Original Article

Impact of a multidisciplinary team model on discharge efficiency and accuracy in internal medicine resident teams

Corresponding Author

Christina Chong

[email protected]

Department of Medicine, John A. Burns School of Medicine, University of Hawai'i, Honolulu, Hawaii, USA

Correspondence

Christina Chong, Department of Medicine, John A. Burns School of Medicine, University of Hawai'i, 1356 Lusitana St., Room 715, Honolulu, HI 96813, USA.

Email: [email protected]

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Travis Watai,

Travis Watai

Department of Medicine, John A. Burns School of Medicine, University of Hawai'i, Honolulu, Hawaii, USA

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Jatinder Lachar,

Jatinder Lachar

Department of Medicine, John A. Burns School of Medicine, University of Hawai'i, Honolulu, Hawaii, USA

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Yoshito Nishimura,

Yoshito Nishimura

orcid.org/0000-0003-0224-7501

Department of Medicine, John A. Burns School of Medicine, University of Hawai'i, Honolulu, Hawaii, USA

Division of Hematology and Oncology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, USA

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Christina Chong,

Corresponding Author

Christina Chong

[email protected]

Department of Medicine, John A. Burns School of Medicine, University of Hawai'i, Honolulu, Hawaii, USA

Correspondence

Christina Chong, Department of Medicine, John A. Burns School of Medicine, University of Hawai'i, 1356 Lusitana St., Room 715, Honolulu, HI 96813, USA.

Email: [email protected]

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Travis Watai,

Travis Watai

Department of Medicine, John A. Burns School of Medicine, University of Hawai'i, Honolulu, Hawaii, USA

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Jatinder Lachar,

Jatinder Lachar

Department of Medicine, John A. Burns School of Medicine, University of Hawai'i, Honolulu, Hawaii, USA

Search for more papers by this author

Yoshito Nishimura,

Yoshito Nishimura

orcid.org/0000-0003-0224-7501

Department of Medicine, John A. Burns School of Medicine, University of Hawai'i, Honolulu, Hawaii, USA

Division of Hematology and Oncology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, USA

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First published: 22 March 2025

https://doi.org/10.1111/imj.70033

Funding: None.

Conflict of interest: None.

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ABSTRACT

Background

Efficient discharge planning is crucial for improving hospital capacity and patient care. Multidisciplinary rounds (MDRs) have been shown to enhance communication and coordination, yet their impact on resident teaching teams’ discharge efficiency is less studied.

Aims

To examine how embedding dedicated case managers (CMs) and social workers (SWs) into internal medicine (IM) resident teams impacts discharge efficiency.

Methods

We conducted a retrospective cross-sectional study at The Queen's Medical Center comparing two resident multidisciplinary teaching (MDT) teams that included dedicated CMs and SWs with two resident standard care teams over an 8-month period (October 18 2023–June 25 2024). The outcomes assessed included length of stay (LOS), expected discharge date (EDD) accuracy, readmission rates and the rate of conditional discharge orders placed.

Results

A total of 1944 patients were included. The MDT teams showed significantly improved EDD accuracy (72.0% vs 66.7%, P = 0.0120) and more frequently placed conditional discharge orders (61.7% vs 43.8%, P < 0.0001) compared to standard care teams. No significant difference was observed in LOS or readmission rates.

Conclusion

Embedding dedicated CMs and SWs within resident teams improved EDD accuracy and the rate of conditional discharge orders placed, suggesting an opportunity to integrate MDRs as a standard within IM residency training to enhance discharge planning efficiency.

Supporting Information

References

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Volume55, Issue5

May 2025

Pages 833-838

Impact of a multidisciplinary team model on discharge efficiency and accuracy in internal medicine resident teams

ABSTRACT

Background

Aims

Methods

Results

Conclusion

Supporting Information

References

References

Information

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Impact of a multidisciplinary team model on discharge efficiency and accuracy in internal medicine resident teams

ABSTRACT

Background

Aims

Methods

Results

Conclusion

Supporting Information

References

References

Related

Information