Impact of nurse practitioner–led rounds on surgical site infection rates and health care costs: A retrospective single-center study

BACKGROUND: Surgical site infections (SSIs) and prolonged length of stay (LOS) are significant challenges in surgical care. The integration of nurse practitioners (NPs) into surgical teams has been recognized as a potential strategy to improve patient outcomes and optimize resource utilization. PURPOSE: This retrospective cohort study aimed to evaluate the impact of NP-led ward rounds on SSI incidence, LOS, and health care costs among general and gastrointestinal surgery patients in a Japanese acute care hospital. METHODOLOGY: Patients were divided into non-NP and NP groups. Surgical site infection diagnoses were based on The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention criteria. Data were analyzed using multivariate logistic regression for SSI incidence and gamma regression for LOS. RESULTS: The NP group showed a significant decrease in overall SSI incidence and a significantly shorter LOS. Estimated annual health care costs were substantially reduced through NP intervention. CONCLUSIONS: The implementation of NP-led ward rounds significantly improved patient outcomes by reducing SSI incidence and LOS. This intervention also led to a substantial reduction in annual health care costs, demonstrating the value of NPs in optimizing health care resource utilization. IMPLICATIONS: Integrating NPs into surgical teams enhances SSI prevention and promotes cost containment. Their comprehensive assessment and early intervention capabilities are vital for improving the quality of patient care and enhancing the efficiency of surgical services.