Improving team structure and communication: a key to hospital efficiency.
OBJECTIVE
Improving team structure and heightening communication will help provide cost-effective and high-quality patient care for general surgery patients.


METHODS
This study surveys teamwork initiatives and their effects on specific variables related to patient care.


METHODS
The study population comprised all patients admitted to the hospital's general surgery teams during 5 years 3 months.


METHODS
Tertiary care hospital.


METHODS
A complete restructuring of the patient care team for general surgery patients admitted to the hospital. The intervention occurred midway through the study period.


METHODS
Mean length of stay for general surgery patients as a marker of team efficiency and a standardized patient satisfaction survey.


RESULTS
The mean length of stay after initiation of the restructured care team was significantly shorter than before initiation. The significance was present despite a consistent patient acuity measure and was associated with a high patient satisfaction level.


CONCLUSIONS
Restructuring the patient care team yielded a decreased mean length of stay while maintaining a high level of patient satisfaction. This analysis helps validate a hospital-wide initiative to maintain a high level of patient care while increasing patient volume.
Friedman
David M
DM
Department of Surgery and Clinical Performance Management Team, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston 02114, USA.
Berger
David L
DL
D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis / Q000458:organization & administration; D017598:Efficiency, Organizational; D013502:General Surgery / Q000191:economics / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006761:Hospitals; D006801:Humans; D033183:Interdisciplinary Communication; D007902:Length of Stay / Q000191:economics; D005791:Patient Care / Q000191:economics / Q000379:methods; D010348:Patient Care Team / Q000191:economics / Q000458:organization & administration*; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011787:Quality of Health Care / Q000191:economics / Q000458:organization & administration*; D014481:United States