Average difference in length of stay (LOS) between hospitalist groups and non-hospitalist groups, according to a meta-analysis of 17 studies of outcomes from the hospitalist approach.¹ The authors, from Cooper University Hospital in Camden, N.J., and elsewhere, searched medical literature through February 2011 for studies comparing length of stay or cost outcomes of hospitalist groups with non-hospitalist “comparator groups.” In studies comparing non-resident hospitalist services with non-resident, non-hospitalist services, LOS was shorter by 0.69 days for the hospitalist model. A total of 137,561 patients were included in the meta-analysis. No significant difference was found in cost between the hospitalist and comparison groups.

Reference

1. Rachoin JS, Skaf J, Cerceo E et al. The impact of hospitalists on length of stay and costs: Systematic review and meta-analysis. Am J Manag Care. 2012;18(1):e23-e30.