Replacing an academic internal medicine residency program with a physician assistant--hospitalist model: a comparative analysis study.
This study describes a comparative analysis of replacing medical residents with physician assistants and hospitalists on patient outcomes in a community hospital. Prospective data during the physician assistants-hospitalists service for 2 years was compared with 2 years of retrospective data of the medical residents model. Outcome measures included mortality, adverse events, readmissions, and patient satisfaction. For physician assistants- hospitalists versus medical residents models, all-cause and case mix index-adjusted mortality was 107/5508 (1.94%) and 0.019 versus 156/5458 (2.85%) and 0.029, respectively (P < or = .001). The adverse event cases were 9 versus 5 ( P = .29), and the readmission rate within 30 days was 64 versus 69 (P = .34). Patient satisfaction was 95% versus 96% (P = .33). Quality of care provided by the physician assistants-hospitalists model was equivalent. All-cause and case mix index- adjusted mortality was significantly lower during the physician assistants-hospitalists period.Although the application of these findings to other institutions requires further study, the authors found no intrinsic barriers that would impede implementation elsewhere.
Dhuper
Sunil
S
Coney Island Hospital, Brooklyn, New York, USA. dhuper@yahoo.com
Choksi
Sonia
S
D017052:Hospital Mortality; D020445:Hospitalists / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006764:Hospitals, Community / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D007388:Internal Medicine / Q000458:organization & administration*; D007396:Internship and Residency / Q000458:organization & administration*; D010359:Patient Readmission / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D017060:Patient Satisfaction / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010823:Physician Assistants / Q000458:organization & administration*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome