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Internal medicine residency training and outcomes
C H Griffith1, E C Rich, S D Hillson
1Department of Internal Medicine, University of Kentucky College of Medicine, USA.
Journal of General Internal Medicine
|June 1, 1997
Summary
Internal medicine residency training impacts patient outcomes through resident inexperience, workload, and care discontinuity. While no excess harm is proven, more research is needed to understand the full effects.
Area of Science:
- Medical Education
- Patient Outcomes Research
- Internal Medicine Training
Background:
- Clinical education of internal medicine residents is crucial for patient care.
- Understanding the impact of residency training on patient outcomes is essential for quality improvement.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the impact of internal medicine residency training on patient outcomes.
- To identify factors within residency programs that influence patient care.
Main Methods:
- Systematic review of English-language studies.
- MEDLINE search and bibliography review of relevant articles.
- Analysis of studies examining the relationship between housestaff training and patient outcomes.
Main Results:
- Resident inexperience, workload, and care discontinuity may affect resource utilization, length of stay, and patient satisfaction.
- No evidence demonstrates excess patient morbidity or mortality due to internal medicine residents.
- Published studies are largely retrospective and dated, limiting current understanding.
Conclusions:
- Multisite, prospective studies are needed to fully elucidate the effects of housestaff training on patient outcomes.
- Academic medical centers must recognize aspects of resident education that influence patient care, especially in managed care settings.