Quantitative Benefit of Inpatient Dermatology Services on Hospital Length of Stay in an Academic Hospital

Abstract

BACKGROUND Dermatologic disease has been shown to have high rates of diagnostic and treatment discordance between dermatologists and non-specialists. Inpatient dermatology consultative services have the potential to improve patient care, but there is a paucity of data evaluating the quantitative effects of such services. This study aimed to evaluate the impact a newly established inpatient dermatology service had on quantitative patient care outcomes. METHODS This retrospective cohort study compared quantitative care measures of dermatologic inpatients during the years both pre- and post-implementation of an academic hospital's dermatology consultative service. The primary outcomes included hospitalization duration, readmission rates, and establishment of outpatient dermatologic care. RESULTS The study found a 1.04-day reduction in hospital length of stay (p-value = 0.046) after the consultation service establishment. Additionally, there was a significant increase in the rate by which patients sought outpatient dermatology follow-up (6.7% versus 24.4%, p-value <0.001). No significant change in the all-cause readmission rate was identified. CONCLUSION The reduction of hospitalization duration supports inpatient dermatology services as a viable means to provide improved patient care and reduce health systems costs. Hospitals that do not have a consulting service for cutaneous conditions provided by a dermatology specialist should strongly consider establishing such a department.