Effects of a medical team coordinator on length of hospital stay.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the effect of a medical team coordinator (MTC) on the length of stay in a teaching hospital.


METHODS
Randomized controlled trial.


METHODS
Two of four general medical clinical teaching units (CTUs).


METHODS
Patients admitted to the CTUs between July and October 1990 except those who were admitted directly to an intensive care unit or whose death was expected within 48 hours. The 267 patients were randomly assigned to receive either standard medical care or standard medical care plus MTC services.


METHODS
The MTC was a baccalaureate nurse whose role was to facilitate administrative tasks such as discharge planning, to coordinate tests and procedures, and to collect and collate patient information.


METHODS
Length of hospital stay. A subgroup of 40 patients was asked to complete a brief survey on medical care information and satisfaction.


RESULTS
The MTC intervention reduced the mean length of stay by 1.97 days (p less than or equal to 0.04, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.02 to 2.92 days). Subanalysis by diagnostic group revealed that most of this effect was in an ill-defined group of disorders. In the survey more patients in the MTC group than in the other group reported being satisfied with their medical care (89% v. 62%; p less than or equal to 0.05, 95% CI 2% to 52%).


CONCLUSIONS
The services of an MTC help to reduce the length of hospital stay for some groups of patients. Further research is necessary to examine which components of the MTC intervention are most effective and in what conditions.
Moher
D
D
University of Ottawa, Clinical Epidemiology Unit, Ont.
Weinberg
A
A
Hanlon
R
R
Runnalls
K
K
D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D009720:Nurse Clinicians; D009864:Ontario; D010348:Patient Care Team / Q000458:organization & administration*; D010359:Patient Readmission / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D017060:Patient Satisfaction / Q000706:statistics & numerical data