Medical Minute: What’s Behind The Deadly ‘Weekend Effect’
The ”Weekend Effect” is the statistical observation that you’re more likely to die if you’re admitted to the hospital on the weekend versus a week day.
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It’s a phenomenon that holds true across various nations with differing medical systems, including the United States. Researchers and even people who craft public policy, especially in national health systems like the United Kingdom’s, naturally assumed that lower hospital staffing on weekends compared to weekdays fed the problem.
Tune in to hear how the evidence points to another culprit.
For More Information:
- Mortality risks associated with emergency admissions during weekends and public holidays: an analysis of electronic health records. The Lancet. May 9, 2017.
- The Global Comparators project: international comparison of 30-day in-hospital mortality by day of the week. BMJ Quality & Safety. 2015;24:492–504.
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