SHM Converge Scientific Abstract ePoster Gallery-Impact of a Hospitalist Bedside Procedure Service on Hospital Length of Stay

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This study evaluated whether implementing a hospitalist-led bedside procedure service (BPS) reduced hospital length of stay (LOS) for common inpatient procedures such as paracentesis, thoracentesis, and lumbar puncture. BPS programs are intended to reduce delays by performing procedures at the bedside rather than relying on interventional radiology or other subspecialty services. Prior literature suggests these services may shorten time to procedure, improve patient satisfaction, enhance trainee education, and potentially reduce LOS, but evidence remains limited.<br /><br />The investigators conducted a retrospective cohort study at a single academic medical center, comparing 12 months before and 12 months after BPS implementation in 2022. Adult medicine patients who underwent one of the included procedures were analyzed; transplant patients and those receiving repeated procedures of the same type during admission were excluded. The primary outcome was unadjusted average hospital LOS, compared using Welch’s t-test between patients managed by the BPS team and those managed by non-BPS services.<br /><br />Results showed a clinically meaningful reduction in LOS of about 2 days for patients receiving procedures through the BPS team, but this difference was not statistically significant. The authors suggest the lack of significance may reflect limited sample size and residual confounding. Importantly, they note that even modest LOS reductions can improve patient flow and lower costs.<br /><br />Key limitations included the absence of adjustment for factors such as demographics, discharge destination, case mix index, and disease severity. The authors recommend further analyses controlling for comorbidities and other confounders to better define the effect of bedside procedure services on inpatient efficiency.

Asset Subtitle

John M. Cunningham

Meta Tag

Author List Ankur Segon, Brian N. Lewis, John M. Cunningham, Lara Voigt

Category Research

Concept Hospitalist-Led Bedside Procedure Service

Concept Paracentesis

Concept Thoracentesis

Concept Lumbar Puncture

Concept Time to Procedure

Distinguished Non-Finalist

Presenter Organization University of Texas Health at San Antonio

Presenting Author John M. Cunningham

Track Quality Improvement

Keywords

hospitalist-led bedside procedure service

length of stay

paracentesis

thoracentesis

lumbar puncture

inpatient procedures

retrospective cohort study

hospital efficiency

bedside procedures

patient flow

Hospitalist-Led Bedside Procedure Service

Paracentesis

Thoracentesis

Lumbar Puncture

Time to Procedure