Published online October 2, 2006
PEDIATRICS Vol. 118 No. 4 October 2006, pp. 1327-1331 (doi:10.1542/peds.2005-3146)
This Article
Right arrow Full Text
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow Submit a response
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me when eLetters are posted
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Right arrow Citation Map
Services
Right arrow E-mail this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Add to My File Cabinet
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrow reprints & permissions
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via HighWire
Right arrow Citing Articles via CrossRef
Right arrow Citing Articles via ISI Web of Science (2)
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Boyd, J.
Right arrow Articles by White, B.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Boyd, J., III
Right arrow Articles by White, B.
Related Collections
Right arrow Office Practice

ARTICLE

Comparison of Outcome Measures for a Traditional Pediatric Faculty Service and Nonfaculty Hospitalist Services in a Community Teaching Hospital

John Boyd, III, MD, MBA, Kristen Samaddar, MD, Lilia Parra-Roide, MD, Edith Prieto Allen, MD and Bruce White, DO, JD

Division of Pediatrics, St Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center, Phoenix, Arizona

OBJECTIVE. Several studies have found decreased cost and length of stay for patients who are cared for by pediatric hospitalists compared with traditional faculty models. The objective of this study was to compare cost and length of stay between a faculty group and 2 separate hospitalist groups in a community teaching hospital. This study differs from previous ones in that both the traditional faculty and hospitalist models were in place simultaneously, and the traditional faculty group was employed by the hospital, whereas the hospitalist groups were in private practice.

METHODS. A total of 1009 pediatric patients with any of the 11 most frequent diagnosis-related groups were analyzed according to the admitting physician group. Total direct costs and length of stay were computed for 3 separate groups (faculty group, hospitalist group 1, and hospitalist group 2). Linear regression models were used to compare total direct costs and length of stay among the groups. Each model accounted for age, severity index, and payer source.

RESULTS. Age, severity index, and physician group were predictive in determining total direct costs and length of stay. There was no significant difference in patient age among the groups, but the faculty group had significantly increased severity indices compared with hospitalist groups 1 and 2 (1.6 ± 0.7 vs 1.3 ± 0.6 vs 1.4 ± 0.6, mean ± SD). The faculty group had statistically significantly lower total direct costs compared with hospitalist groups 1 and 2 ($1781 ± $1449 vs $1954 ± $1212 vs $1964 ± $1495, mean ± SD). The faculty group had shorter average length of stay compared with hospitalist groups 1 and 2 (2.6 ± 2.0 vs 3.1 ± 2.6 vs 2.9 ± 2.3, mean ± SD). The readmission rates among the groups were similar.

CONCLUSIONS. Traditional faculty models can be as efficient in terms of total direct costs and length of stay as evolving hospitalist models. This study's results may be unique because the traditional faculty model was composed of general pediatricians instead of a blend of generalists and subspecialists. In addition, the traditional faculty physicians concentrated almost entirely on the care of inpatients while engaged in hospital care.

Key Words: hospitalists system • length of stay • cost analysis

Abbreviations: LOS—length of stay • TDC—total direct costs • SJHMC—St Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center • DRG—diagnosis-related group • CRS—Chronic Rehabilitative Services

Accepted May 24, 2006.




This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
 Arch Pediatr Adolesc MedHome page
A. Bekmezian, P. J. Chung, and S. Yazdani
Staff-Only Pediatric Hospitalist Care of Patients With Medically Complex Subspecialty Conditions in a Major Teaching Hospital
Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med, October 1, 2008; 162(10): 975 - 980.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 PediatricsHome page
R. Srivastava, C. P. Landrigan, D. Ross-Degnan, S. B. Soumerai, C. J. Homer, D. A. Goldmann, and S. Muret-Wagstaff
Impact of a Hospitalist System on Length of Stay and Cost for Children With Common Conditions
Pediatrics, August 1, 2007; 120(2): 267 - 274.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 PediatricsHome page
P. C. Smith
Residency Faculty as Hospitalists
Pediatrics, February 1, 2007; 119(2): 412 - 412.
[Full Text] [PDF]