A Single-Institution Analysis of Targeted Colorectal Surgery Enhanced Recovery Pathway Strategies That Decrease Readmissions.

Background: Decreasing readmissions is an important quality improvement strategy. Targeted interventions that effectively decrease readmissions have not been fully investigated and standardized.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to assess the effectiveness of interventions designed to decrease readmissions after colorectal surgery.

Practice Characteristics and Job Satisfaction of Private Practice and Academic Surgeons.

Importance: Private practice and academic surgery careers vary significantly in their daily routine, compensation schemes, and definition of productivity. Data are needed regarding the practice characteristics and job satisfaction of these career paths for surgeons and trainees to make informed career decisions and to identify modifiable factors that may be associated with the health of the surgical workforce.

Objective: To obtain and compare the differences in practice characteristics and career satisfaction measures between academic and private practice surgeons.

Associations Between Career Satisfaction, Personal Life Factors, and Work-Life Integration Practices Among US Surgeons by Gender.

Importance: Burnout among US surgeons is alarmingly high, particularly among women, and work-life integration conflicts contribute to career dissatisfaction.

Objective: To evaluate associations between surgical career satisfaction and personal life factors such as time requirements for outside interests, household chores, and parenting responsibilities and to explore similarities and differences between men and women.

Design, Setting, And Participants: This cross-sectional survey study of practicing US surgeons was conducted between June 4 and August 1, 2018.

Survey of the US Surgeon Workforce: Practice Characteristics, Job Satisfaction, and Reasons for Leaving Surgery.

Background: An impending surgeon shortage looms in the US due to increasing demand and a stagnant number of surgeons entering practice. We sought to evaluate the state of our surgical workforce by exploring current practice patterns, job satisfaction, and reasons why surgeons consider leaving surgery.

Study Design: In 2018, a link to a detailed survey was distributed by email to Fellows of the American College of Surgeons (ACS) who actively practice in the US and have completed a general surgery residency or integrated cardiothoracic, vascular, or plastic surgery fellowship.

Does Lower Level of Education and Health Literacy Affect Successful Outcomes in Bariatric Surgery?

Our previous study demonstrated that lower level of education was associated with increased rates of postoperative hospital visits following bariatric surgery, potentially secondary to decreased understanding of postoperative expectations. Our follow-up study seeks to evaluate whether patients with lower level of education and health literacy have decreased weight loss success and resolution of comorbidities after bariatric surgery. Bariatric surgery patients presenting between October 2015 and December 2016 were administered a preoperative questionnaire, which reported education level and contained the Rapid Estimate of Adult Literacy in Medicine-Short Form (REALM-SF) health literacy test.

Effects of Education and Health Literacy on Postoperative Hospital Visits in Bariatric Surgery.

Background: Hospital readmissions following bariatric surgery are high and it is necessary to identify modifiable risk factors to minimize this postoperative cost. We hypothesize that lower levels of education and health literacy are associated with increased risks of nonadherence, thus leading to increased emergency department (ED) visits and preventable readmissions postoperatively.

Methods: Bariatric surgery patients presenting between October 2015 and December 2016 were administered a preoperative questionnaire that measured education level and the Rapid Estimate of Adult Literacy in Medicine-Short Form (REALM-SF) health literacy test.