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©2007 Baishideng Publishing Group Co., Limited. All rights reserved.
World J Gastroenterol. Jul 21, 2007; 13(27): 3667-3670
Published online Jul 21, 2007. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v13.i27.3667
Published online Jul 21, 2007. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v13.i27.3667
Preventing physician quality of life from impinging on patient quality of care: Weakening the weekend effect
Marc D Basson, Department of Surgery, John D Dingell VA Medical Center and Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan, United States
Author contributions: All authors contributed equally to the work.
Correspondence to: Marc D Basson, MD, PhD, MBA, Chief, Surgical Service (11S), John D Dingell VA Medical Center, 4646 John R. Street, Detroit, MI 48201-1932, United States. marc.basson@va.gov
Telephone: +1-313-5763598 Fax: +1-313-5761002
Received: June 7, 2007
Revised: June 15, 2007
Accepted: June 20, 2007
Published online: July 21, 2007
Revised: June 15, 2007
Accepted: June 20, 2007
Published online: July 21, 2007
Abstract
Imprecise or delayed care can reflect many factors, including straightforward difficulties in physician judgment and false negative tests. However, the movement toward decreasing physician work hours also leads to delays in care caused by inadequate staffing or inadequate communication between staffing, which must be addressed if quality of care is to remain high. The demonstration of delays in the management of anastomotic leaks over weekends or in association with false positive radiologic studies exemplifies this challenge.
Keywords: Anastomosis; Communication; Contrast; Delay; Hand-off; Intestine; Staffing; Weekend