title: Comparison of a pharmacist-hospitalist collaborative model of inpatient care with multidisciplinary rounds in achieving quality measures.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Results of a study of hospitalization outcomes with the use of a pharmacist-hospitalist collaborative (PHC) model of care as an alternative to multidisciplinary rounds (MDR) are reported.
  
  
  METHODS
  In a retrospective matched-cohort study, data on more than 2000 adults discharged from two medical units of a community teaching hospital were analyzed to compare selected outcomes before and after the units augmented traditional hospitalist care (usual care) with either MDR or a PHC care model emphasizing pharmacist involvement in case review and medication management. The study cohorts were matched for primary diagnosis, severity of illness, and other variables. The outcomes were mean length of stay (LOS) and rates of all-cause readmission during designated preintervention and intervention periods.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Among patients admitted to the unit that implemented the PHC care model, those admitted during the preintervention period had a longer mean LOS than matched intervention-phase patients: 5.5 days (95% confidence interval [CI], 5.0-6.0 days) versus 4.7 days (95% CI, 4.2-5.3 days); p = 0.002. Patients admitted to the MDR unit during the preintervention period also had a significantly longer mean LOS than those in the matched intervention-phase cohort. There were no significant between-group differences in all-cause readmissions.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Systematic implementation of either the PHC or the MDR model of care was associated with a decreased mean hospital LOS relative to LOS values with usual care only. No significant differences in readmissions at 30, 60, and 90 days were attributable to implementation of the PHC or the MDR model.
authors: College of Pharmacy, Florida A&M University, Tallahasee, FL. preseoapc@msn.com.
authors: Arinze Nkemdirim
authors: AN
authors: Okere
authors: Essentia Institute of Rural Health, Essentia Health, Duluth, MN.
authors: Colleen M
authors: CM
authors: Renier
authors: Meijer Pharmacy, Grand Rapids, MI.
authors: Megan
authors: M
authors: Willemstein
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003299:Cooperative Behavior; D005260:Female; D020445:Hospitalists / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006760:Hospitalization; D006784:Hospitals, Teaching / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000592:standards; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010348:Patient Care Team / Q000458:organization & administration*; D010359:Patient Readmission / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010595:Pharmacists / Q000458:organization & administration*; D019984:Quality Indicators, Health Care; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D055815:Young Adult