TY - JOUR
T1 - Time Dependency in Physician Decision-Making
AU - JIN, Lawrence
AU - TANG, Rui
AU - YE, Han
AU - YI, Junjian
AU - ZHONG, Songfa
PY - 2020/5
Y1 - 2020/5
N2 - Using data on more than 250,000 emergency department (ED) visits, we study the time-of-day effect on physician decision-making and patient outcomes. After controlling for patient characteristics, physician fixed effects, and work hours, we find that cases treated at night have significantly lower probability of inpatient admission and involve fewer medical tests. These cases are also more likely to revisit the ED, which supports the decline in physician performance. While we cannot completely rule out the possibility of limited hospital arrangements, our findings are most consistent with the detrimental effect of disrupted circadian rhythms during night shifts.
AB - Using data on more than 250,000 emergency department (ED) visits, we study the time-of-day effect on physician decision-making and patient outcomes. After controlling for patient characteristics, physician fixed effects, and work hours, we find that cases treated at night have significantly lower probability of inpatient admission and involve fewer medical tests. These cases are also more likely to revisit the ED, which supports the decline in physician performance. While we cannot completely rule out the possibility of limited hospital arrangements, our findings are most consistent with the detrimental effect of disrupted circadian rhythms during night shifts.
UR - https://www.mendeley.com/catalogue/b50735eb-3625-3811-95be-868599bbf3ef/
U2 - 10.1257/pandp.20201033
DO - 10.1257/pandp.20201033
M3 - Journal Article (refereed)
SN - 2574-0768
VL - 110
SP - 284
EP - 288
JO - AEA Papers and Proceedings
JF - AEA Papers and Proceedings
ER -