ArticleFuture healthcare journal2020
General medicine consultant of the week model shortens hospital length of stay and improves the patient journey.
Article in Future healthcare journal, 2020. 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, 7 citations in OpenAlex.
- Identifying innovative models of urgent care in rural coastal areas in England: the Elevate study - a mixed-methods protocol.BMJ open · 2026Article
- Future Hospital Commission - 10 years on. What's changed, what's new and what's next?Future healthcare journal · 2024Article
- Impact of restructuring an inpatient pediatric service on length of stay and patient flow.Saudi medical journal · 2023Article
- Possible futures of acute medical care in the NHS: a multispecialty approach.Future healthcare journal · 2022Article
- The digital transformation - all good?Future healthcare journal · 2020Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
6 authors at 1 institution in 1 country.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND
aimsThe consultant of the week (COW) model of inpatient care means the consultants' primary focus is to deliver ward-based care daily. At Sandwell and West Birmingham Hospitals NHS Trust, a COW model has been successfully used for cardiology and stroke services. This has improved continuity of care and developed a 7-day working week. Our aim was to extend this model to all general medical consultants who manage inpatients.
methodsWe introduced the COW model to the unselected general medical take. Restructuring of consultant job plans allowed daily ward presence, 5 days per week. Outcome measures included length of stay (LOS) and accuracy of expected date of discharge (EDD).
resultsLOS over a 12-month period improved from an average of 9.17 days to 6.61 days. The number of EDD changes reduced, from a previous average of 3.0 changes to 1.8 changes. Consultant feedback showed there was an improvement in collaboration between teams, improved training of junior doctors and higher job satisfaction.
conclusionsImproved 5-day consultant presence is associated with reduced LOS. Learning points included the delay in implementation due to the complexity of consultant job planning. We plan to extend COW to 7-days for all general medical wards.
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Registered trials
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