Case study in physician profiling.

Abstract

In this article sustained and significant patient day reductions were accomplished over a short period of time with low capital investment. Using an education focus and concentrating on attempting to rationalize observed ranges of physician-resource use across peers, the hospital was able to reduce the length of stay by .5 days in a one-year period. This reduction was accomplished over a period where other local hospitals experienced minimal decreases in their lengths of stay. The success of this project suggests how the sharing of credible information with physicians within a constructive context can lead to significant and timely resource use reductions.