scholarly journals Do Community Hospitals Reduce the Use of District General Hospital Inpatient beds?

1996 ◽  
Vol 89 (12) ◽  
pp. 681-687 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christine Hine ◽  
Victorine A Wood ◽  
Stephen Taylor ◽  
Mark Charny
Keyword(s):  
General Hospital ◽  
Community Hospital ◽  
District General Hospital ◽  
Systematic Evaluation ◽  
Hospital Inpatient ◽  
Community Hospitals ◽  
Activity Data ◽  
Hospital Beds ◽  
The Impact ◽  
The City

Community hospitals have been supported by the general public and by professionals as one means of increasing choice between local, low technology, care and high technology care at the district general hospital. However, there is no information on the impact of community hospitals on district general hospital use subsequent to NHS and community care reforms. Examination of routinely gathered activity data in the Bath Health District revealed that availability of community hospital beds was associated with reduced use of central inpatient services in the city of Bath. The reduction was most apparent for medical and geriatric beds. Decrease in the use of surgical beds was small. However, total inpatient bed use (including central and community hospital beds) was higher in the population with access to community hospital beds. We conclude that community hospitals offer one option for accessible health care and, as such, merit systematic evaluation of costs and benefits. This study presents some evidence that savings could be achieved through improved efficiency.

scholarly journals 822 Lessons Learnt During the COVID-19 Pandemic on Emergency Surgical Admissions in A District General Hospital

2021 ◽  
Vol 108 (Supplement_2) ◽  
Author(s):  
K Ahn ◽  
N Khan ◽  
N Desai ◽  
M Abdu ◽  
L Hiddema ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
General Hospital ◽  
Public Health Intervention ◽  
District General Hospital ◽  
Lifestyle Changes ◽  
Severe Respiratory Distress ◽  
Surgical Services ◽  
Record Data ◽  
Efficacious Vaccine ◽  
Severe Respiratory Distress Syndrome ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Introduction Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is an acute severe respiratory distress syndrome which resulted in an unprecedented impact on NHS service provision. We aimed to assess the impact of COVID-19 on general surgical services in a district general hospital. Method Electronic health care record data was retrospectively collected from 6th of April to 6th of May for both 2019 and 2020. Results Despite fewer referrals and admissions in 2020 (133 vs 177 admissions in 2019), there were more failed discharges (29 vs 17 in 2019) and higher associated costs. Higher numbers of biliary related pathologies and pancreatitis (50 in 2020 vs 25 in 2019), and fewer complaints of non-specific abdominal pain (10 in 2020 vs 22 in 2019) were observed. The use of outpatient investigations decreased by approximately 40% in 2020; however, utilisation of inpatient investigations was comparable. Conclusions Better utilisation of outpatient investigations and virtual clinic services may surmount pressures from further peaks of COVID-19. The increase in biliary related cases and pancreatitis may be consequent upon lifestyle changes during lockdown. This merits further investigation and if appropriate, public health intervention. In the absence of an efficacious vaccine, further research would be essential to streamline general surgical services based on clinical risk stratification.

661 Improving Antibiotic Prescribing in a District General Hospital: A Closed Loop Audit

2021 ◽  
Vol 108 (Supplement_6) ◽  
Author(s):  
Z H Ng ◽  
T Kamran
Keyword(s):  
General Hospital ◽  
District General Hospital ◽  
Educational Interventions ◽  
Correct Choice ◽  
Antibiotic Prescribing ◽  
Surgical Team ◽  
Abdominal Abscesses ◽  
Antibiotic Efficacy ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Local Antibiotic

Abstract Aim Broad-spectrum antibiotics are effective in decreasing wound infection and postoperative intra-abdominal abscesses for patients undergoing appendicectomy. Compliance with local hospital antibiotic guidelines is important in ensuring antibiotic efficacy and reducing potential for toxicity and antibiotic resistance. The aim was to assess the impact of educational interventions on the adherence to local antibiotic guidelines in patients undergoing appendicectomy at a Scottish district general hospital. Method Preoperative antibiotic prescribing in consecutive adult patients aged ≥ 16 years undergoing appendicectomy were audited against hospital guidelines over a four-month period between March 2019 and July 2019. We implemented change through antibiotic prescribing teaching for doctors in the surgical team and anaesthetic team. This change was subsequently evaluated through a re-audit over a three-month period between December 2019 and February 2020. Results The baseline audit demonstrated 68.8% (n = 11/16) compliance to local antibiotic guidelines among patients undergoing appendicectomy. The remaining patients had the correct choice of antibiotics, but gentamicin was prescribed in different doses. Gaps in prescriber awareness of antibiotic guidelines were identified. Following departmental teaching sessions regarding antibiotic prescribing and use of the gentamicin dosing calculator, the re-audit showed 93.8% (n = 15/16) compliance with local antibiotic guidelines among prescribers in the surgical team and anaesthesic team. Conclusions Education interventions were instrumental in improving adherence to antibiotic prescribing guidelines. This highlights the importance of regular audit and prescriber education in the promotion of antibiotic stewardship in hospitals.

Reducing the number of unnecessary laboratory tests within hospital through the use of educational interventions

2021 ◽  
pp. 000456322110406
Author(s):  
Michael Thurm ◽  
Helen Craggs ◽  
Merlin Watts ◽  
Anthony Brooks
Keyword(s):  
Cohort Study ◽  
Cost Saving ◽  
General Hospital ◽  
Laboratory Tests ◽  
Patient Management ◽  
District General Hospital ◽  
Educational Interventions ◽  
Blood Tests ◽  
Medical Teams ◽  
The Impact

Background The growing number of laboratory investigation requests is placing an increased burden upon NHS resources. Around a quarter of all tests are unnecessary repeats, and almost a third have no impact on patient management. Doctors recognise that tests should only be performed when clinically indicated, but a culture persists of undertaking unnecessary repeat investigations. Methods A cohort study was undertaken at a district general hospital to observe the impact of introducing educational interventions in the form of a poster and a series of educational lectures, encouraging clinicians to consider whether an investigation was clinically indicated. Data was collected from nine different sites across the hospital run by different medical teams regarding the number of tests undertaken and the impact on patient care. Results Data from over 13,000 tests and over 2000 patients was analysed from nine different sites across the hospital. There was a significant reduction (33%, p = 0.0001) in the number of blood tests performed. This reduction in testing saved £7006 over the course of 1 month, in addition to other benefits. There was a reduction in testing in eight out of the nine sites in which the study was undertaken, demonstrating good generalisability of results. There was no significant increase in length of admission or mortality. Conclusion Educational interventions to doctors have a significant and safe impact in reducing the number of unnecessary investigations, providing cost saving benefits to the NHS.

scholarly journals The impact of COVID-19 on elective and trauma spine service in a district general hospital

2020 ◽  
Vol 1 (6) ◽  
pp. 281-286
Author(s):  
Wajiha Zahra ◽  
Monil Karia ◽  
Daniel Rolton
Keyword(s):  
General Hospital ◽  
District General Hospital ◽  
Acute Hospital ◽  
Retrospective Data ◽  
Spine Trauma ◽  
Clinical Criteria ◽  
Time Period ◽  
Number Of Patients ◽  
Acute Hospital Admission ◽  
The Impact

Aims The aim of this paper is to describe the impact of COVID-19 on spine surgery services in a district general hospital in England in order to understand the spinal service provisions that may be required during a pandemic. Methods A prospective cohort study was undertaken between 17 March 2020 and 30 April 2020 and compared with retrospective data from same time period in 2019. We compared the number of patients requiring acute hospital admission or orthopaedic referrals and indications of referrals from our admission sheets and obtained operative data from our theatre software. Results Between 17 March to 30 April 2020, there were 48 acute spine referrals as compared to 68 acute referrals during the same time period last year. In the 2019 period, 69% (47/68) of cases referred to the on-call team presented with back pain, radiculopathy or myelopathy compared to 43% (21/48) in the 2020 period. Almost 20% (14/68) of spine referrals consisted of spine trauma as compared to 35% (17/48) this year. There were no confirmed cases of cauda equine last year during this time. Overall, 150 spine cases were carried out during this time period last year, and 261 spine elective cases were cancelled since 17 March 2020. Recommendations We recommend following steps can be helpful to deal with similar situations or new pandemics in future: 24 hours on-call spine service during the pandemic. Clinical criteria in place to prioritize urgent spinal cases. Pre-screening spine patients before elective operating. Start of separate specialist trauma list for patients needing urgent surgeries. Conclusion This paper highlights the impact of COVID-19 pandemic in a district general hospital of England. We demonstrate a decrease in hospital attendances of spine pathologies, despite an increase in emergency spine operations. Cite this article: Bone Joint Open 2020;1-6:281–286.

A Retrospective Review of the Impact of Influenza A(H1N1)v Swine ‘flu Variant on a District General Hospital

2011 ◽  
Vol 63 (6) ◽  
pp. e43-e44
Author(s):  
Victoria H. Jeffrey ◽  
Philip J.R. Sajik ◽  
Cecilia M. Jukka ◽  
Rashmi Gupta ◽  
Judith A. Bowley ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
General Hospital ◽  
Retrospective Review ◽  
Influenza A ◽  
District General Hospital ◽  
Swine Flu ◽  
Influenza A H1n1 ◽  
The Impact
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