SHM Converge Scientific Abstract ePoster Gallery-A Clinical Trial Comparing Patient Outcomes of Two Block Lengths on a Direct Care Hospitalist Service

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This pragmatic clinical trial examined whether hospitalist block length affects patient outcomes on an attending-only direct care service at a 600-bed academic hospital. The study compared standard 7-day consecutive work blocks with shorter 3- or 4-day nonconsecutive blocks among direct care teams.<br /><br />From July 1 to November 13, 2025, five teams worked 7-day blocks and three teams worked shorter blocks. Hospitalists cared for up to 10 patients per team, with patients randomly assigned between teams. The main outcomes measured were inpatient length of stay, discharge by noon, in-hospital mortality, and 7-day and 30-day readmissions, with adjustment for patient characteristics.<br /><br />Baseline patient characteristics were similar between groups, including sex, race, ethnicity, and discharge disposition. The study found no significant differences between 7-day and shorter block lengths for length of stay, discharge by noon, in-hospital mortality, or 30-day readmissions.<br /><br />Overall, the findings suggest that shorter hospitalist block schedules do not worsen the patient outcomes studied and may offer greater staffing flexibility. The authors conclude that scheduling can be adapted to workforce and operational needs without measurable harm to patient-level outcomes in this setting.<br /><br />They recommend future research to examine other effects of block length, including patient experience, continuity of care, provider burnout or satisfaction, and operational efficiency. They also suggest studying other settings, such as teaching services or teams with residents or advanced practice providers, and confirming these results in larger multi-site studies.

Asset Subtitle

Pauldeep Mann

Meta Tag

Author List Aline Zorian, Ethel Wu, Margaret C. Fang, Pauldeep Mann, Sandra Oreper, Sarah Apgar

Category Research

Concept Hospitalist Block Length

Concept Patient Outcome

Concept Length of Stay

Concept Mortality

Concept Readmission

Distinguished Non-Finalist

Presenter Organization University of California, San Francisco

Presenting Author Pauldeep Mann

Track Outcomes Research

Keywords

hospitalist block length

pragmatic clinical trial

patient outcomes

direct care service

length of stay

in-hospital mortality

readmission rates

work schedule

staffing flexibility

academic hospital

Hospitalist Block Length

Patient Outcome

Length of Stay

Mortality

Readmission