKGROUND: More than 50% of intensive care unit (ICU) survivors suffer from long-lasting physical, psychosocial, and cognitive health impairments, also called "post-intensive care syndrome" (PICS). Intensive care admission during the COVID-19 pandemic was especially uncertain and stressful, both for patients and for their family. An additional risk of developing symptoms of PICS was feared in the absence of structural aftercare for the patient and family shortly after discharge from the hospital. The purpose of this quality improvement study was to identify PICS symptoms and to support post-intensive care patients and families in the transition from the hospital to the home. Therefore, we offered post-ICU patients and families structured telephone support (STS). METHODS: This was a quality improvement study during the 2019 COVID-19 pandemic. A project team developed and implemented a tool to structure telephone calls to identify and order symptoms according to the PICS framework and to give individual support based on this information. We supported post-ICU patients diagnosed with COVID-19 pneumonia and their family caregivers within four weeks after hospital discharge. The reported findings were both quantitative and qualitative. RESULTS: Forty-six post-ICU patients received structured telephone support and reported symptoms in at least one of the three domains of the PICS framework. More than half of the patients experienced a loss of strength or condition and fatigue. Cognitive and psychological impairments were reported less frequently. Family caregivers reported fewer impairments concerning fatigue and sleeping problems and expressed a need for a continuity of care. Based on the obtained information, the ICU nurse practitioners were able to check if individual care plans were optimal and clear and, if indicated, initiated disciplines to optimize further follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: The implementation of the STS tool gave insight in the impairments of post-ICU patients. Surprisingly, family caregivers expressed fewer impairments. Giving support early after hospital discharge in a structured way may contribute to providing guidance in the individual care plans and treatment of the early symptoms of PICS (-F).

Refining a capability development framework for building successful consumer and staff partnerships in healthcare quality improvement: A coproduced eDelphi study.

BACKGROUND: The capability of consumers and staff may be critical for authentic and effective partnerships in healthcare quality improvement (QI). Capability frameworks describe core knowledge, skills, values, attitudes, and behaviours and guide learning and development at individual and organizational levels. OBJECTIVE: To refine a capability framework for successful partnerships in healthcare QI which was coproduced from a scoping review. DESIGN: A two-round eDelphi design was used. The International Expert Panel rated the importance of framework items in supporting successful QI partnerships, and suggested improvements. They also rated implementation options and commented on the influence of context. PARTICIPANTS: Seven Research Advisory Group members were recruited to support the research team. The eDelphi panel included 53 people, with 44 (83%) and 42 (77. 8%) participating in rounds 1 and 2, respectively. They were from eight countries and had diverse backgrounds. RESULTS: The Research Advisory Group and panel endorsed the framework and summary diagram as valuable resources to support the growth of authentic and meaningful partnerships in QI across healthcare contexts, conditions, and countries. A consensus was established on content and structure. Substantial rewording included a stronger emphasis on growth, trust, respect, inclusivity, diversity, and challenging the status quo. The final capability development framework included three domains: Personal Attributes, Relationships and Communication, and Principles and Practices. The Equalizing Decision Making, Power, and Leadership capability was foundational and positioned across all domains. Ten capabilities with twenty-seven capability descriptions were also included. The Principles and Practices domain, Equalizing Decision Making, Power, and Leadership capability, and almost half (44.4%) of the capability descriptions were rated as more important for staff than consumers (p < .01). However, only the QI processes and practices capability description did not meet the inclusion threshold for consumers. Thus, the framework was applicable to staff and consumers. CONCLUSION: The refined capability development framework provides direction for planning and provision of learning and development regarding QI partnerships. PATIENT OR PUBLIC CONTRIBUTION: Two consumers were full members of the research team and are coauthors. A Research Advisory Group, inclusive of consumers, guided study execution and translation planning. More than half of the panel were consumers.

An Initiative to Reduce Insulin-Related Adverse Drug Events in a Children's Hospital.

OBJECTIVES: Adverse drug events (ADEs) during hospitalization are common. Insulin-related events, specifically, are frequent and preventable. At a tertiary children's hospital, we sought to reduce insulin-related ADEs by decreasing the median event rate of hyper- and hypoglycemia over a 12-month period. METHODS: Using Lean 6 σ methodology, we instituted a house-wide process change from a single-order ordering process to a pro re nata (PRN) standing order process. The standardized process included parameters for administration and intervention, enabling physician and nursing providers to practice at top of licensure. Automated technology during dose calculation promoted patient safety during dual verification processes. Control charts tracked rates of insulin-related ADEs, defined as hyperglycemia (glucose level >250 mg/dL) or hypoglycemia (glucose level <65 mg/dL). Events were standardized according to use rates of insulin on each nursing unit. The rates of appropriately timed insulin doses (within 30 minutes of a blood sugar check) were assessed. RESULTS: Baseline median house-wide frequencies of hyperglycemic and hypoglycemic episodes were 55 and 6.9 events (per 100 rapid-acting insulin days), respectively. The median time to insulin administration was 32 minutes. The implementation of the PRN process reduced the median frequencies of hyperglycemic and hypoglycemic episodes to 45 and 3.8 events, respectively. The median time to insulin administration decreased to 18 minutes. CONCLUSIONS: A PRN ordering process and education decreased insulin-associated ADEs and the time to insulin dosing compared with single-entry processes. Engaging bedside providers was instrumental in reducing insulin-related ADEs. Strategies that decrease the time from patient assessment to drug administration should be studied for other high-risk drugs.

Coverage for pertussis vaccination during pregnancy with 4 models of vaccine delivery: a quasiexperimental, multicentre observational study.

BACKGROUND: Vaccination of pregnant people with a vaccine containing acellular pertussis (tetanus-diphtheria-acellular pertussis [Tdap]) has been recommended in Canada since 2018, and the evaluation of delivery models for efficient maternal Tdap administration is a priority for the Quebec Ministry of Health. We implemented 3 vaccine delivery models, in addition to the existing standard of practice model, and compared the vaccine coverage achieved by the 4 models in Quebec. METHODS: In this quasiexperimental, multicentre observational study, we recruited pregnant people at less than 21 weeks' gestation in 4 Quebec regions from April to October 2019. We compared 4 vaccine delivery models: local community service centres (centre local de services communautaires [CLSCs], baseline), family medicine groups (FMGs), obstetrics clinic and the oral glucose challenge test (OGCT). In addition to the CLSCs, 3 FMGs, 1 obstetric clinic and a hospital-based OGCT screening program participated. We determined vaccination status from a self-reported questionnaire, the Quebec Immunization Registry or medical charts. We compared model-specific (for participants recruited to a model and subsequently vaccinated within that model) and overall vaccine coverage (considering all vaccine delivery pathways) and used logistic regression to adjust for sociodemographic variables. RESULTS: Overall, 946 of 1000 recruited pregnant people were eligible for analyses. Vaccination via the FMGs achieved the highest model-specific vaccine coverage (67.8%, 95% confidence interval [CI] 60.5%-74.4%), but coverage was not significantly different from the CLSCs (63.8%, 95% CI 57.6%-69.6%). For overall vaccine coverage, the FMG (86.5%, 95% CI 80.6%-90.9%) and obstetrics models (85.9%, 95% CI 80.9%-89.7%) achieved significantly higher vaccine coverage than the CLSCs (66.3%, 95% CI 60.1%-71.9%). The OGCT model did not improve overall vaccine coverage (61.8%, 95% CI 56.1%-67.2%). INTERPRETATION: Compared with CLSCs, overall vaccine coverage was higher when Tdap was offered in FMGs or an obstetrics clinic providing prenatal care. Health professionals involved in pregnancy follow-up recommending and offering the vaccine may be a key factor in optimizing vaccine coverage.

Sustained Implementation of a Multicomponent Strategy to Increase Emergency Department-Initiated Interventions for Opioid Use Disorder.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: There is strong evidence supporting emergency department (ED)-initiated buprenorphine for opioid use disorder, but less is known about how to implement this practice. Our aim was to describe implementation, maintenance, and provider adoption of a multicomponent strategy for opioid use disorder treatment in 3 urban, academic EDs. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective analysis of electronic health record data for adult patients with opioid use disorder-related visits before (March 2017 to November 2018) and after (December 2018 to July 2020) implementation. We describe patient characteristics, clinical treatment, and process measures over time and conducted an interrupted time series analysis using a patient-level multivariable logistic regression model to assess the association of the interventions with buprenorphine use and other outcomes. Finally, we report provider-level variation in prescribing after implementation. RESULTS: There were 2,665 opioid use disorder-related visits during the study period: 28% for overdose, 8% for withdrawal, and 64% for other conditions. Thirteen percent of patients received medications for opioid use disorder during or after their ED visit overall. Following intervention implementation, there were sustained increases in treatment and process measures, with a net increase in total buprenorphine of 20% in the postperiod (95% confidence interval 16% to 23%). In the adjusted patient-level model, there was an immediate increase in the probability of buprenorphine treatment of 24.5% (95% confidence interval 12.1% to 37.0%) with intervention implementation. Seventy percent of providers wrote at least 1 buprenorphine prescription, but provider-level buprenorphine prescribing ranged from 0% to 61% of opioid use disorder-related encounters. CONCLUSION: A combination of strategies to increase ED-initiated opioid use disorder treatment was associated with sustained increases in treatment and process measures. However, adoption varied widely among providers, suggesting that additional strategies are needed for broader uptake.

Improved hospital mortality rates after the implementation of emergency department sepsis teams.

INTRODUCTION: Sepsis is a leading cause of mortality with more than 700,000 hospitalizations and 200,000 deaths annually in the United States. Early recognition of sepsis is critical for timely initiation of treatment and improved outcomes. We sought to evaluate. in-hospital mortality rates of patients diagnosed with sepsis before and after implementation of emergency department (ED) sepsis teams. METHODS: This was a retrospective study of adult patients seen at a tertiary care ED diagnosed with sepsis and severe sepsis. Pre-implementation study time frame was 5/1/2018-4/30/2019 and post-implementation was 11/1/2019-9/30/2020. A six-month washout period was utilized after implementation of ED-based sepsis teams. Indications for sepsis team activation were: two systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) criteria with suspected infection or two SIRS with confirmed infection during workup. Categorical variables are presented as frequencies and percentages. Continuous variables are presented as mean and standard deviation or median and quartiles depending on distribution. Multiple logistic regression compared mortality rates pre- and post-implementation while controlling for Charlson comorbidity index. Secondary objectives included comparing time metrics pre- and post-implementation. Student t-tests compared normally distributed variables and Wilcoxon rank sum tests compared non-normally distributed variables. RESULTS: There were 1188 participants included in the study; 553 before implementation of sepsis teams and 635 after implementation. Mean age of participants was 64 years. Patients were 74.7% white and 22.6% black. Medicare was the most common health insurance (59%). Mortality rates were significantly lower post-implementation of sepsis teams compared to pre-implementation with an adjusted odds ratio of 0.472, (95%CI, 0.352-0.632). ED LOS (95%CI (-67.2--11.3), hospital LOS (95%CI, -1.0--0.002) and time to lactic acid (95%CI, -10.0- -3.0) and antibiotics (95%CI, -29.0--11.0) were all significantly lower after implementation. CONCLUSION: Implementation of ED sepsis teams decreased inpatient hospital mortality rates, ED length of stay and hospital length of stay.

Variation in emergency department visit rates for opioid use disorder: Implications for quality improvement initiatives.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: Emergency departments (ED) are critical touchpoints for encounters among patients with opioid use disorder (OUD), but implementation of ED initiated treatment and harm reduction programs has lagged. We describe national patient, visit and hospital-level characteristics of ED OUD visits and characterize EDs with high rates of OUD visits in order to inform policies to optimize ED OUD care. METHODS: We conducted a descriptive, cross-sectional study with the 2017 Nationwide Emergency Department Sample (NEDS) from the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project, using diagnostic and mechanism of injury codes from ICD-10 to identify OUD related visits. NEDS weights were applied to generate national estimates. We evaluated ED visit and clinical characteristics of all OUD encounters. We categorized hospitals into quartiles by rate of visits for OUD per 1000 ED visits and described the visit, clinical, and hospital characteristics across the four quartiles. RESULTS: In 2017, the weighted national estimate for OUD visits was 1,507,550. Overdoses accounted for 295,954. (19.6%) of visits. OUD visit rates were over 8× times higher among EDs in the highest quartile of OUD visit rate (22.9 per 1000 total ED visits) compared with EDs in the lowest quartile of OUD visit rate (2.7 per 1000 ED visits). Over three fifths (64.2%) of all OUD visits nationwide were seen by the hospitals in the highest quartile of OUD visit rate. These hospitals were predominantly in metropolitan areas (86.2%), over half were teaching hospitals (51.7%), and less than a quarter (23.3%) were Level 1 or Level 2 trauma centers. CONCLUSION: Targeting initial efforts of OUD care programs to high OUD visit rate EDs could improve care for a large portion of OUD patients utilizing emergency care.

Correlation of Colorectal Surgical Skill With Patient Outcomes: A Cautionary Tale.

BACKGROUND: Previous work has demonstrated a correlation between video ratings of surgical skill and clinical outcomes. Some have proposed the use of video review for technical skill assessment, credentialing, and quality improvement. OBJECTIVE: Before its adoption as a quality measure for colorectal surgeons, we must first determine whether video-based skill assessments can predict patient outcomes among specialty surgeons. DESIGN: Twenty-one surgeons submitted one representative video of a minimally invasive colectomy. Each video was edited to highlight key steps and then rated by 10 peer surgeons using a validated American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons assessment tool. Linking surgeons' ratings to a validated surgical outcomes registry, we assessed the relationship between skill and risk-adjusted complication rates. SETTINGS: The study was conducted with the Michigan Surgical Quality Collaborative, a statewide collaborative including 70 community, academic, and tertiary hospitals. PATIENTS: Patients included those who underwent minimally invasive colorectal resection performed by the participating surgeons. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Main outcome measures included 30-day risk-adjusted postoperative complications. RESULTS: The average technical skill rating for each surgeon ranged from 2.6 to 4.6. Risk-adjusted complication rate per surgeon ranged from 9.9% to 33.1%. Patients of surgeons in the bottom quartile of overall skill ratings were older and more likely to have hypertension or to smoke; patients of surgeons in the top quartile were more likely to be immunosuppressed or have an ASA score of 3 or higher. After patient- and surgery-specific risk adjustment, there was no statistically significant difference in complication rates between the bottom and top quartile surgeons (17.5% vs 16.8%, respectively, p = 0.41). LIMITATIONS: Limitations included retrospective cohort design with short-term follow-up of sampled cases. Videos were edited to highlight key steps, and reviewers did not undergo training to establish norms. CONCLUSIONS: Our study demonstrates that video-based peer rating of minimally invasive colectomy was not correlated with postoperative complications among specialty surgeons. As such, the adoption of video review for use in credentialing should be approached with caution. See Video Abstract at http://links.lww.com/DCR/B802.CORRELACIÓN ENTRE LA HABILIDAD QUIRÚRGICA COLORRECTAL Y LOS RESULTADOS OBTENIDOS EN EL PACIENTE: RELATO PRECAUTORIOANTECEDENTES:Trabajos anteriores han demostrado una correlación entre la video-calificación de la habilidad quirúrgica y los resultados clínicos. Algunos autores han propuesto el uso de la revisión de videos para la evaluación de la habilidad técnica, la acreditación y la mejoría en la calidad quirúrgica.OBJETIVO:Antes de su adopción como medida de calidad entre los cirujanos colorrectales, primero debemos determinar si las evaluaciones de habilidades basadas en video pueden predecir los resultados clínicos de los pacientes entre cirujanos especializados.DISEÑO:Veintiún cirujanos enviaron un video representativo de una colectomía mínimamente invasiva. Cada video fue editado para resaltar los pasos clave y luego fué calificado por 10 cirujanos revisores utilizando una herramienta de evaluación validada por la ASCRS. Al vincular las calificaciones de los cirujanos al registro de resultados quirúrgicos aprobado, evaluamos la relación entre la habilidad y las tasas de complicaciones ajustadas al riesgo.AJUSTE:Colaboración en todo el estado incluyendo 70 hospitales comunitarios, académicos y terciarios, el Michigan Surgical Quality Collaborative.PACIENTES:Todos aquellos sometidos a resección colorrectal mínimamente invasiva realizada por los cirujanos participantes.MEDIDA DE RESULTADO PRINCIPAL:Complicaciones posoperatorias ajustadas al riesgo a los 30 días.RESULTADOS:La calificación de la habilidad técnica promedio de cada cirujano osciló entre 2.6 y 4.6. La tasa de complicaciones ajustada al riesgo por cirujano osciló entre el 9,9% y el 33,1%. Los pacientes operados por los cirujanos del cuartil inferior de las calificaciones generales de habilidades eran fumadores y añosos, y tambiés más propensos a la hipertensión arterial. Los pacientes operados por los cirujanos del cuartil superior tenían más probabilidades de ser inmunosuprimidos o tener una puntuación ASA> = 3. Después del ajuste de riesgo específico de la cirugía y el paciente, no hubo diferencias estadísticamente significativas en las tasas de complicaciones entre los cirujanos del cuartil inferior y superior (17,5% frente a 16,8%, respectivamente, p = 0,41).LIMITACIONES:Diseño de cohortes retrospectivo con seguimiento a corto plazo de los casos muestreados. Los videos se editaron para resaltar los pasos clave y los revisores no recibieron capacitación para establecer normas.CONCLUSIONES:Nuestro estudio demuestra que la evaluación realizada por los revisores basada en el video de la colectomía mínimamente invasiva no se correlacionó con las complicaciones post-operatorias entre los cirujanos especialistas. Por tanto, la adopción de la revisión del video quirúrgico para su uso en la acreditación profesional, debe abordarse con mucha precaución. Consulte Video Resumen en http://links.lww.com/DCR/B802. (Traducción-Dr. Xavier Delgadillo).

Value in acute care surgery, Part 1: Methods of quantifying cost.

BACKGROUND: With health care expenditures continuing to increase rapidly, the need to understand and provide value has become more important than ever. In order to determine the value of care, the ability to accurately measure cost is essential. The acute care surgeon leader is an integral part of driving improvement by engaging in value increasing discussions. Different approaches to quantifying cost exist depending on the purpose of the analysis and available resources. Cost analysis methods range from detailed microcosting and time-driven activity-based costing to less complex gross and expenditure-based approaches. An overview of these methods and a practical approach to costing based on the needs of the acute care surgeon leader is presented.

Developing a national trauma research action plan: Results from the Burn Research Gap Delphi Survey.

BACKGROUND: The 2016 National Academies of Science, Engineering and Medicine call for a national integrated, military-civilian trauma action plan to achieve zero preventable deaths and disability after injury included a proposal to establish a National Trauma Research Action Plan to "strengthen trauma research and ensure that the resources available for this research are commensurate with the importance of injury and the potential for improvement in patient outcomes." The Department of Defense funded the Coalition for National Trauma Research to generate a comprehensive research agenda spanning the continuum of trauma/burn care from prehospital to rehabilitation. The Burn/Reconstructive Surgery group represents one focus area for this research agenda development. METHODS: Experts in burn and reconstructive surgery research identified gaps in knowledge, generated research questions and prioritized questions using a consensus driven Delphi survey approach. Participants were identified using established Delphi recruitment guidelines to ensure heterogeneity and generalizability with military and civilian representatives. Literature reviews informed the panel. Panelists were encouraged to use a PICO format to generate research questions: Patient/Population; Intervention; Compare/Control; Outcome. Participants ranked the priority of each question on a nine-point Likert scale, which was categorized to represent low, medium, and high priority items. Consensus was defined based on ≥60% panelist agreement. RESULTS: Subject matter experts generated 949 research questions in 29 Burn & 26 Reconstruction topics. Five hundred ninety-seven questions reached consensus. Of these, 338 (57%) were high-priority, 180 (30%), medium-priority, and 78 (13%) low-priority questions. CONCLUSION: Many high-priority questions translate to complex wound management and outcomes. Panel recognition that significant gaps in knowledge exist in understanding functional outcomes after injury underscores the importance of long-term recovery metrics even when studying acute injury or interventions such as resuscitation or inhalation injury. Funding agencies and burn/reconstructive surgery researchers should consider these gaps when they prioritize future research. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Expert consensus, Level IV.