Association Between Mobile Telephone Interruptions and Medication Administration Errors in a Pediatric Intensive Care Unit
Christopher P. Bonafide, Jeffrey M. Miller, A. Russell Localio, Amina Khan, Adam C. Dziorny, Mark Mai, MD, Shannon Stemler, Wanxin Chen, John H. Holmes, Vinay M. Nadkarni, Ron Keren
Abstract [from journal]
Objective: To assess whether a temporal association exists between mobile telephone interruptions and subsequent errors by pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) nurses during medication administration.
Design, Setting, and Participants: A retrospective cohort study was...
Shreya Kangovi Wins Health Equity Award from RWJF and National Civic League
Twelve Penn Researchers Selected for 2020 LDI Pilot Research Grants
Physician Consolidation and the Spread of Accountable Care Organizations
Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs) are groups of physicians and hospitals that jointly contract to care for a patient population. ACO contracts incentivize coordination of care across providers. This can lead to greater consolidation of physician practices, which can in turn generate higher costs and lower quality. Given this, the study asks, as ACOs enter health care markets, do physician practices grow larger?
A National Comparison of Operative Outcomes of New and Experienced Surgeons
In this national study, Medicare beneficiaries treated by new surgeons had poorer outcomes than those treated by experienced ones in the same hospitals. However, the type of operation and the patient’s emergency status – rather than physician inexperience – explains nearly all poorer outcomes. Higher-risk cases are disproportionately treated by new surgeons.
The Association of Geographic Dispersion with Outcomes among Hospitalized Pulmonary Service Patients
The Association of Geographic Dispersion with Outcomes among Hospitalized Pulmonary Service Patients
Rachel Kohn, Michael O. Harhay, Gary E. Weissman, George L. Anesi, Brian Bayes, Hummy Song, Scott D Halpern, S. Ryan Greysen, Meeta Prasad Kerlin
Abstract [from journal]
Hospitals geographically localize clinically similar patients into wards to provide specialized care that improves patient outcomes and care and lowers costs. When these wards exceed capacity, patients become “geographically dispersed” to alternate locations. For example, critically ill patients may “board” in emergency departments (EDs) or alternate intensive care units (ICUs) when the clinically appropriate ICUs are at capacity. Such geographic dispersion has been demonstrated to be associated with increased hospital length of stay (LOS), ICU and in-...
#OldBoysClub: How Academic Twitter May Perpetuate Gender Disparities in Health Services Research
Outside of the brick and mortar walls of academic institutions – and conferences attended by researchers -- there is an invisible conversation happening. Academic Twitter, as it’s affectionately known, is a world unto itself. Yet, it turns out, there are ways in which it bears a striking resemblance to the familiar “old boys’ club.”
Health Care Podcast “Tradeoffs” to Launch at Penn
Welcoming New Senior Fellows to the Leonard Davis Institute
Health Care Safety-Net Programs After The Affordable Care Act
Prior to the Affordable Care Act (ACA), health care safety-net programs were the primary source of care for over 44 million uninsured people. While the ACA cut the number of uninsured substantially, about 30 million people remain uninsured, and many millions more are vulnerable to out-of-pocket costs beyond their resources. The need for the safety net remains, even as the distribution and types of need have shifted. This brief reviews the effects of the ACA on the funding and operation of safety-net institutions. It highlights the challenges and opportunities that health care reform presents to safety-net programs, and how they have adapted and evolved to continue to serve our most vulnerable residents.
Beyond Physicians: Interdisciplinary Teams in Integrated Care
In our recent blog post, we explore barriers to behavioral health care in the United States and discuss an alternate strategy: integrated care. Traditionally, integrated care has entailed behavioral health care delivered by a primary care provider.
Trends in Racial/Ethnic Representation Among US Medical Students
Lanair Amaad Lett, H. Moses Murdock, Whitney U. Orji, Jaya Aysola, Ronnie Sebro
Abstract [from journal]
Importance: With increasing efforts to create a diverse physician workforce that is reflective of the demographic characteristics of the US population, it remains unclear whether progress has been made since 2009, when the Liaison Committee on Medical Education set forth new diversity accreditation guidelines.
Objective: To examine demographic trends of medical school applicants and matriculants relative to the overall age-adjusted US population.
Design, Setting, and Participants:
...Pediatric Resident Experience Caring for Children at the End of Life in a Children's Hospital
Amy Trowbridge, Tara Bamat, Heather Griffis, Eric McConathey, Chris Feudtner, Jennifer K. Walter
Abstract [from journal]
Objectives: Pediatric residents are expected to be competent in end of life (EOL) care. We aimed to quantify pediatric resident exposure to patient deaths, and the context of these exposures.
Methods: Retrospective chart review of all deceased patients at one children's hospital over three years collected patient demographics, time and location of death. Mode of death was determined after chart review. Each death was cross-referenced with pediatric resident call schedules to determine residents involved within
...#Shemergency: Use of a Professional Development Group to Promote Female Resident Recruitment and Retention
Utsha Khatri, Jennifer Love, Amy Zeidan, Cindy Hsu, Angela Mills
Abstract [from journal]
Problem: Gender inequity in academic medicine is a pervasive challenge. Recommendations have been implemented to reduce inequities for female faculty. However, there are no well-established guidelines for the recruitment and retention of female residents.
Approach: To address challenges faced by female physicians and support the recruitment and retention of female residents, female emergency medicine residents and attending