JAMA surgery
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A physician-centered approach to systems design is fundamental to ameliorating the causes of many errors, inefficiencies, and reliability problems. ⋯ Deployment of complex subsystem interventions based on detailed human factors engineering and a systems analysis of the provision of trauma care resulted in reduced flow disruptions, treatment time, and length of stay.
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Residency attrition rates remain a great challenge for general surgery training programs. Despite the increasing acceptance of pregnancy during training, 1 common perception is that women who become pregnant are at increased risk of leaving surgery programs. ⋯ The current study demonstrated there was no association between female sex and attrition at our institution. Child rearing did not appear to be a risk factor for attrition in either men or women. Furthermore, child rearing did not negatively impact the quality of training based on case numbers and board pass rates. Despite prevalent stereotypes, child rearing did not cause women or men to leave the program.
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Operating room (OR) turnaround times (TATs) and on-time first-case starts (FCSs) are commonly used measures of OR efficiency. Prolonged TATs and late FCSs occur frequently at academic medical centers. ⋯ A novel FIP improved OR efficiency. Given the small amount of money involved, it seems unlikely that financial incentives were solely responsible. Effectively communicating the importance of TATs and on-time FCSs and publishing individual results more likely increased staff awareness. Teamwork created by linking assignment of points to a team result likely contributed to success.
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Analysis of combat deaths provides invaluable epidemiologic and quality-improvement data for trauma centers and is particularly important under rapidly evolving battlefield conditions. ⋯ There has been a significant shift in resuscitation practices in forward combat hospitals indicating widespread military adoption of DCR. Patients who died in a hospital during the DCR period were more likely to be severely injured and have a severe brain injury, consistent with a decrease in deaths among potentially salvageable patients.