A Patient Blood Management Program in Prosthetic Joint Arthroplasty Decreases Blood Use and Improves Outcomes.

The objective of this study was to determine if a Patient Blood Management (PBM) program implemented for patients undergoing THA or TKA would result in a decrease in the percentage of patients transfused PRBCs and improve outcomes. Decision support, a key driver for this program, was built into the electronic medical record. This retrospective cohort study included 12,590 patients and demonstrated a 44% decrease in the percentage of patients transfused. This was associated with a significant reduction in complications, 30 day readmissions and HLOS. A PBM program for patients undergoing prosthetic joint arthroplasty for primary and revision total hip and knee arthroplasty results in fewer transfusions and is associated with improved outcomes.

Extreme blood alcohol level is associated with increased resource use in trauma patients.

This study aims to examine resource utilization and outcomes of trauma patients with extremely high blood alcohol concentrations. We hypothesized that higher blood alcohol concentration (BAC) predicts greater resource utilization and poorer outcomes. A retrospective analysis was performed on trauma patients admitted to an urban Level I trauma center over a 5-year period. Admission BAC categories were constructed using standard laboratory norms and legal definitions. Demographic data, premorbid conditions, injury severity scores (ISS), resource utilization (intensive care unit (ICU) admission rates/length of stay, total hospital days, use of consultants), and mortality were analyzed. Positive BAC on admission was associated with increased ISS (P < 0.001), length of stay (P < 0.003), and total ICU days (P < 0.001). Increased BAC admission level of patients was associated with a decreased ISS score (P = 0.0073), a higher probability of ICU admission (P = 0.0013), and an increased percentage of ICU days (P = 0.001). A positive BAC at admission was a significant predictor of both ICU admission and mortality (odds ratios 1.72 and 1.27, respectively). This study demonstrates that a positive BAC is associated with increased ISS, increased resource utilization, and worsened outcomes. Extreme levels of BAC are associated with increased resource utilization despite lower injury severity scores.

A System-Wide Enhanced Recovery Program Focusing on Two Key Process Steps Reduces Complications and Readmissions in Patients Undergoing Bowel Surgery.

Enhanced recovery programs (ERPs) can improve outcomes following bowel surgery, but implementing an ERP across a large healthcare system remains challenging. In this study, a simplified ERP that focused on two process steps, early and frequent ambulation and early alimentation, was evaluated to determine its impact on outcomes. Data were collected on 5,000 adult patients undergoing elective small and large bowel operations over a 3-year period. Complication, readmission, and mortality rates were evaluated before and after ERP implementation. A composite score was calculated based on the successful completion of the two process steps. Following implementation, there was a 35.1% increase in the composite score, which was associated with significant (p < .05) reductions in overall complications, gastrointestinal complications, pulmonary complications, and readmissions. A system-wide ERP focusing on early and frequent ambulation and early alimentation is associated with decreased complications and readmissions in adult patients admitted for elective small or large bowel operations.

The Impact of Documentation Training on Performance Reporting.

With the advent of public reporting of clinical performance for physicians, the need for accurate documentation is essential. This study tested the hypothesis that a short tutorial on five key documentation tips for a group of colorectal surgeons could significantly improve their reported clinical performance. Data was collected on a total of 626 consecutive inpatients before and after the introduction of a short tutorial focusing on five key documentation tips to a group of colorectal surgeons. Quality metrics were compared between the two time periods. Significant improvements were observed for complications (p = 0.001), morbidity (p = 0.046), ileus (p = 0.027), and digestive system complications (p < 0.01). There was no difference in mortality (p = 0.569) or readmissions (p = 0.920). A short tutorial focusing on five key documentation tips is associated with improvement in the reported clinical performance of colorectal surgeons.

Implementing a standardized safe surgery program reduces serious reportable events.

BACKGROUND: Patient safety in the perioperative period is essential for delivery of quality patient care. Mainstream quality organizations have implemented safe surgery recommended practices for ensuring patient safety. Effectively implementing safe surgery practices should result in a reduction in serious reportable event (SRE) rates. STUDY DESIGN: This retrospective cohort study compared results before and after implementation of a standardized safe surgery program across a large health care system. Observational audits were performed to assure adoption of the new process. Serious reportable event rates (retained surgical item, wrong site, wrong patient, and wrong procedure) were tracked. Statistical analyses were performed on the SRE rate and days between SREs. RESULTS: A total of 683,193 cases in the operating room and labor and delivery were evaluated over a 4-year period. The SRE rate before implementation was 0.075/1,000 cases and after implementation was 0.037/1,000 cases. There was a 52% reduction in the SRE rate (p < 0.05). The mean time between SREs increased from 27.4 days to 60.6 days (p < 0.05). Robotic and nonrobotic cases were affected equally; however, a significant difference in SRE rate persisted between robotic and non-robotic cases (p < 0.05). Robotic cases are 7 times more likely to incur an SRE. Audits demonstrated that the compliance rates for the program improved to 96% after complete system implementation. CONCLUSIONS: An effectively implemented standardized safe surgery program results in a significant reduction in SREs. Robotic cases are at high risk for an SRE.

Trauma: the impact of repeat imaging.

BACKGROUND: Patients referred to trauma centers often undergo an extensive diagnostic work-up before transfer. The purpose of our study was to quantify and examine the effects of repeat imaging in this population. METHODS: A prospective cohort study of 410 patient transfers was performed. Repeat imaging was conducted at the discretion of the accepting surgeon for multiple reasons. Two groups were compared, those who did and those who did not require repeat imaging. RESULTS: Overall, 53% of referrals received repeat imaging, at an average cost of $2,985 per patient. This group was older (42 vs 37 y; P < .05), more severely injured (injury severity score, 12 vs 9; P < .05), and experienced longer delays before transfer (244 vs 192 min; P < .05). By using logistic regression analysis, injury severity score was found to be an independent predictor of the need for repeat imaging (P = .003). CONCLUSIONS: Severely injured trauma patients often receive films that ultimately require duplication, resulting in transfer delay, unnecessary morbidity, and increased resource use. Targeted education and development of centralized radiology systems could alleviate some of the burden of unnecessary imaging.