Examining Invasive Bedside Procedure Performance at an Academic Medical Center

SIMPLE procedures: Survey of Internal Medicine Providers' Limitations and Experiences with procedures and medical procedure services

BACKGROUND

In response to a decline in bedside procedures performed by hospitalists, some hospital medicine groups have created medical procedure services (MPSs) concentrating procedures under the expertise of trained hospitalist-proceduralists.

OBJECTIVES

To characterize the structure, breadth, and heterogeneity of academic medical center MPSs, as well as compare the procedural landscape for groups with and without an MPS.

METHODS

The Survey of Internal Medicine Providers' Limitations and Experiences with Procedures and MPSs, is a cross-sectional study, conducted in the United States and Canada through a web-based survey administered from October 2022 to March 2023. We used convenience and snowball sampling to identify eligible study participants. The survey explored presence of MPS, procedure volumes, patient safety, and educational practices. For MPSs, we explored onboarding, staffing, skill maintenancy, funding, and barriers to growth.

RESULTS

Forty institutions (response rate 97.5%), represented by members of the Procedural Research and Innovation for Medical Educators (PRIME) consortium participated in the survey. MPSs were found in 75% of the surveyed institutions. Most MPSs (97%) involved trainees and were staffed by internists (100%) who often had additional clinical duties (70%). The majority (83%) of MPSs used checklists and procedural safety guidelines, but only 53% had a standardized process for tracking complications. There was significant variability in determining procedural competency and supervising trainees. Groups with an MPS reported higher procedure volume compared to those without.

CONCLUSIONS

MPSs were highly prevalent among the participating institutions, offered a broad array of bedside procedures, and often included trainees. There was a high variability in funding models, procedure volumes, patient safety practices, and skill maintenance requirements.

Teaching and Assessing Bedside Procedures: A Standardized Cross-Disciplinary Framework for Graduate Medical Education

ABSTRACT

Performing bedside procedures requires knowledge, reasoning, physical adeptness, and self-confidence; however, no consensus on a specific, comprehensive strategy for bedside procedure training and implementation is available. Bedside procedure training and credentialing processes across large institutions may vary among departments and specialties, leading to variable standards, creating an environment that lacks consistent accountability, and making quality improvement difficult. In this Scholarly Perspective, the authors describe a standardized bedside procedure training and certification process for graduate medical education with a common, institution-wide educational framework for teaching and assessing the following 7 important bedside procedures: paracentesis; thoracentesis; central venous catheterization; arterial catheterization; bladder catheterization or Foley catheterization; lumbar puncture; and nasogastric, orogastric, and nasoenteric tube placement. The proposed framework is a 4-stage process that includes 1 preparatory learning stage with simulation practice for knowledge acquisition and 3 clinical stages to guide learners from low-risk to high-risk practice and from high to low supervision. The pilot rollout took place at Henry Ford Hospital from December 2020 to July 2021 for 165 residents in the emergency medicine and/or internal medicine residency programs. The program was fully implemented institution-wide in July 2021. Assessment strategies encompass critical action checklists to confirm procedural understanding and a global rating scale to measure performance quality. A major aim of the bedside procedure training and certification was to standardize assessments so that physician trainers from multiple specialties could train, assess, and supervise any participating trainee, regardless of discipline. The authors list considerations revealed from the pilot rollout regarding electronic tracking systems and several benefits and implementation challenges to establishing institution-wide standards. The proposed framework was assembled by a multidisciplinary physician task force and will assist other institutions in adopting best approaches for training physicians in performing these critically important and difficult-to-perform procedures.

Anticipation or avoidance: internal medicine resident experiences performing invasive bedside procedures

Background

Internal Medicine (IM) residents are required to perform bedside procedures for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes. Residents' experiences with procedures vary widely, for unclear reasons.

Objective

To explore IM residents' experiences with performing bedside procedures and to identify barriers and facilitators to obtaining sufficient experience.

Methods

Using an inductive, thematic approach, we conducted five individual semi-structured interviews and one focus group with seven IM residents (12 residents in total) during the 2017-2018 academic year at a Canadian tertiary care centre. We used iterative, open-ended questions to elicit residents' experiences, and barriers and facilitators, to performing bedside procedures. Transcripts were analyzed for themes using Braun and Clarke's method.

Results

We identified four themes 1) Patient-specific factors such as body habitus and procedure urgency; 2) Systems factors such as time constraints and accessibility of materials; 3) Faculty factors including availability to supervise, comfort level, and referral preferences, and 4) Resident-specific factors including preparation, prior experiences, and confidence. Some residents expressed procedure-related anxiety and avoidance.

Conclusion

Educational interventions aimed to improve procedural efficiency and ensure availability of supervisors may help facilitate residents to perform procedures, yet may not address procedure-related anxiety. Further study is required to understand better how procedure-averse residents can gain confidence to seek out procedures.

Development of a Chief Resident Medical Procedure Service: a 10-Year Experience

BACKGROUND

Lack of experienced faculty to supervise internal medicine (IM) residents is a significant barrier to establishing a medical procedure service (MPS).

AIM

Describe the development and 10-year outcomes of an MPS led by IM chief residents.

SETTING

University-based IM residency program affiliated with a county and Veterans Affairs hospital.

PARTICIPANTS

Categorical IM interns (n=320) and 4th-year IM chief residents (n=48) from 2011 to 2022.

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

The MPS operated on weekdays, 8 am-5 pm. After training and sign-off by the MPS director, chief residents trained and supervised interns in ultrasound-guided procedures during a 4-week rotation.

PROGRAM EVALUATION

From 2011 to 2022, our MPS received 5967 consults and 4465 (75%) procedures were attempted. Overall procedure success, complication, and major complication rates were 94%, 2.6%, and 0.6%, respectively. Success and complication rates for paracentesis (n=2285) were 99% and 1.1%, respectively; 99% and 4.2% for thoracentesis (n=1167); 76% and 4.5% for lumbar puncture (n=883); 83% and 1.2% for knee arthrocentesis (n=85); and 76% and 0% for central venous catheterization (n=45). The rotation was rated 4.6 out of 5 for overall learning quality.

DISCUSSION

A chief resident-led MPS is a practical and safe approach for IM residency programs to establish an MPS when experienced attending physicians are unavailable.

Characteristics and impact of bedside procedure services in the United States: A systematic review

BACKGROUND

Bedside procedure services are increasingly employed within internal medicine departments to meet clinical needs and improve trainee education. Published literature on these largely comprises single-center studies; an updated systematic review is needed to synthesize available data.

PURPOSE

This review examined published literature on the structure and function of bedside procedure services and their impact on clinical and educational outcomes (PROSPERO ID: 192466).

DATA SOURCES

Using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses framework, multiple databases were searched for publications from 2000 to 2021.

STUDY SELECTION, DATA EXTRACTION, AND DATA SYNTHESIS

Thirteen single-center studies were identified, including 12 observational studies and 1 randomized trial. Data were synthesized in tabular and narrative format. Services were typically staffed by hospitalists or pulmonologists. At a minimum, each offered paracentesis, thoracentesis, and lumbar puncture. While there was considerable heterogeneity in service structures, these broadly fit either Model A (service performing the procedure) or Model B (service supervising the primary team). Procedure services led to increases in procedure volumes and self-efficacy among medical residents. Assessment of clinical outcomes was limited by heterogeneous definitions of complication rates and by sparse head-to-head data involving suitable comparators. Published data pointed to high success rates, low complication rates, and high patient satisfaction, with a recent study also demonstrating a decreased length of stay.

CONCLUSIONS

There are relatively few published studies describing the characteristics of bedside procedure services and their impact on clinical and educational outcomes. Limited data point to considerable heterogeneity in service design, a positive impact on medical trainees, and a positive impact on patient-related outcomes.

Creation of a medical procedure service in a tertiary medical center: Blueprint and procedural outcomes

BACKGROUND

Medical Procedure Services (MPS) may represent a solution to the educational gap in procedural training among internal medicine residents and the unmet need for the clinical provision of non-urgent inpatient procedures. However, there is little guidance available to help launch an MPS. Furthermore, procedural outcomes from a newly initiated MPS, including those comparing trainees versus attending physicians, are lacking.

OBJECTIVE

To describe the blueprint used in the design, implementation, and ongoing oversight of an MPS and to report its procedural outcomes.

DESIGN, SETTINGS AND PARTICIPANTS

Vanderbilt University Medical Center (VUMC), Nashville, Tennessee.

INTERVENTION

The launch of an MPS at a large tertiary academic hospital.

MAIN OUTCOME AND MEASURES

6,152 procedural consultations resulting in 5,320 attempted procedures over a four-and-a-half year period.

RESULTS

The primary proceduralist was a supervised resident in 58.7% (3124 /5,320) and an attending in 41.3% (2,196/5,320) of procedures. The overall success rate was 91.1% (95% CI: 90.3-91.9%) and the major complication rate was 0.7% (95% CI: 0.5-1.0%). There was no difference in the mean number of attempts required to complete a procedure (1.6 vs 1.5 attempts, p=0.68) and the complication rates between supervised residents and attending proceduralists, respectively (20/3,124 vs 20/2,196, p=0.26).

CONCLUSION

At a tertiary academic medical center, the implementation and maintenance of MPS is feasible, safe, and results in high rates of successful procedures performed by supervised residents. Procedures performed by supervised residents require comparable number of attempts for completion and carry similar risks as those performed alone by attendings.

The acceptability of a novel procedure service run by PAs and NPs

BACKGROUND

Hospitalist physicians are performing fewer procedures because of multiple reasons, including expanded responsibilities beyond their patient panel. A procedure service that offloads hospitalists could expedite these necessary services. An opportunity exists for physician assistants (PAs) and NPs to fill this gap.

OBJECTIVE

To describe the implementation of a PA- and NP-run procedure service at a large academic hospital.

METHODS

This is a retrospective cohort study of procedures by the procedure service at one institution from 2015 to 2019.

RESULTS

Over 5 years, 7,002 procedures were performed, with requests increasing over time. The most frequent procedures were venous access, lumbar puncture, paracentesis, and placement of nasogastric or nasojejunal tubes. Requesting services included hospitalists and residents from internal medicine, surgery, and neurology.

CONCLUSIONS

A PA- and NP-run procedure service is well accepted at a large academic hospital despite the lack of involvement by attending physicians. Future directions are focused on augmenting coverage and procedures offered.

A Dynamic Risk Management Approach for Reducing Harm From Invasive Bedside Procedures Performed During Residency

Internal medicine (IM) residents frequently perform invasive bedside procedures during residency training. Bedside procedure training in IM programs may compromise patient safety. Current evidence suggests that IM training programs rely heavily on the number of procedures completed during training as a proxy for resident competence instead of using objective postprocedure patient outcomes. The authors posit that the results of procedural training effectiveness should be reframed with outcome metrics rather than process measures alone. This article introduces the as low as reasonably achievable (ALARA) approach, which originated in the nuclear industry to increase safety margins, to help assess and reduce bedside procedural risks. Training program directors are encouraged to use ALARA calculations to define the risk trade-offs inherent in current procedural training and assess how best to reliably improve patient outcomes. The authors describe 5 options to consider: training all residents in bedside procedures, training only select residents in bedside procedures, training no residents in bedside procedures, deploying 24-hour procedure teams supervised by IM faculty, and deploying 24-hour procedure teams supervised by non-IM faculty. The authors explore how quality improvement approaches using process maps, fishbone diagrams, failure mode effects and analyses, and risk matrices can be effectively implemented to assess training resources, choices, and aims. Future research should address the drivers behind developing optimal training programs that support independent practice, correlations with patient outcomes, and methods that enable faculty to justify their supervisory decisions while adhering to ALARA risk management standards.

Medical Procedure Services in Internal Medicine Residencies in the US: a Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

The number of procedures performed by internal medicine residents in the United States (US) is declining. An increasing proportion of residents do not feel confident performing essential invasive bedside procedures and, upon graduation, desire additional training. Several residency programs have utilized the medical procedure service (MPS) to address this issue. We aim to summarize the current state of evidence by systematically evaluating the effect of the MPS on resident education, comfort, and training, as well as patient safety and procedural outcomes in the US.

METHODS

We conducted a systematic review of all studies reporting the use of an MPS with supervision from a board-certified physician in internal medicine residencies in the US. Database search was performed on PubMed, Embase, ERIC, and Cochrane Library from January 2000 to November 2020 for relevant studies. Quality of evidence assessment and random-effects proportion meta-analyses were performed.

RESULTS

A total of nine studies reporting on 3879 procedures performed by MPS were identified. Procedures were safely performed, with a pooled complication rate of 2.1% (95% CI: 1.0-3.5) and generally successful, with a pooled success rate of 94.7% (95% CI: 90.8-97.7). The range of procedures performed by residents under MPS was 6.7-72.8 procedures per month (n = 9) compared to 4.3-64.4 procedures (n = 4) without MPS. MPS significantly increased confidence, comfort, and use of appropriate safety measures among residents.

CONCLUSION

There are a limited number of published studies on MPS supervised by a board-certified physician in US internal medicine residencies. Procedures performed by MPS are generally successfully completed and safe. MPS benefits internal medicine residents training by improving competency, comfort, and confidence.

Radiology Performed Fluoroscopy-Guided Lumbar Punctures Decrease Volume of Diagnostic Study Interpretation - Impact on Resident Training and Potential Solutions

Objectives:

Lumbar punctures performed in radiology departments have significantly increased over the last few decades and are typically performed in academic centers by radiology trainees using fluoroscopy guidance. Performing fluoroscopy-guided lumbar punctures (FGLPs) can often constitute a large portion of a trainee’s workday and the impact of performing FGLPs on the trainee’s clinical productivity (i.e. dictating reports on neuroradiology cross-sectional imaging) has not been studied. The purpose of the study was to evaluate the relationship between the number of FGLPs performed and cross-sectional neuroimaging studies dictated by residents during their neuroradiology rotation (NR).

Material and Methods:

The number of FGLPs and myelograms performed and neuroimaging studies dictated by radiology residents on our neuroradiology service from July 2008 to December 2017 were retrospectively reviewed. The relationship between the number of FGLPs performed and neuroimaging studies (CT and MRI) dictated per day by residents was examined.

Results:

Radiology residents (n = 84) performed 3437 FGLPs and myelograms and interpreted 33402 cross-sectional studies. Poisson regression demonstrated an exponential decrease in number of studies dictated daily with a rising number of FGLPs performed (P = 0.0001) and the following formula was derived: Number of expected studies dictated per day assuming no FGLPs × e-0.25 x number of FGLPs = adjusted expected studies dictated for the day.

Conclusion:

We quantified the impact performing FGLPs can have on the number of neuroimaging reports residents dictate on the NR. We described solutions to potentially decrease unnecessary FGLP referrals including establishing departmental guidelines for FGLP referrals and encouraging bedside lumbar punctures attempts before referral. We also emphasized equally distributing the FGLPs among trainees to mitigate procedural burden.

Comparison of Radiologists and Other Specialists in the Performance of Lumbar Puncture Procedures Over Time

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Lumbar punctures may be performed by many different types of health care providers. We evaluated the percentages of lumbar punctures performed by radiologists-versus-nonradiologist providers, including changes with time and discrepancies between specialties.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Lumbar puncture procedure claims were identified in a 5% sample of Medicare beneficiaries from 2004 to 2017 and classified by provider specialty, site of service, day of week, and patient complexity. Compound annual growth rates for 2004 versus 2017 were calculated; t test and χ² statistical analyses were performed.

RESULTS

Lumbar puncture use increased from 163.3 to 203.4 procedures per 100,000 Medicare beneficiaries from 2004 to 2017 (overall rate, 190.3). Concurrently, the percentage of lumbar punctures performed by radiologists increased from 37.1% to 54.0%, while proportions performed by other major physician specialty groups either declined (eg, neurologists from 23.5% to 10.0%) or were largely unchanged. While radiologists saw the largest absolute increase in the percentage of procedures, the largest relative increase occurred for nonphysician providers (4.2% in 2004 to 7.5% in 2017; +78.6%). In 2017, radiologists performed most procedures on weekdays (56.2%) and a plurality on weekends (38.2%). Comorbidity was slightly higher in patients undergoing lumbar puncture by radiologists (P < .001).

CONCLUSIONS

Radiologists now perform most lumbar puncture procedures for Medicare beneficiaries in both the inpatient and outpatient settings. The continuing shift in lumbar puncture responsibility from other specialists to radiologists has implications for clinical workflows, cost, radiation exposure, and postgraduate training.

Procedural Competency Among Hospitalists: A Literature Review and Future Considerations

BACKGROUND

As general internists practicing in the inpatient setting, hospitalists at many institutions are expected to perform invasive bedside procedures, as defined by professional standards. In reality, hospitalists are doing fewer procedures and increasingly are referring to specialists, which threatens their ability to maintain procedural skills. The discrepancy between expectations and reality, especially when hospitalists may be fully credentialed to perform procedures, poses significant risks to patients because of morbidity and mortality associated with complications, some of which derive from practitioner inexperience.

METHODS

We performed a structured search of the peer-reviewed literature to identify articles focused on hospitalists performing procedures.

RESULTS

Our synthesis of the literature characterizes contributors to hospitalists' procedural competency and discusses: (1) temporal trends for procedures performed by hospitalists and their associated referral patterns, (2) data comparing use and clinical outcomes of procedures performed by hospitalists compared with specialists, (3) the lack of nationwide standardization of hospitalist procedural training and credentialing, and (4) the role of medical procedure services, although limited in supportive evidence, in concentrating procedural skill and mitigating risk in the hands of a few well-trained hospitalists.

CONCLUSION

We conclude with recommendations for hospital medicine groups to ensure the safety of hospitalized patients undergoing bedside procedures.

Resident perception of standardization and credentialing for high-risk bedside procedures in cardiothoracic surgery: Results from an institutional pilot study

OBJECTIVES

Though clear-guidelines are set by the American Board of Thoracic Surgery (ABTS) for the operative cases that cardiothoracic surgery residents must perform to be board-eligible, no such recommendations exist to assess competency for the wide range of high-risk bedside procedures. Our department created and implemented a multidisciplinary course designed to standardize common high-risk bedside procedures and credential our trainees. The aim of this study was to survey the attitudes of residents towards and query the efficacy of such a course.

METHODS

The course was designed with the goal of standardizing endotracheal intubation, arterial line insertion (radial and femoral), central venous line insertion, pigtail tube thoracostomy, thoracentesis and nasogastric tube placement. The course consisted of an online module followed by a 4-hour hands-on simulation session. Knowledge-based pre- and post-evaluations were administered as well as a Likert-based survey regarding multiple aspects of the residents' perceptions of the course and the procedures.

RESULTS

Twenty-three (7 traditional and 16 integrated) cardiothoracic surgical residents participated in the course. Residents reported that 48% of the time, bedside procedures were historically taught by other trainees rather than by faculty. All residents endorsed increased standardization of all procedures after the course. Likewise, residents showed increased confidence in all procedures except for pigtail tube thoracostomy, thoracentesis as well as nasogastric tube placement. 43.5% of the participants demonstrated improvement in the pretest and posttest knowledge-based evaluations.

CONCLUSION

Cardiothoracic residents have favorable attitudes towards standardization and credentialing for high-risk bedside procedures and utilizing such courses may help standardize procedural techniques.

Simulation-Based Mastery Learning for Thoracentesis Skills Improves Patient Outcomes: A Randomized Trial

PURPOSE

Physicians-in-training often perform bedside thoracenteses in academic medical centers, and complications are more common among less experienced clinicians. Simulation-based mastery learning (SBML) is one potential solution to this problem. This study evaluated the effects of a randomized trial of thoracentesis SBML on patient complications: iatrogenic pneumothorax (IP), hemothorax, and reexpansion pulmonary edema (REPE).

METHOD

The authors randomized internal medicine residents to undergo thoracentesis SBML at a tertiary care academic center from December 2012 to May 2016. They subsequently compared thoracentesis complications from procedures performed by SBML-trained residents, traditionally trained residents (no simulation training), and those referred to pulmonary medicine or interventional radiology (IR).

RESULTS

During the study period, 917 thoracenteses were performed on 709 patients. IP occurred in 60 (6.5%) procedures, of which 7 (11.6%) were clinically meaningful. SBML-trained residents performed procedures with a trend toward lower combined clinically meaningful complications (IP, hemothorax, REPE) compared with traditionally trained residents (7.9% vs. 0%; P = .06). SBML-trained residents caused fewer clinically meaningful IPs compared with traditionally trained residents, pulmonary, and IR referrals (P = .02). Hemothorax occurred after 4 (0.4%) thoracenteses, and SBML-trained residents had a trend toward lower hemothorax (0) compared with other groups (P = .07). REPE occurred after 3 (0.3%) procedures, with no differences between groups. SBML-trained residents performed procedures with lower combined clinically meaningful complications compared with other groups (P = .008).

CONCLUSIONS

Residents randomized to an SBML intervention performed thoracenteses with low rates of clinically meaningful complications. Rigorous education represents a successful quality improvement strategy.

Mortality from Spontaneous Bacterial Peritonitis Among Hospitalized Patients in the USA

BACKGROUND AND AIM

Spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP) is a serious complication of cirrhosis and is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. In this study, we examined the clinical characteristics and risk factors associated with mortality in hospitalized patients presenting with SBP.

METHODS

The Nationwide Inpatient Sample was queried for all hospitalizations involving SBP from 2006 to 2014 using the International Classification of Disease-9-CM Code. Logistic regression was performed to evaluate the association between SBP mortality and factors such as age, gender, race/ethnicity, and concomitant medical conditions at presentation (e.g., variceal hemorrhage, hepatic encephalopathy, acute renal failure, coagulopathy, and other infections including pneumonia). The lengths of stay (LOS) and total charges were also examined.

RESULTS

From 2006 to 2014, there were 88,167 SBP hospitalizations with 29,963 deaths (17.6% in-hospital mortality). The mean age of patients who died in the hospital was higher (58.2 years vs. 55.8, p < 0.01) than those who survived the admission. Acute alcoholic hepatitis was noted among a higher proportion of patients who died (7.0 vs. 5.9%, p < 0.01), who were also likely to have more medical comorbidities. In multivariable analysis, older age, female gender, hepatic encephalopathy, coagulopathy, variceal hemorrhage, sepsis, pneumonia, and acute kidney injury were associated with increased in-hospital mortality. This group also had longer LOS (11.6 days vs. 9.1, p < 0.01) and higher total charges ($138,273 vs. $73,533, p < 0.01).

CONCLUSION

SBP is associated with significant in-hospital mortality, especially in patients with concurrent risk factors. SBP remains a significant burden to the healthcare system.