Does participation in graduate medical education contribute to improved patient outcomes as outlined by Surgical Care Improvement Project guidelines?

Background: Patient quality outcomes are a major focus of the health care industry. It is unknown what effect involvement in graduate medical education (GME) has on patient outcomes. The purpose of this study is to begin to examine whether GME involvement in postoperative care impacts patient quality outcomes.

Methods: The retrospective cohort included all patients who underwent a nonemergent colectomy from January 1, 2007 to January 1, 2008 at a 2-hospital system. Data collected included patient demographics, patient quality outcomes, complications, and GME involvement. Patient quality outcomes were based on compliance with the Surgical Care Improvement Project (SCIP) guidelines.

Results: A total of 159 nonemergent colectomies were analyzed. The GME group accounted for 116 (73%) patients. A significant difference was found in several SCIP process-based measures of quality when comparing the GME group with the non-GME group. Postoperative antibiotics were more likely to be stopped within 24 hours (p = 0.010), and preoperative heparin and postoperative deep vein thrombosis (DVT) prophylaxis were more likely to be administered (p < 0.001). Additionally, patients in the GME group showed improved quality outcomes as there were significantly fewer postoperative complications (p < 0.001) and a shorter duration of stay (p = 0.008). The use of gastrointestinal prophylaxis was more common in the non-GME group (p = 0.002). No significant differences were observed between the 2 groups in respect to age, sex, diabetes, preoperative antibiotics, antibiotics, 1 hour before surgery, postoperative antibiotics, and continuation of home beta blockade.

Conclusions: GME at teaching institutions has a positive impact on patient quality outcomes. At our institution, many of the SCIP measurable outcomes had improved compliance if an attending physician participated in the GME program.