Glycemic control in inpatients with diabetes following august changeover of trainee doctors in England.

Abstract

The first Wednesday of August is the day of changeover of trainee doctors in England. It is widely perceived that inexperience and nonfamiliarity with the new hospital systems and policies in these first few weeks lead to increased medical errors, mismanagement, and mortality. The aim of this study was to analyze the impact of the August changeover of trainee doctors on inpatient glycemic control in a single English hospital. This is currently unknown in England. Overall, 16,870 patient-day capillary glucose reading measures in 2730 inpatients with diabetes were analyzed for 4 weeks before and after the changeover period for the years 2012, 2013, and 2014. Only inpatients hospitalized for longer than 1 day were included. Contrary to expectations, inpatient glycemic control did not worsen in the first 4 weeks after changeover compared to the preceding 4 weeks before changeover in the 3-year period. This may be due to forethought and planning by the deanery foundation school and the inpatient diabetes team in this hospital.