1
|
Khoroushi F, Jarahi L, Hassannejad E, Kazemirad N. Investigating the causes and pattern of peritoneal involvement in CT scan and comparison with ultrasound findings in peritoneal conditions: A two-center, cross-sectional study. Health Sci Rep 2024; 7:e70026. [PMID: 39210995 PMCID: PMC11358217 DOI: 10.1002/hsr2.70026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2024] [Revised: 07/26/2024] [Accepted: 08/13/2024] [Indexed: 09/04/2024] Open
Abstract
Background and Aims Ultrasound and computed tomography (CT) scans can be used as methods to help make a more accurate diagnosis in diseases involving the omentum and peritoneum. The present study was conducted to determine etiology and CT scan pattern of peritoneal involvement and compare it with ultrasound findings. Methods Patients referred to Ghaem and Imam Reza hospitals who had undergone CT scans and had involvement of peritoneum in abdominal CT scans were included in the study. The findings identified in the CT scan were recorded. According to the underlying cause determined by laparotomy or laparoscopy sample, each disease's most common pattern of involvement and types of patterns were examined. An ultrasound was conducted for every patient and the obtained information was analyzed. Results A total of 101 patients were included in the study, of which 61 patients (59.8%) were female and the rest were male. The most common involvement patterns in CT scans included nodular (37.6%), mixed (21.8%), and omental cake (17.8%), respectively. In 80 patients (79.2%), CT scan findings were consistent with ultrasound, but in 21 patients (20.8%), CT scan findings were not visible in ultrasound. The most common diagnoses of the patients were colorectal adenocarcinoma and gastric adenocarcinoma (20 cases, 19.8% each), followed by ovarian and uterine adenocarcinoma (19 cases, 18.8%). Conclusion The most common patterns of involvement of peritoneum in CT scans include nodular pattern, mix, and omental cake. The most common diseases that lead to the involvement of peritoneum are gastrointestinal cancers, uterine and ovarian cancers, and peritonitis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Farzaneh Khoroushi
- Department of RadiologyFaculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical SciencesMashhadIran
| | - Lida Jarahi
- Community Medicine DepartmentFaculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical SciencesMashhadIran
| | - Ehsan Hassannejad
- Department of RadiologySchool of Medicine, Birjand University of Medical SciencesBirjandIran
| | - Nafise Kazemirad
- Department of RadiologySchool of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical SciencesMashhadIran
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Kraft R, Mercuri M, Clayton N, Worster A, Mercier E, Emond M, Varner C, McLeod SL, Eagles D, Stiell I, Barbic D, Morris J, Jeanmonod R, Kagoma YK, Shoamanesh A, Engels PT, Sharma S, Papaioannou A, Parpia S, Buchanan I, Ali M, de Wit K. Emergency physician gender and head computed tomography orders for older adults who have fallen. Acad Emerg Med 2024. [PMID: 38644592 DOI: 10.1111/acem.14928] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2024] [Revised: 03/25/2024] [Accepted: 04/06/2024] [Indexed: 04/23/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Physicians vary in their computed tomography (CT) scan usage. It remains unclear how physician gender relates to clinical practice or patient outcomes. The aim of this study was to assess the association between physician gender and decision to order head CT scans for older emergency patients who had fallen. METHODS This was a secondary analysis of a prospective observational cohort study conducted in 11 hospital emergency departments (EDs) in Canada and the United States. The primary study enrolled patients who were 65 years and older who presented to the ED after a fall. The analysis evaluated treating physician gender adjusted for multiple clinical variables. Primary analysis used a hierarchical logistic regression model to evaluate the association between treating physician gender and the patient receiving a head CT scan. Secondary analysis reported the adjusted odds ratio (OR) for diagnosing intracranial bleeding by physician gender. RESULTS There were 3663 patients and 256 physicians included in the primary analysis. In the adjusted analysis, women physicians were no more likely to order a head CT than men (OR 1.26, 95% confidence interval 0.98-1.61). In the secondary analysis of 2294 patients who received a head CT, physician gender was not associated with finding a clinically important intracranial bleed. CONCLUSIONS There was no significant association between physician gender and ordering head CT scans for older emergency patients who had fallen. For patients where CT scans were ordered, there was no significant relationship between physician gender and the diagnosis of clinically important intracranial bleeding.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Rhys Kraft
- Department of Biomedical and Molecular Sciences, Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada
| | - Mathew Mercuri
- Department of Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Philosophy, University of Johannesburg, Auckland Park, Gauteng, South Africa
- Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Natasha Clayton
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada
- Emergency Department, Hamilton Health Sciences, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
| | - Andrew Worster
- Department of Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Health Research Methods, Evidence, and Impact, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
| | - Eric Mercier
- Centre de Recherche du CHU de Québec, Université Laval, Québec, Quebec, Canada
- VITAM-Centre de Recherche en Santé Durable, Université Laval, Québec, Quebec, Canada
| | - Marcel Emond
- Centre de Recherche du CHU de Québec, Université Laval, Québec, Quebec, Canada
- VITAM-Centre de Recherche en Santé Durable, Université Laval, Québec, Quebec, Canada
| | - Catherine Varner
- Schwartz/Reisman Emergency Medicine Institute, Sinai Health, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Division of Emergency Medicine, Department of Family and Community Medicine, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Shelley L McLeod
- Schwartz/Reisman Emergency Medicine Institute, Sinai Health, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Division of Emergency Medicine, Department of Family and Community Medicine, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Debra Eagles
- Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Ian Stiell
- Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - David Barbic
- Emergency Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
- Centre for Health Evaluation Outcome Sciences, St Paul's Hospital, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Judy Morris
- Department of Family Medicine and Emergency Medicine, Université de Montréal, Montreal, Québec, Canada
- Department of Family Medicine and Emergency Medicine, Université de Montréal, Québec, Québec, Canada
| | - Rebecca Jeanmonod
- Emergency Medicine, St. Luke's University Health Network, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Yoan K Kagoma
- Department of Radiology, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
| | - Ashkan Shoamanesh
- Department of Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
| | - Paul T Engels
- Department of Surgery, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
| | - Sunjay Sharma
- Division of Neurosurgery, Department of Surgery, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
| | | | - Sameer Parpia
- Department of Health Research Methods, Evidence, and Impact, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
- Ontario Clinical Oncology Group, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
| | - Ian Buchanan
- Department of Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
| | - Mariyam Ali
- Department of Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
| | - Kerstin de Wit
- Department of Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Health Research Methods, Evidence, and Impact, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Ali AA, Crimmins A, Chen H, Khoujah D. • Education • Simulation-based assessment for the emergency medicine milestones: a national survey of simulation experts and program directors. World J Emerg Med 2024; 15:301-305. [PMID: 39050213 PMCID: PMC11265633 DOI: 10.5847/wjem.j.1920-8642.2024.055] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2023] [Accepted: 02/29/2024] [Indexed: 07/27/2024] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Afrah A Ali
- Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore 21201, USA
| | - Ashley Crimmins
- Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore 21201, USA
| | - Hegang Chen
- Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore 21201, USA
| | - Danya Khoujah
- Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore 21201, USA
- Department of Emergency Medicine, AdventHealth Tampa, Tampa 33606, USA
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Not All Testers are Admitters: An Analysis of Emergency Physician Resource Utilization and Consultation Rates. J Emerg Med 2022; 62:468-474. [PMID: 35101310 DOI: 10.1016/j.jemermed.2021.11.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2021] [Revised: 11/02/2021] [Accepted: 11/27/2021] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Variability exists in emergency physician (EP) resource utilization as measured by ordering practices, rate of consultation, and propensity to admit patients. OBJECTIVE To validate and expand upon previous data showing that resource utilization as measured by EP ordering patterns is positively correlated with admission rates. METHODS This is a retrospective study of routinely gathered operational data from the ED of an urban academic tertiary care hospital. We collected individual EP data on advanced imaging, consultation, and admission rates per patient encounter. To investigate whether there might be distinct groups of practice patterns relating these 3 resources, we used a Gaussian mixture model, a classification method used to determine the likelihood of distinct subgroups within a larger population. RESULTS Our Gaussian mixture model revealed 3 distinct groups of EPs based on their ordering practices. The largest group is characterized by a homogenous pattern of neither high or low resource utilization (n = 37, 27% female, median years' experience: 6 [interquartile ratio {IQR} 3-18]; rates of advanced imaging, 38.9%; consultation, 45.1%; and admission 39.3%), with a modest group of low-resource users (n = 15, 60% female, median years' experience: 6 [IQR 5-14]; rates of advanced imaging, 37%; consultation, 42.6%; and admission 37.3%), and far fewer members of a high-resource use group (n = 6, 0% female, median years' experience: 6 [IQR 4-16]; rates of advanced imaging, 42.2%; consultation, 45.8%; and admission 40.6%). This variation suggests that not "all testers are admitters," but that there exist wider practice variations among EPs. CONCLUSIONS At our academic tertiary center, 3 distinct subgroups of EP ordering practices exist based on consultation rates, advanced imaging use, and propensity to admit a patient. These data validate previous work showing that resource utilization and admission rates are related, while demonstrating that more nuanced patterns of EP ordering practices exist. Further investigation is needed to understand the impact of EP characteristics and behavior on throughput and quality of care. © 2022 Elsevier Inc.
Collapse
|
5
|
Cullison KM, Franck N. Clinical Decision Rules in the Evaluation and Management of Adult Gastrointestinal Emergencies. Emerg Med Clin North Am 2021; 39:719-732. [PMID: 34600633 DOI: 10.1016/j.emc.2021.07.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Although abdominal pain is a common chief complaint in the emergency department, only 1 in 6 patients with abdominal pain are diagnosed with a gastrointestinal (GI) emergency. These patients often undergo extensive testing as well as hospitalizations to rule out an acute GI emergency and there is evidence that not all patients benefit from such management. Several clinical decision rules (CDRs) have been developed for the diagnosis and management of patients with suspected acute appendicitis and upper GI bleeding to identify those patients who may safely forgo further testing or hospital admission. Further validation studies demonstrating the superiority of these CDRs over contemporary practice are needed.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kevin M Cullison
- Ronald O. Perelman Department of Emergency Medicine, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, 545 1st Avenue, New York, NY 10016, USA.
| | - Nathan Franck
- Ronald O. Perelman Department of Emergency Medicine, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, 545 1st Avenue, New York, NY 10016, USA
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Larkin C, Sanseverino AM, Joseph J, Eisenhauer L, Reznek MA. Accuracy of emergency physicians' self-estimates of CT scan utilization and its potential effect on an audit and feedback intervention: a randomized trial. Implement Sci Commun 2021; 2:83. [PMID: 34315533 PMCID: PMC8317272 DOI: 10.1186/s43058-021-00182-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2020] [Accepted: 07/06/2021] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Audit and feedback (A&F) has been used as a strategy to modify clinician behavior with moderate success. Although A&F is theorized to work by improving the accuracy of clinicians' estimates of their own behavior, few interventions have included assessment of clinicians' estimates at baseline to examine whether they account for intervention success or failure. We tested an A&F intervention to reduce computed tomography (CT) ordering by emergency physicians, while also examining the physicians' baseline estimates of their own behavior compared to peers. METHODS Our study was a prospective, multi-site, 20-month, randomized trial to examine the effect of an A&F intervention on CT ordering rates, overall and by test subtype. From the electronic health record, we obtained 12 months of baseline CT ordering per 100 patients treated for every physician from four emergency departments. Those who were randomized to receive A&F were shown a de-identified graph of the group's baseline CT utilization, asked to estimate wherein the distribution of their own CT order practices fell, and then shown their actual performance. All participants also received a brief educational intervention. CT ordering rates were collected for all physicians for 6 months after the intervention. Pre-post ordering rates were compared using independent and repeated measures t tests. RESULTS Fifty-one of 52 eligible physicians participated. The mean CT ordering rate increased significantly in both experimental conditions after the intervention (intervention pre = 35.7, post = 40.3, t = 4.13, p < 0.001; control pre = 33.9, post = 38.9, t = 3.94, p = 0.001), with no significant between-group difference observed at follow-up (t = 0.43, p = 0.67). Within the intervention group, physicians had poor accuracy in estimating their own ordering behavior at baseline: most overestimated and all guessed that they were in the upper half of the distribution of their peers. CT ordering increased regardless of self-estimate accuracy. CONCLUSIONS Our A&F intervention failed to reduce physician CT ordering: our feedback to the physicians showed most of them that they had overestimated their CT ordering behavior, and they were therefore unlikely to reduce it as a result. After "audit," it may be prudent to assess baseline clinician awareness of behavior before moving toward a feedback intervention.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Celine Larkin
- University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, USA.
| | | | - James Joseph
- University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, USA
| | | | | |
Collapse
|
7
|
Parwani V, Thomas M, Rothenberg C, Ulrich A, Venkatesh A. Balancing quality and utilization: Emergency physician level correlation between 72 h returns, admission, and CT utilization rates. Am J Emerg Med 2021; 48:365-366. [PMID: 33597095 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajem.2021.01.078] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2021] [Accepted: 01/26/2021] [Indexed: 10/22/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Vivek Parwani
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA.
| | - Melissa Thomas
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Craig Rothenberg
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Andrew Ulrich
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Arjun Venkatesh
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
The Role of Abdominal and Pelvic Computed Tomography Scans for Geriatric Blunt Trauma Patients on Antiplatelet and/or Anticoagulation Medications. Int Surg 2021. [DOI: 10.9738/intsurg-d-15-00265.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Blunt trauma is the most common mechanism of injury in the geriatric population. The benefits of computed tomography (CT) scanning have demonstrated improved outcomes for blunt trauma patients with head injuries. The purpose of our study is to evaluate the clinical value of using a CT scan of the abdomen and pelvis on geriatric blunt trauma patients on antiplatelet/anticoagulation (AP/AC) therapy. A retrospective study reviewing geriatric patients admitted to our urban level 1 trauma center from December 2012 to September 2014 was performed. The inclusion criteria for the study included patients older than 65 years of age, admission after a blunt trauma, and on AP/AC therapy. Male and female patients with dementia were more likely to have a CT scan of the abdomen and pelvis (P = 0.002 and P = 1 × 10−6, respectively). There was no statistical significance in the difference in outcomes between the demented patients who received a CT scan of the abdomen and pelvis and the ones who did not. Our study demonstrated that there is no benefit in terms of length of stay, morbidity, or mortality, regardless of sex, after a CT scan of the abdomen and pelvis.
Collapse
|
9
|
Baker M, Jaeger C, Hafley C, Waymack J. Appropriate CT cervical spine utilisation in the emergency department. BMJ Open Qual 2020; 9:bmjoq-2019-000844. [PMID: 33028655 PMCID: PMC7542617 DOI: 10.1136/bmjoq-2019-000844] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2019] [Revised: 07/30/2020] [Accepted: 09/18/2020] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction Over 40 000 CT scans are performed in our emergency department (ED) annually and utilisation is over 80% capacity. Improving medical appropriateness of CT scans may reduce total number of scans, time, cost and radiation exposure. Methods Lean Six Sigma methodology was used to improve the process. A National Emergency X-Radiography Utilisation Study (NEXUS)-based PowerForm was implemented in the electronic health record and providers were educated on the criteria. Results The rate of potentially medically inappropriate CT C-spine scans decreased from 45% (19/42) to 22% (90/403) (two-proportion test, p=0.002). After the intervention, there was no longer a difference between midlevel providers and physicians in the rate of medically inappropriate orders (19% vs 22%) (two-proportion test, p=0.850) compared with that before the intervention (56% vs 31%) (two-proportion test, p<0.01). Overall rates of CT C-spine scans ordered decreased from 69.3 to 62.6/week (t-test, p=0.019). Conclusion A validated clinical decision-making tool implemented into the medical record can improve quality of care. This study lays a foundation for other imaging studies with validated support tools with similar potential improvements.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mark Baker
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Southern Illinois University School of Medicine, Springfield, Illinois, USA
| | - Cassie Jaeger
- Department of Operations Improvement, Memorial Health System, Springfield, Illinois, USA
| | - Carol Hafley
- Midwest Healthcare Quality Alliance, Memorial Health System, Springfield, Illinois, USA
| | - James Waymack
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Southern Illinois University School of Medicine, Springfield, Illinois, USA
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
CJEM Debate Series#PhysicianProductivity - Measuring and understanding causes of variability in emergency physician performance are essential to improve emergency department efficiency. CAN J EMERG MED 2019; 20:821-825. [PMID: 30484421 DOI: 10.1017/cem.2018.459] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
|
11
|
Emprechtinger R, Fischer S, Holzer LA, Klimek P, Stanak M, Oikarinen H, Wild C. Methods to detect inappropriate use of MRI and CT for musculoskeletal conditions: A scoping review. ZEITSCHRIFT FUR EVIDENZ FORTBILDUNG UND QUALITAET IM GESUNDHEITSWESEN 2018; 137-138:20-26. [PMID: 30413357 DOI: 10.1016/j.zefq.2018.09.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2018] [Revised: 09/20/2018] [Accepted: 09/20/2018] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Identify and evaluate methods suitable for detecting inappropriate use of MRI or CT in the musculoskeletal system. DESIGN Systematic review of studies that described methods to measure inappropriate use of MRI or CT in the musculoskeletal system. We used a multi-step strategy to classify identified methods into categories. These categories were then analyzed according to the data needed and their limitations. ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA FOR SELECTING STUDIES English or German language studies that measured inappropriate use of MRI or CT in the musculoskeletal system. Articles were also included if they reported a general approach to the measurement of inappropriate imaging regardless of body region. Expert opinions, unsystematic reviews, commentaries, articles without abstracts, and studies on cancer were excluded. RESULTS 47 studies met the inclusion criteria. The categorization of the studies resulted in seven individual approaches to measure inappropriate use: (1) availability of meaningful diagnostic information; (2) predictors associated with imaging use; (3) comparison with guideline recommendations; (4) assessment by experts; (5) comparison or analysis of patients' paths; (6) comparison with surgery findings; (7) geographic variation. All these approaches have specific data requirements and individual advantages and disadvantages regarding risk of bias and needed data. CONCLUSIONS We could not find a single method of choice to detect inappropriate use of MRI or CT in the musculoskeletal system. A combination of different approaches is the preferred strategy to deal with the advantages and disadvantages of the individual methods.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Stefan Fischer
- Ludwig Boltzmann Institute for Health Technology Assessment, Vienna, Austria
| | - Lukas A Holzer
- Department of Orthopaedics and Trauma, Medical University of Graz, Graz; AUVA Trauma Center, Klagenfurt am Wörthersee, Austria
| | - Peter Klimek
- Section for Science of Complex Systems, CeMSIIS, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna; Complexity Science Hub Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Michal Stanak
- Ludwig Boltzmann Institute for Health Technology Assessment, Vienna, Austria
| | - Heljä Oikarinen
- Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Oulu University Hospital, OYS, Oulu, Finland
| | - Claudia Wild
- Ludwig Boltzmann Institute for Health Technology Assessment, Vienna, Austria
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Cross R, Bhat R, Li Y, Plankey M, Maloy K. Emergency Department Computed Tomography Use for Non-traumatic Abdominal Pain: Minimal Variability. West J Emerg Med 2018; 19:782-796. [PMID: 30202488 PMCID: PMC6123098 DOI: 10.5811/westjem.2018.6.37381] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/26/2017] [Revised: 06/17/2018] [Accepted: 06/21/2018] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction Variability in the use of computed tomography (CT) between providers in the emergency department (ED) suggests that CT is ordered on a provider rather than a patient level. We aimed to evaluate the variability of CT ordering practices for non-traumatic abdominal pain (NTAP) across physicians in the ED using patient-visit and physician-level factors. Methods We conducted a retrospective study among 6,409 ED visits for NTAP from January 1 to December 31, 2012, at a large, urban, academic, tertiary-care hospital. We used a two-level hierarchical logistic regression model to estimate inter-physician variation. Intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) was calculated. Results The hierarchical logistic regression analyses showed that patient-visit factors including younger age, arrival mode by ambulance, prior CT, >79 ED arrivals in the previous four hours, and ultrasound had statistically significant negative associations with physician CT ordering, while surgical team admission and white blood count (WBC) >12.5 K/millimeter cubed (mm3) had statistically significant positive associations with physician CT ordering. With physician-level factors, only physicians with >21 years experience after medical school graduation showed statistical significance negatively associated with physician CT ordering. Our data demonstrated increased CT ordering from the mean in only one out of 43 providers (2.3%), which indicated limited variation across physicians to order CT. After adjusting for patient-visit and physician-level factors, the calculated ICC was 1.46%. Conclusion We found minimal physician variability in CT ordering practices for NTAP. Patient-visit factors such as age, arrival mode, admission team, prior CT, ED arrivals in previous four hours, ultrasound, and WBC count were found to largely influence CT ordering practices.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Roderick Cross
- Georgetown University Hospital/Washington Hospital Center, Department of Emergency Medicine, Washington, District of Columbia
| | - Rahul Bhat
- Georgetown University Hospital/Washington Hospital Center, Department of Emergency Medicine, Washington, District of Columbia
| | - Ying Li
- Georgetown University Medical Center, Department of Medicine, Washington, District of Columbia
| | - Michael Plankey
- Georgetown University Medical Center, Department of Medicine, Washington, District of Columbia
| | - Kevin Maloy
- Georgetown University Hospital/Washington Hospital Center, Department of Emergency Medicine, Washington, District of Columbia
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Baloescu C. Diagnostic Imaging in Emergency Medicine: How Much Is Too Much? Ann Emerg Med 2018; 72:637-643. [PMID: 30146444 DOI: 10.1016/j.annemergmed.2018.06.034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2017] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Cristiana Baloescu
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT.
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Hodgson NR, Saghafian S, Mi L, Buras MR, Katz ED, Pines JM, Sanchez L, Silvers S, Maher SA, Traub SJ. Are testers also admitters? Comparing emergency physician resource utilization and admitting practices. Am J Emerg Med 2018; 36:1865-1869. [PMID: 30041844 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajem.2018.07.041] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2018] [Revised: 06/30/2018] [Accepted: 07/20/2018] [Indexed: 10/28/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To describe the relationship between emergency department resource utilization and admission rate at the level of the individual physician. METHODS Retrospective observational study of physician resource utilization and admitting data at two emergency departments. We calculated observed to expected (O/E) ratios for four measures of resource utilization (intravenous medications and fluids, laboratory testing, plain radiographs, and advanced imaging studies) as well as for admission rate. Expected values reflect adjustment for patient- and time-based variables. We compared O/E ratios for each type of resource utilization to the O/E ratio for admission for each provider. We report degree of correlation (slope of the trendline) and strength of correlation (adjusted R2 value) for each association, as well as categorical results after clustering physicians based on the relationship of resource utilization to admission rate. RESULTS There were statistically significant positive correlations between resource utilization and physician admission rate. Physicians with lower resource utilization rates were more likely to have lower admission rates, and those with higher resource utilization rates were more likely to have higher admission rates. CONCLUSIONS In a two-facility study, emergency physician resource utilization and admission rate were positively correlated: those who used more ED resources also tended to admit more patients. These results add to a growing understanding of emergency physician variability.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Nicole R Hodgson
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Mayo Clinic Arizona, Phoenix, AZ, USA; Department of Emergency Medicine, District Medical Group-Maricopa Integrated Health Systems, Phoenix, AZ, USA.
| | | | - Lanyu Mi
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Mayo Clinic Arizona, Phoenix, AZ, USA
| | - Matthew R Buras
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Mayo Clinic Arizona, Phoenix, AZ, USA
| | - Eric D Katz
- Department of Emergency Medicine, District Medical Group-Maricopa Integrated Health Systems, Phoenix, AZ, USA
| | - Jesse M Pines
- Department of Emergency Medicine and Health Policy & Management, George Washington University, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Leon Sanchez
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Scott Silvers
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Mayo Clinic Florida, Jacksonville, FL, USA
| | - Steven A Maher
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Mayo Clinic Arizona, Phoenix, AZ, USA
| | - Stephen J Traub
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Mayo Clinic Arizona, Phoenix, AZ, USA
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
The Impact of Risk Standardization on Variation in CT Use and Emergency Physician Profiling. AJR Am J Roentgenol 2018; 211:392-399. [PMID: 29975119 DOI: 10.2214/ajr.17.19188] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study is to use detailed electronic health record data to profile the use of condition-specific, risk-standardized imaging by emergency physicians. MATERIALS AND METHODS CT utilization in four emergency departments in a single health care system was retrospectively analyzed. The primary outcome for analysis was indication-specific, risk-standardized CT utilization. We constructed seven clinical cohorts on the basis of the presence or absence of a traumatic indication for the most frequently performed CT studies. Risk standardization was performed using machine learning algorithms and hierarchic logistic regression models. Variation in CT utilization for each cohort was analyzed using coefficients of variation and box plots, the effect of risk standardization on physician profiling was determined using slope diagrams and kappa values, and within-physician correlation was assessed using correlation coefficients and matrices. RESULTS For the seven cohorts, the number of physicians ordering more than 25 CT studies for a particular indication ranged from 70 to 88, and the number of ED visits ranged from 17,458 to 117,489. The unadjusted variation was large for each indication (coefficient of variation, 30.2-57.9). Risk standardization resulted in reduced but persistent variation for all indications (coefficient of variation, 12.3-22.3). Among indication-specific models, risk standardization resulted in reclassification by two or more deciles for 14.0-39.1% of physicians. The R value for within-physician correlation varied from 0.02 to 0.80 and was highest between chest and abdominal imaging for trauma. CONCLUSION In this multisite study of CT utilization, risk standardization had a substantial impact on variation in CT utilization and emergency physician profiling. Administrators and payers should include risk standardization in future measures of physician imaging to ensure valid assessment of performance and achieve improvements in emergency care value.
Collapse
|
16
|
Lin MP, Probst MA, Puskarich MA, Dehon E, Kuehl DR, Wang RC, Hess EP, Butler K, Runyon MS, Wang H, Courtney DM, Muckley B, Hobgood CD, Hall CL, Kline JA. Improving perceptions of empathy in patients undergoing low-yield computerized tomographic imaging in the emergency department. PATIENT EDUCATION AND COUNSELING 2018; 101:717-722. [PMID: 29173841 DOI: 10.1016/j.pec.2017.11.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2017] [Revised: 11/17/2017] [Accepted: 11/19/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE We assessed emergency department (ED) patient perceptions of how physicians can improve their language to determine patient preferences for 11 phrases to enhance physician empathy toward the goal of reducing low-value advanced imaging. METHODS Multi-center survey study of low-risk ED patients undergoing computerized tomography (CT) scanning. RESULTS We enroled 305 participants across nine sites. The statement "I have carefully considered what you told me about what brought you here today" was most frequently rated as important (88%). The statement "I have thought about the cost of your medical care to you today" was least frequently rated as important (59%). Participants preferred statements indicating physicians had considered their "vital signs and physical examination" (86%), "past medical history" (84%), and "what prior research tells me about your condition" (79%). Participants also valued statements conveying risks of testing, including potential kidney injury (78%) and radiation (77%). CONCLUSION The majority of phrases were identified as important. Participants preferred statements conveying cognitive reassurance, medical knowledge and risks of testing. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS Our findings suggest specific phrases have the potential to enhance ED patient perceptions of physician empathy. Further research is needed to determine whether statements to convey empathy affect diagnostic testing rates.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Michelle P Lin
- Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, Department of Emergency Medicine, New York, NY, United States
| | - Marc A Probst
- Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, Department of Emergency Medicine, New York, NY, United States
| | - Michael A Puskarich
- University of Mississippi, Department of Emergency Medicine, Jackson, MS, United States
| | - Erin Dehon
- University of Mississippi, Department of Emergency Medicine, Jackson, MS, United States
| | - Damon R Kuehl
- Virginia Tech-Carilion, Department of Emergency Medicine, Roanoke, VA, United States
| | - Ralph C Wang
- University of California San Francisco Department of Emergency Medicine, San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - Erik P Hess
- Mayo Clinic, Department of Emergency Medicine, Rochester, MN, United States
| | - Katie Butler
- Carolinas Medical Center, Department of Emergency Medicine, Charlotte, NC, United States
| | - Michael S Runyon
- Carolinas Medical Center, Department of Emergency Medicine, Charlotte, NC, United States
| | - Hao Wang
- John Peter Smith Hospital, Department of Emergency Medicine, Ft. Worth, TX, United States
| | - D Mark Courtney
- Northwestern University School of Medicine, Department of Emergency Medicine, Chicago, IL, United States
| | - Brandon Muckley
- Indiana University School of Medicine, Department of Emergency Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, United States
| | - Cherri D Hobgood
- Indiana University School of Medicine, Department of Emergency Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, United States
| | - Cassandra L Hall
- Indiana University School of Medicine, Department of Emergency Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, United States
| | - Jeffrey A Kline
- Indiana University School of Medicine, Department of Emergency Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, United States.
| |
Collapse
|
17
|
Bellolio MF, Bellew SD, Sangaralingham LR, Campbell RL, Cabrera D, Jeffery MM, Shah ND, Hess EP. Access to primary care and computed tomography use in the emergency department. BMC Health Serv Res 2018; 18:154. [PMID: 29499700 PMCID: PMC5834877 DOI: 10.1186/s12913-018-2958-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2015] [Accepted: 02/21/2018] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Background The decision to obtain a computed tomography CT scan in the emergency department (ED) is complex, including a consideration of the risk posed by the test itself weighed against the importance of obtaining the result. In patients with limited access to primary care follow up the consequences of not making a diagnosis may be greater than for patients with ready access to primary care, impacting diagnostic reasoning. We set out to determine if there is an association between CT utilization in the ED and patient access to primary care. Methods We performed a cross-sectional study of all ED visits in which a CT scan was obtained between 2003 and 2012 at an academic, tertiary-care center. Data were abstracted from the electronic medical record and administrative databases and included type of CT obtained, demographics, comorbidities, and access to a local primary care provider (PCP). CT utilization rates were determined per 1000 patients. Results A total of 595,895 ED visits, including 98,001 visits in which a CT was obtained (16.4%) were included. Patients with an assigned PCP accounted for 55% of all visits. Overall, CT use per 1000 ED visits increased from 142.0 in 2003 to 169.2 in 2012 (p < 0.001), while the number of annual ED visits remained stable. CT use per 1000 ED visits increased from 169.4 to 205.8 over the 10-year period for patients without a PCP and from 118.9 to 142.0 for patients with a PCP. Patients without a PCP were more likely to have a CT performed compared to those with a PCP (OR 1.57, 95%CI 1.54 to 1.58; p < 0.001). After adjusting for age, gender, year of visit and number of comorbidities, patients without a PCP were more likely to have a CT performed (OR 1.20, 95% CI 1.18 to 1.21, p < 0.001). Conclusions The overall rate of CT utilization in the ED increased over the past 10 years. CT utilization was significantly higher among patients without a PCP. Increased availability of primary care, particularly for follow-up from the ED, could reduce CT utilization and therefore decrease costs, ED lengths of stay, and radiation exposure.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- M Fernanda Bellolio
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Mayo Clinic, 200 First Street SW, Rochester, MN, 55905, USA. .,Department of Health Sciences Research, Division of Health Care Policy and Research, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA. .,Kern Center for the Science of Heath Care Delivery, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA.
| | - Shawna D Bellew
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Mayo Clinic, 200 First Street SW, Rochester, MN, 55905, USA
| | - Lindsey R Sangaralingham
- Department of Health Sciences Research, Division of Health Care Policy and Research, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA.,Kern Center for the Science of Heath Care Delivery, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA
| | - Ronna L Campbell
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Mayo Clinic, 200 First Street SW, Rochester, MN, 55905, USA
| | - Daniel Cabrera
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Mayo Clinic, 200 First Street SW, Rochester, MN, 55905, USA
| | - Molly M Jeffery
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Mayo Clinic, 200 First Street SW, Rochester, MN, 55905, USA.,Department of Health Sciences Research, Division of Health Care Policy and Research, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA
| | - Nilay D Shah
- Department of Health Sciences Research, Division of Health Care Policy and Research, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA.,Kern Center for the Science of Heath Care Delivery, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA
| | - Erik P Hess
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Mayo Clinic, 200 First Street SW, Rochester, MN, 55905, USA
| |
Collapse
|
18
|
Newton EH. Addressing overuse in emergency medicine: evidence of a role for greater patient engagement. Clin Exp Emerg Med 2017; 4:189-200. [PMID: 29306268 PMCID: PMC5758625 DOI: 10.15441/ceem.17.233] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2017] [Revised: 06/05/2017] [Accepted: 06/30/2017] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Overuse of health care refers to tests, treatments, and even health care settings when used in circumstances where they are unlikely to help. Overuse is not only wasteful, it threatens patient safety by exposing patients to a greater chance of harm than benefit. It is a widespread problem and has proved resistant to change. Overuse of diagnostic testing is a particular problem in emergency medicine. Emergency physicians cite fear of missing a diagnosis, fear of law suits, and perceived patient expectations as key contributors. However, physicians' assumptions about what patients expect are often wrong, and overlook two of patients' most consistently voiced priorities: communication and empathy. Evidence indicates that patients who are more fully informed and engaged in their care often opt for less aggressive approaches. Shared decision making refers to (1) providing balanced information so that patients understand their options and the trade-offs involved, (2) encouraging them to voice their preferences and values, and (3) engaging them-to the extent appropriate or desired-in decision making. By adopting this approach to discretionary decision making, physicians are better positioned to address patients' concerns without the use of tests and treatments patients neither need nor value.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Erika H. Newton
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, USA
| |
Collapse
|
19
|
Tung M, Sharma R, Hinson JS, Nothelle S, Pannikottu J, Segal JB. Factors associated with imaging overuse in the emergency department: A systematic review. Am J Emerg Med 2017; 36:301-309. [PMID: 29100783 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajem.2017.10.049] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2017] [Revised: 10/17/2017] [Accepted: 10/18/2017] [Indexed: 10/18/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Emergency departments (ED) are sites of prevalent imaging overuse; however, determinants that drive imaging in this setting are not well-characterized. We systematically reviewed the literature to summarize the determinants of imaging overuse in the ED. METHODS We searched MEDLINE® and Embase® from January 1998 to March 2017. Studies were included if they were written in English, contained original data, pertained to a U.S. population, and identified a determinant associated with overuse of imaging in the ED. RESULTS Twenty relevant studies were included. Fourteen evaluated computerized tomography (CT) scanning in patents presenting to a regional ED who were then transferred to a level 1 trauma center; incomplete transfer of data and poor image quality were the most frequently described reasons for repeat scanning. Unnecessary pre-transfer scanning or repeated scanning after transfer, in multiple studies, was highest among older patients, those with higher Injury Severity Scores (ISS) and those being transferred further. Six studies explored determinants of overused imaging in the ED in varied conditions, with overuse greater in older patients and those having more comorbid diseases. Defensive imaging reportedly influenced physician behavior. Less integration of services across the health system also predisposed to overuse of imaging. CONCLUSIONS The literature is heterogeneous with surprisingly few studies of determinants of imaging in minor head injury or of spine imaging. Older patient age and higher ISS were the most consistently associated with ED imaging overuse. This review highlights the need for precise definitions of overuse of imaging in the ED.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Monica Tung
- Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Department of Medicine, United States
| | - Ritu Sharma
- Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, United States
| | - Jeremiah S Hinson
- Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Department of Emergency Medicine, United States
| | - Stephanie Nothelle
- Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Department of Medicine, United States
| | - Jean Pannikottu
- Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Department of Medicine, United States; Northeastern Ohio Medical University, United States(1)
| | - Jodi B Segal
- Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Department of Medicine, United States; Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, United States; Johns Hopkins University Center for Health Services and Outcomes Research, United States.
| |
Collapse
|
20
|
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Physician variation in the use of computed tomography (CT) is concerning due to the risks of ionizing radiation, cost, and downstream effects of unnecessary testing. The objectives of this study were to describe variation in CT-ordering rates among emergency physicians (EPs), to measure correlation between perceived and actual CT-ordering rates, to assess attitudes that influence decisions to order imaging tests, and to identify EP attitudes associated with higher CT utilization. METHODS This study was a retrospective review of imaging and administrative billing records at two emergency department sites of a tertiary care adult teaching hospital. The study also included a cross-sectional survey of EPs at this hospital. We asked physicians about their perceived ordering behaviour, and what factors influenced their decision to order a CT. We examined correlations between perceived and actual CT-ordering rates. We adjusted ordering rates for shift distribution using a logistic regression model and identified outlier physicians whose ordering rate was significantly lower or higher than expected. We used multivariable regression analysis to determine which survey responses predicted higher CT utilization. RESULTS During the study period, 59 EPs saw 45,854 patients, and ordered 6,609 CTs - a mean ordering rate of 14.4% (standard deviation (SD)=4.3%). The ordering rate for individual physicians ranged from 5.9% to 25.9%. Of the 59 EPs, 13 EPs were low-ordering outliers; 12 were high-ordering outliers. Forty-five EPs (76.3%) completed the survey. Mean perceived ordering rate was 12.6%, and was weakly correlated with actual ordering (r=0.19, p=0.21). 42 EPs (93.3%) believed they ordered "about the same" or "fewer" CTs than their peers. Of the 17 EPs in the two highest ordering quintiles, only 3 (18%) knew they were high orderers. In the multivariable analysis, higher ordering was associated with increasing strength of response to the following predictors: medico-legal risk (relative risk [RR]=1.18, 95% CI: 1.03-1.21), risk of contrast (RR=1.14, 95% CI: 1.07-1.22), what colleagues would do (RR=1.09, 95% CI: 0.99-1.19), risk of missing a diagnosis (RR=1.08, 95% CI: 0.98-1.21), and patient wishes (RR=1.07, 95% CI: 0.97-1.17). CONCLUSIONS There is large variation in CT ordering among EPs. Physicians' self-reported ordering rate correlates poorly with actual ordering. High CT orderers were rarely aware that they ordered more than their colleagues. Higher rates of ordering were observed among physicians who reported increased concern with 1) risk of missing a diagnosis, 2) medico-legal risk, 3) risk of contrast, 4) patient wishes, and 5) what colleagues would do.
Collapse
|
21
|
Lin MP, Nguyen T, Probst MA, Richardson LD, Schuur JD. Emergency Physician Knowledge, Attitudes, and Behavior Regarding ACEP's Choosing Wisely Recommendations: A Survey Study. Acad Emerg Med 2017; 24:668-675. [PMID: 28164409 DOI: 10.1111/acem.13167] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2016] [Revised: 01/25/2017] [Accepted: 01/28/2017] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE In 2013, the American College of Emergency Physicians joined the Choosing Wisely campaign; however, its impact on emergency physician behavior is unknown. We assessed knowledge, attitudes, and self-reported behaviors regarding the Choosing Wisely recommendations. METHODS We performed a cross-sectional survey of emergency physicians at a national meeting. We approached 819 physicians; 765 (93.4%) completed the survey. RESULTS As a result of the Choosing Wisely campaign, most respondents (64.5%) felt more comfortable discussing low-value services with patients, 54.5% reported reducing utilization, and 52.5% were aware of local efforts to promote the campaign. A majority (62.97%) of respondents were able to identify at least four of five recommendations. The most prevalent low-value practices were computed tomography (CT) brain for minor head injury (29.9%) and antibiotics for acute sinusitis (26.9%). Few respondents reported performing lumbar radiograph for nontraumatic low back pain (7.8%) and Foley catheter for patients who can void (5.6%). Respondents reported patient/family expectations as the most important reason for ordering antibiotics for sinusitis (68%) and imaging for low back pain (56.8%). However, concern for serious diagnosis was the most important reason for performing CT chest for patients with normal D-dimer (49.7%) and CT abdomen for recurrent uncomplicated renal colic (42.5%). A minority (3.8% to 26.7%) of respondents identified malpractice risk as the primary reason for performing low-value services. CONCLUSIONS Despite familiarity with Choosing Wisely, many emergency physicians report performing low-value services. Primary reasons for low-value services differ: antibiotic prescribing was driven by patient/family expectations, while concern for serious diagnosis influenced advanced diagnostic imaging. Greater efforts are needed to promote effective dissemination and implementation; such efforts may be targeted based on differing reasons for low-value services.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Michelle P. Lin
- Department of Emergency Medicine; Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai; New York NY
| | - Thomas Nguyen
- Department of Emergency Medicine; Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai; New York NY
| | - Marc A. Probst
- Department of Emergency Medicine; Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai; New York NY
| | - Lynne D. Richardson
- Department of Emergency Medicine; Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai; New York NY
- Department of Population Health Science and Policy; Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai; New York NY
| | - Jeremiah D. Schuur
- Department of Emergency Medicine; Brigham and Women's Hospital, and Harvard Medical School; Boston MA
| |
Collapse
|
22
|
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Recent research has shown significant variation in rates of computed tomography (CT) use among pediatric hospital emergency departments (ED) for evaluation of head injured children. We examined the rates of CT use by individual ED attending physicians for evaluation of head injured children in a pediatric hospital ED. METHODS We used an administrative database to identify children younger than 18 years evaluated for head injury from January 2011 through March 2013 at our children's hospital ED, staffed by pediatric emergency medicine (PEM) fellowship trained physicians and pediatricians. We excluded encounters with trauma team activation or previous head CT performed elsewhere. We excluded physicians whose patient volume was less than 1 standard deviation below the group mean. RESULTS After exclusions, we evaluated 5340 encounters for head injury by 27 ED attending physicians. For individual physicians, CT rates ranged from 12.4% to 37.3%, with a mean group rate of 28.4%. Individual PEM physician CT rates ranged from 18.9% to 37.3%, versus 12.4% to 31.8% for pediatricians. Of the 1518 encounters in which CT was done, 128 (8.4%) had a traumatic brain injury on CT, and 125 (8.2%) had a simple skull fracture without traumatic brain injury on CT. Patient factors associated with CT use included age younger than 2 years, higher triage acuity, arrival time of 10:00 PM to 6:00 AM, hospital admission, and evaluation by a PEM physician. CONCLUSIONS Physicians at our pediatric hospital ED varied in the use of CT for the evaluation of head-injured children.
Collapse
|
23
|
Casalino E. Les examens complémentaires prescrits aux urgences sont-ils souvent injustifiés et inutiles ? ANNALES FRANCAISES DE MEDECINE D URGENCE 2017. [DOI: 10.1007/s13341-016-0699-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
|
24
|
Gunn ML, Marin JR, Mills AM, Chong ST, Froemming AT, Johnson JO, Kumaravel M, Sodickson AD. A report on the Academic Emergency Medicine 2015 consensus conference “Diagnostic imaging in the emergency department: a research agenda to optimize utilization”. Emerg Radiol 2016; 23:383-96. [DOI: 10.1007/s10140-016-1398-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2016] [Accepted: 04/12/2016] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
|
25
|
Pandharipande PV, Reisner AT, Binder WD, Zaheer A, Gunn ML, Linnau KF, Miller CM, Avery LL, Herring MS, Tramontano AC, Dowling EC, Abujudeh HH, Eisenberg JD, Halpern EF, Donelan K, Gazelle GS. CT in the Emergency Department: A Real-Time Study of Changes in Physician Decision Making. Radiology 2016; 278:812-21. [DOI: 10.1148/radiol.2015150473] [Citation(s) in RCA: 86] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
|
26
|
Seah MKT, Murphy CG, McDonald S, Carrothers A. Incidental findings on whole-body trauma computed tomography: Experience at a major trauma centre. Injury 2016; 47:691-4. [PMID: 26854074 DOI: 10.1016/j.injury.2016.01.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2015] [Revised: 01/03/2016] [Accepted: 01/10/2016] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The use of total-body computed tomography (CT) scanning in the evaluation of multiply injured patients is increasing, and their liberal use has stirred debate as to the added benefit relative to the risk of radiation exposure and inappropriate use of limited healthcare resources. Findings unrelated to the clinician's reasons for requesting the radiological examination are often uncovered due to the comprehensive nature of the evaluation at a trauma centre. However, some of these findings are outside the expertise of the trauma team who initially organised the scan and this may lead to uncertainty over who is best qualified to follow-up the incidental finding. We aim to evaluate the frequency of incidental findings on whole body trauma CT scans in a consecutive series of trauma admissions to our unit. MATERIALS AND METHODS We identified 104 consecutive major trauma patients who received a whole-body trauma CT (head, cervical spine, chest, abdomen and pelvis) from Jan 2013 to Dec 2013 in our unit (out of a total of 976 trauma admissions in the same year). Patient-specific information was extracted from computerised hospital databases containing admission and progress notes, radiological reports, operation notes and pathology reports. RESULTS 57 patients (54.8%) had incidental findings identified on the radiologist report, with a total of 114 individual incidental findings. 6 (5.8%) patients had potentially severe findings that required further diagnostic work up; 65 (62.5%) patients had diagnostic workup dependant on their symptoms, and 43 (41.3%) patients had incidental findings of minor concern which required no follow up. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS Our findings reflect the literature noting that incidental findings are increasingly common due to the central diagnostic role of CT imaging in trauma care, but also due to advances in imaging techniques and quality. In keeping with published literature, we note that increased age is associated with an increased incidence of "incidental findings" and this will continue to rise with the ageing population and the mandatory nature of trauma CTs.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Matthew K T Seah
- Orthopaedic Trauma Unit, Addenbrooke's Hospital, United Kingdom.
| | - Colin G Murphy
- Orthopaedic Trauma Unit, Addenbrooke's Hospital, United Kingdom
| | | | | |
Collapse
|
27
|
Kelly ME, Heeney A, Redmond CE, Costelloe J, Nason GJ, Ryan J, Brophy D, Winter DC. Incidental findings detected on emergency abdominal CT scans: a 1-year review. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2016; 40:1853-7. [PMID: 25576049 DOI: 10.1007/s00261-015-0349-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION In recent years, there has been a substantial rise in the use of computed tomography (CT) in the emergency medicine setting. Accordingly, with increased CT usage there has been an upsurge in incidental pathology detection. METHODS A retrospective review of all emergency CT abdominal scans performed at a university teaching hospital was examined. The frequency of incidental findings, their clinical significance and workload effect for the radiology department was assessed. RESULTS 1155 patients had an emergency abdominal CT scan of which 700 had incidental findings detected. Of the incidental findings, 143 were deemed indeterminate requiring urgent investigations. Twenty-four occult neoplasms were confirmed subsequently. Additionally, 259 patients were recommended for additional diagnostics. The cumulative effect of the initial emergency abdominal CT was 15,015 relative value units (RVU). Subsequent imaging of incidental findings resulted in another 1674 RVU workload for radiology. CONCLUSION Incidental findings cause considerable debate and concern over which patients require significant follow-up, investigations, and/or surveillance. This exerts significant pressures on sub-specialties for their expert input, with increased workload and implications on healthcare service provision.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- M E Kelly
- Department of Surgery, St Vincent's University Hospital, Elm Park, Dublin 4, Ireland,
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
28
|
Finnerty NM, Rodriguez RM, Carpenter CR, Sun BC, Theyyunni N, Ohle R, Dodd KW, Schoenfeld EM, Elm KD, Kline JA, Holmes JF, Kuppermann N. Clinical Decision Rules for Diagnostic Imaging in the Emergency Department: A Research Agenda. Acad Emerg Med 2015; 22:1406-16. [PMID: 26567885 DOI: 10.1111/acem.12828] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2014] [Accepted: 07/13/2015] [Indexed: 01/16/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Major gaps persist in the development, validation, and implementation of clinical decision rules (CDRs) for diagnostic imaging. OBJECTIVES The objective of this working group and article was to generate a consensus-based research agenda for the development and implementation of CDRs for diagnostic imaging in the emergency department (ED). METHODS The authors followed consensus methodology, as outlined by the journal Academic Emergency Medicine (AEM), combining literature review, electronic surveys, telephonic communications, and a modified nominal group technique. Final discussions occurred in person at the 2015 AEM consensus conference. RESULTS A research agenda was developed, prioritizing the following questions: 1) what are the optimal methods to justify the derivation and validation of diagnostic imaging CDRs, 2) what level of evidence is required before disseminating CDRs for widespread implementation, 3) what defines a successful CDR, 4) how should investigators best compare CDRs to clinical judgment, and 5) what disease states are amenable (and highest priority) to development of CDRs for diagnostic imaging in the ED? CONCLUSIONS The concepts discussed herein demonstrate the need for further research on CDR development and implementation regarding diagnostic imaging in the ED. Addressing this research agenda should have direct applicability to patients, clinicians, and health care systems.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Nathan M. Finnerty
- Department of Emergency Medicine; The Ohio State University College of Medicine; Columbus OH
| | - Robert M. Rodriguez
- Department of Emergency Medicine; University of California San Francisco School of Medicine; San Francisco CA
| | - Christopher R. Carpenter
- Department of Emergency Medicine; Division of Emergency Medicine; Washington University in St. Louis School of Medicine; St. Louis MO
| | - Benjamin C. Sun
- Department of Emergency Medicine; Oregon Health & Science University; Portland OR
| | - Nik Theyyunni
- Department of Emergency Medicine; University of Michigan Medical School; Ann Arbor MI
| | - Robert Ohle
- Department of Emergency Medicine; University of Ottawa; Ottawa Ontario Canada
| | - Kenneth W. Dodd
- Department of Emergency Medicine; Hennepin County Medical Center; Minneapolis MN
- Department of Internal Medicine; Hennepin County Medical Center; Minneapolis MN
| | - Elizabeth M. Schoenfeld
- Department of Emergency Medicine; Baystate Medical Center; Tufts University School of Medicine; Springfield MA
| | - Kendra D. Elm
- Department of Emergency Medicine; University of Minnesota Medical School; Minneapolis MN
| | - Jeffrey A. Kline
- Department of Emergency Medicine; Indiana University School of Medicine; Indianapolis IN
| | - James F. Holmes
- Department of Emergency Medicine; UC Davis School of Medicine; Sacramento CA
| | - Nathan Kuppermann
- Department of Emergency Medicine; UC Davis School of Medicine; Sacramento CA
| |
Collapse
|
29
|
Kuehl DR, Berdahl CT, Jackson TD, Venkatesh AK, Mistry RD, Bhargavan-Chatfield M, Raukar NP, Carr BG, Schuur JD, Kocher KE. Advancing the Use of Administrative Data for Emergency Department Diagnostic Imaging Research. Acad Emerg Med 2015; 22:1417-26. [PMID: 26575944 DOI: 10.1111/acem.12827] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2015] [Accepted: 07/09/2015] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
Administrative data are critical to describing patterns of use, cost, and appropriateness of imaging in emergency care. These data encompass a range of source materials that have been collected primarily for a nonresearch use: documenting clinical care (e.g., medical records), administering care (e.g., picture archiving and communication systems), or financial transactions (e.g., insurance claims). These data have served as the foundation for large, descriptive studies that have documented the rise and expanded role of diagnostic imaging in the emergency department (ED). This article summarizes the discussions of the breakout session on the use of administrative data for emergency imaging research at the May 2015 Academic Emergency Medicine consensus conference, "Diagnostic Imaging in the Emergency Department: A Research Agenda to Optimize Utilization." The authors describe the areas where administrative data have been applied to research evaluating the use of diagnostic imaging in the ED, the common sources for these data, and the strengths and limitations of administrative data. Next, the future role of administrative data is examined for answering key research questions in an evolving health system increasingly focused on measuring appropriateness, ensuring quality, and improving value for health spending. This article specifically focuses on four thematic areas: data quality, appropriateness and value, special populations, and policy interventions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Damon R. Kuehl
- Department of Emergency Medicine; Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine; Roanoke VA
| | - Carl T. Berdahl
- Department of Emergency Medicine; Los Angeles County + University of Southern California Medical Center; Los Angeles CA
| | - Tiffany D. Jackson
- Department of Emergency Medicine; University of Alabama Birmingham; Birmingham AL
| | | | - Rakesh D. Mistry
- Department of Emergency Medicine; Section of Emergency Medicine; Children's Hospital Colorado; Aurora CO
| | | | - Neha P. Raukar
- Department of Emergency Medicine; Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University; Providence RI
| | - Brendan G. Carr
- Department of Emergency Medicine; Sidney Kimmel Medical College; Thomas Jefferson University; Philadelphia PA
| | - Jeremiah D. Schuur
- Department of Emergency Medicine; Brigham and Women's Hospital; Boston MA
| | - Keith E. Kocher
- Department of Emergency Medicine; University of Michigan School of Medicine; Ann Arbor MI
| |
Collapse
|
30
|
Abstract
OBJECTIVE We investigated whether there are differences in emergency department (ED) patient management associated with emergency physician (EP) sex, specifically in terms of ordering investigations and hospital admissions. METHODS We included all EPs working as consultants for at least 24 consecutive months at a Spanish ED during an 8-year period. Every annual period was considered independently. The classificatory variable was EP sex. For every annual period we compiled age and years of experience of each EP, the number of patients who attended, and patient distribution in triage categories. To analyze ED resource use by each EP and period, we recorded percentages of blood tests, radiography, ultrasonography, computerized tomography (CT) scan, and hospital admission orders. RESULTS Fifty EPs (27 women and 23 men) were included, 291 annual periods were analyzed (132 for women and 159 for men) and 256 524 patient attendances were recorded (114 086 by women and 142 438 by men). Blood tests were ordered in 57.2% of cases, radiography in 58.0%, ultrasounds in 5.0%, CT scans in 7.0%, and hospitalizations in 28.4%. Compared with men, women ordered 6.8% (95% confidence interval 6.1-7.5%) more blood tests, 4.6% (4.3-5.3%) more radiographies, 15.2% (11.6-18.9%) more ultrasonographies, 11.1% (8.1-14.1%) more CT scans, and 12.1% (10.8-13.4%) more hospitalizations. These differences maintained statistical significance in the stratified analysis by EP experience, and were observed for most of the years analyzed. CONCLUSION Female EPs order more investigations and admit more patients, although from our results the reason for this is unclear, and the impact on healthcare effectiveness and patient outcome is unknown.
Collapse
|
31
|
Raja AS, Greenberg JO, Qaseem A, Denberg TD, Fitterman N, Schuur JD. Evaluation of Patients With Suspected Acute Pulmonary Embolism: Best Practice Advice From the Clinical Guidelines Committee of the American College of Physicians. Ann Intern Med 2015; 163:701-11. [PMID: 26414967 DOI: 10.7326/m14-1772] [Citation(s) in RCA: 197] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
DESCRIPTION Pulmonary embolism (PE) can be a severe disease and is difficult to diagnose, given its nonspecific signs and symptoms. Because of this, testing patients with suspected acute PE has increased dramatically. However, the overuse of some tests, particularly computed tomography (CT) and plasma d-dimer measurement, may not improve care while potentially leading to patient harm and unnecessary expense. METHODS The literature search encompassed studies indexed by MEDLINE (1966-2014; English-language only) and included all clinical trials and meta-analyses on diagnostic strategies, decision rules, laboratory tests, and imaging studies for the diagnosis of PE. This document is not based on a formal systematic review, but instead seeks to provide practical advice based on the best available evidence and recent guidelines. The target audience for this paper is all clinicians; the target patient population is all adults, both inpatient and outpatient, suspected of having acute PE. BEST PRACTICE ADVICE 1 Clinicians should use validated clinical prediction rules to estimate pretest probability in patients in whom acute PE is being considered. BEST PRACTICE ADVICE 2 Clinicians should not obtain d-dimer measurements or imaging studies in patients with a low pretest probability of PE and who meet all Pulmonary Embolism Rule-Out Criteria. BEST PRACTICE ADVICE 3 Clinicians should obtain a high-sensitivity d-dimer measurement as the initial diagnostic test in patients who have an intermediate pretest probability of PE or in patients with low pretest probability of PE who do not meet all Pulmonary Embolism Rule-Out Criteria. Clinicians should not use imaging studies as the initial test in patients who have a low or intermediate pretest probability of PE. BEST PRACTICE ADVICE 4 Clinicians should use age-adjusted d-dimer thresholds (age × 10 ng/mL rather than a generic 500 ng/mL) in patients older than 50 years to determine whether imaging is warranted. BEST PRACTICE ADVICE 5 Clinicians should not obtain any imaging studies in patients with a d-dimer level below the age-adjusted cutoff. BEST PRACTICE ADVICE 6 Clinicians should obtain imaging with CT pulmonary angiography (CTPA) in patients with high pretest probability of PE. Clinicians should reserve ventilation-perfusion scans for patients who have a contraindication to CTPA or if CTPA is not available. Clinicians should not obtain a d-dimer measurement in patients with a high pretest probability of PE.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ali S. Raja
- From Massachusetts General Hospital and Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts; American College of Physicians, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Hofstra North Shore Long Island Jewish School of Medicine, Huntington, New York; and Carilion Clinic, Roanoke, Virginia
| | - Jeffrey O. Greenberg
- From Massachusetts General Hospital and Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts; American College of Physicians, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Hofstra North Shore Long Island Jewish School of Medicine, Huntington, New York; and Carilion Clinic, Roanoke, Virginia
| | - Amir Qaseem
- From Massachusetts General Hospital and Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts; American College of Physicians, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Hofstra North Shore Long Island Jewish School of Medicine, Huntington, New York; and Carilion Clinic, Roanoke, Virginia
| | - Thomas D. Denberg
- From Massachusetts General Hospital and Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts; American College of Physicians, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Hofstra North Shore Long Island Jewish School of Medicine, Huntington, New York; and Carilion Clinic, Roanoke, Virginia
| | - Nick Fitterman
- From Massachusetts General Hospital and Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts; American College of Physicians, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Hofstra North Shore Long Island Jewish School of Medicine, Huntington, New York; and Carilion Clinic, Roanoke, Virginia
| | - Jeremiah D. Schuur
- From Massachusetts General Hospital and Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts; American College of Physicians, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Hofstra North Shore Long Island Jewish School of Medicine, Huntington, New York; and Carilion Clinic, Roanoke, Virginia
| | | |
Collapse
|
32
|
Mears SC, Kates SL. A Guide to Improving the Care of Patients with Fragility Fractures, Edition 2. Geriatr Orthop Surg Rehabil 2015; 6:58-120. [PMID: 26246957 DOI: 10.1177/2151458515572697] [Citation(s) in RCA: 89] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Over the past 4 decades, much has been learned about the pathophysiology and treatment of osteoporosis, the prevention of fragility fractures, and the perioperative management of patients who have these debilitating injuries. However, the volume of published literature on this topic is staggering and far too voluminous for any clinician to review and synthesize by him or herself. This manuscript thoroughly summarizes the latest research on fragility fractures and provides the reader with valuable strategies to optimize the prevention and management of these devastating injuries. The information contained in this article will prove invaluable to any health care provider or health system administrator who is involved in the prevention and management of fragility hip fractures. As providers begin to gain a better understanding of the principles espoused in this article, it is our hope that they will be able to use this information to optimize the care they provide for elderly patients who are at risk of or who have osteoporotic fractures.
Collapse
|
33
|
Shetty AS, Mellnick VM, Raptis C, Loch R, Owen J, Bhalla S. Limited utility of MRA for acute bowel ischemia after portal venous phase CT. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2015; 40:3020-8. [DOI: 10.1007/s00261-015-0492-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
|
34
|
Stanley RM, Hoyle JD, Dayan PS, Atabaki S, Lee L, Lillis K, Gorelick MH, Holubkov R, Miskin M, Holmes JF, Dean JM, Kuppermann N. Emergency department practice variation in computed tomography use for children with minor blunt head trauma. J Pediatr 2014; 165:1201-1206.e2. [PMID: 25294604 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpeds.2014.08.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 83] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2014] [Revised: 06/19/2014] [Accepted: 08/07/2014] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To describe factors associated with computed tomography (CT) use for children with minor blunt head trauma that are evaluated in emergency departments. STUDY DESIGN Planned secondary analysis of a prospective observational study of children <18 years with minor blunt head trauma between 2004 and 2006 at 25 emergency departments. CT scans were obtained at the discretion of treating clinicians. We risk-adjusted patients for clinically important traumatic brain injuries and performed multivariable regression analyses. Outcome measures were rates of CT use by hospital and by clinician training type. RESULTS CT rates varied between 19.2% and 69.2% across hospitals. Risk adjustment had little effect on the differential rate of CT use. In low- and middle-risk patients, clinicians obtained CTs more frequently at suburban and nonfreestanding children's hospitals. Physicians with emergency medicine (EM) residency training obtained CTs at greater rates than physicians with pediatric residency or pediatric EM training. In multivariable analyses, compared with pediatric EM-trained physicians, the OR for CT use among EM-trained physicians in children <2 years was 1.24 (95% CI 1.04-1.46), and for children >2 years was 1.68 (95% CI 1.50-1.89). Physicians of all training backgrounds, however, overused CT scans in low-risk children. CONCLUSIONS Substantial variation exists in the use of CT for children with minor blunt head trauma not explained by patient severity or rates of positive CT scans or clinically important traumatic brain injuries.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Rachel M Stanley
- Department of Emergency Medicine and Pediatrics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI.
| | - John D Hoyle
- Division of Emergency Medicine, Michigan State University College of Human Medicine, Helen DeVos Children's Hospital, Grand Rapids, MI
| | - Peter S Dayan
- Department of Pediatrics, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, NY
| | - Shireen Atabaki
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Children's National Medical Center, George Washington School of Medicine, Washington, DC
| | - Lois Lee
- Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
| | - Kathy Lillis
- Department of Pediatrics, State University of New York at Buffalo and Women and Children's Hospital of Buffalo, Buffalo, NY
| | - Marc H Gorelick
- Department of Pediatrics, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI
| | - Richard Holubkov
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Utah and PECARN Data Coordinating Center, Salt Lake City, UT
| | - Michelle Miskin
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Utah and PECARN Data Coordinating Center, Salt Lake City, UT
| | - James F Holmes
- Department of Emergency Medicine, University of California Davis School of Medicine, Davis, CA
| | - J Michael Dean
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Utah and PECARN Data Coordinating Center, Salt Lake City, UT
| | - Nathan Kuppermann
- Department of Emergency Medicine, University of California Davis School of Medicine, Davis, CA
| | | |
Collapse
|