Diabetes management of elective hospital admissions.
OBJECTIVE
At any given time, people with diabetes occupy approximately 10-20% of acute hospital beds. In addition, diabetes is associated with a greater length of stay. Patients undergoing elective procedures occupy approximately 50% of hospital beds. The aim of this 12-month project was to improve the quality of diabetes care for elective inpatients. The primary outcome measure was length of stay.


METHODS
A team was established to improve the quality of care and reduce the length of stay of all patients admitted electively with diabetes. Specific areas of focus were surgical pre-assessment, planning the admission, post-operative care and planning a safe discharge. A retrospective audit of all elective patients with a coded diagnosis of diabetes admitted between June 2008 and June 2009 was performed.


RESULTS
Comparing the year of the project with the preceding year day-case rates for patients with diabetes increased by 34.8% for diabetes vs. 13.7% for the total hospital population (P for difference=0.048). There was a significant fall in diabetes length of stay of 0.34 days comparing 2008 and 2009 (P=0.040). Over the same period, we have shown a smaller reduction in length of stay for all other admissions of 0.08 days (p=0.039).


CONCLUSIONS
A team specifically employed to focus on elective inpatient diabetes care have a significant impact on length of stay of this patient group with potential cost savings.
Department of Endocrinology, Plymouth Diabetes Service, Derriford Hospital, Plymouth. Daniel.flanagan@phnt.swest.nhs.uk
D
D
Flanagan
J
J
Ellis
A
A
Baggott
K
K
Grimsehl
P
P
English
D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000191:economics / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008297:Male; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D010343:Patient Admission / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010348:Patient Care Team / Q000458:organization & administration*; D010351:Patient Discharge / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012189:Retrospective Studies