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LAC+USC Healthcare Network
The Department of Medicine delivers high quality physician care to patients within the LAC+USC Healthcare Network. While the resources available to our physicians remain constrained, our faculty, nevertheless, deliver their care with compassion and great dedication. The LAC+USC Healthcare Network is the centerpiece of the Department’s excellent postgraduate training and education of our house staff, fellows and medical students. The Department is committed to working with the leadership of the Network to provide the best possible care for the greatest number of patients to the fullest extent possible consistent with the resources available.
The Department of Medicine provides primary care for 47% of patients admitted to LAC+USC Medical Center, constituting 42% of the average daily census. The Department’s inpatient admissions have increased 10% over the past two years to 21,144 (2001-02) compared to 19,231 (2001-02).
This increase in admissions and average daily census has occurred despite the continued shortage of clinical and clerical staff (including nurses) that has maintained the reduction, on average, of 43 Department of Medicine inpatient beds. The increase in admissions and average daily census is a result of the increased number of medicine patients being boarded on the surgical wards. Over the past two years, there has been an 84% increase in medicine patients admitted to the surgical wards (3917 patients in 2001-02 compared to 2127 patients in 2000-01), with a 96% increase in the average daily census of those patients from 28 in 2000-01 to 55 in 2001-02. Even with the use of boarding, the chronic shortage of critical care and routine beds leads to frequent closure of the Medical Center for the transfer of patients. Overall, capacity remains well below the actual need and demand for our beds at LAC+USC Medical Center.
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2001-2002 |
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2000-2001 |
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Increase |
LAC+USC Medical Center
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| Admissions |
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45,117 |
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46,136 |
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-2% |
| Average Daily Census |
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743 |
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709 |
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5% |
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| DOM |
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| Admissions (a) |
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21,144 |
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19,231 |
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10% |
| Average Daily Census (b) |
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311 |
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282 |
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10% |
| Average Daily Census of Boarders on Surgery |
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55 |
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28 |
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96% |
Notes:
(a) Includes Jail Ward Admissions to Medicine Service.
(b) Includes Medicine Patients on Surgical Wards (Boarders).
Future Plans
1.Continue to improve efficient delivery of care to our patients. This will include cooperative efforts to implement procedures that facilitate timely discharges and improved communications.
2.Encourage the restoration of beds specifically assigned to Internal Medicine, thereby eliminating the need for boarding on surgery. The Department will support the Nursing Department’s plan to increase the clerical/nursing support personnel on the wards.
3.Develop contingency plans for reduction in the Affiliation Agreement budget. Estimates as high as one-third of the County Department of Health Services’ budget may be reduced. This would have dramatic effects on the Department’s allocation of Affiliation Agreement dollars. The Department of Medicine will respond to such anticipated reductions in funding by comparable reductions in services. While attempts will be made to minimize effects on patient care, such effects would be inevitable.
The Department of Medicine gratefully acknowledges the continued active support of our most dedicated administrative and nursing departments. Physicians, administrators and nurses work together cooperatively, permitting us to maintain outstanding clinical services for our patient population. We look forward to the future of LAC+USC Healthcare Network with anticipation.
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