New studies back effectiveness of hospitalists

Researchers are doing more analyses on how these specialists influence patient care.

By Damon Adams, AMNews staff. Sept. 13, 2004.

Patients treated by hospitalists had shorter hospital stays and paid less for hospital services than patients treated by non-hospitalists, a new study shows.

Patients cared for by hospitalists averaged one day less in the hospital and had a 10% reduction in costs. Researchers said the Iowa study adds to a growing body of research showing the effectiveness of hospitalist care.

"It does support previous studies that show an increase in efficiency [by hospitalists]. Getting patients out sooner opens that bed that much sooner for the next person," said Peter Kaboli, MD, lead study author and assistant professor at the University of Iowa Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine.

Researchers analyzed 1,706 patient admissions in 2000-01 to the four general internal medicine services at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics. One service was staffed by hospitalists, the other three by non-hospitalist internists.

The research was conducted by the Dept. of Veterans Affairs Iowa City Health Care System and the University of Iowa. The study appeared in the August American Journal of Managed Care.

The study found that patients treated by hospitalists averaged one day less in the hospital than those treated by non-hospitalists (5.5 days compared with 6.5 days). Hospitalization costs averaged $917 less for the patients of hospitalists.

Among the cost savings, nursing costs were $604 less for patients of hospitalists and lab costs were $126 less. The lower nursing cost likely was a result of the shorter hospital stay.