Association between hospitalist years of experience with mortality in hospitalized patients

Cohort study showed that Medicare patients cared for by hospitalists in their first year of practice experienced higher in-hospital and 30-day mortality, compared with patients cared for by hospitalists in their second year of practice. New hospitalists may need additional monitoring and support to ensure optimal patient outcomes.

Citation: Goodwin JS et al. Association of hospitalist years of experience with mortality in the hospitalized Medicare population. JAMA Intern Med. 2018;178(2):196-203.

Standardized handoff improves preparedness in the ICU

Cluster randomized stepped-wedge trial in eight ICUs in an academic center showed that a standardized handoff intervention was associated with a statistically significant reduction in the odds of clinician self-reported unpreparedness from a poor-quality handoff (odds ratio, 0.19; 95% confidence interval, 0.03-0.74; P = .03).

Citation: Parent B et al. Effect of standardized handoff curriculum on improved clinician preparedness in the intensive care: A stepped-wedge cluster randomized clinical trial. JAMA Surg. 2018 Jan 3. doi: 10.1001/jamasurg.2017.5440.