Small Rural Hospitals and High-Risk Operations: How Would Regionalization Affect Surgical Volume and Hospital Revenue?

Mortality index is more accurate than volume in predicting outcome and failure to rescue in Medicare beneficiaries undergoing robotic right upper lobectomy

Background

Surgical volume is known to influence failure to rescue (FTR), defined as death following a complication. Robotic lung surgery continues to expand and there is variability in outcomes among hospitals. We sought to estimate the contribution of hospital-based factors on outcomes and FTR following robotic right upper lobectomy (RRUL).

Methods

Using the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services inpatient claims database, we evaluated all patients age ≥65 years with a diagnosis of lung cancer who underwent RRUL between January 2018 and December 2020. We excluded patients who had undergone segmentectomy, sublobar, wedge, or bronchoplastic resection; had metastatic or nonmalignant disease; or had a history of neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Primary outcomes included FTR rate, length of stay (LOS), readmissions, conversion to open surgery, complications, and costs. We analyzed hospitals by tertiles of volume and Medicare Mortality Index (MMI). Defined as the institutional number of deaths per number of survivors, MMI is a marker of overall hospital performance and quality. Propensity score models were adjusted for confounding using goodness of fit.

Results

Data for 4317 patients who underwent robotic right upper lobectomy were analyzed. Hospitals were categorized by volume of cases (low, <9; medium, 9-20; high, >20) and MMI (low, <0.04; medium, 0.04-0.13; high, >0.13). After propensity score balancing, patients from tertiles of lowest volume and highest MMI had higher costs ($34,222 vs $30,316; P = .006), as well as higher mortality (odds ratio, 7.46; 95% confidence interval, 2.67-28.2; P < .001). Compared to high-volume centers, low-volume centers had higher rates of conversion to open surgery, respiratory failure, hemorrhagic anemia, and death; longer LOS; and greater cost (P < .001 for all). The C-statistic for volume as a predictor of overall mortality was 0.6, and the FTR was 0.8. Hospitals in the highest tertile of MMI had the highest rates of conversion to open surgery (P = .01), pneumothorax (P = .02), and respiratory failure (P < .001). They also had the highest mortality and rate of readmission, longest LOS, and greatest costs (P < .001 for all) and the shortest survival (P < .001). The C-statistic for MMI as a predictor of overall mortality was 0.8, and FTR was 0.9.

Conclusions

The MMI incorporates hospital-based factors in the adjudication of outcomes and is a more sensitive predictor of FTR rates than volume alone. Combining MMI and volume may provide a metric that can guide quality improvement and cost-effectiveness measures in hospitals seeking to implement robotic lung surgery programs.

Urban-Rural Differences in Receipt of Cancer Surgery at High-Volume Hospitals and Sensitivity to Hospital Volume Thresholds

Methods for identifying high-volume hospitals affect conclusions about rural cancer care access.

Predictors of hospital bypass for rural residents seeking common elective surgery

BACKGROUND

Surgical bypass occurs when rural residents receive surgical care at a nonlocal hospital. Given limited knowledge of current bypass rates, we evaluated rates and predictors of bypass for common procedures.

METHODS

We used 2014 to 2016 all-payer claims data from the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project State Inpatient Databases to study rural patients from 13 states who underwent 1 of 11 common elective surgical procedures. Bypass was measured by whether a patient received elective surgical care at the closest hospital offering the requested procedure or another nonlocal hospital. Bypass probability was then modeled as a function of patient-level and hospital-level characteristics.

RESULTS

Of the 121,297 rural elective surgery visits in our sample, 78,268 (64.5%) bypassed their local hospital. Bypass rate was greatest for coronary artery bypass graft or valve replacement (74.8%) and lowest for laparoscopic cholecystectomy (53.7%). In addition, average bypass rate was greatest for surgeries with the highest risk of intraoperative blood loss and postoperative complications. The probability of bypass significantly (P < .001) increased for patients who were younger, privately insured, and lived farther from the closest hospital. In addition, the probability of bypass significantly (P < .001) increased for patients whose local hospital had fewer full-time equivalents, lower operating margin, and fewer recommendations from previous patients.

CONCLUSION

Among rural patients seeking elective surgery, bypass of the local hospital was common among both low-risk and high-risk procedures. These findings suggest that there is a substantial amount of bypass, which may negatively impact a hospital's financial performance and, hence, wellbeing of the local community.

Higher hospitalization and mortality rates among SARS-CoV-2-infected persons in rural America

PURPOSE

Rural communities are among the most underserved and resource-scarce populations in the United States. However, there are limited data on COVID-19 outcomes in rural America. This study aims to compare hospitalization rates and inpatient mortality among SARS-CoV-2-infected persons stratified by residential rurality.

METHODS

This retrospective cohort study from the National COVID Cohort Collaborative (N3C) assesses 1,033,229 patients from 44 US hospital systems diagnosed with SARS-CoV-2 infection between January 2020 and June 2021. Primary outcomes were hospitalization and all-cause inpatient mortality. Secondary outcomes were utilization of supplemental oxygen, invasive mechanical ventilation, vasopressor support, extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, and incidence of major adverse cardiovascular events or hospital readmission. The analytic approach estimates 90-day survival in hospitalized patients and associations between rurality, hospitalization, and inpatient adverse events while controlling for major risk factors using Kaplan-Meier survival estimates and mixed-effects logistic regression.

FINDINGS

Of 1,033,229 diagnosed COVID-19 patients included, 186,882 required hospitalization. After adjusting for demographic differences and comorbidities, urban-adjacent and nonurban-adjacent rural dwellers with COVID-19 were more likely to be hospitalized (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 1.18, 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.16-1.21 and aOR 1.29, CI 1.24-1.1.34) and to die or be transferred to hospice (aOR 1.36, CI 1.29-1.43 and 1.37, CI 1.26-1.50), respectively. All secondary outcomes were more likely among rural patients.

CONCLUSIONS

Hospitalization, inpatient mortality, and other adverse outcomes are higher among rural persons with COVID-19, even after adjusting for demographic differences and comorbidities. Further research is needed to understand the factors that drive health disparities in rural populations.

Association of Hospital Bed Turnover With Patient Outcomes in Digestive Surgery

To determine the influence of hospital bed turnover rate (BTR) on the occurrence of complications following minor or major digestive surgery.

Background

Performance improvement in surgery aims at increasing productivity while preventing complications. It is unknown whether this relationship can be influenced by the complexity of surgery.

Methods

A nationwide retrospective cohort study was conducted, based on generalized estimating equation modeling to determine the effect of hospital BTR on surgical outcomes, adjusting for patient mix and clustering within 631 public and private French hospitals. All patients who underwent minor or major digestive surgery between January 1, 2013 and December 31, 2018 were included. Hospital BTR was defined as the annual number of stays per bed for digestive surgery and categorized into tertiles. The primary endpoint was a composite measurement of events occurring within 30 days after surgery: inpatient death, extended intensive care unit (ICU) admission, and reoperation.

Results

Rate of adverse events was 2.51% in low BTR hospitals versus 2.25% in high BTR hospitals for minor surgery, and 16.79% versus 16.83% for major surgery. Patients who underwent minor surgery in high BTR hospitals experienced lower complications (odds ratio [OR], 0.89; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.81-0.97; P = 0.009), mortality (OR, 0.87; 95% CI, 0.78-0.98, P = 0.02), ICU admission (OR, 0.83; 95% CI, 0.70-0.99; P = 0.03), and reoperation (OR, 0.91; 95% CI, 0.85-0.97; P = 0.002) compared to those in low BTR hospitals. Such differences were not consistently observed among patients admitted for major surgery.

Conclusions

High turnover of patients in beds is beneficial for minor procedures, but questionable for major surgeries.

Impact of Competition Versus Centralisation of Hospital Care on Process Quality: A Multilevel Analysis of Breast Cancer Surgery in France

BACKGROUND

The implications of competition among hospitals on care quality have been the subject of considerable debate. On one hand, economic theory suggests that when prices are regulated, quality will be increased in competitive markets. On the other hand, hospital mergers have been justified by the need to exploit cost advantages, and by evidence that hospital volume and care quality are related.

METHODS

Based on patient-level data from two years (2005 and 2012) we track changes in market competition and treatment patterns in breast cancer surgery. We focus on technology adoption as a proxy of process quality and examine the likelihood of offering two innovative surgical procedures: immediate breast reconstruction (IBR), after mastectomy and sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB). We use an index of competition based on a multinomial logit model of hospital choice which is not subject to endogeneity bias, and estimate its impact on the propensity to receive IBR and SLNB by means of multilevel models taking into account both observable patient and hospital characteristics.

RESULTS

The likelihood of receiving these procedures is significantly higher in hospitals located in more competitive markets. Yet, hospital volume remains a significant indicator of quality, therefore benefits of competition appear to be sensitive to the estimates of the impact of volume on care process. In France, the centralisation policy, with minimum activity thresholds, have contributed to improving breast cancer treatment between 2005 and 2012.

CONCLUSION

Finding the right balance between costs and benefits of market competition versus concentration of hospital care supply is complex. We find that close to monopolistic markets do not encourage innovation and quality in cancer treatment, but highly competitive markets where many hospitals have very low activity volumes are also problematic because hospital quality is positively linked to patient volume.

Rural-Urban Differences in Esophagectomy for Cancer

Introduction

Patients who are disadvantaged socioeconomically or live in rural areas may not pursue surgery at high-volume centers where outcomes are better for some complex procedures. The objective of this study was to compare rural and urban patient differences directly by location of residence and outcomes after undergoing esophagectomy for cancer.

Methods

An analysis of the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project National Inpatient Sample (HCUP-NIS) database was performed, capturing adult patients with esophageal cancer who underwent esophagectomy. Patients were stratified into rural or urban groups by the National Center for Health Statistics Urban-Rural Classification Scheme. Demographics, hospital variables, and outcomes were compared.

Results

A total of 2,877 patients undergoing esophagectomy for esophageal cancer were captured by the database, with 228 (7.92%) rural and 2,575 (89.50%) urban patients. The rural and urban groups had no differences in age, race, and insurance status, and shared many common comorbidities. Major outcomes of mortality (3.95% versus 4.27%, p = 0.815) and length of stay (15.75 ± 13.22 vs. 15.55 ± 14.91 days, p = 0.828) were similar for both rural and urban patients. There was a trend for rural patients to more likely be discharged home (35.96% vs. 29.79%, OR 0.667 [95% CI 0.479 – 0.929]; p = 0.0167).

Conclusions

This retrospective administrative database study indicated that rural and urban patients received equivalent postoperative care after undergoing esophagectomy. The findings were reassuring as there did not appear to be a disparity in major outcomes depending on the location of residence, but further studies are necessary to assure equitable treatment for rural patients.

Pancreaticoduodenectomy is safe in appropriately resourced rural hospitals

BACKGROUND

Research shows improved safety and treatment outcomes for patients undergoing pancreaticoduodenectomy at high-volume centers. Regionalization of pancreaticoduodenectomy to high-volume urban centers can result in unintended negative consequences for rural patients and communities. This report examines outcomes after pancreaticoduodenectomy performed at a rural hospital and compares them with national standards.

METHODS

A prospectively maintained database of pancreatic operations performed at a rural tertiary hospital was queried. Demographic and clinical information for patients undergoing pancreaticoduodenectomy (2007-2019) was analyzed. Primary outcomes were the rates of patient mortality and morbidity. Secondary outcomes were readmission rates, indications, and associations with clinical variables.

RESULTS

We included 118 patients in our study. There were 41 postoperative complications (34.7%), including 1 death (0.9%). The 90-day readmission rate was 24.6%. The most common indication for readmission was deep space infection (n = 7, 24.1%). Patients requiring an intraoperative transfusion were more likely to need hospital readmission (41.4% vs 9.0% of patients without transfusion, P = .016). Patients with postoperative complications required readmission more frequently (51.7% vs 29.2%, P = .093). These findings are similar to data from urban hospitals.

CONCLUSION

Patient safety and surgical outcomes after pancreaticoduodenectomy performed in appropriately resourced rural hospitals can be comparable with national standards. Safely treating rural patients near their home benefits patients and their communities.

Regionalization of General Surgery Within the Mayo Clinic Health System and the Mayo Clinic

Regionalization of surgery is an important component of surgical outcomes. This has been based on numerous studies validating the relationship of surgical volume to surgical outcomes. The Mayo Clinic is actively engaged in regionalization of surgery within its health system. It has embraced a nonvolume outcome approach focusing on outcomes using electronic medical record data mining and National Surgical Quality Improvement Program. Implementing surgical regionalization is supported but ineffectively implemented. In addition, the implementation process has been poorly described in the literature. The Mayo clinic has actively implemented regionalization within its health system, which includes supporting the health system.

The Impact of Regionalization of Pancreaticoduodenectomy for Pancreatic Cancer in North Carolina since 2004

Pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD) carries a significant risk. High-volume centers (HVCs) provide improved outcomes and regionalization is advocated. Rapid regionalization could, however, have detrimental effects. North Carolina has multiple HVCs, including an additional HVC added in late 2006. We investigated regionalization of PD and its effects before, and after, the establishment of this fourth HVC. The North Carolina Hospital Discharge Database was queried for all PDs performed during 2004 to 2006 and 2007 to 2009. Hospitals were categorized by PD volume as: low (one to nine/year), medium (10 to 19/year), and high (20/year or more). Mortality and major morbidity was assessed by comparing volume groups across time periods. Number of PDs for cancer increased 91 per cent (129 to 246 cases) at HVCs, whereas decreasing at low-volume (62 to 58 cases) and medium-volume (80 to 46 cases) centers. Percentage of PD for cancer performed at HVCs increased significantly (47.6 to 70.3%) while decreasing for low- and medium-volume centers ( P < 0.001). Mortality was significantly less at HVCs (2.8%) compared with low-volume centers (10.3%) for 2007 to 2009. Odds ratio for mortality was significantly lower at HVCs during 2004 to 2006 (0.31) and 2007 to 2009 (0.34). Mortality for PD performed for cancer decreased from 6.6 to 4.6 per cent ( P = 0.31). Major morbidity was not significantly different between groups within either time period; however, there was a significant increase in major morbidity at low-volume centers ( P = 0.018). Regionalization of PD for cancer is occurring in North Carolina. Mortality was significantly lower at HVCs, and rapid regionalization has not detracted from the superior outcomes at HVCs.

Understanding the Clinical Implications of Resident Involvement in Uncommon Operations

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this study was to examine uncommon operations in greater detail given that the outcomes of uncommon operations are largely understudied. This study examines the incidence of postoperative events and the role of the resident following uncommon operations.

DESIGN

We identified uncommon general surgical operations using the ACS National Surgical Quality Improvement Program Participant Use file (2008-2011). Death or serious morbidity (DSM) within 30 days of the operation was the primary outcome of interest. Failure to rescue (FTR) and prolonged operative time (PRopt) were evaluated as secondary outcome measures. PRopt was defined as ≥90 percentile of operative time for each procedure type. Independent multivariate logistic regression models were generated to examine the impact of these descriptors on the outcomes of interest.

SETTING/PARTICIPANTS

The dataset utilized was the United States National Surgical Quality Improvement Program Participant Use File which leverages data points from over 700 hospitals that range from primary to quaternary care centers. Resident participation was defined as resident involved (RI) or no resident involved (NRI), and stratified by postgraduate year (PGY): 1-3, 4-5, and 6+.

RESULTS

Resident participant data was available for 21,453 (84.5%) uncommon operations with NRI in 25.4% (5447). With regard to resident participation, PGY1-3 were found in 12.6% (2699), PGY4-5 in 50.4% (10,817), and PGY6+ in 11.6% (2490). The overall observed DSM rate was 28.6% and the observed FTR rate was 5.8%. Overall, there was no difference in DSM by RI status (NRI: 1528; 28.1% vs RI: 4602; 28.8%; p = 0.324); however, PGY level was associated with DSM (PGY1-3: 774, 28.7%, PGY4-5: 3210, 29.7%, PGY6+: 618, 24.8%; p < 0.001). Any RI was associated with a lower rate of FTR (5.1%) when compared to NRI (8.3%, p < 0.001) with decreasing FTR events by increasing PGY (PGY1-3: 6.4%, PGY4-5: 5.2%, PGY6+: 3.3%; p < 0.001). After adjustment for patient risk factors, any RI remained associated with a lower likelihood of FTR than NRI (odds ratio: 0.65, 95% confidence interval: 0.49-0.87) while only the PGY4-5 and PGY6+ groups were associated with lower likelihood of FTR in comparison to NRI. RI was associated with PRopt in univariate and multivariable analyses.

CONCLUSIONS

Uncommon operations were associated with substantial DSM. The involvement of PGY4-5 residents was associated with the greatest likelihood of DSM. With increasing PGY of the involved resident, cases with PGY > 5 demonstrated a lower likelihood of risk-adjusted FTR. The explanation for these findings is not clear; however, the involvement of more senior residents in the technical aspects of uncommon operations may lead to improved results.

Volume-outcome relationship for peripheral endovascular interventions: a review of existing literature

The incidence and prevalence of peripheral vascular disease has been increasing. When coexistent with coronary artery disease (CAD), it has shown to predict higher mortality along with poorer quality-of-life consequently leading to a marked increase in healthcare costs. Broadly, there has been an increase in utilization of endovascular techniques in the management of peripheral vascular diseases. An inverse relation between volume and outcomes has been noted in these procedures. Additionally, improved resource utilization has also been noted with higher hospital and operator volumes. This has led to proposals to regionalize these procedures to high volume hospitals. There have also been calls to introduce the idea of having a set threshold of procedures for providers. This review presents an overview of published literature on the volume-outcome relationship affecting the outcomes of peripheral endovascular procedures.

Trends in Hospital Volume and Failure to Rescue for Pancreatic Surgery

BACKGROUND

We sought to evaluate trends in selection of high volume (HV) hospitals for pancreatic surgery, as well as examine trends in preoperative complications, mortality, and failure to rescue (FTR).

METHOD

Patients who underwent pancreatic resection between 2000 and 2011 were identified from the Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS). Preoperative morbidity, mortality, and FTR were examined over time. Hospital volume was stratified into tertiles based on the number of pancreatic resections per year for each time period. Logistic regression models were used to assess the effect of hospital volume on risk of complication, postoperative mortality, and FTR over time.

RESULT

A total of 35,986 patients were identified. Median hospital volume increased from 13 in 2000-2003 to 55 procedures/year in 2008-2011 (P < 0.001). Morbidity remained relatively the same over time at low volume (LV), intermediate volume (IV), and HV hospitals (all P > 0.05). Overall postoperative mortality was 5%, and it decreased over time across all hospital volumes (P < 0.05). FTR was more common at LV (12.0%) and IV (8.5%) volume hospitals compared with HV hospitals (6.4%). The improvement in FTR over time was most pronounced at LV and IV hospitals versus HV hospitals (P = 0.001).

CONCLUSION

Median hospital volume for pancreatic surgery has increased over the past decade. While the morbidity remained relatively stable over time, mortality improved especially in LV and IV hospitals. This improvement in mortality seems to be related to a decreased FTR.

Routine diversion of patients with STEMI to high-volume PCI centres: modelling the financial impact on referral hospitals

OBJECTIVE

To quantify possible revenue losses from proposed ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) patient diversion policies for small hospitals that lack high-volume percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) capability status (ie, 'STEMI referral hospitals').

BACKGROUND

Negative financial impacts on STEMI referral hospitals have been discussed as an important barrier to implementing regional STEMI bypass/transfer protocols. However, there is little empirical data available that directly quantifies this potential financial impact.

METHODS

Using detailed financial charges from Florida hospital discharge data, we examined the potential negative financial impact on 112 STEMI referral hospitals from losing all inpatient STEMI revenue. The main outcome was projected revenue loss (PRL), defined as total annual patient with STEMI charges as a proportion of total annual charges for all patients. We hypothesised that for most community hospitals (>90%), STEMI revenue represented only a small fraction of total revenue (<1%). We further examined the financial impact of the 'worst case' scenario of loss of all acute coronary syndrome (ACS) (ie, chest pain) patients.

RESULTS

PRLs were $0.33 for every $100 of patient revenue statewide for STEMI and $1.73 for ACS. At the individual hospital level, the 90th centile PRL was $0.74 for STEMI and $2.77 for ACS. PRLs for STEMI were not greater in rural areas compared with major metropolitan areas. Hospital revenue centres that would be most impacted by loss of patients with STEMI were cardiology procedures and intensive care units.

CONCLUSIONS

Loss of patient with STEMI revenues would result in only a small financial impact on STEMI referral hospitals in Florida under proposed STEMI diversion/rapid transfer protocols. However, spillover loss of patients with ACS would increase revenue loss for many hospitals.

Impact of Community Wealth on Use of Cardiac-Resynchronization Therapy With Defibrillators for Heart Failure Patients

Background—

Disparities in cardiovascular disease treatment are a major health policy concern. A complex interplay of patient, provider, and social contextual factors affect inequities in care.

Methods and Results—

We used data regarding 22 205 patient stays in the National Cardiovascular Data Registry to explore the effect of hospital resources on receipt of a heart failure therapy, cardiac-resynchronization therapy with defibrillation (CRT-D). When added to patient-level variables, hospital ownership, cardiac patient volume, cardiac procedure availability, CRT-D, implantable cardioverter-defibrillator implantation volumes, and hospital financial characteristics were individually predictive of CRT-D receipt. In the full hierarchical model, average median household income ( P <0.0001) and implantable cardioverter-defibrillator implantation volume ( P <0.001) remained significant predictors of CRT-D receipt. Patients treated at hospitals in affluent communities were more likely to receive CRT-D than patients treated in poor communities, despite accounting for other patient and hospital characteristics, including insurance status.

Conclusions—

These findings suggest that the likelihood of receiving CRT-D is mediated by community wealth and hospital resources, and that health policy targeting insurance coverage alone may be ineffective in resolving inequities in care.

Basal Cerebral Computed Tomography as Diagnostic Tool to Improve Patient Selection in Asymptomatic Carotid Artery Stenosis

One-hundred patients were included to evaluate the role of cerebral computed tomography (CT) to improve patient selection in asymptomatic internal carotid stenosis. Symptomatic patients were assigned to group A, asymptomatic patients to group B. A cerebral CT pattern A was observed in groups A and B in 60% and 20%, respectively ( P < .0001). Between A and B groups, type 6 plaques were found, respectively, in 26.7% and 7.5% of patients ( P = .01); a type 5 in 51.7% and 45% ( P = .32) of patients; and a type 4 in 21.7% and 47.5% of patients, respectively ( P = .006). Within B group, the association of CT pattern A and histological plaque level 4, 5, and 6 was, respectively, 25% ( P = .15), 50% ( P = .53), and 25% ( P = .16). In group B, a 7-fold risk increase in CT pattern A was found in patients with level 6 plaque. In asymptomatic patients with high-risk plaque, a basal cerebral CT scan can be used as diagnostic tool to improve patient selection for intervention.

Trends in hospital volume and operative mortality for high-risk surgery

BACKGROUND

There were numerous efforts in the United States during the previous decade to concentrate selected surgical procedures in high-volume hospitals. It remains unknown whether referral patterns for high-risk surgery have changed as a result and how operative mortality has been affected.

METHODS

We used national Medicare data to study patients undergoing one of eight different cancer and cardiovascular operations from 1999 through 2008. For each procedure, we examined trends in hospital volume and market concentration, defined as the proportion of Medicare patients undergoing surgery in the top decile of hospitals by volume per year. We used regression-based techniques to assess the effects of volume and market concentration on mortality over time, adjusting for case mix.

RESULTS

Median hospital volumes of four cancer resections (lung, esophagus, pancreas, and bladder) and of repair of abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) rose substantially. Depending on the procedure, higher hospital volumes were attributable to an increasing number of cases nationwide, an increasing market concentration, or both. Hospital volumes rose slightly for aortic-valve replacement but fell for coronary-artery bypass grafting and carotid endarterectomy. Operative mortality declined for all eight procedures, ranging from a relative decline of 8% for carotid endarterectomy (1.3% mortality in 1999 and 1.2% in 2008) to 36% for AAA repair (4.4% in 1999 and 2.8% in 2008). Higher hospital volumes explained a large portion of the decline in mortality for pancreatectomy (67% of the decline), cystectomy (37%), and esophagectomy (32%), but not for the other procedures.

CONCLUSIONS

Operative mortality with high-risk surgery fell substantially during the previous decade. Although increased market concentration and hospital volume have contributed to declining mortality with some high-risk cancer operations, declines in mortality with other procedures are largely attributable to other factors. (Funded by the National Institute on Aging.).

General surgeon shortage in the United States: fact or fiction, causes and consequences

There is evidence that supports a current undersupply of general surgeons with a potential for worsening workforce shortages in the future. This article examines this potential shortage along with its causes and possible consequences.

Regionalization of surgical services in central Florida: the next step in acute care surgery

BACKGROUND

There is a national loss of access to surgeons for emergencies. Contributing factors include reduced numbers of practicing general surgeons, superspecialization, reimbursement issues, emphasis on work and life balance, and medical liability. Regionalizing acute care surgery (ACS), as exists for trauma care, represents a potential solution. The purpose of this study is to assess the financial and resources impact of transferring all nontrauma ACS cases from a community hospital (CH) to a trauma center (TC).

METHODS

We performed a case mix and financial analysis of patient records with ACS for a rural CH located near an urban Level I TC. ACS patients were analyzed for diagnosis, insurance status, procedures, and length of stay. We estimated physician reimbursement based on evaluation and management codes and procedural CPT codes. Hospital revenues were based on regional diagnosis-related group rates. All third-party remuneration was set at published Medicare rates; self-pay was set at nil.

RESULTS

Nine hundred ninety patients were treated in the CH emergency department with 188 potential surgical diseases. ACS was necessary in 62 cases; 25.4% were uninsured. Extrapolated to 12 months, 248 patients would generate new TC physician revenue of >$155,000 and hospital profits of >$1.5 million. CH savings for call pay and other variable costs are >$100,000. TC operating room volume would only increase by 1%.

CONCLUSION

Regionalization of ACS to TCs is a viable option from a business perspective. Access to care is preserved during an approaching crisis in emergency general surgical coverage. The referring hospital is relieved of an unfavorable payer mix and surgeon call problems. The TC receives a new revenue stream with limited impact on resources by absorbing these patients under its fixed costs, saving the CH variable costs.

Quality improvement for pancreatic cancer care: is regionalization a feasible and effective mechanism?

Variability exists in the quality of pancreatic cancer care provided in the United States. High-volume centers have been shown to have improved outcomes for pancreatectomy. Regionalization of pancreatic cancer care to high-volume centers has the potential to improve care and outcomes. Practical limitations such as overloading currently available high-volume centers, extending patient travel times, sharing patients within a multipayer health system, and incorporating patient preferences must be addressed for regionalization to become a reality. The benefits and limitations of regionalization of pancreatic cancer care are discussed in this review. To improve the overall quality of pancreatic cancer care at all hospitals in the United States, a combination of referral of patients with pancreatic cancer to high- and moderate-volume hospitals in conjunction with specific quality-improvement efforts at those institutions is proposed.

Bassett healthcare rural surgery experience

The surgical training at Bassett is naturally broader than in many university settings, with a survey showing that nearly 70% of graduates who practice general surgery remain in a rurally designated area. Rural surgery experience falls into 3 categories: undergraduate, graduate, and postgraduate. The general surgery training program has no competing fellowships or subspecialty residencies; residents get significant experience with endoscopy; ear, nose, and throat; plastic and hand surgery; and obstetrics and gynecology. The rural setting lifestyle is valued by the students, residents, and fellows alike. It provides an ideal setting for recognizing the specific nuances of small-town American life, with a high-quality education and surgical experience.

Higher hospital volume is associated with lower mortality in acute nonvariceal upper-GI hemorrhage

BACKGROUND

Acute nonvariceal upper-GI hemorrhage (NVUGIH) is associated with significant morbidity and mortality.

OBJECTIVE

To examine the relationship between hospital volume and outcomes of NVUGIH.

DESIGN

A cross-sectional study.

SETTING

Participating hospitals from the Nationwide Inpatient Sample 2004.

PATIENTS

All discharged patients with a primary discharge diagnosis of NVUGIH based on the International Classification of Diseases, Clinical Modification, ninth edition codes.

INTERVENTIONS

Patients were divided into 3 groups based on discharge from hospitals with annual discharge volumes of 1 to 125 (low), 126 to 250 (medium), and >250 (high).

MAIN OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS

In-hospital mortality, length of stay, and hospitalization charges.

RESULTS

The study included a total of 135,366, 132,746, and 123,007 discharges with NVUGIH occurred from low-volume, medium-volume, and high-volume hospitals, respectively. On multivariate analysis, when adjusting for age, comorbidity, and the presence of complications, patients at high-volume hospitals had significantly lower in-hospital mortality (odds ratio [OR] 0.85 [95% CI, 0.74-0.98]) than patients at low-volume hospitals. Patients at high-volume hospitals were also more likely to undergo upper-GI endoscopy (OR 1.52 [95% CI, 1.36-1.69]) or early endoscopy within 1 day of hospitalization compared with low-volume hospitals (60.5% vs 53.8%, adjusted OR 1.28 [95% CI, 1.02-1.61]). Undergoing endoscopy within day 1 was associated with shorter hospital stays (-1.08 days [95% CI, -1.24 to -0.92 days]) and lower hospitalization charges (-$1958 [95% CI, -$3227 to -$688]).

LIMITATIONS

The study was based on an administrative data set.

CONCLUSIONS

Higher hospital volume is associated with lower mortality and with higher rates of endoscopy and endoscopic intervention in patients with NVUGIH.

Higher hospital volume predicts endoscopy but not the in-hospital mortality rate in patients with acute variceal hemorrhage

BACKGROUND

Acute variceal hemorrhage (AVH) is an important complication of cirrhosis that carries a high mortality rate. Management of AVH requires early initiation of specialized care that may be more readily available at centers that deal with a high volume of AVH.

OBJECTIVE

Our purpose was to examine the relationship between the annual hospitalization volume and the in-hospital mortality rate for AVH.

DESIGN

Cross-sectional study from a national representative sample.

SETTING

A 20% sample of all nonfederal short-term hospitals from 37 states participating in the Nationwide Inpatient Sample 2004.

PATIENTS

A total of 28,817 discharges with AVH identified through appropriate International Classification of Diseases, 9th Revision, Clinical Modification codes for bleeding esophageal varices. Hospitals were divided into low-, medium-, and high-volume hospitals if they had 1 to 15, 16 to 35, and 36 or more annual discharges related to AVH.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASUREMENT

In-hospital mortality rate.

RESULTS

On multivariate analysis, there was no significant difference in the mortality rate either for medium- (odds ratio [OR] 0.84; 95% CI, 0.67-1.05) or high-volume hospitals (OR 1.06; 95% CI, 0.82-1.37). However, patients both at medium- (OR 1.27; 95% CI, 1.02-1.58) and high-volume hospitals (OR 1.40; 95% CI, 1.07-1.84) were more likely to undergo endoscopy for AVH. Endoscopic intervention for control of variceal hemorrhage was significantly more common in medium- (OR 1.20) and high- (OR 1.33) volume hospitals. Patients at medium- (OR 3.10; 95% CI, 2.09-4.60) and high-volume hospitals (OR 4.12; 95% CI, 2.52-6.75) were also more likely to undergo transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS).

CONCLUSION

Higher hospital volume is associated with greater rates of endoscopy, endoscopic intervention, and higher utilization of TIPS in the management of AVH.

Race and surgical outcomes: it is not all black and white

BACKGROUND

Studies using Medicare data have suggested that African American race is an independent predictor of death after major surgery. We hypothesized that the apparent adverse effect of race on surgical outcomes is due to confounding by comorbidity, not race itself.

METHODS

We identified all non-Hispanic white and African American general surgery, private sector patients included in the National Surgery Quality Improvement Program (NSQIP) Patient Safety in Surgery Study (2001-2004). Patient characteristics, comorbidities, and postoperative outcomes were collected/analyzed using NSQIP methodology. Characteristics between races were compared using Student t and chi(2) tests. Odds ratios (OR) for 30-day morbidity and mortality were calculated using multivariable logistic regression.

RESULTS

We identified 34,141 white and 5068 African American patients. African Americans were younger but more likely to undergo emergency surgery and present with hypertension, dyspnea, diabetes, renal failure, open wounds/infection, or advanced American Society of Anesthesiology class (all P < 0.001). African Americans underwent less complex procedures but had higher unadjusted 30-day morbidity (14.33% vs. 12.35%; P < 0.001) and mortality (2.09% vs. 1.65%; P = 0.02). After controlling for comorbidity, African American race had no independent effect on mortality (OR 0.95, (0.74-1.23)) but was associated with a higher risk of postoperative cardiac arrest (OR 2.49, (1.80-3.45)) and renal insufficiency/failure (OR 1.70 (1.32-2.18)).

CONCLUSION

African American race is associated with greater comorbidity and cardiac/renal complications but is not an independent predictor of perioperative mortality after general surgery. Efforts to improve postoperative outcomes in African Americans should focus on reducing the need for emergency surgery and improving perioperative management of comorbid conditions.

Does it matter where you are hospitalized for inflammatory bowel disease? A nationwide analysis of hospital volume

OBJECTIVE

To examine if a high hospital volume was associated with superior outcomes in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients requiring hospitalization.

METHODS

This was a cross-sectional study using data from the Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS 2004). IBD-related hospitalizations were identified using appropriate International Classification of Diseases, Ninth revision, Clinical modification (ICD-9-CM) codes. Hospital volume was divided into low, medium, and high by assigning the threshold cutoff values of 1-50, 51-150, and >150 annual IBD hospitalizations, respectively. Our primary outcomes were in-hospital mortality, length of stay, and postoperative complications and stay.

RESULTS

Patients at high-volume centers were more likely to be hospitalized with fistulizing or stricturing disease. The adjusted mortality was lower for IBD-related discharges from high-volume centers for those undergoing abdominal surgery (odds ratio [OR] 0.38, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.18-0.78), but not among those who did not undergo surgery (OR 0.90, 95% CI 0.53-1.52). Patients at high-volume centers were also more likely to undergo surgery (OR 2.24, 95% CI 1.40-3.58). These differences were more prominent in Crohn's disease than in ulcerative colitis.

CONCLUSION

Hospitals with a high annual IBD volume have lower in-hospital mortality among surgical IBD patients. This suggests a need for future research into identifying the quality-of-care measures in IBD and instituting appropriate interventions to improve overall IBD outcomes.