OBJECTIVES To determine the variation in charges for 10 common blood tests across California hospitals in 2011, and to analyse the hospital and market-level factors that may explain any observed variation. DESIGN, SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS We conducted a cross-sectional analysis of the degree of charge variation between hospitals for 10 common blood tests using charge data reported by all non-...

PURPOSE Hypospadias is the most common congenital penile anomaly. Information about current utilization patterns of inpatient hypospadias repair as well as complication rates remain poorly evaluated. MATERIALS AND METHODS The Nationwide Inpatient Sample was used to identify all patients undergoing inpatient hypospadias repair between 1998 and 2010. Patient and hospital characteristics were at...

OBJECTIVE To improve clinical teaching with emphasis on improving provision of feedback through a faculty development series modeled on clinical rounds. METHOD Seven 1-hour conferences were held for the pediatric faculty during the academic year 1994-1995. Clinical rounds were emulated, with a simulated learner functioning as the patient with a chief complaint of some instructional problem. T...

Review of 489 "anaesthetic deaths" reported to procurators-fiscal over 10 years disclosed only 30 that were thought to justify such reporting. Most of the remainder occurred in patients so desperately ill at the time of operation that death was expected. Postmortem examinations ordered by the Crown authorities in nearly all cases were probably largely unrewarding and mostly unnecessary. The res...

Objectives. To survey practice variation in the management of first trimester miscarriage in The Netherlands. Methods. We sent an online questionnaire to gynecologists in eight academic, 37 nonacademic teaching, and 47 nonteaching hospitals. Main outcome measures were availability of a local protocol; estimated number of patients treated with curettage, misoprostol, or expectant management; mis...

The errors from doctor prescriptions can cause damage to the patient's health, consequently it is necessary to identify and to prevent them. This work aimed to evaluate if the legal and institutional aspects that are present in doctor prescription at the public and university pediatric hospital to make a diagnosis from the situation, and then to correct the problems. A survey was made was made ...

INTRODUCTION There has been concern of increased emergency department (ED) length of stay (LOS) during the months when new residents are orienting to their roles. This so-called "July Effect" has long been thought to increase LOS, and potentially contribute to hospital overcrowding and increased waiting time for patients. The objective of this study is to determine if the average ED LOS at the ...

BACKGROUND The problem of safe and efficient transfer of care has increased over the years as new and complex diagnostic tools and more complex treatment options became available. Traditionally, residents ensured continuity of care by working long hours and minimizing the transfer of significant diagnostic or therapeutic responsibilities to other providers. The new 80-hour workweek has curtaile...

UNLABELLED Patient satisfaction most be a priority in emergency departments (EDs). The care provided by residents forms much of the patient contact in academic EDs. OBJECTIVE To determine if monetary incentives for emergency medicine (EM) residents improve patient satisfaction scores on a mailed survey. METHODS The incentive program ran for nine months, 1999-2000. Press-Ganey surveys respon...

OBJECTIVE To investigate how doctors define and use the terms "futility" and "futile treatment" in end-of-life care. DESIGN, SETTING, PARTICIPANTS A qualitative study using semi-structured interviews with 96 doctors from a range of specialties which treat adults at the end of life. Doctors were recruited from three large Brisbane teaching hospitals and were interviewed between May and July 20...