Effects of Physician Experience, Specialty Training, and Self-referral on Inappropriate Diagnostic Imaging

Antibiotic prophylaxis for surgical-site infections and adherence to evidence-based guidelines

BACKGROUND

Antimicrobial prophylaxis is an established practice for reducing surgical-site infections; however, its misuse promotes alternative challenges including antimicrobial resistance. The objective of this study was to determine factors associated with adherence to surgical antibiotic prophylaxis guidelines.

METHODS

Adults aged 18 and older who underwent 1 of 5 selected procedures between 2004 and 2022 were included. The proportion of appropriate antibiotic prophylaxis was determined for each procedure type. A logistic regression model was built to identify factors impacting appropriate prophylaxis practices.

RESULTS

Among our cohort of 9,543 patients, 4,883 were women (51.2%); mean age was 60.1 years. Most patients were White (8,407; 88.1%). Cardiothoracic, neurosurgical, gastrointestinal, and plastic surgery procedures were individually associated with decreased odds of appropriate antibiotic prophylaxis use compared with orthopedic procedures (P < .05). Patients undergoing a cardiothoracic procedure were less likely to receive the correct antibiotic (59.0%). Patients undergoing a gastrointestinal procedure were less likely to receive prophylaxis with the appropriate start time (72.6%) or duration (5.4%). Appropriate antibiotic prophylaxis was more likely in patients who were male (odds ratio, 1.14; 95% confidence interval, 1.10-1.18) and White (odds ratio, 1.17; 95% confidence interval, 1.11-1.22). Appropriate prophylaxis was significantly greater in procedures after 2010 (representing the establishment of an antimicrobial stewardship program) compared with procedures before 2010 (odds ratio, 2.05; confidence interval, 1.95-2.16).

CONCLUSION

Appropriate antibiotic prophylaxis practices demonstrated significant variation according to specialty type, patient characteristics, and the implementation of an antimicrobial stewardship program. These findings suggest the beneficial role of stewardship programs and gaps where interventions can be targeted, particularly antibiotic selection and discontinuation timing.

Theory-Informed Development of a Multicomponent Intervention to Implement Clinical Practice Guideline Recommendations in the Management of Shoulder Pain

OBJECTIVE

Suboptimal primary health care management of shoulder pain has been reported in previous studies. Implementing clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) recommendations using a theoretical approach is recommended to improve shoulder pain management. This study aims to identify determinants of implementing recommendations from shoulder CPGs to help develop an intervention based on the identified determinants.

METHODS

Family physicians and physical therapists managing patients with shoulder pain in primary care were invited to participate in a qualitative study to identify determinants to implementing recommendations from shoulder CPGs. The Theoretical Domains Framework (TDF) was used to inform the creation of the semi-structured interview guide and for deductive coding of transcriptions. The determinants were mapped to intervention functions and behavior change techniques (BCT) using the Behavior Change Wheel method and strategies for implementing CPGs recommendations were identified.

RESULTS

Interviews were conducted with 16 family physicians and 19 physical therapists. We identified 12 barriers and 6 facilitators within 7 TDF domains: knowledge, skills, beliefs about capabilities, beliefs about consequences, intentions, environmental context and resources, and social influence. We identified 6 intervention functions and 12 BCT addressing the relevant determinants. The 11 implementation strategies identified include the development and distribution of educational material, interactive educational outreach visits, and audit and feedback. Other components to consider are the identification and preparation of champions in primary care clinical settings, revision of professional roles, and creation of interdisciplinary clinical teams.

CONCLUSIONS

The identification of barriers and facilitators to implementing recommendations from shoulder CPGs allowed us to select implementation strategies at individual and organizational levels.

IMPACT

The implementation strategies will be adapted to specific primary care contexts in consultation with stakeholders and operationalized into a multicomponent implementation intervention. Implementing the intervention has the potential to improve shoulder pain management in primary care and facilitate the use of evidence-based recommendations from CPGs.

Deep Learning-Based DCE-MRI Automatic Segmentation in Predicting Lesion Nature in BI-RADS Category 4

To investigate whether automatic segmentation based on DCE-MRI with a deep learning (DL) algorithm enabled advantages over manual segmentation in differentiating BI-RADS 4 breast lesions. A total of 197 patients with suspicious breast lesions from two medical centers were enrolled in this study. Patients treated at the First Hospital of Qinhuangdao between January 2018 and April 2024 were included as the training set (n = 138). Patients treated at Lanzhou University Second Hospital were assigned to an external validation set (n = 59). Areas of suspicious lesions were delineated based on DL automatic segmentation and manual segmentation, and evaluated consistency through the Dice correlation coefficient. Radiomics models were constructed based on DL and manual segmentations to predict the nature of BI-RADS 4 lesions. Meanwhile, the nature of the lesions was evaluated by both a professional radiologist and a non-professional radiologist. Finally, the area under the curve value (AUC) and accuracy (ACC) were used to determine which prediction model was more effective. Sixty-four malignant cases (32.5%) and 133 benign cases (67.5%) were included in this study. The DL-based automatic segmentation model showed high consistency with manual segmentation, achieving a Dice coefficient of 0.84 ± 0.11. The DL-based radiomics model demonstrated superior predictive performance compared to professional radiologists, with an AUC of 0.85 (95% CI 0.79-0.92). The DL model significantly reduced working time and improved efficiency by 83.2% compared to manual segmentation, further demonstrating its feasibility for clinical applications. The DL-based radiomics model for automatic segmentation outperformed professional radiologists in distinguishing between benign and malignant lesions in BI-RADS category 4, thereby helping to avoid unnecessary biopsies. This groundbreaking progress suggests that the DL model is expected to be widely applied in clinical practice in the near future, providing an effective auxiliary tool for the diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer.

Association between prehospital physician clinical experience and discharge at scene - retrospective cohort study

BACKGROUND

Clinical experience has been shown to affect many patient-related outcomes but its impact in the prehospital setting has been little studied.

OBJECTIVES

To determine whether rates of discharge at scene, handover to paramedics and supervision are associated with clinical experience.

DESIGN, SETTINGS AND PARTICIPANTS

A retrospective study, performed on all prehospital interventions carried out by physicians working in a mobile medical unit ("service mobile d'urgence et de réanimationˮ [SMUR]) at Geneva University Hospitals between 1 January 2010 and 31 December 2019. The main exclusion criteria were phone consultations and major incidents with multiple casualties.

EXPOSURE

The exposure was the clinical experience of the prehospital physician at the time of the intervention, in number of years since graduation.

OUTCOME MEASURES AND ANALYSIS

The main outcome was the rate of discharge at scene. Secondary outcomes were the rate of handover to paramedics and the need for senior supervision. Outcomes were tabulated and multilevel logistic regression was performed to take into account the cluster effect of physicians.

RESULTS

In total, 48,368 adult patients were included in the analysis. The interventions were performed by 219 different physicians, most of whom were male (53.9%) and had graduated in Switzerland (82.7%). At the time of intervention, mean (standard deviation [SD]) level of experience was 5.2 (3.3) years and the median was 4.6 (interquartile range [IQR]: 3.4-6.0). The overall discharge at scene rate was 7.8% with no association between clinical experience and discharge at scene rate. Greater experience was associated with a higher rate of handover to paramedics (adjusted odds ratio [aOR]: 1.17, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.13-1.21) and less supervision (aOR: 0.85, 95% CI: 0.82-0.88).

CONCLUSION

In this retrospective study, there was no association between level of experience and overall rate of discharge at scene. However, greater clinical experience was associated with higher rates of handover to paramedics and less supervision.

Costs of Specialist Referrals From Employer-Sponsored Integrated Health Care Clinics Are Lower Than Those From Community Providers

BACKGROUND

There have been very few published studies of referral management among commercially insured populations and none on referral management from employer-sponsored health centers.

OBJECTIVE

Describe the referral management system of an integrated employer-sponsored health care system and compare specialist referral rates and costs of specialist visits between those initiated from employer-sponsored health clinics and those initiated from community providers.

DESIGN

Retrospective, comparative cohort study using multivariate analysis of medical claims comparing care initiated in employer-sponsored health clinics with propensity-matched controls having specialist referrals initiated by community providers.

PATIENTS

Adult patients (≥ 18 years) eligible for employer-sponsored clinical services incurring medical claims for specialist referrals between 12/1/2018 and 12/31/2020. The study cohort was comprised of 3129 receiving more than 75% of their care in the employer-sponsored clinic matched to a cohort of 3129 patients receiving care in the community.

INTERVENTION

Specialist referral management program implemented by Crossover Health employer-sponsored clinics.

MAIN MEASURES

Rates and costs of specialist referrals.

KEY RESULTS

The relative rate of specialist referrals was 22% lower among patients receiving care in employers-sponsored health clinics (35.1%) than among patients receiving care in the community (45%, p <0.001). The total per-user per-month cost for patients in the study cohort was $372 (SD $894), compared to $401 (SD $947) for the community cohort, a difference of $29 (p<0.001) and a relative reduction of 7.2%. The lower costs can be attributed, in part, to lower specialist care costs ($63 (SD $140) vs $76 (SD $213) (p<0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

Employer-sponsored health clinics can provide effective integrated care and may be able to reduce avoidable specialist utilization. Standardized referral management and care navigation may drive lower specialist spend, when referrals are needed.

Who writes this stuff? Musculoskeletal information quality and authorship of popular health websites: A systematic review

BACKGROUND

Highly trafficked health websites are major sources of information, but the quality of their musculoskeletal information has not been thoroughly evaluated or their authorship characterized.

OBJECTIVES

To review information about common musculoskeletal conditions on highly trafficked websites and characterize their credibility, authorship, accuracy of information (as compared to treatment guidelines), and consistency with best practice recommendations.

DESIGN

Systematic review.

METHODS

We reviewed the top 15 most highly trafficked health websites, identified by web traffic data. Information about 7 common musculoskeletal conditions was identified and data extracted. Credibility was assessed using the Trust It or Trash It? tool, author backgrounds were identified, accuracy was determined by comparing webpage treatment recommendations to guidelines or systematic reviews, and consistency with best practice recommendations was assessed.

RESULTS

Of 1760 webpages screened, 87 were reviewed. Less than half (44.8%, 39/87) had appropriate sources listed, but 65.5% (57/87) were updated in the previous 5 years. Journalists authored most webpages (55.2%, 48/87). Physician involvement was mostly editorial, and they often lacked expertise in musculoskeletal conditions. Information accuracy was concordant with guidelines for 49.4% (43/87) of webpages, but varied by condition. About half of best practice recommendations were followed (49.1%, 427/870). Pages were unlikely to mention psychosocial factors (16.1%, 14/87), limitations of imaging (18.4%, 16/87), or staying at work (4.6%, 4/87).

CONCLUSIONS

Popular health websites scored poorly for credibility, accuracy, and consistency with best practice recommendations for musculoskeletal conditions. Authorship, bias, and unsupported information are potential sources of inaccuracies that should be addressed in future by these websites.

Secondary review reduced inpatient MRI orders and avoidable hospital days

INTRODUCTION

Medical centers have dramatically increased the use of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). At 2 large academic tertiary care centers in New York City, nearly half of inpatient MRI orders took more than 12 h to complete, delaying patient discharge and increasing avoidable hospital days. We posited that transitioning inpatient MRIs to outpatient facilities, when safe and appropriate, could reduce inpatient MRI orders and avoidable hospital days.

METHODS

We manually reviewed 59 inpatient MRI orders delayed on the estimated date of discharge (EDD). These orders were often delayed due to no standard process to escalate orders for medical reasons or no system to coordinate outpatient orders. We developed a revised workflow involving an automation platform that flagged inpatient MRI orders requested within 24 h of the EDD and emailed the care team to request a second review of the order. The care team reconsidered whether the order was (1) required for discharge, (2) non-urgent and could be converted to an outpatient order, or (3) unnecessary and could be canceled.

RESULTS

Over 9 months, the automation platform flagged 618 inpatient MRI orders, of which 53.9% (333/618) were reviewed by the care team. Among the orders, 24.0% (80/333) of reviewed orders and 12.9% (80/618) of all orders were transitioned to either outpatient or canceled orders. These transitioned orders were associated with 267 fewer avoidable hospital days and a cost savings of $199,194.

CONCLUSION

A standardized process and second review of inpatient MRI orders on the EDD can reduce inappropriate orders and more effectively use inpatient imaging resources.

PRECIS

A standardized workflow and automation platform encouraged a second review of inpatient MRI orders to reduce inappropriate orders, avoidable hospital days, and hospital costs.

The age-old question: Thematic analysis of focus groups on physician experiences of aging in emergency medicine

OBJECTIVES

Emergency medicine has a demanding work environment. Characteristics influencing longevity among older physicians in emergency medicine have been the subject of ongoing discussion. The American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP) released a policy statement in 2009 suggesting accommodating emergency physicians in preretirement years. We engaged emergency physicians to determine awareness of the ACEP policy and issues faced in preretirement years.

METHODS

We conducted a series of online focus group discussions with a purposive sample of emergency physicians, age ≥ 50 years. The discussion guide was developed from the ACEP policy statement and relevant literature. Groups were audio recorded, transcribed, and analyzed with a thematic coding system developed iteratively by the 4-person team. Emerging themes were identified, organized, and presented with illustrative quotations.

RESULTS

A total of 28 emergency physicians participated in 4 focus groups, with between 6 and 9 participants in each group. These physicians had between 17 and 35 years of clinical experience (median = 27), 6 were female (21%), and the majority (n = 26, 93%) worked in academic emergency medicine. Only 1 emergency physician was fully aware of the ACEP policy. Three principal content areas were identified: workload demands that change as physicians age, wellness and physician social equity, and senior emergency physician value. Interwoven across all of these was the focus on leadership and solutions to issues. Issues facing emergency physicians in their preretirement years were identified; commitment from emergency medicine site and national leadership and buy-in from junior colleagues was emphasized. Generational conflicts in recognizing the contribution and needs of preretirement emergency physicians was a major barrier to solutions.

CONCLUSIONS

Workload demands, wellness and physician social equity, and concerns about value as a senior physician are major themes confronting preretirement emergency physicians. Generational divides, deficits in local and national leadership, and the health detriments of rotating schedules and night shifts are barriers to longevity in emergency medicine. Further research on the value of senior physicians and the impact of hospital and departmental financial models on adopting accommodations for senior emergency physicians is needed.

Hospital Employment Of Physicians In Massachusetts Is Associated With Inappropriate Diagnostic Imaging

The transition among many US physicians from independent practice to hospital employment has raised concerns about whether employed physicians will be more inclined to refer patients for hospital-based services that are unnecessary or inappropriate. Using claims data for 2009-16, we conducted a difference-in-differences analysis to investigate whether this form of hospital-physician integration is associated with inappropriate referrals for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), a widely used mode of diagnostic imaging, for three common medical conditions: lower back pain, knee pain, and shoulder pain. Study findings indicate that the odds of a patient receiving an inappropriate MRI referral increased by more than 20 percent after a physician transitioned to hospital employment. Most patients who received an MRI referral by an employed physician obtained the procedure at the hospital where the referring physician was employed. These results point to hospital-physician integration as a potential driver of low-value care.