Emergency department triage of acute myocardial infarction patients and the effect on outcomes

Emergency Nurses' Recognition of and Perception of Sex Differences in Acute Coronary Syndrome Symptoms

INTRODUCTION

Emergency nurses must quickly identify patients with potential acute coronary syndrome. However, no recent nationwide research has explored nurses' knowledge of acute coronary syndrome symptoms. The purpose of this study was to explore emergency nurses' recognition of acute coronary syndrome symptoms, including whether nurses attribute different symptoms to women and men.

METHODS

We used a cross-sectional, descriptive design using an online survey. Emergency nurses from across the United States were recruited using postcards and a posting on the Emergency Nurses Association website. Demographic data and participants' recognition of acute coronary syndrome symptoms, using the Acute Coronary Syndrome Symptom Checklist, were collected. Descriptive statistics and ordinal regression were used to analyze the data.

RESULTS

The final sample included 448 emergency nurses with a median 7.0 years of emergency nursing experience. Participants were overwhelmingly able to recognize common acute coronary syndrome symptoms, although some symptoms were more often associated with women or with men. Most participants believed that women and men's symptoms were either "slightly different" (41.1%) or "fairly different" (42.6%). Nurses who completed training for the triage role were significantly less likely to believe that men and women have substantially different symptoms (odds ratio 0.47; 95% CI 0.25-0.87).

DISCUSSION

Emergency nurses were able to recognize common acute coronary syndrome symptoms, but some reported believing that the symptom experience of men and women is more divergent than what is reported in the literature.

Race and Ethnicity and Primary Language in Emergency Department Triage

Importance

Emergency department (ED) triage substantially affects how long patients wait for care but triage scoring relies on few objective criteria. Prior studies suggest that Black and Hispanic patients receive unequal triage scores, paralleled by disparities in the depth of physician evaluations.

Objectives

To examine whether racial disparities in triage scores and physician evaluations are present across a multicenter network of academic and community hospitals and evaluate whether patients who do not speak English face similar disparities.

Design, Setting, and Participants

This was a cross-sectional, multicenter study examining adults presenting between February 28, 2019, and January 1, 2023, across the Mass General Brigham Integrated Health Care System, encompassing 7 EDs: 2 urban academic hospitals and 5 community hospitals. Analysis included all patients presenting with 1 of 5 common chief symptoms.

Exposures

Emergency department nurse-led triage and physician evaluation.

Main Outcomes and Measures

Average Triage Emergency Severity Index [ESI] score and average visit work relative value units [wRVUs] were compared across symptoms and between individual minority racial and ethnic groups and White patients.

Results

There were 249 829 visits (149 861 female [60%], American Indian or Alaska Native 0.2%, Asian 3.3%, Black 11.8%, Hispanic 18.8%, Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander <0.1%, White 60.8%, and patients identifying as Other race or ethnicity 5.1%). Median age was 48 (IQR, 29-66) years. White patients had more acute ESI scores than Hispanic or Other patients across all symptoms (eg, chest pain: Hispanic, 2.68 [95% CI, 2.67-2.69]; White, 2.55 [95% CI, 2.55-2.56]; Other, 2.66 [95% CI, 2.64-2.68]; P < .001) and Black patients across most symptoms (nausea/vomiting: Black, 2.97 [95% CI, 2.96-2.99]; White: 2.90 [95% CI, 2.89-2.91]; P < .001). These differences were reversed for wRVUs (chest pain: Black, 4.32 [95% CI, 4.25-4.39]; Hispanic, 4.13 [95% CI, 4.08-4.18]; White 3.55 [95% CI, 3.52-3.58]; Other 3.96 [95% CI, 3.84-4.08]; P < .001). Similar patterns were seen for patients whose primary language was not English.

Conclusions and Relevance

In this cross-sectional study, patients who identified as Black, Hispanic, and Other race and ethnicity were assigned less acute ESI scores than their White peers despite having received more involved physician workups, suggesting some degree of mistriage. Clinical decision support systems might reduce these disparities but would require careful calibration to avoid replicating bias.

The Impact of Emergency Department Arrival Time on Door-to-Balloon Time in Patients with ST-Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction Receiving Primary Percutaneous Coronary Intervention

Door-to-balloon (DTB) time significantly affects the prognosis of patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). The effects of temporal differences in emergency department (ED) arrival time on DTB time and on different segments of DTB time remain inconclusive. Therefore, we performed a retrospective study in a tertiary hospital between January 2013 and December 2021 and investigated the relationship between a patient's arrival time and both their DTB time and different segments of their DTB time. Of 732 STEMI patients, 327 arrived during the daytime (08:01-16:00), 268 during the evening (16:01-24:00), and 137 at night (00:01-08:00). Significantly higher odds of delay in DTB time were observed during the nighttime (adjusted odds ratio (aOR): 2.87; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.50-5.51, p = 0.002) than during the daytime. This delay was mainly attributed to a delay in cardiac catheterization laboratory (cath lab) activation-to-arrival time (aOR: 6.25; 95% CI: 3.75-10.40, p < 0.001), particularly during the 00:00-04:00 time range. Age, sex, triage level, and whether patients arrived during the COVID-19 pandemic also had independent effects on different segments of DTB time. Further studies are required to investigate the root causes of delay in DTB time and to develop specific strategies for improvement.

Improving the performance of a triage scale for chest pain patients admitted to emergency departments: combining cardiovascular risk factors and electrocardiogram

Background

The triage of patients presenting with chest pain on admission to the emergency department uses scales based on patient clinical presentation or an electrocardiogram (ECG). These scales have different sensitivity and specificity. Although a good sensitivity allows for the prompt identification of high-risk patients, specificity prevent ED overcrowding. Moreover, ECG at triage avoids missing ST elevation myocardial infarction, which requires urgent revascularization. Our study therefore aimed to investigate whether a scale combining ECG and cardiovascular risk factors (CVRF) improves the diagnostic performance of ED chest pain triage scale.

Methods and results

In this prospective single-center observational study involving 505 patients, the standard ECG-based FRENCH scale was compared to a scale combining the ECG-based FRENCH scale and the patients CVRF. The new scale was called the “modified” FRENCH. The accuracy of patient CVRF collection was evaluated by comparing the results of triage nurses and ED physicians.

Compared with the standard FRENCH scale, the modified FRENCH scale had an increased sensitivity (61% versus 75%) but a decrease in specificity (76% versus 64%) resulting in a similar diagnostic performance. Using CVRF collected by the ED physicians, the modified FRENCH scale had a sensitivity of 87% and a specificity of 56% with a significant improvement in his diagnostic performance compared with standard FRENCH scales. This improvement can be explained by an accurate collection of the CVRF by physicians compared with nurses, as suggested by the weak to moderate correlation between their respective data collection.

Conclusion

In conclusion, combining ECG and accurately collected cardiovascular risks factor improves the diagnostic performance of the ECG based chest pain triage in the ED.

Trial registration

Trial registration number: NCT03913767.

Decreased Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Emergency Department Wait Time in the United States

BACKGROUND

Previous data over an extended period indicated that Black and Hispanic patients waited significantly longer than their White counterparts to see a qualified practitioner in US emergency departments (EDs).

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this study was to assess recent trends and sources of racial and ethnic disparities in patient wait time to see a qualified practitioner in US EDs.

DATA SOURCES

Publicly available ED subsample of the National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey (NHAMCS), 2003-2017.

RESEARCH DESIGN

A retrospective cross-sectional analysis of a nationally representative sample of visits to US EDs from 2003 to 2017. Joinpoint statistical analysis and survey-weighted regression were used to assess changes in ED wait time by race/ethnic group over time.

PRINCIPAL FINDINGS

For non-Hispanic White patients, median ED wait time increased annually by 1.3 minutes from 2003 through 2008, decreased by 3.0 minutes from 2008 through 2012, and decreased by 1.7 minutes from 2012 to 2017. For non-Hispanic Black patients, median wait time increased annually by 2.0 minutes from 2003 through 2008, decreased by 3.8 minutes from 2008 through 2015, and remained fairly unchanged from 2015 through 2017. For Hispanic patients, the trend in median wait time remained statistically unchanged from 2003 through 2009. It decreased by annually by 4.7 minutes from 2009 to 2012 and by 1.5 minutes from 2012 through 2017. By the end of 2017, median ED wait time decreased to under 20 minutes across all 3 groups.

CONCLUSIONS

Over time, ED wait times decreased to under 20 minutes across all racial and ethnic groups between 2003 and 2017. Observed disparities were largely the result of where minority populations accessed care and disappeared over time.

The Oncological Emergency of Intestinal Obstruction: ED Recognition and Treatment Outcomes

OBJECTIVES

Gastrointestinal complications, like blockage, are among the most common oncological emergencies. We investigated whether individuals with cancer presenting at the emergency department (ED) with intestinal obstruction were triaged accurately, and we further evaluated the triage decisions' effect on their ED treatment outcomes.

DATA SOURCES

A retrospective review was completed on all available records of adult cancer patients who were admitted with intestinal obstruction to a tertiary referral hospital. Over 3 years, 46 cancer patients were admitted from the ED with a provisional diagnosis of intestinal obstruction, confirmed by radiological examination. More than half the patients were undertriaged, which often resulted in these patients experiencing a series of risky time delays in the ED. Patients were significantly delayed in reaching five treatment outcomes: first assessment with a physician, initiation of treatment, decision to admit, length of ED stay, and length of hospital stay.

CONCLUSION

The application of triage in practice was inconsistent, inaccurate, and had a significant negative impact on patient treatment outcomes.

IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING PRACTICE

The study results indicated the need to critically analyze current triage training and policies to increase their effectiveness. Improvement strategies are identified in the literature, and several are discussed. Involving triage nurses in this work is essential.

Implementation of a Provider in Triage and Its Effect on Left without Being Seen Rate at a Community Trauma Center

Introduction

Emergency department (ED) overcrowding is a nationally recognized problem and multiple strategies have been proposed and implemented with varying levels of success. It has caused patients to present to the ED but leave without being seen (LWBS). These patients suffer delayed diagnosis, delayed treatment, and ultimately increased morbidity and mortality. In efforts to decrease the number of patients who leave without being seen, one proposed solution is to place a provider in triage to evaluate these patients at the initial point of contact.

Methods

A retrospective chart review was conducted on patient’s presenting to the Emergency Department from October through January for the years 2013 through 2017. A list of all patient dispositions for each study month was analyzed and compared for the 4 consecutive years with the implementation of an Advanced Practice Provider (APP) in triage.

Results

A total of 2162 patients dispositioned as LWBS during the entire study period of October 2013 through January 2017 were enrolled in the analysis. After implementation of a provider in triage, there was a 39% overall decrease (95% CI 0.005) in patients who left the ED before completion of treatment. There was a 69% reduction (95% CI 0.005) in patients who left before seeing the provider in triage. After seeing the provider, we saw an 83% reduction (95% CI<0.001) in LWBS. Overall, our initial LWBS rate was found to be 5%, and after implementation of a provider in triage that rate decreased to 1%.

Discussion

The addition of a provider in triage decreased our LWBS rate from 5% to 1%. The addition of a provider in triage also helped identify sick patients in the waiting room and helped facilitate more rapid assessment of ED patients on arrival.

The impact of emergency department triage on the treatment outcomes of cancer patients with febrile neutropenia: A retrospective review

INTRODUCTION

The emergency department (ED) is an important entry point for patients with cancer requiring acute care due to oncological emergencies. Febrile neutropenia (FN) is one of the most common oncological emergencies and carries a significant risk of morbidity and mortality. There is evidence from previous studies that FN patients wait far longer in the ED than recommended by international guidelines.

PURPOSE

The aim was to examine whether individuals with cancer presenting at the ED with FN were triaged appropriately, and to explore if, and how, triage affected their treatment outcomes.

METHODS

A retrospective cohort design was employed to collect data over five years from all available ED records of adult cancer patients who presented with fever.

RESULTS

Of the 431 eligible patients, 63% (n = 272) were assigned triage scores that were detrimental to their immediate health. Findings from the multiple linear regression analyses showed that inaccurate or under triage was significantly associated with delayed times for the initial physician assessment, administration of antibiotics, and decision on admission. The absence of fever at the time of triage assessment contributed significantly to the prediction of under triage.

CONCLUSION

The allocation of patients with FN to a lower, inaccurate priority was partly responsible for the inability of those patients to meet the standard benchmarks for the initial physician assessment and the administration of antibiotics identified by the triage and febrile neutropenia guidelines. Ongoing strategies are needed to both enhance the application of the triage guidelines and institute organizational and system changes that promote timeliness and effectiveness throughout the entire ED episode of care.

Exploring the complex interactions of baseline patient factors to improve nursing triage of acute coronary syndrome

Emergency department (ED) nurses need to identify patients with potential acute coronary syndrome (ACS) rapidly because treatment delay could impact patient outcomes. Aims of this secondary analysis were to identify key patient factors that could be available at initial ED nurse triage that predict ACS. Consecutive patients with chest pain who called 9-1-1, received a 12-lead electrocardiogram in the prehospital setting, and were transported via emergency medical service were included in the study. A total of 750 patients were recruited. The sample had an average age of 59 years old, was 57% male, and 40% Black. One hundred and fifteen patients were diagnosed with ACS. Older age, non-Caucasian race, and faster respiratory rate were independent predictors of ACS. There was an interaction between heart rate by Type II diabetes receiving insulin in the context of ACS. Type II diabetics requiring insulin for better glycemic control manifested a faster heart rate. By identifying patient factors at ED nurse triage that could be predictive of ACS, accuracy rates of triage may improve, thus impacting patient outcomes.

Temporal trends in emergency department volumes and crowding metrics in a western Canadian province: a population-based, administrative data study

Background

Emergency Department (ED) crowding is a pervasive problem, yet there have been few comparisons of the extent of, and contributors to, crowding among different types of EDs. The study quantifies and compares crowding metrics for 16 high volume regional, urban and academic EDs in one Canadian province.

Methods

The National Ambulatory Care Reporting System (NACRS) provided ED presentations by adults to 16 high volume Alberta EDs during April 2010 to March 2015 for this retrospective cohort study. Time to physician initial assessment (PIA), length of stay (LOS) for discharges and admissions were grouped by start hour of presentation and facility. Multiple crowding metrics were created by taking the means, medians (PIA-M, LOS-M), and 90th percentiles of the hourly, ED-specific values. Similarly, proportion left against medical advice (LAMA) and proportion left without being seen (LWBS) were day and ED aggregated. Calculated based on the start of the presentation and the facility and for PIA and LOS. The mean, median, and 90th percentiles for the date and time ED-specific metrics for PIA and LOS were obtained. Summary statistics were used to describe crowding metrics.

Results

There were 3,925,457 presentations by 1,420,679 adults. The number of presentations was similar for each sex and the mean age was 46 years. Generally, the three categories of EDs had similar characteristics; however, urban and academic/teaching EDs had more urgent triage scores and a higher percentage of admissions than regional EDs. The median of the PIA-M metric was 1 h23m across all EDs. For discharges, the median of the LOS-M metric was 3h21m whereas the median of the LOS-M metric for admissions was 10h08m. Generally, regional EDs had shorter times than urban and academic/teaching EDs. The median daily LWBS was 3.4% and the median daily LAMA was about 1%.

Conclusions

Emergency presentations have increased over time, and crowding metrics vary considerably among EDs and over the time of day. Academic/teaching EDs generally have higher crowding metrics than other EDs and urgent action is required to mitigate the well-known consequences of ED crowding.

Geriatric Screening, Triage Urgency, and 30-Day Mortality in Older Emergency Department Patients

BACKGROUND

Urgency triage in the emergency department (ED) is important for early identification of potentially lethal conditions and extensive resource utilization. However, in older patients, urgency triage systems could be improved by taking geriatric vulnerability into account. We investigated the association of geriatric vulnerability screening in addition to triage urgency levels with 30‐day mortality in older ED patients.

DESIGN

Secondary analysis of the observational multicenter Acutely Presenting Older Patient (APOP) study.

SETTING

EDs within four Dutch hospitals.

PARTICIPANTS

Consecutive patients, aged 70 years or older, who were prospectively included.

MEASUREMENTS

Patients were triaged using the Manchester Triage System (MTS). In addition, the APOP screener was used as a geriatric screening tool. The primary outcome was 30‐day mortality. Comparison was made between mortality within the geriatric high‐ and low‐risk screened patients in every urgency triage category. We calculated the difference in explained variance of mortality by adding the geriatric screener (APOP) to triage urgency (MTS) by calculating Nagelkerke R².

RESULTS

We included 2,608 patients with a median age of 79 (interquartile range = 74‐84) years, of whom 521 (20.0%) patients were categorized as high risk according to geriatric screening. Patients were triaged on urgency as standard (27.2%), urgent (58.5%), and very urgent (14.3%). In total, 132 (5.1%) patients were deceased within a period of 30 days. Within every urgency triage category, 30‐day mortality was threefold higher in geriatric high‐risk compared to low‐risk patients (overall = 11.7% vs 3.4%; P < .001). The explained variance of 30‐day mortality with triage urgency was 1.0% and increased to 6.3% by adding the geriatric screener.

CONCLUSION

Combining triage urgency with geriatric screening has the potential to improve triage, which may help clinicians to deliver early appropriate care to older ED patients. J Am Geriatr Soc 68:1755‐1762, 2020.

Evaluation of the Manchester triage system for patients with acute coronary syndrome

BACKGROUND

An early diagnosis of acute coronary syndrome (ACS) is crucial for treatment and prognosis. The aim of this study was to evaluate the Manchester triage system (MTS) for patients with ACS, e.g. ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), non-ST elevation myocardial infarction (N-STEMI) and unstable angina pectoris (UAP).

METHODS

Retrospective analysis of patients diagnosed with ACS (STEMI, N‑STEMI and UAP) who were triaged in the emergency department (ED) with the MTS.

RESULTS

In this study 282 patients with ACS (STEMI: 34.0%, N‑STEMI: 61.7%, UAP: 4.3%) were triaged as MTS level 1 (immediate assessment): 0.4%, MTS level 2 (very urgent): 51.4%, MTS level 3 (urgent): 41.5%, MTS level 4 (standard): 6.7%, MTS level 5 (non-urgent): 0%. We observed significantly lower mean MTS levels in males (male: 2.48 ± 0.59, female: 2.68 ± 0.68, p = 0.02) and in patients younger than 80 years (age <80 years: 2.50 ± 0.61, age ≥80 years: 2.70 ± 0.67, p = 0.03). We did not find a significant difference of mean MTS levels in different types of ACS (STEMI: 2.46 ± 0.6, N‑STEMI: 2.59 ± 0.64, STEMI vs N‑STEMI: p = 0.11, UAP: 2.67 ± 0.65, STEMI vs UAP: p = 0.26) and with respect to diabetes (diabetic: 2.47 ± 0.57, non-diabetic: 2.58 ± 0.65, p = 0.13). The in-hospital mortality was 2.5% (MTS level 2: n = 3, MTS level 3: n = 3, MTS level 4: n = 1).

CONCLUSION

The majority of patients with ACS were classified as MTS levels 2 and 3. There was no significant difference of mean MTS levels in patients with STEMI, NSTEMI and UAP. In order to assure an early diagnosis of STEMI, an electrocardiogram (ECG) should be carried out immediately or at least within 10 min after first medical contact in the ED in all patients suspected for ACS, irrespective of the assigned MTS level.

Mobile Intensive Care Unit versus Hospital walk-in patients, in the treatment of first episode ST- elevation myocardial infarction

OBJECTIVE

To determine the impact of the attention given by emergency medical services teams working in mobile intensive care units (MICU) versus patients arriving at the hospital under their own means with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) event in terms of time to reperfusion (TR), mortality at 30 days and six months.

METHODS

We retrospectively studied 634 consecutive patients with STEMI who underwent primary a percutaneous coronary intervention from January 1st 2015 to December 31st 2018 in a single centre. Depending on the first medical contact patients were classified into two groups, MICU versus walk-in patients. We extracted data on patients' characteristics, symptoms, treatments, times to reperfusion and mortality.

RESULTS

In our study 634 patients were included, of whom 59.0% were initially attended by the MICU. Differences were seen between the two groups in time delays to the first medical contact (120.0 vs 63.0 min; p < 0.001) and TR (208.0 Vs 150.0 min; p < 0.001). Patients attended by the MICUs presented a shorter ICU and hospital stay. The lowest 30-day mortality rate was observed in MICU group: 9.0% in contrast with 4.5%, p = 0.03; remaining after 6 months. The multivariable analysis showed that the initial attention given by MICU to STEMI patients was a protective agent against mortality [OR: 0.32 (0.11-0.90); p = 0.03].

CONCLUSION

Initial attention of the patients with STEMI by doctor-on-board-MICU and available 24 h a day 7 days a week as part of a regional network (CORECAM), was associated with a decrease in the ischemia time, hospital stay and mortality of these patients in our environment.

The Association Between Patient Outcomes and the Initial Emergency Severity Index Triage Score in Patients With Suspected Acute Coronary Syndrome

BACKGROUND

The Emergency Severity Index (ESI) is a widely used tool to triage patients in emergency departments. The ESI tool is used to assess all complaints and has significant limitation for accurately triaging patients with suspected acute coronary syndrome (ACS).

OBJECTIVE

We evaluated the accuracy of ESI in predicting serious outcomes in suspected ACS and aimed to assess the incremental reclassification performance if ESI is supplemented with a clinically validated tool used to risk-stratify suspected ACS.

METHODS

We used existing data from an observational cohort study of patients with chest pain. We extracted ESI scores documented by triage nurses during routine medical care. Two independent reviewers adjudicated the primary outcome, incidence of 30-day major adverse cardiac events. We compared ESI with the well-established modified HEAR/T (patient History, Electrocardiogram, Age, Risk factors, but without Troponin) score.

RESULTS

Our sample included 750 patients (age, 59 ± 17 years; 43% female; 40% black). A total of 145 patients (19%) experienced major adverse cardiac event. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve for ESI score for predicting major adverse cardiac event was 0.656, compared with 0.796 for the modified HEAR/T score. Using the modified HEAR/T score, 181 of the 391 false positives (46%) and 16 of the 19 false negatives (84%) assigned by ESI could be reclassified correctly.

CONCLUSION

The ESI score is poorly associated with serious outcomes in patients with suspected ACS. Supplementing the ESI tool with input from other validated clinical tools can greatly improve the accuracy of triage in patients with suspected ACS.

Triage emergency nurse decision-making: Incidental findings from a focus group study

INTRODUCTION

Emergency Department (ED) triage decision-making is a complex process. Triage scales are used to determine patient acuity level, however, they do not provide information on how nurses make triage decisions. This focus group study was part of a larger project to develop a psychometrically sound instrument to measure triage decision-making by nurses; the Triage Decision-Making Instrument. We report important incidental findings that emerged during the study that the participants identified as factors impeding triage decision-making.

METHODS

Three focus groups were conducted with 11 triage Registered Nurses. They commented on the instrument items and identified factors that influence triage decision-making. Transcripts were analyzed using thematic analysis.

RESULTS

Three powerful inter-related themes emerged central to encumbering triage decision-making: competing systems (pre-hospital versus the ED), fluctuating patient volume resulting in 'intra-Canadian Triage and Acuity Scale' triaging, and personal capacity including experience and 'triage fatigue'.

DISCUSSION

The findings demonstrate how interrelated system factors impede nurses triage decision-making. Triage nurses require support in their role and initiatives are needed to reduce the pressure they feel in relation to resolving system issues. Larger system issues and the capacity of the individual decision-makers must be accounted for within the context of increasing effectiveness and safety of ED triage.

Adherence to NSTEMI Guidelines in the Emergency Department: Regression to Reality

BACKGROUND

Adherence to guidelines for the initial treatment of ST-Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction has been thoroughly studied, whereas the study of emergency department (ED) adherence to guidelines for Non-ST-Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction-Acute Coronary Syndrome (NSTEMI-ACS) has been much scarcer. The recommended guidelines for the initial prompt workup and treatment of NSTEMI-ACS remains a challenge.

AIM

We studied adherence to guidelines for NSTEMI in the ED.

METHODS

A single-center, retrospective study of consecutive patients with NSTEMI admitted to a tertiary hospital and discharged alive between March 2013 and March 2014. ED records were manually reviewed for adherence to prespecified parameters. Cases with sudden death, shock, or type-II NSTEMI were excluded. Canadian Triage and Acuity Scale score system was used for triage in the ED.

RESULTS

Adherence rates were 33.3%/24.6% of 240 patients for ECG/troponin obtained within 10/60 minutes receptively and 31.3% for anticoagulation within 15 minutes from diagnosis of ACS. Females were less likely to undergo electrocardiography (P = 0.009) or troponin-level tests within the specified timeframe (P = 0.043). Many cardiovascular risk markers were missed. Global Registry of Acute Coronary Events score was not used to risk stratify patients.

CONCLUSIONS

Prompt identification and early medical treatment of NSTEMI in the ED is lacking. Better computerized medical history assembly, attention to typical and atypical clinical presentation, and the employment of an appropriate cardiologic risk stratification method may unblind the treating teams at the point of care and improve adherence to NSTEMI guidelines.

Triage Performance in Emergency Medicine: A Systematic Review

STUDY OBJECTIVE

Rapid growth in emergency department (ED) triage literature has been accompanied by diversity in study design, methodology, and outcome assessment. We aim to synthesize existing ED triage literature by using a framework that enables performance comparisons and benchmarking across triage systems, with respect to clinical outcomes and reliability.

METHODS

PubMed, EMBASE, Scopus, and Web of Science were systematically searched for studies of adult ED triage systems through 2016. Studies evaluating triage systems with evidence of widespread adoption (Australian Triage Scale, Canadian Triage and Acuity Scale, Emergency Severity Index, Manchester Triage Scale, and South African Triage Scale) were cataloged and compared for performance in identifying patients at risk for mortality, critical illness and hospitalization, and interrater reliability. This study was performed and reported in adherence to Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses guidelines.

RESULTS

A total of 6,160 publications were identified, with 182 meeting eligibility criteria and 50 with sufficient data for inclusion in comparative analysis. The Canadian Triage and Acuity Scale (32 studies), Emergency Severity Index (43), and Manchester Triage Scale (38) were the most frequently studied triage scales, and all demonstrated similar performance. Most studies (6 of 8) reported high sensitivity (>90%) of triage scales for identifying patients with ED mortality as high acuity at triage. However, sensitivity was low (<80%) for identification of patients who had critical illness outcomes and those who died within days of the ED visit or during the index hospitalization. Sensitivity varied by critical illness and was lower for severe sepsis (36% to 74%), pulmonary embolism (54%), and non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (44% to 85%) compared with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (56% to 92%) and general outcomes of ICU admission (58% to 100%) and lifesaving intervention (77% to 98%). Some proportion of hospitalized patients (3% to 45%) were triaged to low acuity (level 4 to 5) in all studies. Reliability measures (κ) were variable across evaluations, with only a minority (11 of 42) reporting κ above 0.8.

CONCLUSION

We found that a substantial proportion of ED patients who die postencounter or are critically ill are not designated as high acuity at triage. Opportunity to improve interrater reliability and triage performance in identifying patients at risk of adverse outcome exists.

Effect of the 4-h target on ‘time-to-ECG’ in patients presenting with chest pain to an emergency department: a pilot retrospective observational study

Objectives The aim of this study was to assess the relationship between compliance with time-based Emergency Department (ED) targets (known as NEAT) and the time taken to collect an electrocardiogram (TTE) in patients presenting with chest pain. Methods This was a pilot descriptive retrospective cohort study completed in a large inner city tertiary ED. Patients who presented with active or recent chest pain between July 2014 and June 2015 were eligible for inclusion. Pregnant patients, inter-hospital transfers, and traumatic chest pain were excluded. A random selection of 300 patients from the eligible cohort comprised the final sample. The differences of TTE between categories of NEAT compliance were compared using Kruskal-Wallis test. Also, the factors affecting with the acquisition of ECG within ten minutes of arrival were explored using proportional hazards regression. Results There was a significant inverse association between the percentage of admitted patients leaving the ED within four hours (admitted NEAT) and TTE. As admitted NEAT compliance increased TTE decreased (p = 0.004). A number of variables including triage score, arrival time, total NEAT, first location, doctor wait time, and cardiac diagnosis were all significant predictors of TTE. After adjusting for other variables Admitted NEAT remained as an independent predictor of TTE. Conclusion There is likely to be a relationship between NEAT and TTE that is reflective of overall hospital and not just ED functioning; however the exact relationship remains uncertain. Further study in a multisite study is warranted to further explore the relationship between NEAT, TTE and other important clinical metrics of ED performance. What is known about the topic? The 4-h time target or National Emergency Access Target (NEAT) is implemented in Australia to ease crowding and access block. However, little is known of its effect on important clinical endpoints, particularly ‘time-to-ECG’ (TTE). What does this paper add? This paper demonstrates a complex relationship between measures of time-based targets, such as time to ECG. It is likely that increasing compliance with admitted NEAT shortens TTE, demonstrating the effect of hospital functioning on the ability to deliver quality care in the emergency department. What are the implications for practitioners? Emergency department flow has an effect on the ability of the department to deliver key assessment. There is a relationship between NEAT compliance and TTE, but the exact relationship requires further exploration in larger multicentre studies.

Comparison of clinical-based and ECG-based triage of acute chest pain in the Emergency Department

In the Emergency Department, chest pain triage systems are based on either clinical features or ECG recording. In this prospective, single-center, observational study, we aimed to compare the diagnostic performance of these triage systems in distinguishing acute coronary syndromes (ACS) from diseases of mild severity. Patients were sorted into the triage systems based on collected data at admission and on a systematic 12-lead ECG performed at triage. The final diagnosis was determined after a 30-day follow-up. For ACS, we determined a high-acuity triage score (Level 1 or 2) as being adequate, and for mild severity diseases a low-acuity triage score (Level 3, 4 or 5) as being adequate. The diagnostic performance of all studied systems was moderate (AUC from 0.644 to 0.694), with no statistically significant difference found between them. However, characteristics of the systems differed because the clinical-based systems had a higher sensitivity (87-91%) but lower specificity (32-39%) compared with the ECG-based system (sensitivity 62% and specificity 64%). A higher sensitivity limits the risk of a patient with acute coronary syndrome staying unsafely in the waiting room, while a higher specificity prevents overcrowding. ECG at triage also ensures that no STEMIs or high-risk NSTEMIs are missed. Based on these findings, each Emergency Depatment could more accurately select the triage system that fits their local particularities.

Care delays in patients with signs and symptoms of acute myocardial infarction

AIM

More than six million patients with signs and symptoms suggestive of a heart attack present to emergency departments (EDs) in the US each year. Of those diagnosed with acute myocardial infarction (AMI), one third die in the acute phase. Rapid ED triage can reduce the mortality rate, yet there are still delays in patient care. The aim of this study is to explore the relationship between patient and nurse characteristics, patient presentations, delays in triage, and delays in obtaining electrocardiograms (ECGs) of patients with signs and symptoms of AMI.

METHODS

A retrospective correlational study drawing on data from the records of 286 patients with signs and symptoms of AMI.

RESULTS

Delays in triage are related significantly to patients' gender and race. Most patients were triaged by nurses with associate degrees in nursing, a mean age of 45 and a mean of 18 years' experience. An increase in nurse years of experience predicted greater delay in triage. Delays in obtaining ECGs were also significantly greater with more experienced nurses and when patients reported no chest pain.

CONCLUSION

The study adds to the literature on delays in triage and ECGs in care of patients with possible AMI, and further research of the effects of ED crowding and availability of resources in emergency cardiac care is warranted. Studies should identify the processes that cause delays in the emergency care of patients with signs and symptoms of AMI to ensure timely treatment and care.

The Association between Door-to-Balloon Time of Less Than 60 Minutes and Prognosis of Patients Developing ST Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction and Undergoing Primary Percutaneous Coronary Intervention

Background. The study aimed to verify the effect of primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PPCI) with <60 min door-to-balloon time on ST segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) patients' prognoses. Methods. Outcomes of patients receiving PPCI with door-to-balloon time of <60 min were compared with those of patients receiving PPCI with door-to-balloon time 60–90 min. Result. Totally, 241 STEMI patients (191 with Killip classes I or II) and 104 (71 with Killip classes I or II) received PPCI with door-to-balloon time <60 and 60–90 min, respectively. Killip classes I and II patients with door-to-balloon time <60 min had better thrombolysis in myocardial infarction (TIMI) flow (9.2% fewer patients with TIMI flow <3, p = 0.019) and 8.0% lower 30-day mortality rate (p < 0.001) than those with 60–90 min. After controlling the confounding factors with logistic regression, patients with door-to-balloon time <60 min had lower incidences of TIMI flow <3 (aOR = 0.4, 95% CI = 0.20–0.76), 30-day recurrent myocardial infarction (aOR = 0.3, 95% CI = 0.10–0.91), and 30-day mortality (aOR = 0.3, 95% CI = 0.09–0.77) than those with 60–90 min. Conclusion. Door-to-balloon time <60 min is associated with better blood flow in the infarct-related artery and lower 30-day recurrent myocardial infarction and 30-day mortality rates.

Effective Factors in Door-to-Needle Time for Streptokinase Administration in Patients With Acute Myocardial Infarction Admitted to the Emergency Department

Background:

Cardiovascular incidents are a common cause of death around the world. Acute myocardial infarction (AMI) poses high risks for the patient due to plaque rupture or erosion along with a superimposed non-occlusive thrombus; therefore, timely treatment with antithrombotic agents plays a key role in reducing an AMI mortality rate.

Objectives:

The present study aimed to assess the time interval between the admission of AMI-suspected patients and treatment initiation.

Patients and Methods:

This cross-sectional study was conducted on 110 patients admitted to the emergency department of Imam Hussein hospital in Tehran, Iran. Data were collected using checklists, completed by the patients’ next of kin or the emergency staff. To analyze the data, student t- test and analysis of variance were used.

Results:

In this study, 31 female and 79 male subjects were included, respectively. The mean time to receive the first dose of streptokinase was 66.39 minutes (73.74 minutes for females and 63.5 minutes for male patients), varying from 49.92 minutes in the morning to 69.78 minutes in the afternoon and 72.68 minutes during night shifts.

Conclusions:

The door-to-needle (DTN) time, in a standard setting, is recommended to be less than 30 minutes. According to the results of this study, the DTN time is comparatively two times longer in females and afternoon and night shifts. Different variables including emergency staff, physicians, patients’ characteristics, and environmental/physical factors induced this difference.

Accuracy in ED Triage for Symptoms of Acute Myocardial Infarction

More than 6 million people present to emergency departments across the United States annually with symptoms of acute myocardial infarction (AMI). Of the 1 million patients with AMI, 350,000 die during the acute phase. Accurate ED triage can reduce mortality and morbidity, yet accuracy rates are low. In this study we explored the relationship between patient and nurse characteristics and accuracy of triage in patients with symptoms of AMI.

METHODS

This retrospective, descriptive study used patient data from electronic medical records. The sample of 286 patients was primarily white, with a mean age of 61.44 years (standard deviation [SD], ±13.02), and no history of heart disease. The sample of triage nurses was primarily white and female, with a mean age of 45.46 years (SD, ±11.72) and 18 years of nursing experience. Nineteen percent of the nurses reported having earned a bachelor's degree.

RESULTS

Emergency nurse triage accuracy was 54%. Patient race and presence of chest pain were significant predictors of accuracy. Emergency nurse age was a significant predictor of accuracy in triage, but years of experience in nursing was not a significant predictor.

DISCUSSION

Of the 9 variables investigated, only patient race, symptom presentation, and emergency nurse age were significant predictors of triage accuracy. Inconsistency in triage decisions may be due to other conditions not yet explored, such as critical thinking skills and executive functions. This study adds to the body of evidence regarding ED triage of patients with symptoms of AMI. However, further exploration into decisions at triage is warranted to improve accuracy, expedite care, and improve outcomes.

A Clinical Decision Instrument for 30-Day Death After an Emergency Department Visit for Atrial Fibrillation: The Atrial Fibrillation in the Emergency Room (AFTER) Study

STUDY OBJECTIVE

The high volume of patients treated in an emergency department (ED) for atrial fibrillation is predicted to increase significantly in the next few decades. Currently, 11% of these patients die within a year. We sought to derive and validate a complex model and a simplified model that predicts mortality in ED patients with atrial fibrillation.

METHODS

This population-based, retrospective cohort study included 3,510 adult patients with a primary diagnosis of atrial fibrillation who were treated at 24 hospital EDs in Ontario, Canada, between April 2008 and March 2009. The main outcome was 30-day all-cause mortality.

RESULTS

In the derivation cohort (n=2,343; mean age 68.8 years), 2.6% of patients died within 30 days of the ED visit versus 2.7% in the validation cohort (n=1,167; mean age 68.3 years). Variables associated with mortality in the complex model included age, presenting pulse rate and systolic blood pressure, presence of chest pain, 2 laboratory results (positive troponin result and creatinine level greater than 200 μmol [2.26 mg/dL]), 4 comorbidities (smoking, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, cancer, and dementia), an increased bleeding risk, and a second acute ED diagnosis (in addition to atrial fibrillation). Observed 30-day mortality in the 5 risk strata that were defined by the predicted probability of death were 0.44%, 0.41%, 0.23%, 1.61%, and 10.3%. The c statistics were 0.88 and 0.87 in the derivation and validation cohorts, respectively. The a priori-selected 6-variable model, TrOPs-BAC, included a positive Troponin result, Other acute ED diagnosis, Pulmonary disease (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease), Bleeding risk, Aged 75 years or older, and Congestive heart failure. The c statistic for the simplified model was 0.81 in both the derivation and validation cohorts.

CONCLUSION

Using a population-based sample, we derived and validated both a complex and a simplified instrument that predicts mortality after an emergency visit for atrial fibrillation. These may aid clinicians in identifying high-risk patients for hospitalization while safely discharging more patients home.

Predictors of admission to hospital of patients triaged as nonurgent using the Canadian Triage and Acuity Scale

OBJECTIVES

To identify factors known prior to triage that might have predicted hospital admission for patients triaged by the Canadian Triage Acuity Scale (CTAS) as level 5 (CTAS 5, nonurgent) and to determine whether inappropriate triage occurred in the admitted CTAS 5 patients.

METHODS

We reviewed the triage records of patients triaged as CTAS 5 at the emergency departments (EDs) of three tertiary care hospitals between April 2002 and September 2009. Two triage nurses unaware of the study objective independently assigned the CTAS level in 20% of randomly selected CTAS 5 patients who were admitted. We used the kappa statistic (κ) to measure the agreement among the raters in CTAS level between the assessment of the research nurses and the original triage assessment and regression analysis to identify independent predictors of admission to hospital.

RESULTS

Of the 37,416 CTAS 5 patients included in this study, 587 (1.6%) were admitted. Agreement on CTAS assignment in CTAS 5 patients who were admitted was κ -0.9, (95% confidence interval [CI] -0.96 to -0.84). Age over 65 (odds ratio [OR] 5.46, 95% CI 4.57 to 6.53) and arrival by ambulance (OR 7.42, 95% CI 6.15 to 8.96) predicted hospital admission in CTAS 5 patients.

CONCLUSIONS

Most of the CTAS 5 patients who were subsequently admitted to hospital may have qualified for a higher triage category. Two potential modifiers, age over 65 and arrival by ambulance, may have improved the prediction of admission in CTAS 5 patients. However, the consistent application of existing CTAS criteria may also be important to prevent incorrect triage.

Is emergency department quality related to other hospital quality domains?

OBJECTIVES

Systems theory suggests that there should be relatively high correlations among quality measures within an organization. This was an examination of hospital performance across three types of quality measures included in Medicare's Hospital Inpatient Value-Based Purchasing (HVBP) program: emergency department (ED)-related clinical process measures, inpatient clinical process measures, and patient experience measures. The purpose of this analysis was to determine whether hospital achievement and improvement on the ED quality measures represent a distinct domain of quality.

METHODS

This was an exploratory, descriptive analysis using publicly available data. Composite scores for the ED, inpatient, and patient experience measures included in the HVBP program were calculated. Correlations and frequencies were run to examine the extent to which achievement and improvement were related across the three quality domains and the number of hospitals that were in the top quartile for performance across multiple quality domains.

RESULTS

Achievement scores were calculated for 2,927 hospitals, and improvement scores were calculated for 2,842 hospitals. There was a positive, moderate correlation between ED and inpatient achievement scores (correlation coefficient of 0.50, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.47 to 0.53), but all other correlations were weak (0.16 or less). Only 96 hospitals (3.3%) scored in the top quartile for achievement across the three quality domains; 73 (2.6%) scored in the top quartile for improvement across all three quality domains.

CONCLUSIONS

Little consistency was found in achievement or improvement across the three quality domains, suggesting that the ED performance represents a distinct domain of quality. Implications include the following: 1) there are broad opportunities for hospitals to improve, 2) patients may not experience consistent quality levels throughout their hospital visit, 3) quality improvement interventions may need to be tailored specifically to the department, and 4) consumers and policy-makers may not be able to draw conclusions on overall facility quality based on information about one domain.

Failure to improve door-to-needle time by switching to emergency physician-initiated thrombolysis for ST elevation myocardial infarction

Introduction

Achieving target door–needle times for ST elevation myocardial infarction remains challenging. Data on emergency department (ED) doctor-led thrombolysis in developing countries and factors causing delay are limited.

Objectives

To assess the effect on door–needle times by transferring responsibility for thrombolysis to the ED doctors and to identify predictors of prolonged door–needle times.

Methodology

Data on medical on-call team-led thrombolysis at a tertiary Asian hospital were prospectively collected from May 2007 to Aug 2008 (1st study period). In September 2008, ED doctors were empowered to perform thrombolysis. The practice change was accompanied by new guidelines, tick chart implementation, and training sessions. Data were then consecutively collected from September 2008 to May 2009 (2nd study period). Door-to-needle times for the 1st and 2nd study periods were compared. All cases were analysed for factors of delay by multiple logistic regression.

Results

297 patients were thrombolysed, 169 by the medical on-call team during the 1st study period and 128 by the ED doctors during the 2nd study period. Median door–needle times were 54 and 48 min, respectively (p=0.76). Significant delays were predicted by ‘incorrect initial ECG interpretation’ (adjusted OR (aOR) 14.3), ‘inappropriate triage’ (aOR 10.4) and ‘multiple referrals’ (aOR 5.9). No cases of inappropriate thrombolysis were recorded.

Conclusions

Transfer of responsibility for thrombolysis to the ED doctors did not improve door–needle times despite measures introduced to facilitate this change. Key causative factors for this failure were identified.

Comparing least-squares and quantile regression approaches to analyzing median hospital charges

BACKGROUND

Emergency department (ED) and hospital charges obtained from administrative data sets are useful descriptors of injury severity and the burden to EDs and the health care system. However, charges are typically positively skewed due to costly procedures, long hospital stays, and complicated or prolonged treatment for few patients. The median is not affected by extreme observations and is useful in describing and comparing distributions of hospital charges. A least-squares analysis employing a log transformation is one approach for estimating median hospital charges, corresponding confidence intervals (CIs), and differences between groups; however, this method requires certain distributional properties. An alternate method is quantile regression, which allows estimation and inference related to the median without making distributional assumptions.

OBJECTIVES

The objective was to compare the log-transformation least-squares method to the quantile regression approach for estimating median hospital charges, differences in median charges between groups, and associated CIs.

METHODS

The authors performed simulations using repeated sampling of observed statewide ED and hospital charges and charges randomly generated from a hypothetical lognormal distribution. The median and 95% CI and the multiplicative difference between the median charges of two groups were estimated using both least-squares and quantile regression methods. Performance of the two methods was evaluated.

RESULTS

In contrast to least squares, quantile regression produced estimates that were unbiased and had smaller mean square errors in simulations of observed ED and hospital charges. Both methods performed well in simulations of hypothetical charges that met least-squares method assumptions. When the data did not follow the assumed distribution, least-squares estimates were often biased, and the associated CIs had lower than expected coverage as sample size increased.

CONCLUSIONS

Quantile regression analyses of hospital charges provide unbiased estimates even when lognormal and equal variance assumptions are violated. These methods may be particularly useful in describing and analyzing hospital charges from administrative data sets.

An electrocardiogram technician improves in-hospital first medical contact-to-electrocardiogram times: a cluster randomized controlled interventional trial

BACKGROUND

In the case of chest pain, the current guidelines require electrocardiogram (ECG) recording and patient assessment within 10 minutes upon arrival in the emergency department.

METHODS

We investigated the effect of an ECG technician (ECG-T) on in-hospital first medical contact-to-ECG times (iFMC-to-ECG) investigated in a cluster randomized, controlled trial. Allocation of intervention was concealed. Staff satisfaction and feasibility was defined as a secondary outcome. Delays between ECG and the availability of an emergency physician and the assessment of ECG were additionally evaluated.

RESULTS

A total of 163 (44 clusters) and 191 (47 clusters) patients were allocated to control and intervention, respectively. Twenty-seven (17%) of 163 patients in the control group vs 110 (58%) of 191 patients in the intervention group received ECG registration within 10 minutes (risk ratio, 3.40 [2.24-5.15]; P < .001). The iFMC-to-ECG time was 23 (95% confidence interval [CI], 20-27) minutes for the control group vs 9 (95% CI, 8-11) minutes for the intervention group (P < .001). Nursing staff judged the feasibility of intervention with a median of 1 (interquartile range [IQR], 1-1 (on a scale of 1 [best] to 5 [worst]), perceived workload alleviation with a median of 1 (IQR, 1-1), and improvement of quality of care with a median of 1 (IQR, 1-2). The ECG-to-EP time was 78 (95% CI, 64-92) seconds, and diagnosis was made within 17 (95% CI, 16-18) seconds.

CONCLUSIONS

Delays of iFMC-to-ECG can be effectively addressed by implementation of an ECG-T. The service of an ECG-T is feasible and improves staff satisfaction. Both ECG-to-EP time and ECG assessment constitute no relevant delay.

Temporal changes in emergency department triage of patients with acute myocardial infarction and the effect on outcomes

BACKGROUND

All patients who present to an emergency department (ED) are triaged. The ED triage score may determine when patients are seen by a physician. Half of patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) were given a low priority score in Ontario in 2000/2001. We assessed the appropriateness of ED triage and its association with quality indicators and outcomes in a more recent AMI cohort and compared this with previous findings.

METHODS

We conducted a retrospective cohort study of a population-based cohort of patients with AMI admitted to 96 hospitals in Ontario, Canada, in 2004/2005. Outcome measures included rate of low-priority ED triage (score of 3, 4, or 5), compared with an earlier cohort (fiscal year 2000) at the same sites, and the adjusted effect of low-priority ED triage on door-to-electrocardiogram, door-to-needle, and door-to-balloon time; hospital length of stay (LOS); and mortality.

RESULTS

Among 6,605 patients with AMI, low-priority triage was less frequent than in the earlier cohort, at 33.3% versus 50.3%. In patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), it was 25.9%, versus 43.8% previously. Between cohorts, the greatest improvement in triage occurred in patients with chest pain, in those seen at higher AMI volume EDs, and in ambulatory patients; patients seen at low AMI volume EDs, those with diabetes, and the elderly showed the least improvement. Being assigned a low-priority triage score was associated with an adjusted increase in median door-to-electrocardiogram and door-to-needle time of 12.2 (P < .001) and 20.7 minutes (P < .001), respectively, longer than in the earlier cohort (4.4 and 15.1 minutes). It was associated with hospital LOS >75th percentile (odds ratio [OR] 1.25, P < .001), and higher 90-day (OR 1.50, P = .02) and 1-year mortality (OR 1.37, P = .05) in patients with STEMI.

CONCLUSION

Emergency department triage of patients with AMI improved substantially over 5 years. For the third of patients with AMI who continue to receive a low priority score, including 25% of patients with STEMI, the associated delays in diagnosis and therapy were greater than previously and were associated with increased hospital LOS and mortality. Given the impact of this initial, cursory assessment, hospital systems should consider monitoring the quality of their ED triage.

Association between waiting times and short term mortality and hospital admission after departure from emergency department: population based cohort study from Ontario, Canada

OBJECTIVE

To determine whether patients who are not admitted to hospital after attending an emergency department during shifts with long waiting times are at risk for adverse events.

DESIGN

Population based retrospective cohort study using health administrative databases. Setting High volume emergency departments in Ontario, Canada, fiscal years 2003-7.

PARTICIPANTS

All emergency department patients who were not admitted (seen and discharged; left without being seen).

OUTCOME MEASURES

Risk of adverse events (admission to hospital or death within seven days) adjusted for important characteristics of patients, shift, and hospital.

RESULTS

13,934,542 patients were seen and discharged and 617,011 left without being seen. The risk of adverse events increased with the mean length of stay of similar patients in the same shift in the emergency department. For mean length of stay ≥ 6 v <1 hour the adjusted odds ratio (95% confidence interval) was 1.79 (1.24 to 2.59) for death and 1.95 (1.79 to 2.13) for admission in high acuity patients and 1.71 (1.25 to 2.35) for death and 1.66 (1.56 to 1.76) for admission in low acuity patients). Leaving without being seen was not associated with an increase in adverse events at the level of the patient or by annual rates of the hospital.

CONCLUSIONS

Presenting to an emergency department during shifts with longer waiting times, reflected in longer mean length of stay, is associated with a greater risk in the short term of death and admission to hospital in patients who are well enough to leave the department. Patients who leave without being seen are not at higher risk of short term adverse events.

Effect of time to electrocardiogram on time from electrocardiogram to fibrinolysis in acute myocardial infarction patients

OBJECTIVE

The American Heart Association (AHA) recommends a benchmark door-to-electrocardiogram (ECG) time of 10 minutes for acute myocardial infarction patients, but this is based on expert opinion (level of evidence C). We sought to establish an evidence-based benchmark door-to-ECG time.

METHODS

This retrospective cohort study used a population-based sample of patients who suffered an ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) in Ontario between 1999 and 2001. Using cubic smoothing splines, we described (1) the relationship between door-to-ECG time and ECG-to-needle time and (2) the proportion of STEMI patients who met the benchmark door-to-needle time of 30 minutes based on their door-to-ECG time. We hypothesized nonlinear relationships and sought to identify an inflection point in the latter curve that would define the most efficient (benefit the greatest number of patients) door-to-ECG time.

RESULTS

In 2,961 STEMI patients, the median door-to-ECG and ECG-to-needle times were 8.0 and 27.0 minutes, respectively. There was a linear increase in ECG-to-needle time as the door-to-ECG time increased, up to approximately 30 minutes, after which the ECG-to-needle time remained constant at 53 minutes. The inflection point in the probability of achieving the benchmark door-to-needle time occurred at 4 minutes, after which it decreased linearly, with every minute of door-to-ECG time decreasing the average probability of achievement by 2.2%.

CONCLUSIONS

Hospitals that are not meeting benchmark reperfusion times may improve performance by decreasing door-to-ECG times, even if they are meeting the current AHA benchmark door-to-ECG time. The highest probability of meeting the reperfusion target time for fibrinolytic administration is associated with a door-to-ECG time of 4 minutes or less.

The effect of a charted history of depression on emergency department triage and outcomes in patients with acute myocardial infarction

BACKGROUND

Patients with acute myocardial infarction may have worse outcomes if they also have a history of depression. The early management of acute myocardial infarction is known to influence outcomes, and patients with a coexisting history of depression may be treated differently in the emergency department than those without one. Our goal was to determine whether having a charted history of depression was associated with a lower-priority emergency department triage score and worse performance on quality-of-care indices.

METHODS

We conducted a retrospective population-based cohort analysis involving patients with acute myocardial infarction admitted to 96 acute care hospitals in the province of Ontario from April 2004 to March 2005. We calculated the adjusted odds of low-priority triage (Canadian Emergency Department Triage and Acuity Scale score of 3, 4 or 5) for patients with acute myocardial infarction who had a charted history of depression. We compared these odds with those for patients having a charted history of asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Secondary outcome measures were the odds of meeting benchmark door-to-electrocardiogram, door-to-needle and door-to-balloon times.

RESULTS

Of 6784 patients with acute myocardial infarction, 680 (10.0%) had a past medical history of depression documented in their chart. Of these patients, 39.1% (95% confidence interval [CI] 35.3%-42.9%) were assigned a low-priority triage score, as compared with 32.7% (95% CI 31.5%-33.9%) of those without a charted history of depression. The adjusted odds of receiving a low-priority triage score with a charted history of depression were 1.26 (p = 0.01) versus 0.88 (p = 0.23) with asthma and 1.12 (p = 0.24) with COPD. For patients with a charted history of depression, the median door-to-electrocardiogram time was 20.0 minutes (v. 17.0 min for the rest of the cohort), median door-to-needle time was 53.0 (v. 37.0) minutes, and median door-to-balloon time was 251.0 (v. 110.0) minutes. The adjusted odds of missing the benchmark time with a charted history of depression were 1.39 (p < 0.001) for door-to-electrocardiogram time, 1.62 (p = 0.047) for door-to-needle time and 9.12 (p = 0.019) for door-to-balloon time.

INTERPRETATION

Patients with acute myocardial infarction who had a charted history of depression were more likely to receive a low-priority emergency department triage score than those with other comorbidities and to have worse associated performance on quality indicators in acute myocardial infarction care.

Early identification and delay to treatment in myocardial infarction and stroke: differences and similarities

Background

The two major complications of atherosclerosis are acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and acute ischemic stroke. Both are life-threatening conditions characterised by the abrupt cessation of blood flow to respective organs, resulting in an infarction. Depending on the extent of the infarction, loss of organ function varies considerably.

In both conditions, it is possible to limit the extent of infarction with early intervention. In both conditions, minutes count.

This article aims to describe differences and similarities with regard to the way patients, bystanders and health care providers act in the acute phase of the two diseases with the emphasis on the pre-hospital phase.

Method

A literature search was performed on the PubMed, Embase (Ovid SP) and Cochrane Library databases.

Results

In both conditions, symptoms vary considerably. Patients appear to suspect AMI more frequently than stroke and, in the former, there is a gender gap (men suspect AMI more frequently than women).

With regard to detection of AMI and stroke at dispatch centre and in Emergency Medical Service (EMS) there is room for improvement in both conditions. The use of EMS appears to be higher in stroke but the overall delay to hospital admission is shorter in AMI. In both conditions, the fast track concept has been shown to influence the delay to treatment considerably.

In terms of diagnostic evaluation by the EMS, more supported instruments are available in AMI than in stroke. Knowledge of the importance of early treatment has been reported to influence delays in both AMI and stroke.

Conclusion

Both in AMI and stroke minutes count and therefore the fast track concept has been introduced. Time to treatment still appears to be longer in stroke than in AMI. In the future improvement in the early detection as well as further shortening to start of treatment will be in focus in both conditions. A collaboration between cardiologists and neurologists and also between pre-hospital and in-hospital care might be fruitful.