July Effect

Hospitals really can be deadlier in July, study shows -- MSNBC

So, apparently, you should try and avoid hospitals at all cost during the month of July. Sound crazy? Well, there may actually be some evidence to back this up. Two new studies have now found evidence that backs up what doctors, nurses, etc. have been apparently saying for years. Michael Cohen, a pharmacist and the president for Institute Safe Medication Practices, said, "I have to say, I wouldn't have surgery on a Friday. Staffing is down and quite honestly you might not get the best treatment." In a study conducted at the University of California in San Diego they found that fatal medication errors rose 10% at teaching hospitals in the United States. David P. Phillips, a sociology professor who conducted the analysis said, " ..the notion that deaths go up in July, the month that just-graduated medical residents start their new jobs, likely because of mistakes caused by inexperience." Phillips examined death certificates between 1979 to 2006 and found only an increase in July; he also found that the increase was also higher in countries with more teaching hospitals.

Another article by Web Weekly further supported the previous research, but they think there are ways to handle the so called "July effect." Program director at the Internal Medicine Residency at BWH Joel Katz says, "my goal is not to avoid change, because it is necessary, but to manage it." He also says the most experience faculty and staff act as attendings during these months of chaos to supervise and further the education of the new interns. Katz says he also incorportates the use of information technology as well to minimize the risk of errors.

There are tons of things on the Internet about this phenomena. I have never heard of it, but it seems to make sense with all of the new physicians, nurses, etc. entering the hospitals. All in all I suppose it is best to avoid the hospitals in July unless out of necessity (Though, I think this is just about anybody and everybodys general rule anyways.)

Here is a blog written by a doctor about the July effect that I found to be very interesting.