Physician perceptions of a multidisciplinary endocarditis team

AbstractInfectious endocarditis is a highly morbid infection that requires coordination of care across medical and surgical specialties, often through the use of a multidisciplinary team model. Multiple studies have demonstrated that such conferences can improve clinical outcomes. However, little is known about physicians ’ impressions of these groups. We surveyed 126 (response rate of 30%) internal medicine, infectious diseases, cardiology, and cardiac surgery providers 1 year after the implementation of an endocarditis team at the University of Michigan. Ninety-eight percent of physicians felt that the endocardi tis team improved communication between specialties. Additionally, over 85% of respondents agreed that the group influenced diagnostic evaluation, reduced management errors, increased access to surgery, and decreased in-hospital mortality for endocarditis patients. These results suggest that multidi sciplinary endocarditis teams are valued by physicians as a tool to improve patient care and serve an important role in increasing communication between providers.
Source: European Journal of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases - Category: Microbiology Source Type: research