title: The effects of multidisciplinary team care for acute spinal cord injury patients.
abstract: The care of 169 survivors of spinal injury receiving acute treatment at the Hamilton General Hospital in Ontario, Canada, was studied. This paper compares treatment of groups of patients before and after formation of a multidisciplinary Acute Spinal Cord Injury Team. The establishment of multidisciplinary team care for acute spinal cord injury patients in our tertiary referral center correlates with clinically and statistically significant reductions in length of stay in the acute care hospital, alterations in the rate of surgical treatment for them, changes in the use of radiological resources, and reduction in the average number of days febrile. The team also brought stronger representation of allied health professionals to the hospital records of acute spinal cord injury patients. These important changes result from implementation of an effective multidisciplinary medical team without the addition of new funds, personnel, or hospital facilities and without alteration in referral patterns. Our team did not reduce mortality, duration of intensive care unit stay, or work for physicians.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: J D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Wells
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nicosia
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D003142:Communication; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005260:Female; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D007362:Intensive Care Units; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010348:Patient Care Team; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000628:therapy*