ArticleFrontline gastroenterology2012
Daily consultant gastroenterologist ward rounds: reduced length of stay and improved inpatient mortality.
Article in Frontline gastroenterology, 2012. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 5 papers.
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
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Who cites it
5 citing papers in PubMed.
- Article
- Impact of restructuring an inpatient pediatric service on length of stay and patient flow.Saudi medical journal · 2023Article
- General medicine consultant of the week model shortens hospital length of stay and improves the patient journey.Future healthcare journal · 2020Article
- Alcohol care teams: where are we now?Frontline gastroenterology · 2020Review
- Introducing an annualised contract for a consultant team in a district general hospital.Clinical medicine (London, England) · 2013Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
9 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundFor gastroenterology, The Royal College of Physicians reiterates the common practice of two to three consultant ward rounds per week. The Royal Bolton Hospital NHS Foundation Trust operated a 26-bed gastroenterology ward, covered by two consultants at any one time. A traditional system of two ward rounds per consultant per week operated, but as is commonplace, discharges peaked on ward round days.
objectiveTo determine whether daily consultant ward rounds would improve patient care, shorten length of stay and reduce inpatient mortality.
methodsA new way of working was implemented in December 2009 with a single consultant taking responsibility for all ward inpatients. Freed from all other direct clinical care commitments for their 2 weeks of ward cover, they conducted ward rounds each morning. A multidisciplinary team (MDT) meeting followed immediately. The afternoon was allocated to gastroenterology referrals and reviewing patients on the medical admissions unit.
resultsThe changes had an immediate and dramatic effect on average length of stay, which was reduced from 11.5 to 8.9 days. The number of patients treated over 12 months increased by 37% from 739 to 1010. Moreover, the number of deaths decreased from 88 to 62, a reduction in percentage mortality from 11.2% to 6%. However, these major quality outcomes involved a reduction in consultant-delivered outpatient and endoscopy activity.
conclusionThis new method of working has both advantages and disadvantages. However, it has had a major impact on inpatient care and provides a compelling case for consultant gastroenterology expansion in the UK.
Identifiers
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Registered trials
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