The July Effect in Radical Cystectomy: Mortality, Morbidity, and Efficiency

Background: The "July effect" is the potential effect that new and recently promoted residents have on patient care during the first months of the academic year. Literature suggests that the July effect may worsen patient outcomes and lead to systemic inefficiencies. Objective: We evaluate the July effect on mortality, morbidity, and efficiency outcomes in patients undergoing radical cystectomy. Methods: A chart review was performed in patients who underwent radical cystectomy between January 2008 and April 2012. Demographic information was abstracted from patient charts and outcomes compared between operations performed in July, September, and November (first month of each resident's university rotation) to the remainder of the year. Outcomes of interest included mortality, complications, and markers of efficiency (operative time, length of hospital stay, and estimated blood loss). Results: Two hundred and fifty one patients were included in the analysis. There were no major differences in mortality or morbidity between the July, September, November group and the rest of the year. Multivariable analysis demonstrates a trend for operations performed in the months of July, September, and November to be associated with longer OR times 2.06 (0.99-4.27), p = 0.053. Length of hospital stay and estimated blood loss were no different between the two groups. Conclusions: These data demonstrate no increase in mortality or morbidity during the early academic period. Additionally, while there is a trend for OR time to be longer in the early group, length of hospital stay and estimated blood loss were no different. These data may be used as an impetus to continue to investigate technical/clinical teaching practices, strategies to assess resident progression, and to initiate protocols to support residents early in the academic year in efforts to prevent inefficiencies.