Appendectomies during physicians' boycott. Analysis of surgical care

Area of Science:

• Medical Economics
• Surgical Quality Assessment
• Public Health Policy

Background:

• The 1975 San Francisco physicians' boycott significantly altered surgical care delivery patterns.
• Understanding the impact of such disruptions on essential surgical procedures is crucial for patient safety and healthcare system resilience.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effect of the 1975 physicians' boycott on appendectomy rates and the quality of appendicitis care in San Francisco.
• To determine if the boycott led to changes in the ratio of normal to inflamed appendices, perforation rates, or patient delays.

Main Methods:

• Comparative analysis of appendectomy data from the boycott month against a six-month baseline period.
• Assessment of key quality indicators: normal-to-inflamed appendix ratio, perforation rates, and patient wait times.
• Utilized standard direct and indirect measures for monitoring surgical care quality.

Main Results:

• No significant change in the number of appendectomies performed during the boycott month compared to the baseline.
• The ratio of normal to inflamed appendices and the percentage of perforated cases remained consistent.
• Patients with appendicitis did not experience delays in seeking or receiving care during the boycott.

Conclusions:

• The 1975 San Francisco physicians' boycott did not result in measurable lapses in the quality of appendicitis care.
• Standard quality indicators suggest that surgical care for appendicitis remained unaffected by the boycott.
• Healthcare system resilience can be maintained even during significant professional disruptions.