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Abstract
Emergency departments (ED) worldwide have experienced dramatic increases in crowding over the past 20 years that now have reached critical levels. One consequence of ED crowding has been the routine use of ED hallways for patient care. This includes ED patients who are awaiting care but are considered unstable to remain in the waiting room, patients who are undergoing active medical and trauma treatment, and patients who have been stabilized but await transfer to an inpatient bed (boarding) or another institution. Compared with licensed hospital or standard ED beds, care in ED hallways results in increased patient morbidity and mortality, as well as patient and staff dissatisfaction. Complications experienced by hallway patients include unrecognized sudden respiratory arrest or unstable cardiac arrhythmias, delay in time-sensitive procedures and laboratory testing, delay in receiving important medications, excessive or unrelieved pain, overall increased length of stay, increased disability, and exposure to traumatic psychological events. While much has been published on the general problems of ED crowding, only recently have studies focused exclusively on the issues of providing care in ED hallways. This review summarizes the current issues, challenges, and solutions for hallway care.
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Mason S, Mountain G, Turner J, Arain M, Revue E, Weber EJ. Innovations to reduce demand and crowding in emergency care; a review study. Scand J Trauma Resusc Emerg Med 2014; 22:55. [PMID: 25212060 PMCID: PMC4173055 DOI: 10.1186/s13049-014-0055-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2014] [Accepted: 09/03/2014] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Emergency Department demand continues to rise in almost all high-income countries, including those with universal coverage and a strong primary care network. Many of these countries have been experimenting with innovative methods to stem demand for acute care, while at the same time providing much needed services that can prevent Emergency Department attendance and later hospital admissions. A large proportion of patients comprise of those with minor illnesses that could potentially be seen by a health care provider in a primary care setting. The increasing number of visits to Emergency Departments not only causes delay in urgent care provision but also increases the overall cost. In the UK, the National Health Service (NHS) has made a number of efforts to strengthen primary healthcare services to increase accessibility to healthcare as well as address patients' needs by introducing new urgent care services.
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Affiliation(s)
- Suzanne Mason
- />School of Health and Related Research, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK
| | - Gail Mountain
- />School of Health and Related Research, Sheffield, UK
| | | | - Mubashir Arain
- />Faculty of Nursing, University of Calgary, 2500 University Drive NW, Calgary, AB T2N 1 N4 Canada
| | - Eric Revue
- />Emergency Department, Louis Pasteur Hospital and Prehospital EMS, Chartres, France
| | - Ellen J Weber
- />Emergency Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, USA
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A comparison of implanted cardioverter/defibrillator interrogation protocol effectiveness between 2 patients in the ED. Am J Emerg Med 2014; 32:680-2. [PMID: 24746861 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajem.2014.03.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2014] [Revised: 03/13/2014] [Accepted: 03/14/2014] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
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Soremekun OA, Hamedani A, Shofer FS, O'Conor KJ, Svenson J, Hollander JE. Safety of a rapid diagnostic protocol with accelerated stress testing. Am J Emerg Med 2014; 32:124-8. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ajem.2013.10.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2013] [Revised: 10/05/2013] [Accepted: 10/06/2013] [Indexed: 10/26/2022] Open
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The safe patient flow initiative: a collaborative quality improvement journey at Yale-New Haven Hospital. Jt Comm J Qual Patient Saf 2013; 39:447-59. [PMID: 24195198 DOI: 10.1016/s1553-7250(13)39058-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Yale-New Haven Hospital (YNHH) began a successful journey to achieve safe patient flow in fiscal year (FY) 2008 (October 1, 2007-September 30, 2008). The 966-bed (now 1,541-bed) academic medical center faced several challenges, including overcrowding in the Adult Emergency Department (ED); delays in the postanesthesia care unit, which affected the flow of patients through the operating rooms; pinched capacity during the central part of the day; and a lack of interdependent institutionwide coordination of patients. METHODS The Safe Patient Flow Steering Committee oversaw improvement efforts, most of which were implemented in FY 2009 (October 2008-September 2009), through a cascade of operational meetings. Process changes were made in various departments, such as the Adult ED, Physicians/Providers, and the Bed Management Department. Organizationwide method changes involved standardizing the discharge process, using status boards for visual control, and improving accuracy and timeliness of data entry. RESULTS Between FY 2008 and FY 2011, YNHH experienced an 84% improvement in discharges by 11:00 A.M. The average length of stay decreased from 5.23 to 5.05 days, thereby accommodating an additional 45 inpatients on a daily basis, contributing to YNHH's positive operating margin amid increasing volume and overall decreasing inpatient length of stay. CONCLUSIONS YNHH improved clinical, operational, and financial outcomes by embracing five key components of demand capacity management: real-time communication, inter/intradepartmental and interdisciplinary collaboration, staff empowerment, standardization of best practices, and institutional memory.
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de Araujo P, Khraiche M, Tukan A. Does overcrowding and health insurance type impact patient outcomes in emergency departments? HEALTH ECONOMICS REVIEW 2013; 3:25. [PMID: 24229451 PMCID: PMC4177193 DOI: 10.1186/2191-1991-3-25] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2013] [Accepted: 11/05/2013] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
UNLABELLED : We examine the impact of Emergency Department (ED) overcrowding on wait times and patient outcomes using a unique cross section of about 32,000 patients for an ED located in the Southwestern United States. We construct a measure of a patient's outcome and estimate the extent to which it is worsened by long waits in the ED. We find that waiting at an ED due to overcrowding tends to generate a negative outcome for all patients. We also find that this negative outcome is larger for those on Medicaid or who have no insurance and smaller for those with private insurance or Medicare. JEL CLASSIFICATION CODES I12; I13.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pedro de Araujo
- Department of Economics and Business, Colorado College, 14 E. Cache La Poudre St., Colorado Springs, CO 80903, USA
| | - Maroula Khraiche
- Department of Economics and Business, Colorado College, 14 E. Cache La Poudre St., Colorado Springs, CO 80903, USA
| | - Andrea Tukan
- Department of Economics and Business, Colorado College, 14 E. Cache La Poudre St., Colorado Springs, CO 80903, USA
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Leighton H, Kianfar H, Serynek S, Kerwin T. Effect of an electronic ordering system on adherence to the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association guidelines for cardiac monitoring. Crit Pathw Cardiol 2013; 12:6-8. [PMID: 23411601 DOI: 10.1097/hpc.0b013e318270787c] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Telemetry monitoring is often overused in the inpatient setting. This has led to overcrowding of telemetry beds, increased wait times in the emergency department, and inefficient allocation of hospital resources. The American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association (ACC/AHA) guidelines exist to guide appropriate utilization of cardiac monitoring. We sought to investigate the effect of the institution of an electronic ordering system (EOS) on adherence to guideline-based telemetry use. METHODS Telemetry bed utilization was followed prospectively before and after institution of the EOS. Patient records were reviewed and assessed for indication for telemetry monitoring at admission and at 48 hours, as well as telemetry events. The online order form was based on the ACC/AHA guidelines for in-hospital cardiac monitoring. The EOS mandates physicians to check the specific indication for monitoring. Initial telemetry order expires after 48 hours, and if continued monitoring is necessary, it must be reordered. RESULTS One hundred ninety-six patients before EOS and 156 patients after institution of EOS were assessed. Before EOS, 65% of patients placed on telemetry met guidelines for monitoring. Institution of EOS resulted in a significant improvement in compliance to 81% (P < 0.001). However, at 48 hours, compliance dropped with EOS from 31% to 13% (P < 0.001). All dysrhythmias observed occurred in patients who met guidelines for monitoring. There were no clinically significant events in patients who did not meet guidelines for telemetry monitoring. CONCLUSION The institution of an EOS significantly improved compliance with ACC/AHA guidelines for cardiac monitoring at the time of admission. However, compliance worsened after the initial 48 hours, which may have been due to the ease of online reordering with our EOS. Clinically significant events were only observed in patients who met criteria for monitoring. EOS can be a useful tool to improve adherence to guideline-based utilization of hospital resources.
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Xie B. Development and Validation of Models to Predict Hospital Admission for Emergency Department Patients. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF STATISTICS IN MEDICAL RESEARCH 2013; 2:55-66. [DOI: 10.6000/1929-6029.2013.02.01.07] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/01/2023]
Abstract
Background: Boarding, or patients waiting to be admitted to hospital, has been shown as a significant contributing factor at overcrowding in emergency departments (ED). Predicting hospital admission at triage has been proposed as having the potential to help alleviate ED overcrowding. The objective of this paper is to develop and validate a model to predict hospital admission at triage to help alleviate ED overcrowding.
Methods: Administrative records between April 1, 2010 and November 31, 2010 in an adult ED were used to derive and validate two prediction models, one based on Coxian phase type distribution (the PH model), the other based on logistic regression. Separate data sets were used for model development (data between April 1, 2010 and July 31, 2010) and validation (data between August 1, 2010 and November 31, 2010).
Results: There were a total of 14,542 ED visits and 2,602 (17.89%) hospital admissions in the derivation cohort. In both models, acuity levels, model of arrival, and main reason of the visit are strong predictors of hospital admission; number of patients at the ED, as well as gender, are also predictors, albeit with ORs closer to 1. Patient age and timing of visits are not strong predictors. The PH model has an AUC of 0.89 compared with AUC of 0.83 for logistic regression model; with a cut- off value of 0.50, the PH model correctly predicted 86.3% of visits, compared to 84.4% for the logistic regression model. Results of the validation cohort were similar: the PH model has an AUC of 0.88, compared to AUC of 0.83 for the logistic model.
Conclusions: PH and logistic models can be used to provide reasonably accurate prediction of hospital admission for ED patients, with the PH model offering more accurate predictions
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Tekwani KL, Kerem Y, Mistry CD, Sayger BM, Kulstad EB. Emergency Department Crowding is Associated with Reduced Satisfaction Scores in Patients Discharged from the Emergency Department. West J Emerg Med 2013; 14:11-5. [PMID: 23447751 PMCID: PMC3582517 DOI: 10.5811/westjem.2011.11.11456] [Citation(s) in RCA: 77] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2011] [Revised: 04/26/2012] [Accepted: 07/16/2012] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Emergency department (ED) crowding has been shown to negatively impact patient outcomes. Few studies have addressed the effect of ED crowding on patient satisfaction. Our objective was to evaluate the impact of ED crowding on patient satisfaction in patients discharged from the ED. METHODS We measured patient satisfaction using Press-Ganey surveys returned by patients that visited our ED between August 1, 2007 and March 31, 2008. We recorded all mean satisfaction scores and obtained mean ED occupancy rate, mean emergency department work index (EDWIN) score and hospital diversion status over each 8-hour shift from data archived in our electronic tracking board. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis was calculated to determine the effect of ED crowding and hospital diversion status on the odds of achieving a mean satisfaction score ≥ 85, which was the patient satisfaction goal set forth by our ED administration. RESULTS A total of 1591 surveys were returned over the study period. Mean satisfaction score was 77.6 (standard deviation [SD] ±16) and mean occupancy rate was 1.23 (SD ± 0.31). The likelihood of failure to meet patient satisfaction goals was associated with an increase in average ED occupancy rate (odds ratio [OR] 0.32, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.17 to 0.59, P < 0.001) and an increase in EDWIN score (OR 0.05, 95% CI 0.004 to 0.55, P = 0.015). Hospital diversion resulted in lower mean satisfaction scores, but this was not statistically significant (OR 0.62, 95% CI 0.36 to 1.05). In multivariable analysis controlling for hospital diversion status and time of shift, ED occupancy rate remained a significant predictor of failure to meet patient satisfaction goals (OR 0.34, 95% CI 0.18 to 0.66, P = 0.001). CONCLUSION Increased crowding, as measured by ED occupancy rate and EDWIN score, was significantly associated with reduced patient satisfaction. Although causative attribution was limited, our study suggested yet another negative impact resulting from ED crowding.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karis L. Tekwani
- Advocate Christ Medical Center, Department of Emergency Medicine, Oak Lawn, Illinois
| | - Yaniv Kerem
- University of Chicago Medical Center, Section of Emergency Medicine, Chicago, Illinois
| | - Chintan D. Mistry
- Advocate Christ Medical Center, Department of Emergency Medicine, Oak Lawn, Illinois
| | - Brian M. Sayger
- Advocate Christ Medical Center, Department of Emergency Medicine, Oak Lawn, Illinois
| | - Erik B. Kulstad
- Advocate Christ Medical Center, Department of Emergency Medicine, Oak Lawn, Illinois
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Chadaga SR, Maher MP, Maller N, Mancini D, Mascolo M, Sharma S, Anderson ML, Chu ES. Evolving practice of hospital medicine and its impact on hospital throughput and efficiencies. J Hosp Med 2012; 7:649-54. [PMID: 22791678 DOI: 10.1002/jhm.1951] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2011] [Revised: 05/01/2012] [Accepted: 05/06/2012] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Hospitalists are uniquely positioned to implement strategies to improve patient flow and efficiency. Hospital leaders have stated they expect hospitalists to comanage surgical patients, participate in observation units, and screen medical admissions, in addition to providing inpatient care for medical patients. We review how the hospitalists' role in acute inpatient care, surgical comanagement, short stay units, chest pain units, and active bed management has improved throughput and patient flow.
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Affiliation(s)
- Smitha R Chadaga
- Division of Hospital Medicine, Department of Medicine, Denver Health Medical Center, Denver, Colorado 80204-4507, USA.
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Liu SW, Chang Y, Camargo CA, Weissman JS, Walsh K, Schuur JD, Deal J, Singer SJ. A Mixed-Methods Study of the Quality of Care Provided to Patients Boarding in the Emergency Department. Med Care Res Rev 2012; 69:679-98. [DOI: 10.1177/1077558712457426] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
Concern exists regarding care patients receive while boarding (staying in the emergency department [ED] after a decision to admit has been made). This exploratory study compares care for such ED patients under “Inpatient Responsibility” (IPR) and “ED Responsibility” (EDR) models using mixed methods. The authors abstracted quantitative data from 1,431 patient charts for ED patients admitted to two academic hospitals in 2004-2005 and interviewed 10 providers for qualitative data. The authors compared delays using logistic regression and used provider interviews to explore reasons for quantitative findings. EDR patients had more delays to receiving home medications over the first 26 hours of admission but fewer while boarding; EDR patients had fewer delayed cardiac enzymes checks. Interviews revealed that culture, resource prioritization, and systems issues made care for boarded patients challenging. A theoretically better responsibility model may not deliver better care to boarded patients because of cultural, resource prioritization, and systems issues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shan W. Liu
- Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Yuchiao Chang
- Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Carlos A. Camargo
- Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Joel S. Weissman
- Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Kathleen Walsh
- Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | | | - Jeffrey Deal
- University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, USA
| | - Sara J. Singer
- Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
- Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
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Forero R, Hillman KM, McCarthy S, Fatovich DM, Joseph AP, Richardson DB. Access block and ED overcrowding. Emerg Med Australas 2012; 22:119-35. [PMID: 20534047 DOI: 10.1111/j.1742-6723.2010.01270.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 101] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Prospective and retrospective access block hospital intervention studies from 1998 to 2008 were reviewed to assess the evidence for interventions around access block and ED overcrowding, including over 220 documents reported in Medline and data extracted from The State of our Public Hospitals Reports. There is an estimated 20-30% increased mortality rate due to access block and ED overcrowding. The main causes are major increases in hospital admissions and ED presentations, with almost no increase in the capacity of hospitals to meet this demand. The rate of available beds in Australia reduced from 2.6 beds per 1000 (1998-1999) to 2.4 beds per 1000 (2002-2007) in 2002, and has remained steady at between 2.5-2.6 beds per 1000. In the same period, the number of ED visits increased over 77% from 3.8 million to 6.74 million. Similarly, the number of public hospital admissions increased at an average rate of 3.4% per year from 3.7 to 4.7 million. Compared with 1998-1999 rates, the number of available beds in 2006-2007 is thus similar (2.65 vs 2.6 beds per 1000), but the number of ED presentations has almost doubled. All patient groups are affected by access block. Access block interventions may temporarily reduce some of the symptoms of access block, but many measures are not sustainable. The root cause of the problem will remain unless hospital capacity is addressed in an integrated approach at both national and state levels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roberto Forero
- Simpson Centre for Health Services Research Affiliated with The Australian Institute of Health Innovation, University of New South Wales, Kensington, New South Wales, Australia.
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An evidence-based case for the value of social workers in efficient hospital discharge. Health Care Manag (Frederick) 2011; 30:242-6. [PMID: 21808176 DOI: 10.1097/hcm.0b013e318225e1dd] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
A study was undertaken to make an evidence-based case for the value of social workers in efficient discharge of patients from acute care hospitals and to assist hospital managers in making informed staffing decisions. Hospital administrative databases from March 1 to November 30, 2008, were used for the analysis of inpatient discharges on days when social workers were on vacation compared with days fully staffed with social workers. Two performance measures, daily discharge rate and average length of stay, were evaluated. During the study period, 1825 patients were discharged from the General Internal Medicine inpatient service. Team discharge rates were significantly lower on social work vacation Fridays versus regular Fridays. In contrast, the average length of stay for patients discharged on social work vacation Fridays was significantly shorter than that for patients discharged on regular Fridays. It was concluded that daily discharge rate better quantified the role of social work in patient discharge. More generally, these results provide preliminary support for the need for adequate social work staffing in timely and efficient patient discharge.
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Wiler JL, Poirier RF, Farley H, Zirkin W, Griffey RT. Emergency severity index triage system correlation with emergency department evaluation and management billing codes and total professional charges. Acad Emerg Med 2011; 18:1161-6. [PMID: 22092897 DOI: 10.1111/j.1553-2712.2011.01203.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES All services provided by physicians to patients during an emergency department (ED) visit, including procedures and "cognitive work," are described by common procedural terminology (CPT) codes that are translated by coders into total professional (physician) charges for the visit. These charges do not include the technical (facility) charges. The objectives of this study were to characterize associations between Emergency Severity Index (ESI) acuity level, ED Evaluation and Management (E&M) billing codes 99281-99285 and 99291, and total ED provider charges (sum of total procedure and E&M professional charges). Secondary objectives were to identify factors that might affect these associations and to evaluate the performance of ESI and identified variables to predict E&M code and average total professional charges. METHODS The authors reviewed 276,824 patient records for calendar year 2007, of which 193,952 adult ED visits from three different ED types (community, university-based academic, and non-university-based academic) met inclusion criteria. Correlations between 1) ESI level and E&M billing code per visit by institution and 2) ESI and total professional charges were analyzed using Spearman rank correlation. Linear regression analysis was performed to identify variables that significantly affected these correlations. RESULTS ESI level and E&M codes were moderately correlated (Spearman r = 0.51). ESI levels corresponded proportionately to higher E&M codes. ESI 1, 2, and 3 most frequently corresponded with E&M level 5 (50, 62, and 45%, respectively), and ESI 4 and 5 most frequently corresponded with E&M level 3 (56 and 67%, respectively). Only age by decade significantly affected the association between ESI level and E&M billing code. The mean total professional charge for all patient encounters was $421 (SD ± $204) with increasing mean charges per patient by increasing ESI acuity. Race and E&M code significantly affected the relationship between ESI level and total ED professional charges per patient (adjusted r(2) = 0.66). CONCLUSIONS A moderate, nonlinear correlation exists between ESI acuity levels and ED E&M billing codes. Increasing age affects this correlation. Race and E&M code affect the correlation between ESI level and total professional charges. As such, basic triage data can be used to estimate E&M code and total professional charges. Future studies are needed to validate these findings across other institutional settings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer L Wiler
- Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, USA.
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Birkhahn RH, Wen W, Datillo PA, Briggs WM, Parekh A, Arkun A, Byrd B, Gaeta TJ. Improving patient flow in acute coronary syndromes in the face of hospital crowding. J Emerg Med 2011; 43:356-65. [PMID: 22015378 DOI: 10.1016/j.jemermed.2011.06.046] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2011] [Revised: 05/06/2011] [Accepted: 06/11/2011] [Indexed: 10/16/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The current paradigm for the evaluation of patients with suspected acute coronary syndromes (ACS) in the emergency department (ED) is focused on the identification of patients with active underlying coronary disease. The majority of patients evaluated in the ED setting do not have active underlying cardiac disease. OBJECTIVE To measure the effect of bedside point-of-care (POC) cardiac biomarker testing on telemetry unit admissions from the ED. Furthermore, to evaluate the effect telemetry admissions have on ED length of stay (LOS) and overall hospital LOS. METHODS Primary data were collected over two 6-month periods in an urban teaching hospital ED. This was an observational cohort study conducted pre- and post-availability of a POC testing platform for cardiac biomarkers. Major measures included number of overall telemetry admissions, ED LOS, hospital LOS, and disposition. Patients were followed at 30 days for significant cardiac events, repeat ED visit or admission, and death. RESULTS In the post-implementation period there was a 30% (95% confidence interval [CI] 36-44%) reduction in admissions to telemetry with a 33% (95% CI 26-39%) reduction in ED LOS and a 20% (95% CI 7-34%) reduction in hospital LOS. There was a 62% reduction in overall mortality between the pre-implementation period and the post-implementation period (p=0.001). CONCLUSION The focused use of a rapid cardiac disposition protocol can dramatically impact resource utilization, expedite patient flow, and improve short-term outcomes for patients with suspected ACS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert H Birkhahn
- Department of Medicine, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, New York, USA
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Who Is Sleeping in Our Beds? Factors Predicting the ED Boarding of Admitted Patients for More Than 2 Hours. J Emerg Nurs 2011; 37:225-30. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jen.2010.02.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2009] [Accepted: 02/19/2010] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
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Ward MJ, Eckman MH, Schauer DP, Raja AS, Collins S. Cost-effectiveness of telemetry for hospitalized patients with low-risk chest pain. Acad Emerg Med 2011; 18:279-86. [PMID: 21401791 DOI: 10.1111/j.1553-2712.2011.01008.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The majority of chest pain admissions originate in the emergency department (ED). Despite a low incidence of cardiac events, limited telemetry availability, and its questionable benefit, these patients are routinely admitted to a monitored setting. OBJECTIVES The objectives were to analyze the cost-effectiveness of admission to telemetry versus admission to an unmonitored hospital bed in low-risk chest pain patients and explore when the use of telemetry may be cost-effective. METHODS The authors constructed a decision analytic model to evaluate the scenario of an ED admission of an otherwise healthy 55-year-old patient with low-risk chest pain defined as an acute coronary syndrome (ACS) probability of 2%. Costs were estimated from 2009 Medicare data for hospital reimbursement and physician services, as well as published data on disability costs. Published studies were used to estimate the risk of ACS, cardiac arrest, time to defibrillation, survival, long-term disability, and quality of life. RESULTS In the base case, telemetry was more effective (0.0044 quality-adjusted life-years [QALYs]) but more costly ($299.67) than a floor bed, resulting in a high marginal cost-effectiveness ratio (mCER) of $67,484.55 per QALY. In comprehensive sensitivity analyses, the mCER crossed below the willingness-to-pay (WTP) threshold of $50,000 per QALY when the following scenarios were met: the probability of ACS exceeds 3%, the probability of cardiac arrest is greater than 0.4%, the probability of shockable dysrhythmia is above 83%, the probability of delay in telemetry bed availability is below 52%, and the opportunity cost of delay to telemetry bed placement is below $119. CONCLUSIONS Telemetry may be a "cost-effective" use of health care resources for chest pain patients when patients have a probability of ACS above 3% or for patients with a minimal delay and cost associated with obtaining a monitored bed. Further research is needed to better stratify low-risk chest pain patients to the appropriate inpatient setting and to understand the frequency and costs associated with delays in obtaining monitored beds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael J Ward
- Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, USA.
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Wilson SR, Min JK. The potential role for the use of cardiac computed tomography angiography for the acute chest pain patient in the emergency department. J Nucl Cardiol 2011; 18:168-76. [PMID: 21190100 DOI: 10.1007/s12350-010-9328-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Sean R Wilson
- The Greenberg Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, Weill Medical College of Cornell University, New York Presbyterian Hospital, New York, NY, USA
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Powell ES, Khare RK, Venkatesh AK, Van Roo BD, Adams JG, Reinhardt G. The relationship between inpatient discharge timing and emergency department boarding. J Emerg Med 2010; 42:186-96. [PMID: 20888163 DOI: 10.1016/j.jemermed.2010.06.028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 104] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2010] [Accepted: 06/17/2010] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Patient crowding and boarding in Emergency Departments (EDs) impair the quality of care as well as patient safety and satisfaction. Improved timing of inpatient discharges could positively affect ED boarding, and this hypothesis can be tested with computer modeling. STUDY OBJECTIVE Modeling enables analysis of the impact of inpatient discharge timing on ED boarding. Three policies were tested: a sensitivity analysis on shifting the timing of current discharge practices earlier; discharging 75% of inpatients by 12:00 noon; and discharging all inpatients between 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. METHODS A cross-sectional computer modeling analysis was conducted of inpatient admissions and discharges on weekdays in September 2007. A model of patient flow streams into and out of inpatient beds with an output of ED admitted patient boarding hours was created to analyze the three policies. RESULTS A mean of 38.8 ED patients, 22.7 surgical patients, and 19.5 intensive care unit transfers were admitted to inpatient beds, and 81.1 inpatients were discharged daily on September 2007 weekdays: 70.5%, 85.6%, 82.8%, and 88.0%, respectively, occurred between noon and midnight. In the model base case, total daily admitted patient boarding hours were 77.0 per day; the sensitivity analysis showed that shifting the peak inpatient discharge time 4h earlier eliminated ED boarding, and discharging 75% of inpatients by noon and discharging all inpatients between 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. both decreased boarding hours to 3.0. CONCLUSION Timing of inpatient discharges had an impact on the need to board admitted patients. This model demonstrates the potential to reduce or eliminate ED boarding by improving inpatient discharge timing in anticipation of the daily surge in ED demand for inpatient beds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emilie S Powell
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Northwestern University, Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois, USA
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71
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Qualls M, Pallin DJ, Schuur JD. Parametric versus nonparametric statistical tests: the length of stay example. Acad Emerg Med 2010; 17:1113-21. [PMID: 21040113 DOI: 10.1111/j.1553-2712.2010.00874.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES This study examined selected effects of the proper use of nonparametric inferential statistical methods for analysis of nonnormally distributed data, as exemplified by emergency department length of stay (ED LOS). The hypothesis was that parametric methods have been used inappropriately for evaluation of ED LOS in most recent studies in leading emergency medicine (EM) journals. To illustrate why such a methodologic flaw should be avoided, a demonstration, using data from the National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey (NHAMCS), is presented. The demonstration shows how inappropriate analysis of ED LOS increases the probability of type II errors. METHODS Five major EM journals were reviewed, January 1, 2004, through December 31, 2007, and all studies with ED LOS as one of the reported outcomes were reviewed. The authors determined whether ED LOS was analyzed correctly by ascertaining whether nonparametric tests were used when indicated. An illustrative analysis of ED LOS was constructed using 2006 NHAMCS data, to demonstrate how inferential testing for statistical significance can deliver differing conclusions, depending on whether nonparametric methods are used when indicated. RESULTS Forty-nine articles were identified that studied ED LOS; 80% did not perform a test of normality on the ED LOS data. Data were not normally distributed in all 10 of the studies that did perform such tests. Overall, 43% failed to use appropriate nonparametric methods. Analysis of NHAMCS data confirmed that failure to use nonparametric bivariate tests results in type II statistical error and in multivariate models with less explanatory power (a smaller R²) value). CONCLUSIONS ED LOS, a key ED operational metric, is frequently analyzed incorrectly in the EM literature. Applying parametric statistical tests to such nonnormally distributed data reduces power and increases the probability of a type II error, which is the failure to find true associations. Appropriate use of nonparametric statistics should be a core component of statistical literacy because such use increases the validity of ED research and quality improvement projects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Munirih Qualls
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.
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Abstract
Occult bacteremia is primarily caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae and has been an intense clinical controversy in pediatric emergency medicine, with passionate opinions rendered from inside and outside the field. Vaccine development and widespread immunization have rapidly affected the changing epidemiology of this disease. There is a growing consensus that the reduction in incidence of occult bacteremia and the significant problem of antibiotic resistance are tipping the balance in favor of no testing and no treatment for well-appearing febrile children between 6 and 36 months of age who are immunized with Haemophilus influenzae B vaccination and PCV-7 (pneumococcal conjugate vaccine). This review of occult pneumococcal bacteremia will not only elaborate on current knowledge and clinical practice, but will also provide historical context to this fascinating phenomenon.
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Ruan S, Noyes K, Bazarian JJ. The economic impact of S-100B as a pre-head CT screening test on emergency department management of adult patients with mild traumatic brain injury. J Neurotrauma 2010; 26:1655-64. [PMID: 19413465 DOI: 10.1089/neu.2009.0928] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Recent research suggests that serum S-100B may serve as a good pre-head computed tomography (CT) screening test because of its high sensitivity for abnormal head CT scans. The potential economic impact of using S-100B in the emergency department setting for management of adult patients with isolated mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) has not been evaluated despite its clinical implementation in Europe. Using evidence from the literature, we constructed a decision tree to compare the average cost per patient of using S-100B as a pre-head CT screening test to the current practice of ordering CT scans based on patients' presenting symptoms without the aid of S-100B. When compared to scanning 45-77% of isolated mTBI patients based upon their presenting symptoms, using S-100B as a pre-head CT screen does not lower hospital costs ($281 versus $160), primarily due to its low specificity for abnormal head CT scans. Sensitivity analyses showed, however, that S-100B becomes cost-lowering when the proportion of mTBI patients being scanned exceeds 78%, or when final CT scan results require 96 min or more than the wait for blood test results. Generally speaking, if blood test results require less time than imaging, and if head CT scan rates for patients with isolated mTBI are relatively high, using S-100B will lower costs. Recommendations for using S-100B as a screening tool should account for setting-specific characteristics and their consequent economic impacts. Despite its high sensitivity and excellent negative predictive value, serum S-100B has low specificity and low positive predictive value, limiting its ability to reduce numbers of CT scans and hospital costs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuolun Ruan
- Department of Community and Preventive Medicine, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, New York 14642, USA.
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Abstract
Emergency department (ED) crowding and ambulance diversion has been an increasingly significant national problem for more than a decade. More than 90% of hospital ED directors reported overcrowding as a problem resulting in patients in hallways, full occupancy of ED beds, and long waits, occurring several times a week. Overcrowding has many other potential detrimental effects including diversion of ambulances, frustration for patients and ED personnel, lesser patient satisfaction, and most importantly, greater risk for poor outcomes. This article gives a basic blueprint for successfully making hospital-wide changes using principles of operational management. It briefly covers the causes, significance, and dangers of overcrowding, and then focuses primarily on specific solutions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonathan S Olshaker
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Boston Medical Center, Boston University School of Medicine, Dowling 1 South, Boston, MA 02118, USA.
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Viccellio A, Santora C, Singer AJ, Thode HC, Henry MC. The Association Between Transfer of Emergency Department Boarders to Inpatient Hallways and Mortality: A 4-Year Experience. Ann Emerg Med 2009; 54:487-91. [DOI: 10.1016/j.annemergmed.2009.03.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 101] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2008] [Revised: 02/23/2009] [Accepted: 03/03/2009] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
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Lippi G, Filippozzi L, Salvagno GL, Montagnana M, Franchini M, Guidi GC, Targher G. Increased mean platelet volume in patients with acute coronary syndromes. Arch Pathol Lab Med 2009; 133:1441-3. [PMID: 19722752 DOI: 10.5858/133.9.1441] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 11/04/2008] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
CONTEXT Despite remarkable progress, the diagnosis of acute coronary syndromes (ACS) is still challenging. OBJECTIVE The mean platelet volume (MPV), a simple and reliable indicator of platelet size that correlates with platelet activation, might be an emerging cardiovascular risk marker and potentially helpful in stratifying cardiovascular risk. DESIGN We analyzed MPV values in 2304 adult patients who were consecutively admitted during a 1-year period to the emergency department of the University Hospital of Verona for chest pain suggestive of ACS. In all patients, a baseline blood sample was collected for routine hematologic testing, whereas cardiac troponin T measurements were collected both at baseline and after 4, 6, and 12 hours. RESULTS A total of 456 patients (19.8% of total) had ACS. These patients, all having cardiac troponin T levels of 0.03 ng/mL or greater in addition to ischemic electrocardiographic changes, had higher MPV values than non-ACS patients with normal cardiac troponin T levels (median, 8.0 fL [5th to 95th percentiles, 6.7-10.0 fL] versus median, 7.4 fL [5th to 95th percentiles, 6.5-9.5 fL]; P < .001). The diagnostic accuracy of MPV, calculated as the area under the curve by the receiver operating characteristic analysis, was 0.661 (P < .001). At the 9.0-fL cutoff, the negative and positive predictive values of MPV were 83% and 43%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS Because MPV is a simple and inexpensive laboratory measurement, it might be considered a useful rule-out test along with other conventional cardiac biomarkers for the risk stratification of ACS patients admitted to the emergency departments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giuseppe Lippi
- Sezione di Chimica Clinica, Dipartimento di Scienze Morfologico-Biomediche, Università degli Studi di Verona, Ospedale Policlinico G.B. Rossi, Verona, Italy.
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Lippi G, Filippozzi L, Montagnana M, Salvagno GL, Franchini M, Guidi GC, Targher G. Clinical usefulness of measuring red blood cell distribution width on admission in patients with acute coronary syndromes. Clin Chem Lab Med 2009; 47:353-7. [PMID: 19676148 DOI: 10.1515/cclm.2009.066] [Citation(s) in RCA: 71] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Conventional cardiac markers used for the biochemical diagnosis of acute coronary syndromes (ACS) have a high specificity but low sensitivity within 2-4 h of symptoms onset. The red blood cell distribution width (RDW), reflecting the size variability of circulating red blood cells, has been shown to be independently associated with an increased risk of major cardiovascular events. We assessed whether there is an association between RDW at admission and cardiac troponin T (cTnT) elevation in patients with chest pain. METHODS We analyzed RDW values in 2304 adult patients, who were consecutively admitted over a 1-year period to the local emergency department for chest pain suggestive of ACS. In all patients, a baseline blood sample was collected for routine haematological testing, whereas cTnT was measured at baseline and after 4, 6, and 12 h. RESULTS A total of 456 patients (19.8% of total) had ACS. These patients, all having cTnT> or =0.03 microg/L up to 12 h from admission other than ischaemic electrocardiographic changes, had higher RDW than non-ACS patients [median 15.1%, (5th-95th percentiles) 13.2%-19.0% vs. 13.5%, 12.9%-17.1%, p<0.001]. On admission, the sensitivity and specificity of cTnT were 94% (25 false negative results) and 100%, respectively. The diagnostic accuracy of RDW, as calculated by the receiver operating characteristic curve analysis, was 0.705 (p<0.001). At the cut-off value of 14%, the clinical sensitivity and specificity of RDW on admission were 79% and 50%, respectively. In 21 out of 25 patients classified as false negative for cTnT on admission, the RDW was >14%. Accordingly, the diagnostic sensitivity of the two combined measurements on admission was 99%. CONCLUSIONS As RDW is widely available to clinicians as a part of the complete blood count, and therefore incurs no additional costs, it might be considered with other conventional cardiac markers for the risk stratification of ACS patients admitted to emergency departments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giuseppe Lippi
- Sezione di Chimica Clinica, Dipartimento di Scienze Morfologico-Biomediche, Università degli Studi di Verona, Ospedale Policlinico G.B. Rossi, Verona, Italy.
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79
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Low-risk patients with chest pain in the emergency department: negative 64-MDCT coronary angiography may reduce length of stay and hospital charges. AJR Am J Roentgenol 2009; 193:150-4. [PMID: 19542407 DOI: 10.2214/ajr.08.2021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The current standard-of-care workup of low-risk patients with chest pain in an emergency department takes 12-36 hours and is expensive. We hypothesized that negative 64-MDCT coronary angiography early in the workup of such patients may enable a shorter length of stay and reduce charges. MATERIALS AND METHODS The standard-of-care evaluation consisted of serial cardiac enzyme tests, ECGs, and stress testing. After informed consent, we added cardiac CT early in the standard-of-care workup of 53 consecutive patients. Fifty patients had negative CT findings and were included in this series. The length of stay and charges were analyzed using actual patient data for all patients in the standard-of-care workup and for two earlier discharge scenarios based on negative cardiac CT results: First, CT plus serial enzyme tests and ECGs during an observation period followed by discharge if all were negative; and second, CT plus one set of enzyme tests and one ECG followed by discharge if all were negative. Comparisons were made using paired Student's t tests. RESULTS For standard of care and the two CT-based earlier discharge analyses, the mean lengths of stay were 25.4, 14.3, and 5.0 hours; mean charges were $7,597, $6,153, and $4,251. Length of stay and charges were both significantly less (p < 0.001) for the two CT-based analyses. CONCLUSION In low-risk patients with chest pain, discharge from the emergency department based on negative cardiac CT, enzyme tests, and ECG may significantly decrease both length of stay and hospital charges compared with the standard of care.
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Vermeulen MJ, Ray JG, Bell C, Cayen B, Stukel TA, Schull MJ. Disequilibrium between admitted and discharged hospitalized patients affects emergency department length of stay. Ann Emerg Med 2009; 54:794-804. [PMID: 19556025 DOI: 10.1016/j.annemergmed.2009.04.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2009] [Revised: 03/18/2009] [Accepted: 04/15/2009] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
STUDY OBJECTIVE Most patients are admitted to the hospital through the emergency department (ED), and ED waiting times partly reflect the availability of inpatient beds. We test whether the balance between daily hospital admissions and discharges affects next-day ED length of stay. METHODS We conducted a cross-sectional study of hospitals in metropolitan Toronto, served by a single emergency medical services provider in a publicly funded system. During a 3-year period, we evaluated the daily ratio of admissions to discharges at each hospital and the next-day median ED length of stay in the same hospital by using linear regression. RESULTS Across hospitals, the daily mean (SD) 50th percentile ED length of stay averaged 218 (51) minutes. As the inpatient admission-discharge ratio increased or decreased, next-day ED length of stay changed accordingly. Compared with ratios of 1.0, those less than 0.6 were associated with an 11-minute (95% confidence interval [CI] 5 to 16 minutes) shorter next-day median ED length of stay; at admission-discharge ratios of 1.3 to 1.4, ED length of stay was significantly prolonged by 5 minutes (95% CI 3 to 6 minutes). Admission-discharge ratios on weekends and among medical inpatients had a stronger influence on next-day ED length of stay; effects were also greater among higher-acuity and admitted ED patients. CONCLUSION Disequilibrium between the number of admitted and discharged inpatients significantly affects next-day ED length of stay. Better matching of daily hospital discharges and admissions could reduce ED waiting times and may be more amenable to intervention than reducing admissions alone. The admission-discharge ratio may also provide a simple way of tracking and enhancing hospital system performance.
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Khorram-Manesh A, Hedelin A, Ortenwall P. Hospital-related incidents; causes and its impact on disaster preparedness and prehospital organisations. Scand J Trauma Resusc Emerg Med 2009; 17:26. [PMID: 19493330 PMCID: PMC2700787 DOI: 10.1186/1757-7241-17-26] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2009] [Accepted: 06/03/2009] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Background A hospital's capacity and preparedness is one of the important parts of disaster planning. Hospital-related incidents, a new phenomenon in Swedish healthcare, may lead to ambulance diversions, increased waiting time at emergency departments and treatment delay along with deterioration of disaster management and surge capacity. We aimed to identify the causes and impacts of hospital-related incidents in Region Västra Götaland (western region of Sweden). Methods The regional registry at the Prehospital and Disaster Medicine Center was reviewed (2006–2008). The number of hospital-related incidents and its causes were analyzed. Results There were an increasing number of hospital-related incidents mainly caused by emergency department's overcrowdings, the lack of beds at ordinary wards and/or intensive care units and technical problems at the radiology departments. These incidents resulted in ambulance diversions and reduced the prehospital capacity as well as endangering the patient safety. Conclusion Besides emergency department overcrowdings, ambulance diversions, endangering patient s safety and increasing risk for in-hospital mortality, hospital-related incidents reduces and limits the regional preparedness by minimizing the surge capacity. In order to prevent a future irreversible disaster, this problem should be avoided and addressed properly by further regional studies.
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Schweigler LM, Desmond JS, McCarthy ML, Bukowski KJ, Ionides EL, Younger JG. Forecasting models of emergency department crowding. Acad Emerg Med 2009; 16:301-8. [PMID: 19210488 DOI: 10.1111/j.1553-2712.2009.00356.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES The authors investigated whether models using time series methods can generate accurate short-term forecasts of emergency department (ED) bed occupancy, using traditional historical averages models as comparison. METHODS From July 2005 through June 2006, retrospective hourly ED bed occupancy values were collected from three tertiary care hospitals. Three models of ED bed occupancy were developed for each site: 1) hourly historical average, 2) seasonal autoregressive integrated moving average (ARIMA), and 3) sinusoidal with an autoregression (AR)-structured error term. Goodness of fits were compared using log likelihood and Akaike's Information Criterion (AIC). The accuracies of 4- and 12-hour forecasts were evaluated by comparing model forecasts to actual observed bed occupancy with root mean square (RMS) error. Sensitivity of prediction errors to model training time was evaluated, as well. RESULTS The seasonal ARIMA outperformed the historical average in complexity adjusted goodness of fit (AIC). Both AR-based models had significantly better forecast accuracy for the 4- and the 12-hour forecasts of ED bed occupancy (analysis of variance [ANOVA] p < 0.01), compared to the historical average. The AR-based models did not differ significantly from each other in their performance. Model prediction errors did not show appreciable sensitivity to model training times greater than 7 days. CONCLUSIONS Both a sinusoidal model with AR-structured error term and a seasonal ARIMA model were found to robustly forecast ED bed occupancy 4 and 12 hours in advance at three different EDs, without needing data input beyond bed occupancy in the preceding hours.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lisa M Schweigler
- Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
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Hoot NR, Leblanc LJ, Jones I, Levin SR, Zhou C, Gadd CS, Aronsky D. Forecasting emergency department crowding: a prospective, real-time evaluation. J Am Med Inform Assoc 2009; 16:338-45. [PMID: 19261948 DOI: 10.1197/jamia.m2772] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Emergency department crowding threatens quality and access to health care, and a method of accurately forecasting near-future crowding should enable novel ways to alleviate the problem. The authors sought to implement and validate the previously developed ForecastED discrete event simulation for real-time forecasting of emergency department crowding. DESIGN AND MEASUREMENTS The authors conducted a prospective observational study during a three-month period (5/1/07-8/1/07) in the adult emergency department of a tertiary care medical center. The authors connected the forecasting tool to existing information systems to obtain real-time forecasts of operational data, updated every 10 minutes. The outcome measures included the emergency department waiting count, waiting time, occupancy level, length of stay, boarding count, boarding time, and ambulance diversion; each forecast 2, 4, 6, and 8 hours into the future. RESULTS The authors obtained crowding forecasts at 13,239 10-minute intervals, out of 13,248 possible (99.9%). The R(2) values for predicting operational data 8 hours into the future, with 95% confidence intervals, were 0.27 (0.26, 0.29) for waiting count, 0.11 (0.10, 0.12) for waiting time, 0.57 (0.55, 0.58) for occupancy level, 0.69 (0.68, 0.70) for length of stay, 0.61 (0.59, 0.62) for boarding count, and 0.53 (0.51, 0.54) for boarding time. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve for predicting ambulance diversion 8 hours into the future, with 95% confidence intervals, was 0.85 (0.84, 0.86). CONCLUSIONS The ForecastED tool provides accurate forecasts of several input, throughput, and output measures of crowding up to 8 hours into the future. The real-time deployment of the system should be feasible at other emergency departments that have six patient-level variables available through information systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nathan R Hoot
- Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN 37232, USA.
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Gillespie GL, Yap TL, Singleton M, Elam M. A summative evaluation of an EMS partnership aimed at reducing ED length of stay. J Emerg Nurs 2009; 35:5-10. [PMID: 19203673 DOI: 10.1016/j.jen.2007.10.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2007] [Revised: 09/19/2007] [Accepted: 10/08/2007] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Freestanding emergency departments are full-service emergency departments with no attached inpatient facility. ED congestion and patient dissatisfaction may occur as patients requiring admission are waiting for ambulance arrival and transfer. A partnership between a freestanding emergency department and a private ambulance company was developed in order to reduce ambulance response times and ultimately ED length of stay. The aim of this manuscript was to describe the Partnership in Care program and evaluate the program's effectiveness. METHODS The study used a pre-post/post-test summative evaluation design. A retrospective chart review was done for all patients discharged from the freestanding emergency department by the partnered ambulance company during the pre-test period, April 2004 to June 2004, and the post-test period, April 2005 to June 2005. Data variables included time of triage, time ambulance requested, time ambulance arrived, and discharge time. Institutional Review Board approval was obtained. RESULTS There were 507 patients transported at discharge by the ambulance company. There was a 5-minute increase for mean ED length of stay although not significant. Mean ambulance response time was significantly reduced by 8 minutes. DISCUSSION The program did not achieve the primary goal of reducing ED length of stay, however the private EMS workers provided countless hours of patient care to the freestanding ED patients without charge to the freestanding emergency department for the EMS providers' time.
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Bernstein SL, Aronsky D, Duseja R, Epstein S, Handel D, Hwang U, McCarthy M, John McConnell K, Pines JM, Rathlev N, Schafermeyer R, Zwemer F, Schull M, Asplin BR. The effect of emergency department crowding on clinically oriented outcomes. Acad Emerg Med 2009; 16:1-10. [PMID: 19007346 DOI: 10.1111/j.1553-2712.2008.00295.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 727] [Impact Index Per Article: 48.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND An Institute of Medicine (IOM) report defines six domains of quality of care: safety, patient-centeredness, timeliness, efficiency, effectiveness, and equity. The effect of emergency department (ED) crowding on these domains of quality has not been comprehensively evaluated. OBJECTIVES The objective was to review the medical literature addressing the effects of ED crowding on clinically oriented outcomes (COOs). METHODS We reviewed the English-language literature for the years 1989-2007 for case series, cohort studies, and clinical trials addressing crowding's effects on COOs. Keywords searched included "ED crowding,""ED overcrowding,""mortality,""time to treatment,""patient satisfaction,""quality of care," and others. RESULTS A total of 369 articles were identified, of which 41 were kept for inclusion. Study quality was modest; most articles reflected observational work performed at a single institution. There were no randomized controlled trials. ED crowding is associated with an increased risk of in-hospital mortality, longer times to treatment for patients with pneumonia or acute pain, and a higher probability of leaving the ED against medical advice or without being seen. Crowding is not associated with delays in reperfusion for patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction. Insufficient data were available to draw conclusions on crowding's effects on patient satisfaction and other quality endpoints. CONCLUSIONS A growing body of data suggests that ED crowding is associated both with objective clinical endpoints, such as mortality, as well as clinically important processes of care, such as time to treatment for patients with time-sensitive conditions such as pneumonia. At least two domains of quality of care, safety and timeliness, are compromised by ED crowding.
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Affiliation(s)
- Steven L Bernstein
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, USA.
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Assessment of acute chest pain by CT. CURRENT CARDIOVASCULAR IMAGING REPORTS 2008. [DOI: 10.1007/s12410-008-0014-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
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Larson TS, Brady WJ. Electrocardiographic monitoring in the hospitalized patient: a diagnostic intervention of uncertain clinical impact. Am J Emerg Med 2008; 26:1047-55. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ajem.2007.12.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2007] [Revised: 12/05/2007] [Accepted: 12/05/2007] [Indexed: 10/21/2022] Open
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Chang SA, Choi SI, Choi EK, Kim HK, Jung JW, Chun EJ, Kim KS, Cho YS, Chung WY, Youn TJ, Chae IH, Choi DJ, Chang HJ. Usefulness of 64-slice multidetector computed tomography as an initial diagnostic approach in patients with acute chest pain. Am Heart J 2008; 156:375-83. [PMID: 18657674 DOI: 10.1016/j.ahj.2008.03.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 65] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2007] [Accepted: 03/18/2008] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Recently, multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) has been proposed as an accurate diagnostic tool to evaluate for coronary artery disease. However, the role of MDCT as part of the initial diagnostic for evaluating acute chest pain is less well established. METHODS We prospectively enrolled patients presenting with acute chest pain to the emergency department (ED) and risk stratified them based on the pretest probability for an acute coronary syndrome (ACS): (1) very low, (2) low, (3) intermediate, (4) high, and (5) very high or definite. After exclusion of very low and very high risk patients, 268 patients were randomized to either immediate 64-slice cardiac MDCT or a conventional diagnostic strategy. Number of admissions, ED and hospital length of stay (LOS), and major adverse cardiac events over 30 days of follow-up were compared between the strategies based on the pretest probability for ACS. RESULTS The number of patients ultimately diagnosed with an ACS did not differ between the 2 strategies. Emergency department LOS and total admissions were not different between strategies. Patients in the MDCT-based strategy had a decreased hospital LOS (P = .049) and fewer admissions deemed unnecessary (P = .007). Reductions in unnecessary admissions were more prominent in intermediate-risk patients (P = .015). None of the patients discharged from the ED in the MDCT-based strategy experienced major adverse cardiac events at follow-up. CONCLUSION Use of an MDCT-based strategy in the ED as part of the initial diagnostic approach for patients presenting with acute chest pain is safe and efficiently reduces avoidable admissions in patients with an intermediate pretest probability for ACS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sung-A Chang
- Division of Cardiology, Cardiovascular Center, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seoul, Republic of Korea
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Hoot NR, Aronsky D. Systematic review of emergency department crowding: causes, effects, and solutions. Ann Emerg Med 2008; 52:126-36. [PMID: 18433933 PMCID: PMC7340358 DOI: 10.1016/j.annemergmed.2008.03.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 876] [Impact Index Per Article: 54.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2007] [Revised: 01/26/2008] [Accepted: 03/11/2008] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Emergency department (ED) crowding represents an international crisis that may affect the quality and access of health care. We conducted a comprehensive PubMed search to identify articles that (1) studied causes, effects, or solutions of ED crowding; (2) described data collection and analysis methodology; (3) occurred in a general ED setting; and (4) focused on everyday crowding. Two independent reviewers identified the relevant articles by consensus. We applied a 5-level quality assessment tool to grade the methodology of each study. From 4,271 abstracts and 188 full-text articles, the reviewers identified 93 articles meeting the inclusion criteria. A total of 33 articles studied causes, 27 articles studied effects, and 40 articles studied solutions of ED crowding. Commonly studied causes of crowding included nonurgent visits, "frequent-flyer" patients, influenza season, inadequate staffing, inpatient boarding, and hospital bed shortages. Commonly studied effects of crowding included patient mortality, transport delays, treatment delays, ambulance diversion, patient elopement, and financial effect. Commonly studied solutions of crowding included additional personnel, observation units, hospital bed access, nonurgent referrals, ambulance diversion, destination control, crowding measures, and queuing theory. The results illustrated the complex, multifaceted characteristics of the ED crowding problem. Additional high-quality studies may provide valuable contributions toward better understanding and alleviating the daily crisis. This structured overview of the literature may help to identify future directions for the crowding research agenda.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nathan R Hoot
- Department of Biomedical Informatics, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN 37232, USA.
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90
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Growing organizational capacity through a systems approach: one health network's experience. Jt Comm J Qual Patient Saf 2008; 34:63-73. [PMID: 18351191 DOI: 10.1016/s1553-7250(08)34009-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Hospitals are reporting unexpected surges in demand for services. Lehigh Valley Hospital challenged its clinical and administrative staff to increase capacity by at least 4% per year using an interdepartmental, systemwide initiative, Growing Organizational Capacity (GOC). METHODS Following a systemwide leadership retreat that yielded more than 1,000 ideas, the initiative's principal sponsor convened a cross-functional improvement team. During a two-year period, 17 projects were implemented. Using a complex systems approach, improvement ideas "emerged" from microsystems at the points of care. Through rigorous reporting and testing of process adaptations, need, data, and people drove innovation. RESULTS Hundreds of multilevel clinical and administrative staff redesigned processes and roles to increase organizational capacity. Admissions rose by 6.1%, 5.5 %, 8.7%, 5.0%, and 3.8% in fiscal years 2003 through 2007, respectively. Process enhancements cost approximately $1 million, while increased revenues attributable to increased capacity totaled $2.5 million. DISCUSSION Multiple, coordinated, and concurrent projects created a greater impact than that possible with a single project. GOC and its success, best explained in the context of complex adaptive systems and microsystem theories, are transferrable to throughput issues that challenge efficiency and effectiveness in other health care systems.
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91
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Hoot NR, LeBlanc LJ, Jones I, Levin SR, Zhou C, Gadd CS, Aronsky D. Forecasting emergency department crowding: a discrete event simulation. Ann Emerg Med 2008; 52:116-25. [PMID: 18387699 DOI: 10.1016/j.annemergmed.2007.12.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 95] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2007] [Revised: 09/21/2007] [Accepted: 12/03/2007] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
STUDY OBJECTIVE To develop a discrete event simulation of emergency department (ED) patient flow for the purpose of forecasting near-future operating conditions and to validate the forecasts with several measures of ED crowding. METHODS We developed a discrete event simulation of patient flow with evidence from the literature. Development was purely theoretical, whereas validation involved patient data from an academic ED. The model inputs and outputs, respectively, are 6-variable descriptions of every present and future patient in the ED. We validated the model by using a sliding-window design, ensuring separation of fitting and validation data in time series. We sampled consecutive 10-minute observations during 2006 (n=52,560). The outcome measures--all forecast 2, 4, 6, and 8 hours into the future from each observation--were the waiting count, waiting time, occupancy level, length of stay, boarding count, boarding time, and ambulance diversion. Forecasting performance was assessed with Pearson's correlation, residual summary statistics, and area under the receiver operating characteristic curve. RESULTS The correlations between crowding forecasts and actual outcomes started high and decreased gradually up to 8 hours into the future (lowest Pearson's r for waiting count=0.56; waiting time=0.49; occupancy level=0.78; length of stay=0.86; boarding count=0.79; boarding time=0.80). The residual means were unbiased for all outcomes except the boarding time. The discriminatory power for ambulance diversion remained consistently high up to 8 hours into the future (lowest area under the receiver operating characteristic curve=0.86). CONCLUSION By modeling patient flow, rather than operational summary variables, our simulation forecasts several measures of near-future ED crowding, with various degrees of good performance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nathan R Hoot
- Department of Biomedical Informatics, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN 37232, USA.
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92
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Magriples U, Kershaw TS, Rising SS, Massey Z, Ickovics JR. Prenatal health care beyond the obstetrics service: utilization and predictors of unscheduled care. Am J Obstet Gynecol 2008; 198:75.e1-7. [PMID: 18166312 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajog.2007.05.040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2006] [Revised: 03/16/2007] [Accepted: 05/23/2007] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The objective of the study was to describe the patient characteristics of prenatal care utilization within and outside of routine obstetric care, and the clinical and psychosocial factors that predict care utilization. STUDY DESIGN Four hundred twenty pregnant women enrolled in a randomized controlled trial receiving prenatal care in a university-affiliated clinic. All hospital encounters were obtained by review of computerized databases. The Kotelchuck index (KI) was computed, and the characteristics of inadequate, adequate, or excessive prenatal care were described. Demographic and psychosocial predictors of unscheduled visits were evaluated. RESULTS A total of 50.5% of women were adequate users by KI, with 19% being inadequate. An average of 5 additional unscheduled encounters occurred (standard deviation 4.2; range, 0-26). Almost 75% of participants made an unscheduled obstetric visit, with 38% making 2 or more unscheduled visits. Overweight/obese, younger women, high symptom distress, and excessive and inadequate prenatal users were more likely to utilize the labor floor before delivery. CONCLUSION Unscheduled care is common during pregnancy.
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93
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Lippi G, Schena F, Montagnana M, Salvagno GL, Guidi GC. Influence of acute physical exercise on emerging muscular biomarkers. Clin Chem Lab Med 2008; 46:1313-8. [DOI: 10.1515/cclm.2008.250] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
Abstract: Although there is comprehensive information on traditional biomarkers of muscle and cardiac damage following exercise, less is known on the kinetics of innovative markers, including ischemia modified albumin (IMA), glycogen phosphorylase isoenzyme BB (GPBB), carbonic anhydrase III (CAIII) and heart-type fatty acid-binding protein (H-FABP) in athletes performing a sub-maximal exercise.: A total of 10 healthy trained Caucasian males performed a 21-km run. Blood samples were collected before the run, immediately after (post), 3, 6 and 24 h thereafter. Cardiac troponin I (cTnI), myoglobin, creatine kinase isoenzyme MB (CK-MB), GPBB, CAIII and H-FABP were assayed using a new diagnostic system based on protein biochip array technology. IMA was measured by a commercial colorimetric assay on a Roche Modular system P.: Significant variations by one-way analysis of variance were observed for CK-MB (p=0.013), myoglobin (p<0.001), GPBB (p=0.029), H-FABP (p<0.001), CAIII (p=0.006), but not for cTnI (p=1.00) and IMA (p=0.881). In particular, values of all the biomarkers tested, but cTnI and IMA, increased significantly immediately after the run. GPBB and H-FABP values returned to baseline 6 and 3 h thereafter, those of CAIII, CK-MB and myoglobin remained significantly elevated from the pre-run value up to 24 h after the run. The major variation over pre-run values was recorded for myoglobin (nearly 4-fold increment), whereas CAIII, CK-MB, GPBB and H-FABP increased by 2.9-, 1.8-, 1.4- and 1.2-fold, respectively.: We conclude that a sub-maximal aerobic exercise influences the concentration of several markers of muscle damage. Except for IMA, not one of the emerging biomarkers tested can be safely used to rule out myocardial damage as well as cardiospecific troponins in patients who had undergone recent physical activity.Clin Chem Lab Med 2008;46:1313–8.
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Gardner RL, Sarkar U, Maselli JH, Gonzales R. Factors associated with longer ED lengths of stay. Am J Emerg Med 2007; 25:643-50. [PMID: 17606089 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajem.2006.11.037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 106] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2006] [Revised: 11/16/2006] [Accepted: 11/17/2006] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The aim of the study was to identify and quantify patient, physician, hospital, and system factors that are associated with a longer ED length of stay. METHODS Data were from the 2001-2003 National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey. The primary outcome was length of stay in minutes. Predictor variables were patient level (eg, age, triage score), physician level (eg, level of training), and hospital/system level (eg, geographic location, ownership). RESULTS Admitted patients' median length of stay was 255 minutes (interquartile range, 160-400); discharged patients stayed a median of 120 minutes (interquartile range, 70-199). Factors independently associated with longer ED stays for admitted patients were Hispanic ethnicity (+20 minutes), computed tomography scan or magnetic resonance imaging (+36 minutes), and hospital location in a metropolitan area (+32 minutes). Intensive care unit admissions had a shorter length of stay (-30 minutes). CONCLUSION Several factors are associated with significant increases in ED length of stay and may be important factors in strategies to reduce length of stay.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebekah L Gardner
- Department of Medicine, University of California at San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA.
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95
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Hostetler MA, Mace S, Brown K, Finkler J, Hernandez D, Krug SE, Schamban N. Emergency department overcrowding and children. Pediatr Emerg Care 2007; 23:507-15. [PMID: 17666940 DOI: 10.1097/01.pec.0000280518.36408.74] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
Emergency department (ED) overcrowding has been a serious issue on the national agenda for the past 2 decades and is rapidly becoming an increasingly significant problem for children. The goal of this report is to focus on the issues of overcrowding that directly impact children. Our findings reveal that although overcrowding seems to affect children in ways similar to those of adults, there are several important ways in which they differ. Recent reports document that more than 90% of academic emergency medicine EDs are overcrowded. Although inner-city, urban, and university hospitals have historically been the first to feel the brunt of overcrowding, community and suburban EDs are now also being affected. The overwhelming majority of children (92%) are seen in general community EDs, with only a minority (less than 10%) treated in dedicated pediatric EDs. With the exception of patients older than 65 years, children have higher visit rates than any other age group. Children may be at particularly increased risk for medical errors because of their inherent variability in size and the need for age-specific and weight-based dosing. We strongly recommend that pediatric issues be actively included in all future aspects of research and policy planning issues related to ED overcrowding. These include the development of triage protocols, clinical guidelines, research proposals, and computerized data monitoring systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark A Hostetler
- Department of Pediatrics, Section of Emergency Medicine, The University of Chicago, IL, USA.
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96
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Hollander JE, Litt HI, Chase M, Brown AM, Kim W, Baxt WG. Computed tomography coronary angiography for rapid disposition of low-risk emergency department patients with chest pain syndromes. Acad Emerg Med 2007; 14:112-6. [PMID: 17267528 DOI: 10.1197/j.aem.2006.09.051] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Patients with recent normal cardiac catheterization are at low risk for complications of ischemic chest pain. Computed tomography (CT) coronary angiography has high correlation with cardiac catheterization for detection of coronary stenosis. Therefore, the investigators' emergency department (ED) incorporated CT coronary angiography into the evaluation of low-risk patients with chest pain. OBJECTIVES To report on the 30-day cardiovascular event rates of the first 54 patients evaluated by this strategy. METHODS Low-risk chest pain patients (Thrombolysis In Myocardial Infarction [TIMI] score of 2 or less) without acute ischemia on an electrocardiogram had CT coronary angiography performed in the ED. If the CT coronary angiography was negative, the patient was discharged home. The main outcomes were death and myocardial infarction within 30 days of ED discharge, as determined by telephone follow up and record review. Data are presented as percentage frequency of occurrence with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). RESULTS Of the 54 patients evaluated, after CT coronary angiography, 46 patients (85%) were immediately released from the ED, and none had cardiovascular complications within 30 days. Eight patients were admitted after CT coronary angiography: one had >70% stenosis, five patients had 50%-69% stenosis, and two had 0-49% stenosis. Three patients had further noninvasive testing; one had reversible ischemia, and catheterization confirmed the results of CT coronary angiography. All patients were followed for 30 days, and none (0; 95% CI = 0 to 6.6%) had an adverse event during index hospitalization or at 30-day follow up. CONCLUSIONS When used in the clinical setting for the evaluation of ED patients with low-risk chest pain, CT coronary angiography may safely allow rapid discharge of patients with negative studies. Further study to conclusively determine the safety and cost effectiveness of this approach is warranted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Judd E Hollander
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
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Otero HJ, Rybicki FJ. Reimbursement for chest-pain CT: estimates based on current imaging strategies. Emerg Radiol 2007; 13:237-42. [PMID: 17216180 DOI: 10.1007/s10140-006-0529-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2006] [Accepted: 07/24/2006] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to estimate reimbursement for chest pain CT, assuming no cost increase for current emergent chest pain imaging. Using reported imaging test characteristics, prevalence and risk of coronary heart disease, and Medicare reimbursement schedules, 10,000 simulated patients were evaluated with three chest pain imaging algorithms. The main difference among the algorithms was the initial imaging tool: stress echocardiography, single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) and chest pain CT. Outcome analysis included deaths, intra- and extra-hospital myocardial infraction, number of tests performed, time utilization, and the cost per patient. The chest pain CT algorithm was assessed with its reimbursement as an unknown to determine a maximum reimbursement that would not increase overall healthcare costs. Stress echocardiography costs $856.5 per patient with 8.4 observation hours and 646 (27%) negative catheterizations. When SPECT replaces stress echocardiography, the cost increases to $1,413.7 with average observation of 9.05 hours and 1,060 (36%) negative catheterizations. Chest pain CT minimizes observation (by 8.4 and 9.1 compared to echocardiography and SPECT, respectively); negative catheterizations drop to 266 (12%). Solving for chest pain CT reimbursement as an unkown yields $433.1 and $990.3 when compared to echocardiography and SPECT, respectively. Under the assumption that new technology should not increase overall imaging costs, reimbursement for chest pain CT is compatible with current reimbursement for pulmonary embolism and aortic dissection CTA. Reimbursements must be weighed against the complexity and patient benefits of the examination.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hansel J Otero
- Department of Radiology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA
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98
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McConnell KJ, Richards CF, Daya M, Weathers CC, Lowe RA. Ambulance Diversion and Lost Hospital Revenues. Ann Emerg Med 2006; 48:702-10. [PMID: 17112933 DOI: 10.1016/j.annemergmed.2006.05.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2005] [Revised: 02/27/2006] [Accepted: 05/01/2006] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Abstract
STUDY OBJECTIVE We estimate ambulance revenues lost from each hour spent on ambulance diversion at an urban teaching hospital's emergency department (ED) and examine the financial impact of increased ICU capacity, which reduced diversion hours by 63%. METHODS This was a secondary analysis of administrative data to determine the time and date of ambulance arrivals, as well as the insurance status and revenues from each ED patient arriving by ambulance between January 1, 2002, and December 31, 2003. The primary outcome measure was hourly revenues (ie, payments to the hospital) for ambulance patients. RESULTS Ten thousand three hundred one adult, non-trauma-system ED patients arrived by ambulance in 2002 and 2003, with average hospital revenues of 4,492 dollars. Each hour spent on diversion was associated with 1,086 dollars (95% confidence interval 611 dollars to 1,461 dollars) in forgone hospital revenues from ambulance patients. In August 2002, the study hospital increased its staffed ICU beds from 47 to 67, and diversion decreased from an average of 307 to 114 hours per month. In association with the reduction in diversion, the hospital received more patients by ambulance, which translated into approximately 175,000 dollars in additional monthly revenues from ambulance patients. However, these gains were relatively small in relation to total ambulance revenues and to their large monthly variance. CONCLUSION Ambulance patients generated substantial revenues for hospital services. Decreasing diversion time led to improved revenues. The potential for increased revenues may provide some incentive for hospitals to take greater efforts to reduce ambulance diversion.
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Affiliation(s)
- K John McConnell
- Center for Policy and Research in Emergency Medicine, Department of Emergency Medicine, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR 97239, USA.
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99
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabor D Kelen
- Department of Emergency Medicine, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and The Johns Hopkins Office of Critical Event Preparedness and Response, Baltimore, MD, USA.
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Abstract
Emergency department (ED) crowding is becoming an increasing problem in EDs throughout the United States for a multitude of reasons, including an increase in patient volume and a decrease in available EDs. Crowding has an adverse impact on the ability to deliver quality and timely care and may contribute to adverse patient outcomes. Conceptually, factors that contribute to ED crowding can be divided into three domains, which correspond to their "sites of action": input, throughput, and output. A number of measures have been developed to better quantify crowding and its effects. More research needs to be done to better understand the factors that contribute to crowding, the impact of this problem on patients and ED throughput, and how to alleviate this nationwide crisis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Steven L Bernstein
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Montefiore Medical Center, Bronx, NY 10467, USA.
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