Patients who received early intervention with an infectious disease physician experienced lower mortality rates and shorter lengths of stay, according to a study published in Clinical Infectious Diseases.
Researchers conducted a retrospective analysis of administrative claims data of privately insured patients under age 65 years. They studied data of patients with an acute care stay in 2014 for selected infections who received early (by day three) or late (after day three) infectious disease physician intervention.
The study shows patients who received care with infectious disease physician involvement by the third day of their hospitalization had a shorter length of stay, lower spending and lower mortality rate in the initial stay as compared to patients who did not.
Additionally, patients who received early infectious disease physician intervention had fewer readmissions and lower healthcare payments after discharge.