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Objective Identify the frequency and types of mistreatment experienced by residents from patients and their families (P&F) and determine whether the types and frequency varied based on resident gender. Design An anonymous survey was distributed to residents to assess the types of P&F mistreatment toward residents and the association with resident gender. Setting The survey was distributed to the general surgery and urology programs at a large academic medical center in the mid-Atlantic. Participants: 23 of 53 residents (43% response rate) participated in the anonymous survey. Residents: 15 male residents (65%), 8 female residents (35%). Results: 12 of 23 responding residents (52%) indicated they experienced at least one form of mistreatment from P&F. Women were more likely to experience mistreatment (88% vs. 33%), with verbal assault was the most frequent (50% for female residents, 33% for male residents). Patients were more often the source than families (52% vs. 41%); verbal assault or threats of physical harm were the most common (50% for female residents, 33% for male residents). Conclusions Residents experience mistreatment from multiple sources. This paper provides insight into the experiences of surgical residents with mistreatment from their P&F, with differences in frequency of behaviors dependent upon the perpetrator group and resident gender. Patients and their family mistreatments are likely underreported and may be more difficult to prevent. It is important to identify mitigation strategies and ensure resources are available for those residents experiencing mistreatment. A strong culture against mistreatment and providing specific resources may minimize the experience and negative effects of mistreatment.

Mistreatment has been correlated with burnout and poor well-being in medical students, but data regarding residents and faculty are limited. The objective was to investigate the prevalence of mistreatment towards surgical housestaff and faculty and characterize such experiences.In 2018, the Department of Surgery surveyed housestaff and faculty on incidents of mistreatment.Clinical faculty (63%) and residents (72%) completed the mistreatment survey. Excluding public embarrassment, 48% of residents and 29% of clinical faculty experienced mistreatment. Residents experienced public embarrassment and public humiliation more frequently than faculty, however faculty were subjected to racially or ethnically offensive remarks/names more frequently than residents (p .05). Faculty within and external to their department were most cited as instigators of mistreatment. Residents experienced mistreatment most often by faculty, co-residents, and nurses. Reporting of the behaviors was low.Incidents of mistreatment are frequently occurring for surgical residents and faculty.

Background Venous thromboembolism events are potentially preventable adverse events. We investigated the effect of interruptions and delays in pharmacologic prophylaxis on venous thromboembolism incidence. Additionally, we evaluated the utility of electronic medical record alerts for venous thromboembolism prophylaxis. Methods Venous thromboembolisms were identified in surgical patients retrospectively through Core Measure Venous ThromboEmbolism-6-6 and Patient Safety Indicator 12 between November 2013 and March 2015. Venous thromboembolism pharmacologic prophylaxis and prescriber response to electronic medical record alerts were recorded prospectively. Prophylaxis was categorized as continuous, delayed, interrupted, other, and none. Results Among 10,318 surgical admissions, there were 131 venous thromboembolisms; 23.7% of the venous thromboembolisms occurred with optimal continuous prophylaxis. Prophylaxis, length of stay, age, and transfer from another hospital were associated with increased venous thromboembolism incidence. Compared with continuous prophylaxis, interruptions were associated with 3 times greater odds of venous thromboembolism. Delays were associated with 2 times greater odds of venous thromboembolism. Electronic medical record alerts occurred in 45.7% of the encounters and were associated with a 2-fold increased venous thromboembolism incidence. Focus groups revealed procedures as the main contributor to interruptions, and workflow disruption as the main limitation of the electronic medical record alerts. Conclusion Multidisciplinary strategies to decrease delays and interruptions in venous thromboembolism prophylaxis and optimization of electronic medical record tools for prophylaxis may help decrease rates of preventable venous thromboembolism.

Academic surgery programs need to offer avenues not only to increase recruitment of women, but also to provide support so women can stay in the surgical field successfully. Virginia Commonwealth University has served to enable the growth of women surgeons in their careers. This article reviews the aspects in which this institution has provided with the necessary support for career and personal growth.

Objective In this study, clinical practice guidelines were developed by a multidisciplinary team for patients with infections admitted to a surgical intensive care unit (ICU). Design A 51-day baseline audit period (Phase I) in a 20-bed (private rooms) surgical ICU was compared with a 34-day period in the same unit after implementation of the guidelines (Phase II). Patients Phase I included 182 patients (670 patient days), and Phase II included 139 patients (427 patient days). Results There was no significant difference between patients in the Phase I and Phase II groups regarding age (65.4/19-95 vs. 64.8/18-90 yrs), gender (56% male vs. 55% male), severity of illness (mean Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation III, 38 vs. 39.1), total infections (respiratory, 8% vs. 4%; urinary tract, 15% vs. 4%; wound, 4% vs. 3%; skin/soft tissue, 3% vs. 7%; sepsis, 5% vs. 3%; intra-abdominal, 9% vs. 17%), and no infection (64% vs. 67%). Clinical outcomes of patients with infections in the Phase I group compared with those in the Phase II group were as follows: clinical improvement or cure, 64% vs. 76%; persistent infection, 17% vs. 11%; clinical failure, 0 vs. 2%; and death, 18% vs. 7% (p = NS). When patients with infections were compared, death rates were 20% in the Phase I group and 5.6% in the Phase II group (p = .02). After implementation of the clinical pathways, antibiotic costs were reduced from $676.54 per patient to $157.88 per patient (p = .001). Length of stay in the ICU was 3.7 days in the Phase I trial and a mean of 3 days in the Phase II trial (p = NS). Specimens of Escherichia coli demonstrated a trend toward a decreased resistance to all antibiotics and Pseudomonas aeruginosa to ciprofloxacin and aminoglycosides (p = NS). Conclusions In this study, the use of clinical practice guidelines for patients who were admitted to the surgical ICU was shown to reduce costs, without adversely affecting patients' outcomes. This study has important implications for the use of clinical practice guidelines for the management of patients with infections who are admitted to surgical ICUs.