Studies comparing surgical outcomes have found that hospitals performing a high volume of a particular procedure typically achieve better patient outcomes than hospitals performing the same procedure rarely. The pattern holds even when adjusting for differences in patient populations and surgeon experience. Researchers have suggested that high-volume institutions may develop refined team protocols, equipment availability, and post-operative care routines that low-volume hospitals lack.
Which choice most logically completes the text? The passage suggests that surgical outcomes _______
- Acheck_circle
may be shaped by institutional factors beyond the qualifications of any single practitioner
- B
are unrelated to procedural volume in any way
- C
depend solely on the experience of individual surgeons
- D
are determined entirely by patient characteristics
Explanation
Volume effects persisting after adjusting for surgeon experience and patients points to institutional factors, supporting B. A, C, D contradict the passage.