Search

Objective: To explore differences in costs and lengths of stay for cancer patients admitted to National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Centers, nondesignated academic medical centers, and community hospitals in New York State., Data Sources: We use patient-level data from the New York State Statewide Planning and Research Cooperative System Hospital Inpatient Discharges dataset for the years 2017-2019., Study Design: We employ ordinary least squares and Poisson regressions to compare hospital costs and length of stay for cancer patients, controlling for hospital type, patient demographics, and patient health. Our key outcomes are differences in costs and lengths of stay., Data Collection: We use data on patient demographics, total treatment costs, and lengths of stay for patients discharged from New York hospitals with cancer-related diagnoses between 2017 and 2019., Principal Findings: We determine that inpatient costs were 27% higher (95% CI 0.252, 0.285), but length of stay was 12% shorter (95% CI -0.131, -0.100), in Comprehensive Cancer Centers relative to community hospitals., Conclusions: The results imply that, in New York State, Comprehensive Cancer Centers are a magnet for more complex oncology cases and administer more expensive treatments. That expertise, however, seems to be responsible for more efficient care delivery and thorough discharge planning, allowing for shorter average lengths of stay., (© 2023 Health Research and Educational Trust.)

Context: Given the impact of environmental pollution on health and health inequity, there may be substantial value in integrating assessment and response to pollution into nonprofit hospital community benefit processes. Such hospital engagement has not yet been studied., Objectives: We take a preliminary step of inquiry in investigating if nonprofit hospitals in New York State (NYS) assess, identify, or respond to environmental pollution as part of community benefit processes., Design: This study is of retrospective, observational design. Data were abstracted from community health needs reports (2015-2017), associated implementation plans, and related IRS (Internal Revenue Service) filings from a randomly geographically stratified selection of NYS nonprofit hospitals., Participants: The sample includes 53 hospitals from 23 counties. The sampling frame consists of NYS nonspecialty private nonprofit hospitals., Main Outcome Measures: Dichotomous findings for the following: (1) engagement of environmental pollution in the process of assessment of community health needs; (2) environmental pollution concern identified as a priority community health need; (3) strategic planning present to address pollution identified as community health need; and (4) action taken on same., Results: We found that 60.5% (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.46-0.74) of hospitals evidenced some form of assessment of environmental pollution and 18.9% (95% CI, 0.09-0.32) identified pollution as a priority community health need. However, no hospital went on to take independent or collaborative planning or action to address pollution. In additional analysis, we found that social justice in hospital mission was a positive predictor of assessment of environmental pollution., Conclusions: For NYS hospitals, we found a substantial presence of assessment and identification of pollution as a community health concern. Our finding of the absence of response to environmental pollution represents a gap in community benefit implementation. This indicates a yet untaken opportunity to address racial and economic environmental health injustices and to improve population health., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2023 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.)

The COVID-19 pandemic illuminated shortcomings in the ability of community hospitals in the United States to respond to crises of this nature. This has led to questions about the effectiveness of community hospital disaster preparedness. A study of hospital preparedness in New York State in 2017 revealed a number of barriers to preparedness. Among the most significant are economic barriers, given that disaster preparedness is not a reimbursable cost like patient care. The economic challenges have been exacerbated by a decline in federal disaster preparedness funding in recent years. Reflecting on previous writings, the author provides several options for overcoming these barriers to ensure hospitals are better prepared for future disasters.

Based on the experiences and lessons of its first COVID-19 patient surge in spring of 2020 (Wave 1), the New York hospital community recognized the importance of preparation and coordination for the anticipated winter 2020-2021 surge (Wave 2). This case study describes the coordination function of the Greater New York Hospital Association in downstate New York during the second wave, carried out using 4 key elements: enhanced situational awareness coupled with proactive outreach, partnerships between independent hospitals and health systems, frequent coordination meetings with hospitals, and routine coordination meetings with the Governor's Office and the New York State Department of Health. Given the existing relationships, functions, and support structures of hospital associations, this type of collaborative structure between state government and an association can be valuable in any situation that broadly impacts a state's healthcare community.

Objective: To evaluate the prescribing practices and opioid consumption in an ambulatory setting to inform the development of evidence-based guidelines., Design: A prospective study of adults undergoing outpatient open and laparoscopic surgeries over 3 months. One week after discharge, a telephonic interview quantified the number of opioids prescribed and consumed, degree of pain control and satisfaction, and whether additional pain medication was requested., Setting: Community hospital ambulatory surgery center in Westchester County, New York., Participants: This study included 304 adults undergoing a variety of procedures by surgeons from multiple specialties., Main Outcome Measures: Quantify surgeons' postoperative opioid prescribing compared with patient opioid consumption., Results: Eighty-one percent (N = 245) responded to the survey, of which 64 percent were prescribed opioids. Males and females were equally represented with the mean age of 59.4 years. Of those prescribed opioids, 92 percent filled the prescription. The most commonly prescribed opioids reported by the patients that filled their prescription (N = 145) were oxycodone (36.5 percent), oxycodone/acetaminophen (28.9 percent), and tramadol (22.7 percent). The mean number of opioid pills prescribed was 20 and the mean consumption was 6.7 pills, resulting in an average of 13 retained pills. Only 3.8 percent of the patients prescribed opioids at discharge called their provider for additional analgesia. Despite the low opioid consumption patients reported high satisfaction (4.5 on scale of 0-5) with pain control. Only 10.4 percent reported that the surgeon recommended an over the counter (OTC) analgesic option. There was variability in the amount of opioids prescribed within each surgical category., Conclusions: One week after outpatient surgery, patients consumed one-third of physician-prescribed opioids, yet they reported high pain management satisfaction. Our study will inform the development of a patient-centered interdisciplinary perioperative education program to more effectively tailor multimodal pain management in ambulatory surgical patients and collaterally reduce the number of retained opioids.

Background: Keller Army Community Hospital, a 12-bed community hospital located in the Hudson Valley of New York State, within the pandemic epicenter anticipated the surge of critically ill patients, which would overwhelm local resources during the coronavirus pandemic sweeping across the globe. In this facility, there were no Intensive Care Unit (ICU) beds and resources were mobilized in order to create a negative pressure Corona Virus Unit (CVU) consisting of seven ICU beds and two step-down beds. Although the creation of the CVU decreased the non-COVID inpatient capacity to five beds, the hospital also formulated a plan to expand overall bed capacity from 12 inpatient beds to 45 beds within 24 hours., Objective: To create a ICU embedded within a CVU and implement a three day curriculum to prepare four mixed teams of critical care and non-critical care staff nurses to manage critically ill patients with the novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)., Methods: Nursing leaders and hospital education staff developed a critical care curriculum utilizing Elsevier didactic, the DoD COVID-19 Practice Guide, and hands-on training for 34 nurses.1,2 Nurses had varied scope of practice levels from licensed practical nurses to advance practice nurses, with diverse critical care expertise to non-critical care nursing staff from the primary care medical home (PCMH), all of which participated in the cross-leveling to the CVU unit during the pandemic response. Educational elements included PPE donning and doffing, mechanical ventilation, central venous catheter maintenance, arterial catheter management, hemodynamics, and critical care pharmacotherapy. A medical model skills station with common critical care equipment such as ventilators allowed for instantaneous feedback and 13 hands-on skills training., Results: A fully functional ICU and CVU was created with thirty-four nurses who completed training within seven days with a didactic completing rate of 94.65 % and 100% hands-on skills. The program endures with monthly tailored re-fresher training to improve efficiency and maintain critical competencies. The team maintained operational readiness through the surge and remain resolute for the next surge., Conclusions: On-going program execution and evaluation continues to develop new staff members due to permanent change of station, recent on-boarding, or because of evidence based clinical guideline changes. Training has continued, but shifted to include normal inpatient operations over the summer of 2020. Re-fresher classes covering the treatment and care of COVID patients continue with the anticipation of a second wave surge of COVID-19 cases emerges this fall based on epidemiology predictions.

Although an estimated 20% of emergency department (ED) visits are musculoskeletal in nature, it is unclear which of these require urgent orthopaedic consultation and which orthopaedic subspecialties are best suited for these consults. When an ED's internal staff does not have necessary orthopaedic coverage, transfer to other facilities is required. However, transfers pose major inconveniences and financial burdens to patients and can lead to long ED wait times, hospital financial loss from walk outs, decreased patient safety, and decreased staff morale. Therefore, it is beneficial for a hospital to have the appropriate staff readily available for consults. Data can be used to assess the orthopaedic needs of an ED. We evaluated the nature of urgent ED consults requesting the timely presence of an orthopaedic provider., Methods: Between the years 2008 and 2017, the Orthopaedics Department of this Health System saw 13,777 patients from the ED requesting immediate consult from an orthopaedic provider. We retrospectively analyzed the distribution of anatomic areas and nature of these injuries for these visits., Results: Hand, foot, and ankle consults comprised 75% of the volume. Knee, hip, and spine accounted for 15% of consults. Most injuries were fractures. Infections and sprains were also common., Discussion: By determining and understanding this distribution, orthopaedic departments can improve their organization to better respond to urgent ED consults, allowing for the proper delivery of orthopaedic point-of-care service to patients, increased revenue for the hospital, proper availability of core competencies, and increased value to the healthcare delivery system as a whole. We also believe that the trends observed in our data are largely generalizable to EDs serving urban communities similar to ours. Thus, these results can help inform a synergistic strategy for the system comprising EDs, urgent care clinics, and orthopaedic surgeons servicing them., Competing Interests: None of the following authors or any immediate family member has received anything of value from or has stock or stock options held in a commercial company or institution related directly or indirectly to the subject of this article: Mr. Broome, Mr. Jarvis, Ms. Silverman, Ms. Plassche, and Dr. Kirschenbaum., (Copyright © 2020 The Authors. Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. on behalf of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.)

Objective: The intent of this study was to assess disaster preparedness in community hospitals across New York., Design: Descriptive and analytical cross-sectional survey study. The survey instrument consisted of 35 questions that examined six elements of disaster preparedness: disaster plan development, onsite surge capacity, available materials and resources, disaster education and training, disaster preparedness funding levels, and perception of disaster preparedness., Setting: Community hospitals in New York., Subjects: Contact information was obtained for 207 of 208 community hospitals. Email invitations to participate in the survey were sent to hospital CEOs and disaster preparedness coordinators. Completed surveys were received from 80 hospitals., Main Outcome Measures: Hospital responses to questions related to the six elements of disaster preparedness., Results: Most (87.5 percent) hospitals had experienced a disaster event during the past 5 years (2012-2016). Eighty percent had disaster plans that addressed all of six major types of disasters. Only 17.5 percent believed their disaster plans were "very sufficient" and did not require any revisions. Nearly three-quarters (73.3 percent) of hospitals could continue operations for less than a week without external resources. Less than half (49.4 percent) reported being satisfied or very satisfied with the level of funding that they received from the Hospital Preparedness Program. Most (88.8 percent) respondents felt that barriers to disaster preparedness exist for their organizations., Conclusions: The results demonstrate the current level of disaster preparedness among New York hospitals. The study's approach is discussed as a model that will enable hospitals to identify focus areas for improvement and opportunities for legislation and advocacy.

Due to treatment costs and lack of reimbursement, community hospitals are charged with implementing innovative strategies that will reduce the incidence of hospital-acquired catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTI). A nurse-driven system for decreasing the number of hospital-acquired CAUTI is effective and useful for a community hospital. One nurse with accountability for implementing a simple evidence-based protocol can dramatically decrease the total incidence of hospital-acquired CAUTI. The basis for the success of this initiative relied heavily on the ease of using the eight-point Question the Foley criteria, the availability of the electronic medical record, interdisciplinary collaboration, and support from nursing and physician administration. With collaboration and support from nursing leadership, the goals for patient safety by reducing hospital-acquired CAUTI can become a reality in a short period of time.

Background: The National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN) classifies surgical procedures into 40 categories. The objective of this study was to determine surgical site infection (SSI) incidence for clinically defined subgroups within 5 heterogeneous NHSN surgery categories., Methods: This is a retrospective cohort study using the longitudinal State Inpatient Database. We identified 5 groups of surgical procedures (amputation; bile duct, liver or pancreas [BILI]; breast; colon; and hernia) using ICD-9-CM procedure codes in community hospitals in California, Florida, and New York from January 2009-September 2011 in persons aged ≥18 years. Each of these 5 categories was classified to more specific surgical procedures within the group. The 90-day SSI rates were calculated using ICD-9-CM diagnosis codes., Results: There were 62,901 amputation surgeries, 33,358 BILI surgeries, 72,058 breast surgeries, 125,689 colon surgeries, and 85,745 hernia surgeries in 349,298 people. The 90-day SSI rates varied significantly within each of the 5 subgroups. Within the BILI category, bile duct, pancreas, and laparoscopic liver procedures had SSI rates of 7.2%, 17.2%, and 2.2%, respectively (P < .0001 for each) compared with open liver procedures (11.1% SSI)., Conclusion: The 90-day SSI rates varied widely within certain NHSN categories. Risk adjustment for specific surgery type is needed to make valid comparisons between hospitals., (Copyright © 2015 Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology, Inc. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: Video laryngoscopy (VL) has emerged as a critical tool in the "difficult airway" armamentarium of emergency physicians. The resultant increase in the types of available VL devices has made Emergency Medicine Residency (EMR) training in VL increasingly challenging. Additionally, the prevalence of VL devices in the community is unknown. Because Emergency Medicine (EM) residents go on to work in diverse settings, many in non-EMR emergency departments (EDs), it is preferable that they receive training on the airway modalities they will encounter in practice., Objective: To compare the prevalence and type of VL devices in EMR programs to non-EMR EDs., Methods: This was a survey study conducted from July 2012 to October 2012 of Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education-accredited, MD EMR programs in the United States and non-EMR EDs in New York State. A chi-squared test was performed to determine whether the difference in VL prevalence was significant., Results: There were 158 EMR programs and 132 non-EMR EDs surveyed; 97.8% of EMR and 84.3% of non-EMR EDs reported having some form of VL in their departments. The difference in proportion of EMR vs. non-EMR EDs that have VL was χ(2) = 13 (p < 0.001). The Glidescope® device (Verathon Medical, Bothell, WA) was present in 87.7% of EMR programs and 79.3% of non-EMR EDs., Conclusions: The majority of EMR programs trained residents in VL. The Glidescope device was used most frequently. Non-EMR EDs in New York State had a lower presence of VL devices, with the Glidescope device again being the most common. These results demonstrate that VL is pervasive in both practice environments., (Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Nursing certification is recognized as advanced competency and knowledge beyond basic preparation, thus empowering nurses to contribute to improved outcomes by demonstrating expertise in their specialties. It has been recognized that nurses do not seek certification because of identified barriers. Through a structured Certification Achievement Program that reduced barriers, a cohort of nurses was able to achieve certification in medical-surgical nursing.

Introduction: In the event of an outbreak of a communicable respiratory illness, quarantine may become necessary. The New York Institute for All Hazard Preparedness (NYIAHP) of the State University of New York (SUNY) Downstate Medical Center, in cooperation with the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene's Healthcare Emergency Preparedness Program, (NYC DOHMH-HEPP) quarantine working group, has developed a series of clinical protocols to help health care facilities respond to such an event., Problem: Two full-scale exercises (FSEs) were designed and conducted a year apart in the quarantine unit at Kings County Hospital Center (KCHC) to test the efficacy and feasibility of these quarantine protocols. The goal of these exercises was to identify the gaps in preparedness for quarantine and increase hospital readiness for such an event., Methods: Evaluators monitored for efficient management of critical physical plants, personnel and material resources. Players were expected to integrate and practice emergency response plans and protocols specific to quarantine. In developing the exercise objectives, five activities were selected for evaluation: Activation of the Unit, Staffing, Charting/Admission, Symptom Monitoring and Infection Control, and Client Management., Results: The results of the initial FSE found that there were incomplete critical tasks within all five protocols: These deficiencies were detailed in an After Action Report and an Improvement Plan was presented to the KCHC Disaster Preparedness Committee a month after the initial FSE. In the second FSE a year later, all critical tasks for Activation of the unit, Staffing and Charting/Admission were achieved. Completion of critical tasks related to Symptom Monitoring and Infection Control and Client Management was improved in the second FSE, but some tasks were still not performed appropriately., Conclusion: In short, these exercises identified critical needs in disaster preparedness of the KCHC Quarantine Unit. The lessons learned from this logistical exercise enabled the planning group to have a better understanding of leadership needs, communication capabilities, and infection control procedures. Kings County Hospital Center performed well during these exercises. It was clear that performance in the second exercise was improved, and many problems noted in the first exercise were corrected. Staff also felt better prepared the second time. This supports the idea that frequent exercises are vital to maintain disaster readiness.

Objective: To evaluate exclusive breastfeeding (EB) rates in a multiethnic community population and study various factors that could influence selection of feeding method., Study Design: Electronic medical records of 100 patients who delivered from January to August 2009 in a community hospital were reviewed retrospectively. Patients who breastfed exclusively were compared with those whose children obtained some or all nutrition from bottle-feeding during the hospitalization immediately following delivery (NEB). Continuation rates at the infant's initial follow-up examination were assessed., Results: The Asian populations had the highest EB (50%) and continuity rate. Single status and educational status were the only factors other than ethnicity found on univariate analysis to have an impact on the mode of feeding (p < 0.05). Employment, obesity, mode of delivery, birth weight, and sex of newborn did not have a significant effect on the type of feeding. Using multiple regression, only educational status had a significant association with exclusive breastfeeding, with an odds ratio of 2.1 (p = 0.038)., Conclusion: EB was not well accepted by non-Asian populations. Because educational level was associated with breastfeeding, ways of encouraging those with limited education to practice breastfeeding should be developed.

Background: The rate of Clostridium difficile has increased over the last decade. This study was undertaken to determine the incidence, prevalence, and risk factors for infection at a 460-bed community hospital in the Bronx, New York., Method: Retrospective study reviewing all patients with a positive stool test for C difficile toxin A/B from 2006 to 2008., Results: Three hundred fifty-two stools were positive for toxin. Average age was 58 years; 4% of patients with stools positive for C difficile were asymptomatic; 7% had community-acquired infection; 57% of C difficile acquisition occurred in the hospital; and 36% were in patients who acquired C difficile from a health care facility prior to admission. The incidence of C difficile was 7.8 cases/10,000 days in 2006, 10.3 in 2007, and 9.7 in 2008. The prevalence was 6.2 cases per 1,000 admissions in 2006, 7.6 in 2007, and 7.0 in 2008. The increased prevalence was not uniform throughout the hospital., Conclusion: At a community hospital in the Bronx, the incidence of C difficile increased but at a lower rate than previously reported. Prior health facility contact accounted for one third of these cases. Rooms with clusters of patients with C difficile suggest environmental propagation of infection., (Copyright © 2011 Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology, Inc. Published by Mosby, Inc. All rights reserved.)

Objective: We examined how navigation, defined as the assessment and alleviation of barriers to adequate health care, influences patients' perspectives on the quality of their cancer care., Methods: We conducted post-study patient interviews from a randomized controlled trial (usual care vs. patient navigation services) from cancer diagnosis through treatment completion. Patients were recruited from 11 primary care, hospital and community oncology practices in New York. We interviewed patients about their expectations and experience of patient navigation or, for non-navigated patients, other sources of assistance., Results: Thirty-five patients newly diagnosed with breast or colorectal cancer. Valued aspects of navigation included emotional support, assistance with information needs and problem-solving, and logistical coordination of cancer care. Unmet cancer care needs expressed by patients randomized to usual care consisted of lack of assistance or support with childcare, household responsibilities, coordination of care, and emotional support., Conclusion: Cancer patients value navigation. Instrumental benefits were the most important expectations for navigation from navigated and non-navigated patients. Navigated patients received emotional support and assistance with information needs, problem-solving, and logistical aspects of cancer care coordination., Practice Implications: Navigation services may help improve cancer care outcomes important to patients by addressing fragmented, confusing, uncoordinated, or inefficient care., (Copyright 2009 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.)

These days, interactive media is all the rage. It seems no business is complete without an online presence. Crouse Hospital has gone one step further, creating an interactive informational Web site that puts its employees in the driver's seat.

Good outcome has been reported with the laparoscopic approach in uncomplicated appendicitis, but a higher incidence of postoperative intraabdominal abscesses has been reported after laparoscopic appendectomy in complicated appendicitis. This retrospective comparative study compares outcome after laparoscopic (LA) and open appendectomy (OA) in complicated appendicitis. All patients who had LA or OA for complicated appendicitis between January 2003 and February 2006 were included in the study. Data collection included demographics, operative time, estimated blood loss, length of stay (LOS), complications, readmission, and reoperative rates. The primary end points for analysis were postoperative intraabdominal abscess and complication rates and secondary end points were LOS and operative time. All data were analyzed on an intent-to-treat basis. Of 104 patients, 43 patients underwent LA and 61 had OA. The mean age (24.8 +/- 16.5 versus 31.3 +/- 18.9, P = 0.08) in the LA group was lower than the OA group because there was a significantly higher proportion of pediatric patients (34.8% versus 14.8%, P = 0.02) who had LA. There was no significant difference in gender (female/male, 14/29 versus 27/34, P = 0.3) or American Society of Anesthesiologists class distribution (American Society of Anesthesiologists 1/2/3/4/, 35/7/1/0 versus 45/12/3/1, P = 0.68) between the two groups. The operative time (100.5 +/- 36.2 versus 81.5 +/- 29.5 minutes, P = 0.03) was significantly longer and the estimated blood loss (21 mL versus 33 mL, P = 0.01) was lower in LA when compared with OA, but there was no significant difference in the number of patients with preoperative peritonitis versus abscesses (7/36 versus 13/48, P = 0.6) in both groups. There was no difference in the median LOS (6 [interquartile range 5-9] versus 6 [interquartile range 4-8], P = 0.7) in the two groups. The conversion rate in LA was 18.6% (n = 8). There was also no significant difference in the complication (17/43 [39.5%] versus 21/61 [34.4%], P = 0.54), reoperative (3/43 [7%] versus 0/61 [0%], P = 0.07), and 30-day readmission (5/41 [11.6%] versus 3/61 [4.9%], P = 0.23) rates between the two groups. The rate of postoperative intraabdominal abscesses was significantly higher in the LA group when compared with the OA group (6/43 [14%] versus 0/61 [0%], P = 0.04) and the wound infection (1/43 [2.3%] versus 5/61 [8.2%], P = 0.4) and pulmonary complication (0/43 [0%] versus 3/61 [4.9%], P = 0.26) rate was higher in the OA group. There was no mortality in the LA group, but there was one mortality in the OA group resulting from postoperative myocardial infarction. Laparoscopic appendectomy can be performed in patients with complicated appendicitis with a comparative operative time, LOS, and complication rates but results in a significantly higher intraabdominal abscess rate and lower wound infection rate when compared with OA.

Objective: The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recommends trivalent influenza (TIV) and pneumococcal (PPV) vaccination for eligible hospitalized patients. We conducted a retrospective study comparing two different methods of assessment and its impact on TIV and PPV vaccination in hospitalized patients., Design: Two sequential models were compared in a community hospital for assessing patients' vaccination status and eligibility for TIV and PPV in an inpatient setting. In the first model (Model I), physicians were responsible for assessing eligibility and ordering TIV and/or PPV. In the second model (Model II), nurses were responsible for assessment and vaccination of eligible patients. Charts of hospitalized patients were randomly analyzed for completion rates of the assessment form, rate of vaccination, and documentation of the reason for not vaccinating eligible patients., Results: A total of 138 charts were analyzed for Model I and 168 charts were analyzed for Model II. A significantly higher completion rate for assessment was noted for Model II compared with Model I (79.16% versus 34.78%, P < 0.001 for TIV; 72.02% versus 33.33%, P < 0.001 for PPV). Hospital vaccination rates were not significantly different between the two models for TIV (P = 0.625) and PPV (P = 0.689). A significant percentage of patients refused PPV in Model II [8.03% versus Model I at 3.2% (P = 0.04)]., Conclusion: A standing order protocol for assessing hospitalized patients' vaccination status by nursing staff and allowing them to vaccinate eligible patients without depending upon a physician order significantly improved the assessment compliance rate, but not the vaccination rates. Our findings suggest that a system-based method with nursing assessing the need for vaccination and a physician ordering the vaccination would probably have a higher potential for success.

Objective: To compare the severity of illness of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) between those hospitalized at academic medical centers and those hospitalized at community hospitals., Methods: In this population based cross-sectional survey, data on all hospitalizations of patients with SLE in California, New York, and Pennsylvania in 2000 were obtained from discharge abstracts submitted by acute care hospitals to state health planning agencies. Patients hospitalized at one of 36 academic medical centers in these states (N = 2072) were compared to patients hospitalized at community hospitals (N = 9373). The primary measures of severity of illness were the SLE Comorbidity Index, a weighted index of SLE manifestations and comorbid medical conditions based on discharge diagnoses, and long lengths of stay, defined as stays that exceeded the 90th percentile of hospital stays in the same diagnosis-related group in the United States., Results: Compared to patients at community hospitals, patients at academic medical centers had substantially higher scores on the SLE Comorbidity Index (odds ratio for each 1-point increase 1.27, 95% confidence interval 1.15-1.40, p < 0.0001) and were more likely to have long lengths of stay (OR 1.65, 95% CI 1.42-1.91, p < 0.0001). Patients at academic medical centers also had higher scores on the SLE Comorbidity Index (OR for each 1-point increase 1.16, 95% CI 1.07-1.27, p = 0.0002) and were more likely to have long lengths of stay (OR 1.27, 95% CI 1.08-1.49, p = 0.004) compared to patients at large (> or = 300 beds) community hospitals in the same metropolitan areas. Results for the SLE Comorbidity Index were similar in the subset of patients with SLE as the primary discharge diagnosis., Conclusion: Patients with SLE hospitalized at academic medical centers are generally more severely ill than those hospitalized at community hospitals, including large community hospitals in the same area.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the current management of acute mesenteric ischemia secondary to thrombotic or embolic occlusion of visceral vessels in a community teaching hospital. Between October 1997 and July 2000, a review of all hospital discharges revealed 83 patients with a discharge diagnosis of "acute vascular insufficiency-intestine." Among these 83 patients, 22 cases of acute mesenteric ischemia were confirmed. Management of these 22 patients was divided into 2 groups for analysis. In Group A, 14 patients were aggressively treated with visceral angiography (n=10), visceral artery bypass (n=8), visceral embolectomy (n=4), and bowel resection (n=7). In 8 of 14 of these patients, surgical intervention occurred in less than 24 hours from presentation. In Group B, 8 patients were managed with supportive care because of advanced age (mean age = 86 +/- 7 years), comorbid conditions, or patient and family preference. Postoperative morbidity in Group A consisted of cardiac events (n=3), pulmonary insufficiency (n=5), and prolonged gastrointestinal tract dysfunction (n=3). Twelve of 14 patients in Group A survived and were discharged, whereas only 2 of 8 patients in Group B survived and were discharged from the hospital. Although the literature suggests that there can be a significant delay in the diagnosis and treatment of acute mesenteric ischemia, the early recognition and aggressive treatment of acute mesenteric ischemia resulted in a good survival rate. Supportive management of very elderly and debilitated patients needs to be considered on a case-by-case basis. Although the outlook for such patients is dismal, survivors are possible as demonstrated by this series.

To help alleviate the nursing shortage, nurses from overseas are being recruited. These nurses must adjust to numerous cultural, social, and organizational experiences. Using Pilette's phases of adjustment and a theoretical framework, the author discusses a Buddy Program that has been instituted in a community hospital to provide support and resources to help international nurses with their earliest phase of acculturation.

A small community hospital (67 beds) in Central New York was undergoing a major technological change within the organization, as they move from the use of several legacy information systems to a hospital-wide information system. The focus of the present research is to explore the privacy and security information issues using a framework called Information Boundary Theory [Stanton, 2002]. IBT explains the motivational factors that lead to the revelation or disclosing of information.

Background: In 2000, the rate of primary bloodstream infections (BSIs) was double that in 1999 for intensive care unit (ICU) patients with triple lumen catheters, pulmonary artery catheters, or both. In December 1999, changes in products and practices related to site care were implemented as a cost-saving initiative., Objective: To determine the factors contributing to an increase of BSIs after cost-saving measures for site care had been introduced., Design: Epidemiologic study involving prospective identification of infection., Setting: A community teaching hospital., Participants: Patients in a 20-bed, medical-surgical ICU identified as having triple lumen catheters, pulmonary artery catheters, or both and a primary BSI during 2000 and 2001., Methods: Alcohol swab sticks were reintroduced and the frequency of transparent dressing changes and site care was increased. Inservice presentations were conducted on aseptic technique and posters were placed reviewing site care protocol for physicians and nurses., Results: The incidence of primary BSIs decreased significantly (P = .003) during a 3-month intervention and this decrease was sustained through the following 12 months., Conclusions: Prolonging the interval between the change of transparent dressings from 3 times weekly to once weekly and switching from alcohol swab sticks to pads was associated with an increase in BSIs, which was controlled after returning to the original policy.

Objectives: To evaluate the prevalence of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) counseling and to investigate the relationship between patients' cultural background and healthcare professionals' counseling practices. HRT is the principal preventive intervention for reducing risk of menopause-related pathologic conditions. This study assessed self-reports of HRT counseling among women receiving care in an urban community hospital., Methods: A descriptive self-reported survey study of 134 women aged 45-65 was conducted in the medical clinic at an urban community teaching hospital in a multicultural area in New York. Questionnaires asked about age, ethnicity, HRT use, contraindications, health professional counseling, and barriers to HRT counseling. Possible predictors of HRT counseling were analyzed with logistic regression models. Categorical variables were compared with chi-square statistics., Results: Overall prevalence of HRT counseling was 25%. Prevalence of HRT use was 19%; among those using HRT, only 12.7% reported receiving HRT counseling. Physicians were more likely to discuss HRT than other healthcare professionals. Over 90% of the patients reported a desire for HRT counseling., Conclusions: The low rates of HRT counseling suggest physicians have limited daily experience with HRT counseling practices. Public health efforts should focus on increasing physician and general population awareness to promote HRT counseling strategies and ensure public access to HRT information.

Objective: To determine factors contributing to the relatively high frequency and variability (10% to 30%) of finding no significant coronary disease by coronary angiography in patients with chest pain., Study Design: Retrospective, comparative analysis of practice patterns at 3 southeastern Michigan hospitals and a composite sample from New York State., Patients and Methods: Medical records for 7668 patients were reviewed to determine the frequency of negative coronary arteriographic findings in patients undergoing chest pain evaluation. A private practice allopathic community hospital with interventional cardiologists and a private practice osteopathic community hospital with diagnostic facilities (DiagCommunity) were compared with a university hospital with full-time salaried interventional cardiologists and a sample of 17 New York hospitals., Results: Of the 7668 coronary angiograms at all centers, 39.7% were performed to assess patients with stable chest pain. There was no significant obstruction found in 16.5%, and the frequency was not different between the Michigan (17.8%+/-3.8%) and New York (14.2%) hospitals. The DiagCommunity had the highest proportion (22%; P < .001 vs others). On review of the negative coronary arteriographic findings, normal or near normal coronary arteriographic findings were infrequent (range, 2.4%-6.6%) but higher in the DiagCommunity (6.6% vs 2.9%+/-1.6%; P < .0001)., Conclusions: The frequency of finding no significant coronary disease by arteriography in patients with chest pain is similar in southeastern Michigan hospitals and comparable to an established external database. Cardiology self-referral and personal gain does not seem to be a major factor in selection of patients for invasive studies.

Background: By geographic necessity, rural trauma patients must be initially stabilized at local community hospitals before transfer for definitive care. In this study, it was hypothesized that telemedicine consults with trauma surgeons from a Level I trauma center online while the patient was still in the community hospital ED could positively affect care., Methods: Four community hospital emergency departments in upstate New York and Vermont were equipped with dual cameras with remote control capability. Three trauma surgeons' homes were wired and equipped with telemedicine systems. Protocols were developed for the initiation of a telemedicine consult., Results: There were 26 telemedicine consults over an 8-month period. The telemedicine population was significantly more severely injured and had a higher mortality than the general trauma population admitted to the Level I trauma center. In two cases, it was felt that the telemedicine consultation was potentially lifesaving. On follow-up, more than 80% of the referring providers felt that the telemedicine consult improved care., Conclusion: Telemedicine provides a virtual online trauma surgeon to assist with the resuscitation and stabilization of the major trauma patient in a small community hospital. These preliminary results show a positive impact on rural trauma patient care at the local community hospital.

Objective: To evaluate the sterility of blood salvaged intraoperatively by a new membrane filtration system for transfusion., Design: Quantitative microbiologic cultures were prospectively collected from units of blood acquired by intraoperative membrane filtration from 18 patients undergoing elective spinal surgery. Medical records were reviewed for adverse events., Setting: A 204-bed, medical school-affiliated community hospital., Results: Quantitative blood cultures were sterile in 12 of 31 units of recovered blood. Of the 19 positive units, 17 units grew only 1 colony-forming unit (CFU)/mL, 1 unit grew 2 CFU/mL, and 1 unit grew 5 CFU/mL. The only organisms isolated were diphtheroids, coagulase-negative staphylococci, and micrococci. No patient experienced postoperative sepsis., Conclusions: Blood recovered by intraoperative membrane filtration is microbiologically equivalent to blood salvaged by continuous flow. Because no perfusionist and no expensive capital equipment are required, the technique is amenable to small and medium-sized hospitals that otherwise might financially be unable to provide intraoperative blood salvage.

This article describes posthospitalization visits by 83 nursing students to 57 older patients and their caregivers discharged from two large academic medical centers and one community hospital. Patient and caregiver interviews in the home focused on the areas of geriatric assessments of cognitive and functional status, patient and caregiver satisfaction with recent hospitalization, ongoing health management, patient teaching, and discharge planning.

Unlabelled: PURPOSE AND MATERIALS AND METHODS: Because of the inaccuracies in clinical staging of endometrial cancer, the International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) in 1988 changed the staging of endometrial cancer to surgical staging consisting of intraoperative findings and histologic evaluation of the specimen. A decade later, 1998, the United States Society of Gynecologic Oncologists published Practice Guidelines for the surgical staging of endometrial cancer. The purpose of this study was to review the use of lymph node sampling and peritoneal washings in 100 consecutive cases of clinical stage I endometrial cancer and compare these results to the Practice Guidelines of the Society of Gynecologic Oncologists., Results: The vast majority of patients (86%) had peritoneal washings and frozen section (69%) of the uterus. However, only slightly more than half (52%) had palpitation of the pelvic and/or para-aortic lymph nodes. Most encouraging and consistent with the Society of Gynecologic Oncologists' Guidelines is that 87% of the patients with histologically more aggressive cancers (grade III or deep myometrial invasion), had lymph node sampling as did 90.5% with more aggressive histologic subtypes., Conclusion: Notwithstanding these results, there is still the need in the 21st century for more uniform guidelines for the surgical staging of endometrial cancer.

Background: Little is known about the quality of Papanicolaou (Pap) smears performed by family physicians and obstetrician-gynecologists., Methods: Using hospital archival records of Pap smears performed from 1995 to 1997, we compared the quality of Pap smear sampling and the rate of detection of significant cytologic abnormalities by family physicians and obstetrician-gynecologists. Using hierarchic logistic regression, we examined the relationship between physician specialty and Pap smear reports, controlling for patient age and socioeconomic position, multiple Pap smears performed by the same clinician, and physician attending status., Results: A total of 34,916 Pap smears performed by 130 family physicians and 88 obstetrician-gynecologist residents and attending physicians were included in the analysis. There were no statistically significant differences by specialty in the rates of unsatisfactory reports (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 0.82; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.48 - 1.38), satisfactory but limited reports (AOR = 1.16; 95% CI, 0.93 - 1.48), or detection rates of significant cytologic abnormalities (AOR = 0.83; 95% CI, 0.66 - 1.04). However, family physicians submitted more Pap smears with an absent endocervical component (AOR = 1.50; 95% CI, 1.07 - 2.11)., Conclusions: These findings show no significant differences by specialty in Pap smear quality as measured by rates of unsatisfactory and satisfactory but limited reports, or detection of cytologic abnormalities. The finding of higher rates of absent endocervical cells, if replicated by further study, may suggest the need for improved training of family physicians in sampling the endocervix.

Objective: To examine the relationship between angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor use and clinical outcomes among recently hospitalized patients with congestive heart failure (CHF) and coexisting renal insufficiency., Design: A prospective cohort study., Setting: Ten community hospitals in upstate New York., Participants: A total of 1076 hospital survivors identified from a consecutive series of CHF inpatients., Measurements: Patients were followed prospectively for 6 months after hospital discharge to track mortality, hospital readmission, and quality of life. Clinical outcomes were stratified by ACE inhibitor use among those with renal dysfunction, defined as serum creatinine > or = 2.0 mg/dL, and among the remaining patients, whose serum creatinine was < or = 1.9., Results: ACE inhibitor use was lower among 187 patients with renal dysfunction than among 889 patients with preserved function (41 vs 69%, P < .001). Age and sex were among the significant determinants of drug use in both groups. After adjustment for covariables, ACE inhibitor use among those with abnormal renal function was not associated with a lower risk for death or readmission, or better quality of life. By comparison, ACE inhibition conferred meaningful clinical benefit among those whose creatinine was < or = 1.9 mg/dL., Conclusion: Convincing evidence of clinical benefit from ACE inhibitor use is not readily detectable among a sample of 187 unselected older patients with CHF and moderate or severe renal insufficiency. Further studies to identify subsets of this group who might benefit are warranted.

Objective: To assess resident, patient, and family continuity., Background: Continuity clinic is the principal longitudinal primary care experience for pediatric residents. Although it has been a recommendation of the Residency Review Committee for pediatric training for more than 10 years and has been a requirement of the Accreditation Council of Graduate Medical Education since 1989, the extent to which continuity is achieved in this setting has not been reported., Methods: Nine years (1984-1993) of residents' continuity clinic experience in a community hospital affiliate of a university training program were reviewed. Continuity was defined by recurring visits between the same patient/provider pair. The analysis from 57 different residents includes 48 intern (R1) years, 45 level two (R2) years, and 40 level three (R3) years; 32 of these residents completed all 3 years of training (3-year cohort) in the program during the study period. Observations included 89 952 visits by 11 009 patients in 7130 families. Continuity was determined for the resident, patient, and family., Results: Residents saw an annual average of 93, 136, and 144 visits as R1s, R2s, and R3s. Residents saw 60% of their patients fewer than 3 times and nearly 40% only once. In the final year for those in the 3-year cohort, residents saw an average of 149 visits; 53% of the time these R3s had seen their patients once or twice over 3 years. Thirty percent of the patients never saw their primary care physician (PCP) and 72% of patients had fewer than 3 visits with their PCP. One quarter of the families never saw their continuity resident, and 62% saw their continuity resident fewer than 3 times., Conclusions: These data demonstrate a remarkable lack of both resident and patient continuity in the principal clinical activity affording longitudinal primary care experiences during residency training. If more continuity is essential for both primary care of patients and education in general pediatrics, change in the structure of continuity experience is required.

Objective: To study the relationship between length of stay (LOS) and the rate of death among patients hospitalized with congestive heart failure (CHF)., Design: A retrospective, observational study., Setting: Fifteen acute care community hospitals in upstate New York., Patients: Three thousand nine hundred fourteen patients whose principal billing diagnosis was diagnosis-related group number 127 (CHF and shock)., Outcome Measures: Mean total LOS and hospital death rate., Variables: Mean number of nonacute care hospital days per patient, mean number of acute care days (acute LOS) per patient, cases per hospital, hospital bed capacity, and the presence of a cardiac catheterization laboratory, cardiac surgical services, or a medical residency training program. An index of severity of illness and a severity-weighted expected LOS were calculated for each patient as well., Results: Significant variability in mean total LOS (7.6 to 12.7 days), mean acute LOS (7.1 to 10.3 days), and death rates (4.3 to 12.0%) was noted among the centers. Minimal variation in mean expected LOS (5.2 to 6.1 days) and mean severity score (2.8 to 3.3) was observed. Mean total LOS (r = 0.14, p = 0.61) and acute LOS (r = 0.11, p = 0.69) were not related significantly to death rate for the 15 centers. When the hospitals were separated into tertiles based on rank order of total LOS and acute LOS, no differences among the subgroups were noted in the number of cases per hospital, deaths per hospital, death rates, expected LOS, and severity scores, Interhospital variation in total LOS was partially explained by the care of patients who did not require acute hospitalization., Conclusions: Significant interhospital variation exists in LOS and death rates for patients admitted with CHF; these two measures are not related to each another. This variability in outcome cannot be explained by severity of illness case-mix alone; significant variation in the processes and effectiveness of patient care may exist.