Skip to main content

Differences in pain management between hematologists and hospitalists caring for patients with sickle cell disease hospitalized for vasoocclusive crisis.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Shah, N; Rollins, M; Landi, D; Shah, R; Bae, J; De Castro, LM
Published in: Clin J Pain
March 2014

OBJECTIVES: Sickle cell disease (SCD) is a chronic disease characterized by multiple vaso-occlusive complications and is increasingly cared for by hospitalists. The purpose of this study is to examine differences in pain management between hematologists and hospitalists. METHODS: We performed a single-institution, retrospective review of pain management patterns and outcomes in adult SCD patients hospitalized for vaso-occlusive crisis. RESULTS: Over 26 months, we found a total of 298 patients (120 cared for by the hematologists and 178 by hospitalists), with a mean age of 32 (range 19-58). Patients cared for by hospitalists had a lower total number of hours on a patient controlled analgesia (PCA) device (171 vs. 212 hours, P=0.11). Hospitalists also were significantly more likely to utilize demand only PCA (42% vs. 23%, P=0.002) and had a significantly lower rate of using both continuous and demand PCA (54% vs. 67%, P=0.04). In addition, patients cared for by hospitalists had a significantly shorter hospitalization (8.4 days) compared to hematologists (10 days, P=0.04) with a non-significant difference in 7 and 30 day readmission rates (7.2% vs. 6.7% and 40% vs. 35% respectively). CONCLUSION: We found patients cared for by hospitalists more frequently utilized home oral pain medication during admission, had shorter lengths of hospitalization, and did not have a significant increase in readmission rates.

Duke Scholars

Altmetric Attention Stats
Dimensions Citation Stats

Published In

Clin J Pain

DOI

EISSN

1536-5409

Publication Date

March 2014

Volume

30

Issue

3

Start / End Page

266 / 268

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Young Adult
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Practice Patterns, Physicians'
  • Patient Readmission
  • Pain Management
  • Middle Aged
  • Length of Stay
  • Humans
  • Hospitalization
  • Hospitalists
 

Citation

APA
Chicago
ICMJE
MLA
NLM
Shah, N., Rollins, M., Landi, D., Shah, R., Bae, J., & De Castro, L. M. (2014). Differences in pain management between hematologists and hospitalists caring for patients with sickle cell disease hospitalized for vasoocclusive crisis. Clin J Pain, 30(3), 266–268. https://doi.org/10.1097/AJP.0b013e318295ec04
Shah, Nirmish, Margo Rollins, Daniel Landi, Radhika Shah, Jonathan Bae, and Laura M. De Castro. “Differences in pain management between hematologists and hospitalists caring for patients with sickle cell disease hospitalized for vasoocclusive crisis.Clin J Pain 30, no. 3 (March 2014): 266–68. https://doi.org/10.1097/AJP.0b013e318295ec04.
Shah, Nirmish, et al. “Differences in pain management between hematologists and hospitalists caring for patients with sickle cell disease hospitalized for vasoocclusive crisis.Clin J Pain, vol. 30, no. 3, Mar. 2014, pp. 266–68. Pubmed, doi:10.1097/AJP.0b013e318295ec04.

Published In

Clin J Pain

DOI

EISSN

1536-5409

Publication Date

March 2014

Volume

30

Issue

3

Start / End Page

266 / 268

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Young Adult
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Practice Patterns, Physicians'
  • Patient Readmission
  • Pain Management
  • Middle Aged
  • Length of Stay
  • Humans
  • Hospitalization
  • Hospitalists