Scaling up quality in an anesthesia practice.

The resources necessary to improve anesthesia quality and meet reimbursement and regulatory thresholds are scarce, particularly for smaller practices. We examined how small practice integration into a firm with greater resources can facilitate improvements. A mixed-methods analysis was conducted using the data from the US Anesthesia Partners data warehouse, Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS), commercial insurers' surgery length of stay (LOS) databases, anesthesia-specific patient satisfaction surveys, and interviews with practice leadership before and after integration. All integrated practices improved their quality improvement infrastructure and achieved higher MIPS scores, with increased clinician and leadership satisfaction. Patient satisfaction exceeded national benchmarks in all groups, based on 398 392 returned surveys in 2021. Hospital LOS for common operations was shorter, based on a statewide database. This case study demonstrates that partnership with an organization with greater resources can advance anesthesia quality.

Guidance for Health Care Leaders During the Recovery Stage of the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Consensus Statement.

Importance: The COVID-19 pandemic is the greatest global test of health leadership of our generation. There is an urgent need to provide guidance for leaders at all levels during the unprecedented preresolution recovery stage. Objective: To create an evidence- and expertise-informed framework of leadership imperatives to serve as a resource to guide health and public health leaders during the postemergency stage of the pandemic. Evidence Review: A literature search in PubMed, MEDLINE, and Embase revealed 10 910 articles published between 2000 and 2021 that included the terms leadership and variations of emergency, crisis, disaster, pandemic, COVID-19, or public health. Using the Standards for Quality Improvement Reporting Excellence reporting guideline for consensus statement development, this assessment adopted a 6-round modified Delphi approach involving 32 expert coauthors from 17 countries who participated in creating and validating a framework outlining essential leadership imperatives. Findings: The 10 imperatives in the framework are: (1) acknowledge staff and celebrate successes; (2) provide support for staff well-being; (3) develop a clear understanding of the current local and global context, along with informed projections; (4) prepare for future emergencies (personnel, resources, protocols, contingency plans, coalitions, and training); (5) reassess priorities explicitly and regularly and provide purpose, meaning, and direction; (6) maximize team, organizational, and system performance and discuss enhancements; (7) manage the backlog of paused services and consider improvements while avoiding burnout and moral distress; (8) sustain learning, innovations, and collaborations, and imagine future possibilities; (9) provide regular communication and engender trust; and (10) in consultation with public health and fellow leaders, provide safety information and recommendations to government, other organizations, staff, and the community to improve equitable and integrated care and emergency preparedness systemwide. Conclusions and Relevance: Leaders who most effectively implement these imperatives are ideally positioned to address urgent needs and inequalities in health systems and to cocreate with their organizations a future that best serves stakeholders and communities.

Angioembolization reduces operative intervention for blunt splenic injury.

BACKGROUND: Nonoperative management for blunt splenic injury (BSI) has become gold standard, but the role of angiographic embolization (AE) is still controversial for bleeding. We postulated that splenic AE for BSI would have superior outcomes compared with operation and increase our splenic salvage rate. METHODS: This was a retrospective study of all adult trauma patients admitted to our Level I center from 2000 through 2006. Multivariate analysis adjusting for age, Injury Severity Score, and Glasgow Coma Scale score was performed. Only patients who had a computed tomographic (CT) scan before surgery (CT + OR) were compared with those who had CT scans then AE. RESULTS: Eighty-seven of 317 patients required initial intervention for their BSI, for a no intervention rate (no OR or AE) of 73% and a nonoperative rate of 89%. The groups had similar Injury Severity Score, mortality, and lengths of stay. The AE group was older (p < 0.01), had higher spleen Abbreviated Injury Score (p = 0.02), and required significantly fewer packed RBC transfusions, p < 0.01. The overall hospitalization costs were not different, but the number of intraabdominal complications was higher for the CT + OR group (36% vs. 6%, p < 0.01). Pneumonia, thromboembolic events, and pleural effusions were equivalent. There were no deaths from splenic hemorrhage. CONCLUSION: Despite recent concerns that AE may be overutilized for BSI, this study showed a lower incidence of abdominal complications and blood utilization in the AE group despite an older age and higher splenic Abbreviated Injury Score. Use of AE decreased operative intervention by 16%.

Detecting the blind spot: complications in the trauma registry and trauma quality improvement.

BACKGROUND: The National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (NSQIP) has reduced complications for surgery patients in the Department of Veterans Affairs Healthcare System. The American College of Surgeons Committee on Trauma maintains the National Trauma Data Bank (NTDB) to track injured patient comorbidities, complications, and mortality. We sought to apply the NSQIP methodology to collect comorbidity and outcome data for trauma patients. Data were compared to the NTDB to determine the benefit and validity of using the NSQIP methodology for trauma. STUDY DESIGN: Utilizing the NSQIP methodology, data were collected from August 1, 2004 to July 31, 2005 on all adult patients admitted to the trauma service at a level 1 trauma center. NSQIP data were collected for general surgery patients during the same time period from the same institution. Data were also extracted from v5.0 of the NTDB for patients >or=18 years old admitted to level 1 trauma centers. Comparisons between University of Michigan (UM) NSQIP Trauma and UM NSQIP General Surgery patients and between UM NSQIP Trauma and NTDB (2004) patients were performed using univariate and multivariate analysis. RESULTS: Before risk adjustment, there was a difference in mortality between the UM NSQIP Trauma and NTDB (2004) groups with univariate analysis (8.4% vs 5.7%; odds ratio [OR], 0.7; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.5-0.9; P = .01). This survival advantage reversed to favor the UM NSQIP Trauma patient group when risk adjustment was performed (OR, 2.3; 95% CI, 1.6-3.4; P < .001). The UM NSQIP Trauma group had more complications than the UM NSQIP general surgery patients. Despite having a lower risk-adjusted rate of mortality, the UM NSQIP Trauma patients had significantly higher rates of complications (wound infection, wound disruption, pneumonia, urinary tract infection, deep vein thrombosis, and sepsis) than the NTDB (2004) patients in both univariate and multivariate analyses. CONCLUSION: Complications occurred more frequently in trauma patients than general surgery patients. The UM NSQIP Trauma patients had higher rates of complications than reported in the NTDB. The NTDB data potentially underreport important comorbidity and outcome data. Application of the NSQIP methodology to trauma may present an improved means of effectively tracking and reducing adverse outcomes in a risk-adjusted manner.

Broken bodies, broken hearts? Limitations of the trauma system as a model for regionalizing care for ST-elevation myocardial infarction in the United States.

Many cardiovascular experts have called for the creation of specialized myocardial infarction centers and networks in the United States analogous to the current model for major trauma. Patients suffering ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) and trauma share an essential feature that makes the argument for regionalization persuasive: rapid triage and treatment by highly trained personnel improve survival in both conditions. Despite this similarity, however, the trauma system may be limited as a model for regionalizing STEMI care. First, the development of trauma systems has been hindered by the struggle for sufficient and stable funding, competing interests among individual stakeholders, and the overall lack of desire for state-sponsored healthcare planning in the United States. These same obstacles would need to be overcome if STEMI care is regionalized. Second, unique characteristics related to STEMI care, such as its varied clinical presentation and more lucrative reimbursement, will create new challenges. In this article, we briefly review the current status of trauma systems in the United States and describe why the regionalization of STEMI care may require different methods of healthcare organization.

Use of computerized ICU documentation to capture ICU core measures.

BACKGROUND: Intensive care unit (ICU) core measures that target the prevention of catheter-related bloodstream infections (CRBSIs) and ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) in ventilated ICU patients are underway across the United States. Implementation often requires additional personnel to educate providers and collect the data. We hypothesized that use of our current computerized ICU flowsheet could provide timely, accurate data on ICU core measures without additional personnel dedicated to data capture. METHODS: In a 10-bed, closed surgical ICU with existing protocols for deep vein thrombosis (DVT) prophylaxis, stress ulcer bleeding prophylaxis (SUP), ventilator weaning parameters, and glucose control, we created a reporting tool that would document daily weaning parameters, head of bed (HOB) at 30 degrees , glucose levels, DVT prophylaxis, and SUP. Our glucose protocol targeted <150 mg/dL, with all daily glucose values reported rather than just the morning value. The results from the previous 12 am to 11:59 pm were available to the rounding team at 7 am. We examined compliance at the start and after education of medical staff (March/April for HOB up, DVT, and SUP; May/June for glucose control). RESULTS: During 2005, compliance with all protocols improved. Percent compliance for DVT prophylaxis, SUP, and HOB up rose from as low as 32% at the start of the documentation process to consistently higher than the target level of 95%. Compliance for glucose control increased after intensive education of nursing and physicians with the mean glucose falling from 144 to 122 mg/dL. There was increased nursing workload for checking glucose levels in which the mean number of glucose checks rose from a low of 1.5 per patient to as high as 8.2 per patient per day. CRBSI and VAP rates did not decrease during this period compared with the prior year. Length of stay and mortality were unchanged. CONCLUSIONS: Reporting of ICU core measures to treating staff can be done accurately and promptly with a computerized system. Education was effective in improving compliance levels. No additional personnel were required to create reports, capture data, or improve compliance after initial development and testing. Although compliance with core measures met target levels at the end of the year, we did not observe improved outcomes in terms of CRBSI, VAP, mortality, or length of stay.

Medical liability-the crisis, the reality, and the data: the University of Michigan story.

BACKGROUND: This study describes, quantifies, and evaluates the University of Michigan Department of Surgery medical malpractice experience for the 1992 to 2002 period. The goal is to gain an understanding of what our claims experience has been, what services are highest risk, and where the financial exposure lies. STUDY DESIGN: The study analyzed 308 medical malpractice cases within the Department of Surgery from 1992 through 2002. RESULTS: There were 263 cases involving a single surgical service (defendant-only) and 70 shared cases involving multiple services. One hundred forty-four cases (47%) were settled with no payment to the plaintiff. Settlements for all cases totaled Dollars 38,718,254. The per-case expense (not including legal fees) was Dollars 125,708. Legal expenses for all cases totaled Dollars 5,356,588, averaging Dollars 17,391 per case. CONCLUSIONS: Understanding and sharing institutional data on medical malpractice is critical to developing effective strategies for managing malpractice risk. Although many institutions treat these data as proprietary and confidential, communication of this information generates a better understanding of the opportunities that are available for development and implementation of appropriate risk-management tools.

Endovascular abdominal aortic aneurysm repair is more profitable than open repair based on contribution margin per day.

BACKGROUND: Earlier studies have reported that endovascular abdominal aortic aneurysm (EAAA) repair yields lower total profit margins than open AAA (OAAA) repair. This study compared EAAA versus OAAA based on contribution margin per day, which may better measure profitability of new clinical technologies. Contribution margin equals revenue less variable direct costs (VDCs). VDCs capture incremental resources tied directly to individual patients' activity (eg, invoice price of endograft device, nursing labor). Overhead costs factor into total margin, but not contribution margin. METHODS: The University of Michigan Health System's cost accounting system was used to extract fiscal year 2002-2003 information on revenue, total margin, contribution margin, and duration of stay for Medicare patients with principal diagnosis of AAA (ICD-9 code 441.4). RESULTS: OAAA had revenues of $37,137 per case versus $28,960 for EAAA, similar VDCs per case, and thus higher contribution margin per case ($24,404 for OAAA vs $13,911 for EAAA, P < .001). However, OAAA had significantly longer mean duration of stay per case (10.2 days vs 2.2 days, P < .001). Therefore, mean contribution margin per day was $2948 for OAAA, but $8569 for EAAA ( P < .001). CONCLUSIONS: On the basis of contribution margin per day, EAAA repair dominates OAAA repair. The shorter duration of stay with EAAA allows higher throughput, fuller overhead amortization, better use of scarce inpatient beds, and higher health system profits. Surgeons must understand overhead allocation to devices, especially when new technologies cut duration of stay markedly.

Perioperative issues: myocardial ischemia and protection--beta-blockade.

Approximately one third of patients undergoing noncardiac surgery have coronary artery disease, and cardiovascular complications are an important cause of perioperative morbidity and mortality. Several algorithms are available to assess the risk for peri-operative cardiac events. Although preoperative risk assessment is useful in identifying patients at greatest risk for cardiac complications, recent investigations have provided additional guidance in choosing interventions to improve perioperative outcomes. These investigations show that perioperative beta-blockers significantly reduce morbidity and mortality in noncardiac surgery and appear to offer the greatest benefit to high-risk patients. Because of the lower complication rate in intermediate- and low-risk patients and the absence of large randomized controlled trials, the role of beta-blockers in this population is less well-defined.

The added cost of urgent cholecystectomy to health systems.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study is to assess the cost and reimbursement differential between elective and urgent laparoscopic cholecystectomy. STUDY DESIGN: All visits for laparoscopic cholecystectomy (ICD-9 Code 51.23) to the University of Michigan Health System were reviewed for 1997 to 2001 (n = 752). Data were obtained from the University of Michigan Data Warehouse. Patients were grouped into urgent and elective cases, and further subgrouped into complicated and uncomplicated cases based on Diagnostic Related Group (DRG) coding. RESULTS: Total costs were determined for 13 distinct facility cost centers with average costs greater than $10 per case. Reimbursement was also assessed. Total costs were approximately 90% higher in urgent cases. The largest contributors to increased costs were nursing care and pharmacy costs. The emergent group experienced a pre-operative delay to surgery of 1.8 days. Reimbursement was similar for both elective and urgent patients when stratified by complicated and uncomplicated DRGs. CONCLUSIONS: The urgency of the operation significantly elevates the costs and resource consumption associated with laparoscopic cholecystectomy. These cost differences should also be recognized when setting reimbursement premiums under risk-bearing systems, such as Medicare Diagnosis Related Group reimbursement. Consideration for including urgent operation as a comorbidity should be assessed.

Hospital costs associated with surgical complications: a report from the private-sector National Surgical Quality Improvement Program.

BACKGROUND: The National Surgical Quality Improvement Project (NSQIP) has reduced morbidity rates in Veterans Affairs Hospitals. As the NSQIP methods move to private-sector hospitals, funding responsibilities will shift to the medical center. The objective of the current study was to calculate hospital costs associated with postoperative complications, because reducing morbidity may offset the costs of using the NSQIP. STUDY DESIGN: Patient data were obtained from a single private-sector center involved in the NSQIP from 2001 to 2002 (n=1,008). Cost data were derived from the hospital's internal cost-accounting database (TSI; Transitions Systems Inc). Total hospital costs associated with both minor complications and major complications were calculated. Multiple linear regression was used to determine the cost of each type of complication after adjusting for patient characteristics. RESULTS: Rates of minor complications (6.3%, 64 events) and major complications (6.6%, 67 events) were similar. Median hospital costs were lowest for patients without complications (4,487 dollars) compared with those with minor (14,094 dollars) and major complications (28,356 dollars) (p<0.001). After adjusting for differences in patient characteristics, major complications were associated with an increase of 11,626 dollars (95% CI, 9,419 dollars to 13,832 dollars; p<0.001). Minor complications were not associated with increased costs in the adjusted analysis. CONCLUSIONS: Given the substantial costs associated with major postoperative complications, reducing morbidity may provide sufficient cost savings to offset the resources needed to participate in the private-sector expansion of the NSQIP.

The cost of trauma center readiness.

BACKGROUND: Trauma centers and the services they provide are a unique and necessary component of our health system. By design trauma centers treat all injured patients regardless of their clinical or economic needs. The purpose of this study was to quantify the costs associated with the preparation of the capacity to provide trauma care at trauma centers within the State of Florida. METHODS: Utilizing a survey tool and multiple retreats, we assessed the capability of 20 verified trauma centers throughout the State of Florida. The survey focused on general attributes of each hospital, the costs associated with physician on call coverage, costs associated with verification, and lastly the costs associated with administration, outreach, and prevention. RESULTS: Data were acquired from 10 trauma centers. Ninety percent of the respondents pay on-call coverage. The median annual physician compensation for on-call coverage was approximately 2.1 million US dollars. The total medial cost of readiness for each trauma center approximated 2.7 million US dollars annually. CONCLUSIONS: Trauma centers like fire departments and police services are required to be available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. This level of commitment by trauma centers and the reciprocal expectation from the community force trauma centers to make considerable investments in readiness. This cost of readiness is expended regardless of the patient volume or insurance status. Thus trauma centers have a large component of costs that are not captured by the traditional billing and cost accounting mechanisms within health systems and this fixed expense is extraordinarily difficult to recover given the current reimbursement environment.

Web-based curriculum improves residents' knowledge of health care business.

BACKGROUND: Curricular options for teaching and evaluating surgery residents' outcomes in systems-based practice are limited. A Web-based curriculum, MDContent, developed collaboratively by experts in business and surgery, provides learning experiences in the business of health care. The purpose of this study is to describe surgery residents' experience and learning outcomes associated with the curriculum. STUDY DESIGN: Twenty-eight PGY3 to 6 general and plastic surgery residents were enrolled in the Web-based curriculum. Twenty-two residents (79%) completed the pretest, 11 modules, the post-test, and the course evaluation by the end of 1 year. The pretest and the post-test were 30-item multiple-choice exams based on a blueprint of the curricular objectives. Descriptive statistics were calculated on course evaluation and module completion data. Paired t-tests were used to compare pre- and post-test performance. Content analysis was performed on course evaluation written responses. RESULTS: Residents' performance on the multiple choice exam improved significantly (p = 0.0001) from the pre-test (mean 59%, SD 12.1) to the post-test (mean 78%, SD 9.4), with an average gain of 19 percentage points. Participants rated their Web-based learning experience as very positive, with a majority of residents agreeing that the content was well organized, relevant, and an excellent learning experience around content not taught elsewhere in medical school or residency. CONCLUSIONS: Participation in a Web-based curriculum on health care business improves surgery residents' knowledge about health care business concepts and principles. Residents with varying levels of interest in health care business provide positive ratings about their learning experience and indications that lessons learned would be applied in their clinical practice. MDContent is a feasible and effective method for teaching and assessing systems-based practice concepts.

Real money: complications and hospital costs in trauma patients.

BACKGROUND: Major postoperative complications are associated with a substantial increase in hospital costs. Trauma patients are known to have a higher rate of complications than the general surgery population. We used the National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (NSQIP) methodology to evaluate hospital costs, duration of stay, and payment associated with complications in trauma patients. METHODS: Using NSQIP principles, patient data were collected for 512 adult patients admitted to the trauma service for > 24 hours at a Level 1 trauma center (2004-2005). Patients were placed in 1 of 3 groups: no complications (none), >or=1 minor complication (minor, eg, urinary tract infection), or >or=1 major complication (major, eg, pneumonia). Total hospital charges, costs, payment, and duration of stay associated with each complication group were determined from a cost-accounting database. Multiple regression was used to determine the costs of each type of complication after adjusting for differences in age, sex, new injury severity score, Glasgow coma scale score, maximum head abbreviated injury scale, and first emergency department systolic blood pressure. RESULTS: A total of 330 (64%) patients had no complications, 53 (10%) had >or= 1 minor complication, and 129 (25%) had >or= 1 major complication. Median hospital charges increased from $33,833 (none) to $81,936 (minor) and $150,885 (major). The mean contribution to margin per day was similar for the no complication and minor complication groups ($994 vs $1,115, P = .7). Despite higher costs, the patients in the major complication group generated a higher mean contribution to margin per day compared to the no complication group ($2,168, P < .001). The attributable increase in median total hospital costs when adjusted for confounding variables was $19,915 for the minor complication group (P < .001), and $40,555 for the major complication group (P < .001). CONCLUSION: Understanding the costs associated with traumatic injury provides a window for assessing the potential cost reductions associated with improved quality care. To optimize system benefits, payers and providers should develop integrated reimbursement methodologies that align incentives to provide quality care.

Financial impact of hand surgery programs on academic medical centers.

BACKGROUND: This study analyzes the financial performance of hand surgery in the Department of Surgery at the University of Michigan. This analysis can serve as a reference for other medical centers in the financial evaluation of a hand surgery program. METHODS: Fiscal year 2004 billing records for all patients (n = 671) who underwent hand surgery procedures were examined. The financial data were separated into professional revenues and costs (relating to the hand surgery program in the Section of Plastic Surgery) and into facility revenues and costs (relating to the overall University of Michigan Health System). Professional net revenue was calculated by applying historical collection rates to procedural and clinic charges. Facility revenue was calculated by applying historical collection rates to the following charge categories: inpatient/operating room, clinic facility, neurology/electromyography, radiology facilities, and occupational therapy. Total professional costs were calculated by adding direct costs and allocated overhead costs. Facility costs were obtained from the hospital's cost accounting system. Professional and facility incomes were calculated by subtracting costs from revenues. RESULTS: The net professional revenue and total costs were 1,069,836 and 1,027,421 dollars, respectively. Professional operating income was 42,415 dollars, or 3.96 percent of net professional revenue. Net facility revenue and total costs were 5,500,606 and 4,592,534 dollars, respectively. Facility operating income was 908,071 dollars, or 16.51 percent of net facility revenues. CONCLUSIONS: While contributing to the academic mission of the institution, hand surgery is financially rewarding for the Department of Surgery. In addition, hand surgery activity contributes substantially to the financial well-being of the academic medical center.

Trauma center downstream revenue: the impact of incremental patients within a health system.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study is to assess the downstream clinical and financial impact of a trauma, burn, and emergency surgery service at an academic Level I trauma center. METHODS: All patients admitted to the trauma, burn, and emergency surgery service from fiscal years 2002 to 2004 were identified. Clinical and financial data including inpatient and outpatient activity were analyzed for 365 days (downstream) after initial service admission. Data were divided into total service, trauma and burn, inpatient, outpatient, hospital, and professional revenue. RESULTS: In all, 3,679 patients were admitted during the study period with total initial revenue approaching $103 million. Of these, 1,566 patients were subsequently admitted for downstream inpatient activity, resulting in almost $26 million in subsequent inpatient revenue. The initial patient admissions resulted in over 17,000 clinic visits during the course of the 3 study years. Professional revenue resulted in over $14 million for the initial admission and $6.1 million in downstream revenue during the study period. CONCLUSIONS: Trauma, burn, and emergency surgical services result in both substantial initial and downstream revenue for the hospital (inpatient and outpatient) and professional components. Services committed to caring for the injured and emergent patients substantially contribute to the institutional financial strength.

Hospital volume outcome and discharge disposition of burn patients.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this investigation was to determine the impact of hospital clinical volume on patient outcomes (i.e., in-hospital mortality, length of stay) and discharge disposition of burn patients using a large nationally representative database. METHODS: Patient data were obtained from the 1999-2001 National Inpatient Sample using burn diagnosis-related group codes 504 through 511. Hospitals were segregated into high-volume hospitals (treating more than 100 patients per year), medium-volume hospitals (treating 20 to 99 patients per year), and low-volume hospitals (treating fewer than 20 patients per year). Mortality, length of stay, and discharge disposition were catalogued for each diagnosis-related group code and hospital type. RESULTS: In diagnosis-related group pair 504/505 (most severe), the mortality rate in patients admitted to high-volume hospitals (33.5 percent) was significantly higher than in patients admitted to both medium-volume hospitals (28.8 percent) and low-volume hospitals (11.5 percent) (p = 0.002). Within lower severity diagnosis-related groups, where the mortality rate was lower across all admissions, medium-volume hospitals and high-volume hospitals had a higher proportion of routine discharges to home, a lower need for home care, and a lower proportion of transfers compared with low-volume hospitals. Despite shorter length of stay, across most burn diagnosis-related groups, patients admitted to low-volume hospitals had lower rates of routine discharges and a higher proportion of admissions "with complications." CONCLUSION: Higher-volume facilities, despite receiving the most severe burn patients, may provide better patient outcomes than lower-volume facilities. The patterns of discharges found at lower-volume facilities may result in higher diagnosis-related group reimbursement "capture" by lower-volume facilities and higher postdischarge resource use.

Health care as a fixed-cost industry: implications for delivery.

Most health-care costs are fixed and sunk. Fixed costs do not vary with the level of patient activity, and once sunk they cannot be easily reversed. We must rethink how we manage the expensive investments in our health care infrastructure, which is where most costs lie. The conventional approaches to rationing care have failed. Physicians have been told to lower the cost of care by rationing resources. This rationing includes reducing the length of patients' hospital stays but this does not work as intended. A new paradigm advocates making more and better use of existing assets and by pursuing improvements incrementally and at the bedside. Elements include flexing intensive care unit beds, improving operating room efficiencies, and rationalizing health care capacity.

Referral patterns and severity distribution of burn care: implications for burn centers and surgical training.

The purpose of this investigation was to examine burn-patient referral patterns and severity of burn distribution, as well as to determine the impact these patterns may have on the education of surgeons in training. Data from the 1998-1999 National Inpatient Sample (NIS) and the Michigan Hospital Association (MHA) were analyzed based upon burn diagnostic-related groups (DRGs; 504-511) and their referral distribution was documented. Providers were segregated into high-volume hospitals (HVHs) treating >100 patients per year, moderate-volume hospitals treating 25 to 99 patients per year, and low-volume hospitals (LVHs) treating <25 patients per year. Surgical training programs were identified within the state of Michigan and examined for an educational affiliation with a burn center. Across the United States, 47.5% of burn patients receive care at HVHs. Patients with the highest severity (ie, DRGs 504 and 505) were usually (77%) treated in HVHs. Within the state of Michigan, 4 HVHs were identified, which represent 50.8% of the total burn admissions. At least 1 HVH received over 80% of its admissions from adjacent or distant counties and subsequently represented a higher proportion of higher-severity burn DRG admissions. Twenty-three percent of general surgical programs within the state of Michigan do not have a formal burn rotation or affiliation with a regional burn center for educational training. Several programs have affiliations with low-volume burn providers. The most severe burns are reaching high-volume centers, but many burns continue to remain within LVHs. A wide variation in patient distribution occurs throughout the United States. Matching the patient and resident distribution is essential for effective training of surgical residents.