Effect of subspecialty organization of an academic department of anesthesiology on faculty perceptions of the workplace.
BACKGROUND
Many large academic practices have accepted the notion that subspecialization provides certain benefits-more consistent care, a higher degree of state-of-the-art knowledge, improved teaching, and better working relationships and communication among the subspecialty anesthesia faculty and their surgical and nursing colleagues. But a rigid subspecialty grouping is rarely done in the main body of an academic faculty.


METHODS
To evaluate if subspecialization provides greater satisfaction for an academic general services anesthesia faculty, a survey about work conditions and perceptions was undertaken before and after reorganization of a large academic practice. Scores for each question were on a scale of 1 to 5.


RESULTS
Although there was a sense that excellent expert care was more often delivered after subspecialty reorganization, the overall faculty impression of their workplace was not markedly changed (prereorganization 3.52 +/- .56; postreorganization 3.60 +/- .34 [mean score +/- SD]; p = NS).


CONCLUSIONS
The faculty did not perceive an overall benefit from a move to greater subspecialization in the organization of the anesthesia department, despite the leadership's opinion that the workplace had become much more functional and productive.
Lubarsky
David A
DA
Department of Anesthesiology, University of Miami, Miami, FL, USA.
Reves
J Gerald
JG
D000046:Academic Medical Centers / Q000458:organization & administration*; D000761:Anesthesia Department, Hospital / Q000458:organization & administration*; D000776:Anesthesiology / Q000458:organization & administration; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D003625:Data Collection; D005180:Faculty, Medical; D006801:Humans; D007400:Interprofessional Relations; D008511:Medicine; D013038:Specialization; D017132:Workplace