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Effect of Modest Pay-for-Performance Financial Incentive on Time-to-Discharge Summary Dictation Among Medical Residents.
Qual Manag Health Care. 2013 October/December;22(4):272-275
Authors: Wolk A, Wang E, Horak B, Cloonan P, Adams M, Moore E, Jaipaul CK, Brown G, Dasgupta D, Deluca D, Grossman M
Abstract
OBJECTIVE:: Evaluate the effect of a modest financial incentive on time-to-discharge summary dictation among medicine residents.
BACKGROUND:: Pay-for-performance incentives are used in a number of health care settings. Studies are lacking on their use with medical residents and other trainees. Timely completion of discharge summaries is necessary for effective follow-up after hospitalization, and residents perform the majority of discharge summary dictations in academic medical centers.
METHODS:: Medicine residents with the lowest average discharge-to-dictation time during their 1-month inpatient medicine ward rotation were rewarded with a $50 gift card. Discharge data were captured using an autopopulating electronic database.
RESULTS:: The average discharge-to-dictation time was reduced from 7.44 to 1.84 days, representing a 75.3% decrease. Almost 90% of discharge summary dictations were performed on the day of discharge.
CONCLUSION:: A modest financial incentive resulted in a marked improvement in the time-to-discharge summary dictation by medicine residents. Pay-for-performance programs may be an effective strategy for improving the quality and efficiency of patient care in academic medical centers.
PMID: 24088875 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]