General and Specialist Surgeon Supply and Inpatient Procedural Content: A National Rural-Urban Study


Description:

This report addresses rural/urban differences in surgical practices in commonly performed inpatient surgical procedures that are typically handled by general surgeons. National Inpatient Sample data from rural and urban hospitals in 24 states were used to examine the frequency of general surgical procedures, complications during hospitalizations and predicted resource demand.
Findings indicate that rural hospitals concentrated on relatively common, low complexity procedures that can be handled by general surgeons, especially if they have received additional training in obstetrics/gynecology and orthopedics. Resource demand, length of stay, complication rates and mortality were lower for patients undergoing common procedures in rural hospitals. Rural training tracks for general surgery that provide a high case load for common general surgery, obstetrics/gynecology and orthopedics procedures may help sustain the general surgery workforce in rural areas.

 

Status:

Complete

 

Publications/Presentations

Authors Title Type Date Documents/Media
Doescher MP, Jackson JE, Fordyce MA, Lynge DC Variability in general surgical procedures in rural and urban U.S. hospital inpatient settings PUBLICATION 02-01-2015
Full report
Doescher MP The crisis in rural general surgery: can research drive policy change? PRESENTATION 08-15-2011
Doescher MP, Jackson JE, Fordyce MA, Lynge DC Variability in general surgical practice in rural and urban U.S. hospital settings PRESENTATION 10-15-2011
Doescher MP, Jackson JE, Fordyce MA, Lynge DC Variability in surgical practice in rural and urban U.S. hospital settings PRESENTATION 06-12-2011
Doescher MP, Jackson JE, Fordyce MA, Lynge DC Variability in surgical practice in rural and urban U.S. hospital settings PRESENTATION 05-06-2011
Doescher MP, Jackson JE, Fordyce MA, Lynge DC Variability in surgical practice in rural and urban U.S. hospital settings PRESENTATION 05-05-2011
Doescher MP Variability in surgical practice and patient characteristics in rural and urban U.S. hospital settings PRESENTATION 03-30-2011