Internal medicine residents’ evaluation of fevers overnight

Author:

Howard-Anderson Jessica1ORCID,Schwab Kristin E.2,Chang Sandy2,Wilhalme Holly3,Graber Christopher J.24,Quinn Roswell25

Affiliation:

1. Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine , Emory University School of Medicine , 49 Jesse Hill Jr. Drive , Atlanta, GA 30303 , USA

2. Department of Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine , University of California Los Angeles , Los Angeles, CA , USA

3. Department of Medicine Statistics Core , University of California Los Angeles , Los Angeles, CA , USA

4. Infectious Diseases Section, VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System , Los Angeles, CA , USA

5. Hospitalist Division of the Department of Medicine, VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System , Los Angeles, CA , USA

Abstract

Abstract Background Scant data exists to guide the work-up for fever in hospitalized patients, and little is known about what diagnostic tests medicine residents order for such patients. We sought to analyze how cross-covering medicine residents address fever and how sign-out systems affect their response. Methods We conducted a prospective cohort study to evaluate febrile episodes that residents responded to overnight. Primary outcomes included diagnostic tests ordered, if an in-person evaluation occurred, and the effect of sign-out instructions that advised a “full fever work-up” (FFWU). Results Investigators reviewed 253 fevers in 155 patients; sign-out instructions were available for 204 fevers. Residents evaluated the patient in person in 29 (11%) episodes. The most common tests ordered were: blood cultures (48%), urinalysis (UA) with reflex culture (34%), and chest X-ray (30%). If the sign-out advised an FFWU, residents were more likely to order blood cultures [odds ratio (OR) 14.75, 95% confidence interval (CI) 7.52–28.90], UA with reflex culture (OR 12.07, 95% CI 5.56–23.23), chest X-ray (OR 16.55, 95% CI 7.03–39.94), lactate (OR 3.33, 95% CI 1.47–7.55), and complete blood count (CBC) (OR 3.16, 95% CI 1.17–8.51). In a multivariable regression, predictors of the number of tests ordered included hospital location, resident training level, timing of previous blood culture, in-person evaluation, escalation to a higher level of care, and sign-out instructions. Conclusions Sign-out instructions and a few patient factors significantly impacted cross-cover resident diagnostic test ordering for overnight fevers. This practice can be targeted in resident education to improve diagnostic reasoning and stewardship.

Publisher

Walter de Gruyter GmbH

Subject

Biochemistry (medical),Clinical Biochemistry,Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health,Health Policy,Medicine (miscellaneous)

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