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Jennifer Yacub (M4, Class of 2011)
with Faculty Preceptors Liliana E. Pezzin, PhD, JD
Professor, Medicine (General Internal Medicine)
and
Timothy Dillingham, MD
Chairman and Professor, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
at Medical Student Research Day Poster Session
September 25, 2008
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Faculty Preceptor:
Liliana E. Pezzin, PhD, JD
Professor, Medicine
(General Internal Medicine)
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Faculty Preceptor:
Timothy Dillingham, MD
Chairman and Professor
Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
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" My research this summer involved both the PCOR [Center for Patient Care and Outcomes Research] and the PM&R [Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation] departments. It was an experience which showed me how different departments are connected through their research and concerns for patient care. My role consisted of researching background and supporting information, learning how to statistically analyze data and shadowing within the Amputee Clinic to see how this research can apply to real-life.
The project I have been working on is entitled "Determinants of Discharge Destination Following Post-Acute Amputation". Although there have been increased rates of dysvascular amputations, little is known about the utilization of rehabilitation services among these patients, the decision-making process that leads to disposition of the patient to alternative rehabilitation settings, or the effectiveness of care provided at each setting. Thus, the objective of this project is to examine the baseline characteristics (gender, race, socio-demographic, economic, living situation, marital status, insurance coverage, etc) of persons undergoing a major lower limb amputation secondary to peripheral vascular disease and to determine if any of these characteristics has a significant effect on the discharge destination following post-acute amputation. The three categories of rehabilitation services constituting our dependent variables of interest are; comprehensive inpatient rehabilitation, skilled nursing facility (SNF), and discharge home. The skilled nursing facility (SNF) was the reference value. Our results have shown that marital status, mental function, unilateral below knee amputation (BKA), living in Milwaukee, and insurance coverage by Medicaid were the most significant factors leading towards a discharge disposition to rehabilitation. When examining patients who were discharged home the significant variables were found to be; age, marital status, prior residence in a nursing home, and peri-operative complications. This research shows the importance of examining both social and clinical factors before determining a patient’s discharge destination.
Overall my experience this summer has been invaluable to my medical education. I have now had the opportunity to learn first-hand how medical research influences our daily clinical practice. It is a unique chance for medical students to gain access to clinical care, medical research and have the opportunity to network within different departments and learn from the physicians."
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