title: Is There a "July Effect" for Inpatient Glycemic Control?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The period of resident turnover in teaching hospitals has been believed by some to lead to worsening of health outcomes or the so-called "July Effect". We sought to study glycemic control in patients admitted to medical floors looking for any adverse outcomes related to a"July effect".
  
  
  METHODS
  This is a single-center retrospective cohort study comparing inpatient glycemic control at the start and end of a single academic year (July 2009 to June 2010). A total of 100 inpatients with a diagnosis of diabetes mellitus were included in the first group (Group 1: July to September 2009) and 118 in the second group (Group 2: April to June 2010). Four capillary blood glucose measurements per day from Day 2 to Day 6 of hospitalization, as well as clinical data pertinent to glycemic management were collected.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Data analysis showed no significant difference in the overall inpatient glycemic control between the two groups. Mean glucose for Group 1 was 168.67 mg/dL and 168.59 mg/dl for Group 2. 67% of patients in Group 1 and 72.9% in Group 2 were within blood glucose range of 70 - 179 mg/dl, 32% of patients in Group 1 and 52% of patients in Group 2 were within the range of 140 - 179 mg/dL. Hypoglycemia occurred in 17% and 18.6% of patients for Group 1 and 2 respectively. No difference in diabetes treatment ordering practices of residents was detected.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study did not show any evidence to support the "July Effect" on overall inpatient glycemic control.
authors.affiliation: 1 Saint Vincent Charity Medical Center, Cleveland, OH 44115.
authors.forename: Kristine
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Nicolas
authors.forename: Sabrina
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Raroque
authors.forename: Douglas
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Rowland
authors.forename: Joumana
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Chaiban