Alphanumeric paging in an academic hospital setting.

Objective: To determine whether implementation of an alphanumeric-paging system would improve physician work environment.

Design: Surveys were distributed to all general surgery residents, faculty, and nurses before and after implementation of an alphanumeric-paging system. Housestaff also kept a detailed log of paging activity before and after the intervention.

Institutional commitment to rectal cancer screening results in earlier-stage cancers on diagnosis.

Background: The Veterans Administration hospitals underwent an institutional directive in 1998 to meet a colorectal cancer screening (CRCS) standard. This intervention should result in an increase in the hospital's screening rate and percentage of early-stage rectal cancers diagnosed.

Methods: A retrospective review, from 1991 to 2002, of our institution's pathology and cancer registry databases for rectal cancers.