BigRedMed's journey through 4th year...

[Princess_Dad]

<p>So Doctor
Congrad’s</p>

[Bigredmed]

<p>It’s July 1st, real life starts today. I’m on night float the entire month of July, working 8pm to 8am…4th year is really, really over; it’s go time!</p>

<p>Oh and tell your loved ones to stay out of the hospital (more so than usual!). There are lots of nervous interns out there…</p>

[bluedevilmike]

<p>You know, BRM, it’s the weirdest thing: one of my profs told me that mortality spikes in July, but it does so across all hospitals–including the ones that don’t employ residents. I wonder why?</p>

[kdmom]

<p>Did you describe how your Match Day went anywhere on this thread? I was eagerly anticipating that post, but I can’t find it.</p>

[Bigredmed]

<p>Not in this thread, but I did go over it here:</p>

<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/pre-med-topics/669134-its-match-week.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/pre-med-topics/669134-its-match-week.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

[my_0.02]

<p>

AS they do every July, hospitals across America are welcoming new interns, fresh from medical school graduation. Given how much these trainees have yet to learn, common wisdom holds that it’s not a good time of year to get sick. This may be particularly true for older patients, because American medical schools require no training in geriatric medicine.

<a href=“http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/02/opinion/02leipzig.html[/url]”>http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/02/opinion/02leipzig.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>

Abstract BACKGROUND: It has been suggested that inexperience of new housestaff early in an academic year may worsen patient outcomes. Yet, few studies have evaluated the “July Phenomenon,” and no studies have investigated its effect in intensive care patients, a group that may be particularly susceptible to deficiencies in management stemming from housestaff inexperience.

[SpringerLink</a> - Journal Article](<a href=“http://www.springerlink.com/content/94110w56817621g1/]SpringerLink”>http://www.springerlink.com/content/94110w56817621g1/)</p>

[kdmom]

<p>Thanks for the link to your Match Day experience. And congratulations!</p>

[Princess_Dad]

<p>The July mortality is partly true. As an academic physician I can tell you that I spend lots of nights in the hospital in July. June may be the worst month as the Chiefs leave and we are short handed and the new Chiefs are still inexperianced as being the boss</p>

[Pharmagal]

<p>Congratulations, Dr BRM! This is indeed a great milestone in your life and career. Here’s wishing you a clear insight, steadfast faith in yourself, strength to make the best decisions, a positive spirit and good health to overcome challenges that may cross your path ahead.</p>

<p>Don’t forget to seize the opportunity to enjoy every blessing that comes your way. Smell the roses along the way. God bless!</p>

[my_0.02]

<p>

Objective: To determine whether operative mortality rates at teaching hospitals in the United States are higher in July, the start of the academic year.
Summary Background Data: Surgical patients at teaching hospitals often worry about the involvement of inexperienced physician trainees in their care.
Methods: This retrospective cohort study included all Medicare recipients undergoing 1 of 7 diverse inpatient procedures at teaching hospitals between 2003 through 2006 (N = 320,216). Teaching status was defined both by membership in the united States Council of Teaching Hospitals and by hospital ratio of trainees to beds. We compared operative mortality rates in July relative to all other months, adjusting for potentially confounding patient characteristics. The main outcome measure was operative mortality (before discharge or within 30 days of procedures).
Results: Adjusted operative mortality rates were no higher in July than in other months combined for all procedures, including coronary artery bypass grafting, carotid endarterectomy, repair of nonruptured abdominal aortic aneurysms, colectomy, pancreatectomy, esophagectomy, and repair of hip fracture. Trend analysis revealed no significant monthly or seasonal variation in operative mortality rates.
Conclusions: Operative mortality rates do not decline as surgical trainees acquire more experience during the academic year. With respect to mortality, July is a safe month to have major surgery in teaching hospitals in the united States.

Ann Surg CME. 2009;248(6):871-876. © 2009 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins</p>