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Jafari K, Burns B, Barry D, Koid C, Tan T, Hartford E. Triage Discordance in an Academic Pediatric Emergency Department and Disparities by Race, Ethnicity, and Language for Care. Pediatr Emerg Care 2024:00006565-990000000-00477. [PMID: 38849118 DOI: 10.1097/pec.0000000000003211] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/09/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Minoritized patients are disproportionately represented in low-acuity emergency department (ED) visits in the United States in part caused by lack of timely access to primary and urgent care. However, there is also the possibility that implicit bias during triage could contribute to disproportionate representation of minority groups in low-acuity ED visits. Triage discordance, defined as when ED resources used are different from initial triage score predictions, can be used as a proxy for triage accuracy. Recent data suggest that discordant triage may be common, although little is known about the interaction with race, ethnicity, and language for care. OBJECTIVES This study aims to determine the prevalence of discordant triage among moderate- and low-acuity pediatric ED encounters and the interaction with patient race, ethnicity, and language for care. METHODS We performed a retrospective analysis of pediatric ED encounters from 2019 with Emergency Severity Index (ESI) scores of 3, 4, or 5 at an academic referral hospital. The primary outcome was triage discordance, encompassing overtriage (ESI 3 and 4) and undertriage (ESI 4 and 5). Logistic and multinomial regressions were used to assess discordant triage by race, ethnicity, and language group. RESULTS Triage discordance occurred in 47% (n = 18,040) of encounters. Black and Hispanic patients had higher likelihood of undertriage for ESI 5 (adjusted odds ratio 1.21, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.01-1.46 and 1.27, 95% CI 1.07-1.52, respectively), and Black patients were more likely to be overtriaged in ESI 3 (1.18, 95% CI 1.09-1.27). Those with a language other than English for care had higher proportions of overtriage for ESI 3 (1.08, 95% CI 1.04-1.12) and undertriage for ESI 5 (1.23, 95% CI 1.11-1.37). CONCLUSIONS We found high rates of triage discordance in our pediatric ED, with significant associations with race, ethnicity, and language for care. Future research should evaluate the source of triage discordance and develop quality improvement efforts to improve equitable care.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Dwight Barry
- Clinical Analytics, Seattle Children's Hospital, Seattle, WA
| | | | - Tina Tan
- From the Department of Pediatrics, Division of Emergency Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA
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Puissant MM, Agarwal I, Scharnetzki E, Cutler A, Gunnell H, Strout TD. Racial differences in triage assessment at rural vs urban Maine emergency departments. Intern Emerg Med 2024:10.1007/s11739-024-03560-4. [PMID: 38598085 DOI: 10.1007/s11739-024-03560-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2023] [Accepted: 02/06/2024] [Indexed: 04/11/2024]
Abstract
Data continue to accumulate demonstrating that those belonging to racialized groups face implicit bias in the emergency care delivery system across many indices, including triage assessment. The Emergency Severity Index (ESI) was developed and widely implemented across the US to improve the objectivity of triage assessment and prioritization of care delivery; however, research continues to support the presence of subjective bias in triage assessment. We sought to assess the relationship between perceived race and/or need for translator and assigned ESI score and whether this was impacted by hospital geography. We performed retrospective EMR-based review of patients presenting to urban and rural emergency departments of a health system in Maine with one of the top ten most common chief complaints (CC) across a 5-year period, excluding psychiatric CCs. We used multivariable regression to analyze the relationships between perceived race, need for translator, and gender with ESI score, wait time, and hallway bed assignments. We found that patients perceived as non-white were more likely to receive lower acuity ESI scores and have longer wait times as compared to patients perceived as white. Patients perceived as female were more likely to receive lower acuity scores and wait longer to be seen than patients perceived as male. The need for an interpreter was associated with increased wait times but not significantly associated with ESI score. After stratification by hospital geography, evidence of subjective bias was limited to urban emergency departments and was not evident in rural emergency departments. Further investigation of subjective bias in emergency departments in Maine, particularly in urban settings, is warranted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Madeleine M Puissant
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Maine Medical Center, 22 Bramhall St, Portland, ME, 04102, USA.
- MHIR-CIPHR, 1 Riverfront Plaza, Westbrook, ME, 04092, USA.
- Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA.
| | - Isha Agarwal
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Maine Medical Center, 22 Bramhall St, Portland, ME, 04102, USA
- MHIR-CIPHR, 1 Riverfront Plaza, Westbrook, ME, 04092, USA
- Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
| | | | - Anya Cutler
- MHIR-CIPHR, 1 Riverfront Plaza, Westbrook, ME, 04092, USA
| | - Hadley Gunnell
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Maine Medical Center, 22 Bramhall St, Portland, ME, 04102, USA
| | - Tania D Strout
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Maine Medical Center, 22 Bramhall St, Portland, ME, 04102, USA
- Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
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Lee SYJ, Alzeen M, Ahmed A. Estimation of racial and language disparities in pediatric emergency department triage using statistical modeling and natural language processing. J Am Med Inform Assoc 2024; 31:958-967. [PMID: 38349846 PMCID: PMC10990499 DOI: 10.1093/jamia/ocae018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2023] [Revised: 01/16/2024] [Accepted: 01/19/2024] [Indexed: 02/15/2024] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES The study aims to assess racial and language disparities in pediatric emergency department (ED) triage using analytical techniques and provide insights into the extent and nature of the disparities in the ED setting. MATERIALS AND METHODS The study analyzed a cross-sectional dataset encompassing ED visits from January 2019 to April 2021. The study utilized analytical techniques, including K-mean clustering (KNN), multivariate adaptive regression splines (MARS), and natural language processing (NLP) embedding. NLP embedding and KNN were employed to handle the chief complaints and categorize them into clusters, while the MARS was used to identify significant interactions among the clinical features. The study also explored important variables, including age-adjusted vital signs. Multiple logistic regression models with varying specifications were developed to assess the robustness of analysis results. RESULTS The study consistently found that non-White children, especially African American (AA) and Hispanic, were often under-triaged, with AA children having >2 times higher odds of receiving lower acuity scores compared to White children. While the results are generally consistent, incorporating relevant variables modified the results for specific patient groups (eg, Asians). DISCUSSION By employing a comprehensive analysis methodology, the study checked the robustness of the analysis results on racial and language disparities in pediatric ED triage. The study also recognized the significance of analytical techniques in assessing pediatric health conditions and analyzing disparities. CONCLUSION The study's findings highlight the significant need for equal and fair assessment and treatment in the pediatric ED, regardless of their patients' race and language.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seung-Yup Joshua Lee
- Department of Health Services Administration, School of Health Professions, The University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35233, United States
| | - Mohammed Alzeen
- Department of Health Services Administration, School of Health Professions, The University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35233, United States
| | - Abdulaziz Ahmed
- Department of Health Services Administration, School of Health Professions, The University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35233, United States
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Pierre Louis KM, Harman JS. Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Emergency Department Wait Times for Headache. J Racial Ethn Health Disparities 2024; 11:1005-1013. [PMID: 37014520 DOI: 10.1007/s40615-023-01580-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2022] [Revised: 03/22/2023] [Accepted: 03/24/2023] [Indexed: 04/05/2023]
Abstract
Headache is a common complaint of individuals seeking treatment in the emergency department (ED). Because pain is subjective, medical evaluation is susceptible to implicit bias that can lead to disparities in wait times. The aim of this study was to determine whether there are racial and ethnic disparities in ED wait times for headache. Our study used the 2015-2018 National Hospital Ambulatory Care Surveys (NHAMCS), a nationally representative sample of ambulatory care visits to EDs. Our sample consisted of visits made by adults for headaches, which were identified using ICD-10 diagnosis codes and NHAMCS reason for visit codes. There were 12,301,655 ED visits for headache represented by our sample. The mean wait time for headache visits was 38.1 min (95%CI: 31.1, 45.0). The mean wait time for Non-Hispanic White patients, non-Hispanic Black patients, Hispanic patients, and the other race and ethnicity groups were 34.7 min (95%CI: 27.5, 42.0), 46.4 min (95%CI: 26.5, 66.4), 37.9 min (95%CI: 19.4, 56.3), and 21.0 min (95%CI: 6.3, 35.7) respectively. After controlling for patient- and hospital-level covariates, visits by non-Hispanic Black patients had 40% (95%CI: -0.01, 0.81, p = 0.056) longer wait times and visits by Hispanic patients had 39% (95%CI: -0.03, 0.80, p = 0.068) longer wait times than visits by non-Hispanic White patients. While our findings suggest that there may be longer wait times for visits by non-Hispanic Black and Hispanic patients compared to visits by non-Hispanic White patients, further research is needed to confirm these findings and determine causes of wait times disparities in the ED.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Jeffrey S Harman
- Department of Behavioral Sciences and Social Medicine, Florida State University College of Medicine, Tallahassee, FL, 32306, USA
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Ladha P, Curry CW, Badrinathan A, Imbroane MR, Bhamre RV, Como JJ, Tseng ES, Ho VP. Pediatric Trauma Care Disparities: Association of Race and Sex With High Acuity Trauma Hospital Admissions. J Surg Res 2024; 296:751-758. [PMID: 38377701 DOI: 10.1016/j.jss.2023.12.039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2023] [Revised: 12/20/2023] [Accepted: 12/30/2023] [Indexed: 02/22/2024]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION For adult trauma patients, the likelihood of receiving treatment at a hospital properly equipped for trauma care can vary by race and sex. This study examines whether a pediatric patient's race/ethnicity and sex are associated with treatment at a high acuity trauma hospital (HATH). MATERIALS AND METHODS Using the 2017 National Inpatient Sample, we identified pediatric trauma patients ( ≤16 y) using International Classification of Diseases-10 codes. Because trauma centers are not defined in National Inpatient Sample, we defined HATHs as hospitals which transferred 0% of pediatric neurotrauma. We used logistic regression to examine associations between race/ethnicity, sex, age, and treatment at a HATH, adjusted for factors including Injury Severity Score, mechanism of injury, and region. RESULTS Of 18,085 injured children (median Injury Severity Score 3 [IQR 1-8]), 67% were admitted to a HATH. Compared to White patients, Hispanic (odds ratio [OR] 0.85 [95% confidence interval [CI] 0.79-0.93]) and other race/ethnicity patients (OR 0.85 [95% CI 0.78-0.93]) had a significantly lower odds of treatment at a HATH. Children aged 2-11 (OR 1.36 [95% CI 1.27-1.46]) were more likely to be treated at a HATH compared to adolescents (age 12-16). After adjustment for other factors, sex was not associated with treatment at a HATH. CONCLUSIONS Our study demonstrated racial and ethnic disparities in access to HATHs for pediatric trauma patients. Hispanic and other race/ethnicity pediatric trauma patients have lower odds of treatment at HATHs. Further research is needed to study the root causes of these disparities to ensure that all children with injuries receive equitable and high-quality care.
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Affiliation(s)
- Prerna Ladha
- Department of Surgery, MetroHealth Medical Center, Cleveland, Ohio.
| | - Caleb W Curry
- School of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio
| | | | - Marisa R Imbroane
- School of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio
| | - Rasika V Bhamre
- Department of Pediatrics, MetroHealth Medical Center, Cleveland, Ohio
| | - John J Como
- Department of Surgery, MetroHealth Medical Center, Cleveland, Ohio
| | - Esther S Tseng
- Department of Surgery, MetroHealth Medical Center, Cleveland, Ohio
| | - Vanessa P Ho
- Department of Surgery, MetroHealth Medical Center, Cleveland, Ohio; Department of Population and Quantitative Health Sciences, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio
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Jung S, Yi Y. Incidence of overtriage and undertriage and associated factors: A cross-sectional study using a secondary data analysis. J Adv Nurs 2024; 80:1405-1416. [PMID: 37828736 DOI: 10.1111/jan.15895] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2023] [Revised: 09/06/2023] [Accepted: 09/20/2023] [Indexed: 10/14/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Improving triage accuracy for accurate patient identification and appropriate resource allocation is essential. Little is known about the trend of triage accuracy, and factors associated with mistriage vary from study to study. AIM To identify incidence and risk factors of mistriage, such as overtriage and undertriage. DESIGN This is a cross-sectional study. METHODS The data came from the National Emergency Department Information System database in 2016-2020. All patients 15 years and older visiting emergency departments in Korea were assessed for eligibility, and 20,641,411 emergency patients' data were used. Multivariable logistic regressions were conducted to confirm the associated factors with overtriage and undertriage compared to expected triage. Demographic characteristics, disease-related signs and triage-related factors were independent variables. RESULTS Expected triage decreased from 96.8% in 2016 to 95.7% in 2020. Overtriage (0.5%-0.7%) and undertriage (2.4%-3.3%) increased. The occupation that performed triage the most (over 85%) was nurses. Associated factors with overtriage were demographic characteristics (40-64 age group, female), disease-related signs (known disease, direct visit) and triage-related factors (regional emergency medical centre). Risk factors to undertriage were disease-related signs (systolic/diastolic blood pressure and pulse rates within normal range). CONCLUSIONS While the acuity degree remained within the recommended range, the accuracy of triage decreased, and there was a gradual increase in mistriaged cases. Nurses have performed most of the triage and played a key role in expected triage. Associated factors with overtriage were demographic characteristics, disease-related signs and triage-related factors and risk factors to undertriage were disease-related signs. PATIENT OR PUBLIC CONTRIBUTION No patient or public contribution. IMPLICATIONS FOR THE PROFESSION Nurses should be aware of what factors are associated with mistriage and why the factors cause mistriage to improve the triage accuracy because they are responsible for the majority of the triage assessments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sookyung Jung
- College of Nursing, Hanyang University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
- Out-Patient Nursing Team, Konkuk University Medical Center, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Yeojin Yi
- College of Nursing, Hanyang University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
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Hayward M, Critcher J. Adultification: risk factors, harmful effects and implications for nursing practice. Nurs Child Young People 2024; 36:14-20. [PMID: 37779324 DOI: 10.7748/ncyp.2023.e1488] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 05/16/2023] [Indexed: 10/03/2023]
Abstract
Adultification, whereby children and young people are perceived as older or more mature than they actually are, disproportionately affects those from minority ethnic backgrounds. It can also occur in other contexts, for example when children and young people are placed in a position of adult responsibility. Nurses have a duty to support and protect children and young people, which includes protecting them from adultification and the negative effects it can have on health and well-being. This article discusses strategies nurses can use to prevent adultification - such as developing awareness, avoiding adultifying language and listening to children and young people - and actions to take when suspecting adultification from colleagues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melanie Hayward
- Institute for Health and Social Care, Buckinghamshire New University, High Wycombe, England
| | - Julie Critcher
- Faculty of Medicine, Health and Social Care, Canterbury Christ Church University, Medway, England
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Frankenberger WD, Zorc JJ, Ten Have ED, Brodecki D, Faig WG. Triage Accuracy in Pediatrics Using the Emergency Severity Index. J Emerg Nurs 2024; 50:207-214. [PMID: 38099907 DOI: 10.1016/j.jen.2023.11.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2023] [Revised: 11/01/2023] [Accepted: 11/11/2023] [Indexed: 03/09/2024]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Although the Emergency Severity Index is the most widely used tool in the United States to prioritize care for patients who seek emergency care, including children, there are significant deficiencies in the tool's performance. Inaccurate triage has been associated with delayed treatment, unnecessary diagnostic testing, and bias in clinical care. We evaluated the accuracy of the Emergency Severity Index to stratify patient priority based on predicted resource utilization in pediatric emergency department patients and identified covariates influencing performance. METHODS This cross-sectional, retrospective study used a data platform that links clinical and research data sets from a single freestanding pediatric hospital in the United States. Chi-square analysis was used to describes rates of over- and undertriage. Mixed effects ordinal logistic regression identified associations between Emergency Severity Index categories assigned at triage and key emergency department resources using discrete data elements and natural language processing of text notes. RESULTS We analyzed 304,422 emergency department visits by 153,984 unique individuals in the final analysis; 80% of visits were triaged as lower acuity Emergency Severity Index levels 3 to 5, with the most common level being Emergency Severity Index 4 (43%). Emergency department visits scored Emergency Severity Index levels 3 and 4 were triaged accurately 46% and 38%, respectively. We noted racial differences in overall triage accuracy. DISCUSSION Although the plurality of patients was scored as Emergency Severity Index 4, 50% were mistriaged, and there were disparities based on race indicating Emergency Severity Index mistriages pediatric patients. Further study is needed to elucidate the application of the Emergency Severity Indices in pediatrics using a multicenter emergency department population with diverse clinical and demographic characteristics.
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Slain KN, Hall M, Akande M, Thornton JD, Pronovost PJ, Berry JG. Race, Ethnicity, and Intensive Care Utilization for Common Pediatric Diagnoses: U.S. Pediatric Health Information System 2019 Database Study. Pediatr Crit Care Med 2024:00130478-990000000-00319. [PMID: 38421235 DOI: 10.1097/pcc.0000000000003487] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/02/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Racial and ethnic disparities in healthcare delivery for acutely ill children are pervasive in the United States; it is unknown whether differential critical care utilization exists. DESIGN Retrospective study of the Pediatric Health Information System (PHIS) database. SETTING Multicenter database of academic children's hospitals in the United States. PATIENTS Children discharged from a PHIS hospital in 2019 with one of the top ten medical conditions where PICU utilization was present in greater than or equal to 5% of hospitalizations. INTERVENTIONS None. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS Race and ethnicity categories included Asian, Black, Hispanic, White, and other. Primary outcomes of interest were differences in rate of PICU admission, and for children requiring PICU care, total hospital length of stay (LOS). One-quarter (n = 44,200) of the 178,134 hospital discharges included a PICU admission. In adjusted models, Black children had greater adjusted odds ratio (aOR [95% CI]) of PICU admission in bronchiolitis (aOR, 1.08 [95% CI, 1.02-1.14]; p = 0.01), respiratory failure (aOR, 1.18 [95% CI, 1.10-1.28]; p < 0.001), seizure (aOR, 1.28 [95% CI, 1.08-1.51]; p = 0.004), and diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) (aOR, 1.18 [95% CI, 1.05-1.32]; p = 0.006). Together, Hispanic, Asian, and other race children had greater aOR of PICU admission in five of the diagnostic categories, compared with White children. The geometric mean (± sd) hospital LOS ranged from 47.7 hours (± 2.1 hr) in croup to 206.6 hours (± 2.8 hr) in sepsis. After adjusting for demographics and illness severity, non-White children had longer LOS in respiratory failure, pneumonia, DKA, and sepsis. CONCLUSIONS The need for critical care to treat acute illness in children may be inequitable. Additional studies are needed to understand and eradicate differences in PICU utilization based on race and ethnicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katherine N Slain
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Critical Care, University Hospitals Rainbow Babies & Children's Hospital, Cleveland, OH
- Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH
| | - Matt Hall
- Children's Hospital Association, Lenexa, KS
| | - Manzilat Akande
- The University of Oklahoma College of Medicine, Oklahoma City, OK
| | - J Daryl Thornton
- Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH
- Center for Reducing Health Disparities, MetroHealth Campus of Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH
- Center for Population Health Research, MetroHealth Campus of Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH
| | | | - Jay G Berry
- Complex Care, Division of General Pediatrics, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
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Suamchaiyaphum K, Jones AR, Markaki A. Triage Accuracy of Emergency Nurses: An Evidence-Based Review. J Emerg Nurs 2024; 50:44-54. [PMID: 37930287 DOI: 10.1016/j.jen.2023.10.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2023] [Revised: 09/14/2023] [Accepted: 10/02/2023] [Indexed: 11/07/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Accurate triage assessment by emergency nurses is essential for prioritizing patient care and providing appropriate treatment. Undertriage and overtriage remain an ongoing issue in care of patients who present to the emergency department. The purpose of this literature review was to examine factors associated with triage accuracy in the emergency department. METHODS We conducted an evidence-based literature review using the Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, PubMed, and Embase. The search focused on peer-reviewed articles in English, available in full text, published between January 2011 and December 2021. RESULTS A total of 14 articles met inclusion criteria and revealed the following 3 themes for triage accuracy: triage nurse characteristics, patient characteristics, and work environment. Triage nurses' accuracy rates ranged from 59.3% to 82%, with experience in triage associated with higher accuracy. Patient characteristics influenced triage accuracy, with nontrauma patients being undertriaged and trauma patients often overtriaged. The work environment played a role, as accuracy rates varied based on shift time and patient volume. Competing systems between prehospital and ED triage posed challenges and affected accuracy during fluctuations in patient volumes. DISCUSSION This review underscores the complex nature of ED triage accuracy. It highlights the importance of nurse experience, training programs, patient characteristics, and the work environment in enhancing triage decision making. Enhanced understanding of these factors can inform strategies to optimize triage accuracy and improve patient outcomes.
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Burdick KJ, Perez Coulter A, Tirabassi M. Prehospital Transport Time and Outcomes for Pediatric Trauma: A National Study. J Surg Res 2023; 292:144-149. [PMID: 37619499 DOI: 10.1016/j.jss.2023.07.041] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2022] [Revised: 07/19/2023] [Accepted: 07/23/2023] [Indexed: 08/26/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Historically, emergency medical services have aimed to deliver trauma patients to definitive care within the 60 min (min) "Golden Hour" to optimize survival. There is little evidence to support or refute this for pediatric trauma. The objective of this investigation was to describe national trends in prehospital transport time, in relation to the "Golden Hour," and pediatric trauma outcomes. METHODS Retrospective cohort study of patients (<15 y old) receiving emergency medical services trauma transport between 2017 and 2019. Transport time (less than or greater than 60 min) was the exposure variable, and analyses were adjusted for injury severity score (ISS). Continuous variables with a normal distribution were compared by t-test was and skewed variables were compared by Mann-Whitney U-test. Categorical variables were compared by Chi-Square test. RESULTS 54,489 patients met our criteria: 49,628 blunt and 4861 penetrating. Most patients (62.2%) had transport times less than 60 min: 30,389 (61.2%) blunt and 3479 (71.6%) penetrating. The overall mortality rate was 1.6%, 1.2% for blunt and 5.5% for penetrating. For blunt trauma, mortality was higher for transport times less than 60 min (1.5%). For penetrating trauma, mortality was lower for transport times less than 60 min (0.7%). Mean ISS was greater for blunt (7.9) compared to penetrating trauma (7.1), and greater for both trauma types with transport times less than 60 min. For both trauma types, mean length of stay was significantly longer for transport times greater than 60 min, when adjusting for ISS (P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS We did not find evidence that prehospital transport within the "Golden Hour" had a substantial association with survival, though it may be associated with length of stay. There are many factors contributing to trauma outcomes, so efforts should continue to expand access and pediatric readiness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kendall J Burdick
- T.H. Chan School of Medicine, Worcester, Massachusetts; Department of Pediatrics, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts.
| | - Aixa Perez Coulter
- Department of Surgery, Baystate Medical Center, Springfield, Massachusetts
| | - Michael Tirabassi
- T.H. Chan School of Medicine, Worcester, Massachusetts; Department of Surgery, Baystate Medical Center, Springfield, Massachusetts
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Teeple S, Smith A, Toerper M, Levin S, Halpern S, Badaki-Makun O, Hinson J. Exploring the impact of missingness on racial disparities in predictive performance of a machine learning model for emergency department triage. JAMIA Open 2023; 6:ooad107. [PMID: 38638298 PMCID: PMC11025382 DOI: 10.1093/jamiaopen/ooad107] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2023] [Revised: 11/15/2023] [Accepted: 12/06/2023] [Indexed: 04/20/2024] Open
Abstract
Objective To investigate how missing data in the patient problem list may impact racial disparities in the predictive performance of a machine learning (ML) model for emergency department (ED) triage. Materials and Methods Racial disparities may exist in the missingness of EHR data (eg, systematic differences in access, testing, and/or treatment) that can impact model predictions across racialized patient groups. We use an ML model that predicts patients' risk for adverse events to produce triage-level recommendations, patterned after a clinical decision support tool deployed at multiple EDs. We compared the model's predictive performance on sets of observed (problem list data at the point of triage) versus manipulated (updated to the more complete problem list at the end of the encounter) test data. These differences were compared between Black and non-Hispanic White patient groups using multiple performance measures relevant to health equity. Results There were modest, but significant, changes in predictive performance comparing the observed to manipulated models across both Black and non-Hispanic White patient groups; c-statistic improvement ranged between 0.027 and 0.058. The manipulation produced no between-group differences in c-statistic by race. However, there were small between-group differences in other performance measures, with greater change for non-Hispanic White patients. Discussion Problem list missingness impacted model performance for both patient groups, with marginal differences detected by race. Conclusion Further exploration is needed to examine how missingness may contribute to racial disparities in clinical model predictions across settings. The novel manipulation method demonstrated may aid future research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephanie Teeple
- Department of Biostatistics, Epidemiology and Informatics, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19143, United States
- Palliative and Advanced Illness Research (PAIR) Center, Department of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, United States
| | - Aria Smith
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21218, United States
- Clinical Decision Support Solutions, Beckman Coulter, Brea, CA 92821, United States
| | - Matthew Toerper
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21218, United States
- Clinical Decision Support Solutions, Beckman Coulter, Brea, CA 92821, United States
| | - Scott Levin
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21218, United States
- Clinical Decision Support Solutions, Beckman Coulter, Brea, CA 92821, United States
| | - Scott Halpern
- Palliative and Advanced Illness Research (PAIR) Center, Department of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, United States
- Division of Pulmonary, Allergy and Critical Care, Department of Medicine at the Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, United States
| | - Oluwakemi Badaki-Makun
- Department of Pediatric Emergency Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21218, United States
| | - Jeremiah Hinson
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21218, United States
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Portillo EN, Rees CA, Hartford EA, Foughty ZC, Pickett ML, Gutman CK, Shihabuddin BS, Fleegler EW, Chumpitazi CE, Johnson TJ, Schnadower D, Shaw KN. Research Priorities for Pediatric Emergency Care to Address Disparities by Race, Ethnicity, and Language. JAMA Netw Open 2023; 6:e2343791. [PMID: 37955894 PMCID: PMC10644218 DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2023.43791] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2023] [Accepted: 10/06/2023] [Indexed: 11/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Importance Health care disparities are well-documented among children based on race, ethnicity, and language for care. An agenda that outlines research priorities for disparities in pediatric emergency care (PEC) is lacking. Objective To investigate research priorities for disparities in PEC among medical personnel, researchers, and health care-affiliated community organizations. Design, Setting, and Participants In this survey study, a modified Delphi approach was used to investigate research priorities for disparities in PEC. An initial list of research priorities was developed by a group of experienced PEC investigators in 2021. Partners iteratively assessed the list through 2 rounds of electronic surveys using Likert-type responses in late 2021 and early 2022. Priorities were defined as achieving consensus if they received a score of highest priority or priority by at least 60% of respondents. Asynchronous engagement of participants via online web-conferencing platforms and email correspondence with electronic survey administration was used. Partners were individuals and groups involved in PEC. Participants represented interest groups, research and medical personnel organizations, health care partners, and laypersons with roles in community and family hospital advisory councils. Participants were largely from the US, with input from international PEC research networks. Outcome Consensus agenda of research priorities to identify and address health care disparities in PEC. Results PEC investigators generated an initial list of 27 potential priorities. Surveys were completed by 38 of 47 partners (80.6%) and 30 of 38 partners (81.1%) in rounds 1 and 2, respectively. Among 30 respondents who completed both rounds, there were 7 family or community partners and 23 medical or research partners, including 4 international PEC research networks. A total of 12 research priorities achieved the predetermined consensus threshold: (1) systematic efforts to reduce disparities; (2) race, ethnicity, and language data collection and reporting; (3) recognizing and mitigating clinician implicit bias; (4) mental health disparities; (5) social determinants of health; (6) language and literacy; (7) acute pain-management disparities; (8) quality of care equity metrics; (9) shared decision-making; (10) patient experience; (11) triage and acuity score assignment; and (12) inclusive research participation. Conclusions and Relevance These results suggest a research priority agenda that may be used as a guide for investigators, research networks, organizations, and funding agencies to engage in and support high-priority disparities research topics in PEC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elyse N. Portillo
- Division of Pediatric Emergency Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Texas Children's Hospital, Houston
| | - Chris A. Rees
- Division of Pediatric Emergency Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine, Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - Emily A. Hartford
- Division of Emergency Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, University of Washington, Seattle
| | - Zachary C. Foughty
- Division of Pediatric Emergency Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Texas Children's Hospital, Houston
| | - Michelle L. Pickett
- Section of Emergency Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee
| | - Colleen K. Gutman
- Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Florida, Gainesville
| | - Bashar S. Shihabuddin
- Division of Emergency Medicine, Nationwide Children’s Hospital, The Ohio State University College of Medicine, Columbus
| | - Eric W. Fleegler
- Division of Emergency Medicine, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Corrie E. Chumpitazi
- Division of Emergency Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, North Carolina
| | - Tiffani J. Johnson
- Department of Emergency Medicine, University of California, Davis, Sacramento
| | - David Schnadower
- Division of Emergency Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center and University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio
| | - Kathy N. Shaw
- Department of Pediatrics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia
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Mahmoud I, Sanjida S, Schwenn P, Hashem IA, Collin H, Chu K, Bainbridge R, Hou XY. Incidence of Discharge Against Medical Advice in Queensland Hospital Emergency Departments Among Indigenous Patients from 2016 to 2021. J Racial Ethn Health Disparities 2023:10.1007/s40615-023-01786-0. [PMID: 37737935 DOI: 10.1007/s40615-023-01786-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2023] [Revised: 08/19/2023] [Accepted: 08/31/2023] [Indexed: 09/23/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The incidence of discharge against medical advice (DAMA) in emergency departments (EDs) among Indigenous people is a growing concern in Australia. This study aimed to determine the incidence of ED DAMA in public hospitals in Queensland (QLD) from 2016 to 2021 and investigate the disparities in ED DAMA between Indigenous and non-Indigenous patients. The study also assessed the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the incidence of ED DAMA. METHODS A descriptive epidemiological study was conducted using aggregated data from QLD public hospital EDs. The data was retrieved from Clinical Excellence QLD, Healthcare Improvement Unit, in the QLD Health Open Data Portal for the period 1 January 2016 to 31 December 2021. Incidence rates and unadjusted odds ratios were calculated and compared using the chi-square test to identify differences between Indigenous and non-Indigenous patients. RESULTS The annual incidence of DAMA in EDs was 7.7% among Indigenous patients, compared to 4.8% among non-Indigenous patients, with the highest rate (8.9%) reported in 2021 among Indigenous patients. The incidence of ED DAMA was higher for Indigenous patients in major cities (20.0%) than in very remote areas (7.4%). Patients in triage categories 4 (10.0%) and 3 (7.3%) accounted for the vast majority of ED DAMA events among Indigenous patients. The acute group A hospitals had the highest incidence of ED DAMA (10.9% for Indigenous patients and 6.5% for non-Indigenous patients). The COVID-19 pandemic had no impact on the incidence of ED DAMA. CONCLUSION Indigenous patients experience a disparity in ED DAMA incidence. Addressing this issue requires collaborative efforts from healthcare providers, policymakers, and community organizations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ibrahim Mahmoud
- Department of Family and Community Medicine and Behavioral Sciences, College of Medicine, University of Sharjah, Sharjah, UAE.
| | - Saira Sanjida
- Poche Centre for Indigenous Health, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Paul Schwenn
- Poche Centre for Indigenous Health, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Ibrahim Abaker Hashem
- Department of Computer Science, College of Computing and Informatics, University of Sharjah, Sharjah, UAE
| | - Harry Collin
- Faculty of Medicine, School of Clinical Medicine, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Kevin Chu
- Faculty of Medicine, School of Clinical Medicine, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
- Emergency and Trauma Centre, Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Roxanne Bainbridge
- Poche Centre for Indigenous Health, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Xiang-Yu Hou
- Poche Centre for Indigenous Health, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
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Sax DR, Warton EM, Sofrygin O, Mark DG, Ballard DW, Kene MV, Vinson DR, Reed ME. Automated analysis of unstructured clinical assessments improves emergency department triage performance: A retrospective deep learning analysis. J Am Coll Emerg Physicians Open 2023; 4:e13003. [PMID: 37448487 PMCID: PMC10337523 DOI: 10.1002/emp2.13003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2023] [Revised: 05/11/2023] [Accepted: 06/20/2023] [Indexed: 07/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Objectives Efficient and accurate emergency department (ED) triage is critical to prioritize the sickest patients and manage department flow. We explored the use of electronic health record data and advanced predictive analytics to improve triage performance. Methods Using a data set of over 5 million ED encounters of patients 18 years and older across 21 EDs from 2016 to 2020, we derived triage models using deep learning to predict 2 outcomes: hospitalization (primary outcome) and fast-track eligibility (exploratory outcome), defined as ED discharge with <2 resource types used (eg, laboratory or imaging studies) and no critical events (eg, resuscitative medications use or intensive care unit [ICU] admission). We report area under the receiver operator characteristic curve (AUC) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) for models using (1) triage variables alone (demographics and vital signs), (2) triage nurse clinical assessment alone (unstructured notes), and (3) triage variables plus clinical assessment for each prediction target. Results We found 12.7% of patients were hospitalized (n = 673,659) and 37.0% were fast-track eligible (n = 1,966,615). The AUC was lowest for models using triage variables alone: AUC 0.77 (95% CI 0.77-0.78) and 0.70 (95% CI 0.70-0.71) for hospitalization and fast-track eligibility, respectively, and highest for models incorporating clinical assessment with triage variables for both hospitalization and fast-track eligibility: AUC 0.87 (95% CI 0.87-0.87) for both prediction targets. Conclusion Our findings highlight the potential to use advanced predictive analytics to accurately predict key ED triage outcomes. Predictive accuracy was optimized when clinical assessments were added to models using simple structured variables alone.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dana R Sax
- Department of Emergency Medicine Kaiser East Bay and Kaiser Permanente Northern California Division of Research Oakland California USA
| | - E Margaret Warton
- Kaiser Permanente Northern California Division of Research Oakland California USA
| | | | - Dustin G Mark
- Department of Emergency Medicine Kaiser East Bay and Kaiser Permanente Northern California Division of Research Oakland California USA
| | - Dustin W Ballard
- Department of Emergency Medicine Kaiser San Rafael and Kaiser Permanente Northern California Division of Research Oakland California USA
| | - Mamata V Kene
- Department of Emergency Medicine Kaiser San Rafael and Kaiser Permanente Northern California Division of Research Oakland California USA
| | - David R Vinson
- Department of Emergency Medicine Roseville, and Kaiser Permanente Northern California Division of Research Oakland California USA
| | - Mary E Reed
- Kaiser Permanente Northern California Division of Research Oakland California USA
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Jefferson AA, Brown CC, Eyimina A, Goudie A, Rezaeiahari M, Perry TT, Tilford JM. Asthma Quality Measurement and Adverse Outcomes in Medicaid-Enrolled Children. Pediatrics 2023:e2022059812. [PMID: 37497577 PMCID: PMC10389769 DOI: 10.1542/peds.2022-059812] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 05/17/2023] [Indexed: 07/28/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To determine the association between the asthma medication ratio (AMR) quality measure and adverse outcomes among Medicaid-enrolled children with asthma in Arkansas, given concerns regarding the utility of the AMR in evaluating pediatric risk of asthma-related adverse events (AAEs). METHODS We used the Arkansas All-Payer Claims Database to identify Medicaid-enrolled children with asthma using a nonrestrictive case definition and additionally using the standard Healthcare Effectiveness Data and Information Set (HEDIS) persistent asthma definition. We assessed the AMR using the traditional dichotomous HEDIS AMR categorization and across 4 expanded AMR categories. Regression models assessed associations between AMR and AAE including hospitalization and emergency department utilization, with models conducted overall and by race and ethnicity. RESULTS Of the 22 788 children in the analysis, 9.0% had an AAE (6.7% asthma-related emergency department visits; 3.0% asthma-related hospitalizations). We found poor correlation between AMR and AAE, with higher rates of AAE (10.5%) among children with AMR ≥0.5 compared with AMR <0.5 (8.5%; P < .001), and similar patterns stratified by racial and ethnic subgroups. Expanded AMR categorization revealed notable differences in associations between AMR and AAEs, compared with traditional dichotomous categorization, with worse performance in Black children. CONCLUSIONS The AMR performed poorly in identifying risk of adverse outcomes among Medicaid-enrolled children with asthma. These findings underscore concerns of the utility of the AMR in population health management and reliance on restrictive HEDIS definitions. New population health frameworks incorporating broader considerations that accurately identify at-risk children are needed to improve equity in asthma management and outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Akilah A Jefferson
- Department of Pediatrics, Allergy & Immunology Division
- Arkansas Children's Research Institute, Little Rock, Arkansas
| | - Clare C Brown
- College of Public Health, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, Arkansas; and
| | - Arina Eyimina
- College of Public Health, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, Arkansas; and
| | - Anthony Goudie
- College of Public Health, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, Arkansas; and
| | - Mandana Rezaeiahari
- College of Public Health, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, Arkansas; and
| | - Tamara T Perry
- Department of Pediatrics, Allergy & Immunology Division
- Arkansas Children's Research Institute, Little Rock, Arkansas
| | - J Mick Tilford
- College of Public Health, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, Arkansas; and
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Moorthy GS, Young RR, Smith MJ, White MJ, Hong H, Kelly MS. Racial Inequities in Sepsis Mortality Among Children in the United States. Pediatr Infect Dis J 2023; 42:361-367. [PMID: 36795560 PMCID: PMC10101919 DOI: 10.1097/inf.0000000000003842] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/17/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Racial inequities influence health outcomes in the United States, but their impact on sepsis outcomes among children is understudied. We aimed to evaluate for racial inequities in sepsis mortality using a nationally representative sample of pediatric hospitalizations. METHODS This population-based, retrospective cohort study used the 2006, 2009, 2012 and 2016 Kids' Inpatient Database. Eligible children 1 month to 17 years old were identified using sepsis-related International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision or International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision codes. We used modified Poisson regression to evaluate the association between patient race and in-hospital mortality, clustering by hospital and adjusting for age, sex and year. We used Wald tests to assess for modification of associations between race and mortality by sociodemographic factors, geographic region and insurance status. RESULTS Among 38,234 children with sepsis, 2555 (6.7%) died in-hospital. Compared with White children, mortality was higher among Hispanic (adjusted relative risk: 1.09; 95% confidence interval: 1.05-1.14), Asian/Pacific Islander (1.17, 1.08-1.27) and children from other racial minority groups (1.27, 1.19-1.35). Black children had similar mortality to White children overall (1.02, 0.96-1.07), but higher mortality in the South (7.3% vs. 6.4%; P < 0.0001). Hispanic children had higher mortality than White children in the Midwest (6.9% vs. 5.4%; P < 0.0001), while Asian/Pacific Islander children had higher mortality than all other racial categories in the Midwest (12.6%) and South (12.0%). Mortality was higher among uninsured children than among privately insured children (1.24, 1.17-1.31). CONCLUSIONS Risk of in-hospital mortality among children with sepsis in the United States differs by patient race, geographic region and insurance status.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ganga S. Moorthy
- Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina
| | - Rebecca R. Young
- Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina
- Department of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina
| | - Michael J. Smith
- Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina
| | - Michelle J. White
- Division of Hospital Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina
| | - Hwanhee Hong
- Department of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina
- Duke Clinical Research Institute, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina
| | - Matthew S. Kelly
- Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina
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Henry R, Liasidis PK, Olson B, Clark D, Gomez TH, Ghafil C, Ding L, Matsushima K, Schreiber M, Inaba K. Disparities in Care Among Gunshot Victims: A Nationwide Analysis. J Surg Res 2023; 283:59-69. [PMID: 36372028 DOI: 10.1016/j.jss.2022.10.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2022] [Revised: 06/30/2022] [Accepted: 10/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Given the well-known healthcare disparities most pronounced in racial and ethnic minorities, trauma healthcare in underrepresented patients should be examined, as in-hospital bias may influence the care rendered to patients. This study seeks to examine racial differences in outcomes and resource utilization among victims of gunshot wounds in the United States. METHODS This is a retrospective review of the National Trauma Data Bank (NTDB) conducted from 2007 to 2017. The NTDB was queried for patients who suffered a gunshot wound not related to accidental injury or suicide. Patients were stratified according to race. The primary outcome for this study was mortality. Secondary outcomes included racial differences in resource utilization including air transport and discharge to rehabilitation centers. Univariate and multivariate analyses were used to compare differences in outcomes between the groups. RESULTS A total of 250,675 patients were included in the analysis. After regression analysis, Black patients were noted to have greater odds of death compared to White patients (odds ratio [OR] 1.14, confidence interval [CI] 1.037-1.244; P = 0.006) and decreased odds of admission to the intensive care unit (ICU) (OR 0.76, CI 0.732-0.794; P < 0.001). Hispanic patients were significantly less likely to be discharged to rehabilitation centers (Hispanic: 0.78, CI 0.715-0.856; P < 0.001). Black patients had the shortest time to death (median time in minutes: White 49 interquartile range [IQR] [9-437] versus Black 24 IQR [7-205] versus Hispanic 39 IQR [8-379] versus Asian 60 [9-753], P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS As society carefully examines major institutions for implicit bias, healthcare should not be exempt. Greater mortality among Black patients, along with differences in other important outcome measures, demonstrate disparities that encourage further analysis of causes and solutions to these issues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Reynold Henry
- Division of Trauma, Critical Care & Acute Care Surgery, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon.
| | - Panagiotis K Liasidis
- Division of Acute Care Surgery, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California
| | - Blade Olson
- Division of Acute Care Surgery, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California
| | - Damon Clark
- Division of Acute Care Surgery, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California
| | - Tatiana Hoyos Gomez
- Division of Trauma, Critical Care & Acute Care Surgery, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon
| | - Cameron Ghafil
- Division of Acute Care Surgery, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California
| | - Li Ding
- Department of Preventive Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California
| | - Kazuhide Matsushima
- Division of Acute Care Surgery, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California
| | - Martin Schreiber
- Division of Trauma, Critical Care & Acute Care Surgery, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon
| | - Kenji Inaba
- Division of Acute Care Surgery, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California
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Sax DR, Warton EM, Mark DG, Vinson DR, Kene MV, Ballard DW, Vitale TJ, McGaughey KR, Beardsley A, Pines JM, Reed ME. Evaluation of the Emergency Severity Index in US Emergency Departments for the Rate of Mistriage. JAMA Netw Open 2023; 6:e233404. [PMID: 36930151 PMCID: PMC10024207 DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2023.3404] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2022] [Accepted: 02/01/2023] [Indexed: 03/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Importance Accurate emergency department (ED) triage is essential to prioritize the most critically ill patients and distribute resources appropriately. The most used triage system in the US is the Emergency Severity Index (ESI). Objectives To derive and validate an algorithm to assess the rate of mistriage and to identify characteristics associated with mistriage. Design, Setting, and Participants This retrospective cohort study created operational definitions for each ESI level that use ED visit electronic health record data to classify encounters as undertriaged, overtriaged, or correctly triaged. These definitions were applied to a retrospective cohort to assess variation in triage accuracy by facility and patient characteristics in 21 EDs within the Kaiser Permanente Northern California (KPNC) health care system. All ED encounters by patients 18 years and older between January 1, 2016, and December 31, 2020, were assessed for eligibility. Encounters with missing ESI or incomplete ED time variables and patients who left against medical advice or without being seen were excluded. Data were analyzed between January 1, 2021, and November 30, 2022. Exposures Assigned ESI level. Main Outcomes and Measures Rate of undertriage and overtriage by assigned ESI level based on a mistriage algorithm and patient and visit characteristics associated with undertriage and overtriage. Results A total of 5 315 176 ED encounters were included. The mean (SD) patient age was 52 (21) years; 44.3% of patients were men and 55.7% were women. In terms of race and ethnicity, 11.1% of participants were Asian, 15.1% were Black, 21.4% were Hispanic, 44.0% were non-Hispanic White, and 8.5% were of other (includes American Indian or Alaska Native, Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander, and multiple races or ethnicities), unknown, or missing race or ethnicity. Mistriage occurred in 1 713 260 encounters (32.2%), of which 176 131 (3.3%) were undertriaged and 1 537 129 (28.9%) were overtriaged. The sensitivity of ESI to identify a patient with high-acuity illness (correctly assigning ESI I or II among patients who had a life-stabilizing intervention) was 65.9%. In adjusted analyses, Black patients had a 4.6% (95% CI, 4.3%-4.9%) greater relative risk of overtriage and an 18.5% (95% CI, 16.9%-20.0%) greater relative risk of undertriage compared with White patients, while Black male patients had a 9.9% (95% CI, 9.8%-10.0%) greater relative risk of overtriage and a 41.0% (95% CI, 40.0%-41.9%) greater relative risk of undertriage compared with White female patients. High relative risk of undertriage was found among patients taking high-risk medications (30.3% [95% CI, 28.3%-32.4%]) and those with a greater comorbidity burden (22.4% [95% CI, 20.1%-24.4%]) and recent intensive care unit utilization (36.7% [95% CI, 30.5%-41.4%]). Conclusions and Relevance In this retrospective cohort study of over 5 million ED encounters, mistriage with ESI was common. Quality improvement should focus on limiting critical undertriage, optimizing resource allocation by patient need, and promoting equity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dana R. Sax
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Kaiser Permanente Oakland Medical Center, Oakland, California
- Division of Research, Kaiser Permanente Northern California, Oakland
| | | | - Dustin G. Mark
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Kaiser Permanente Oakland Medical Center, Oakland, California
- Division of Research, Kaiser Permanente Northern California, Oakland
| | - David R. Vinson
- Division of Research, Kaiser Permanente Northern California, Oakland
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Kaiser Permanente Roseville Medical Center, Roseville, California
| | - Mamata V. Kene
- Division of Research, Kaiser Permanente Northern California, Oakland
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Kaiser Permanente San Leandro Medical Center, San Leandro, California
| | - Dustin W. Ballard
- Division of Research, Kaiser Permanente Northern California, Oakland
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Kaiser Permanente San Rafael Medical Center, San Rafael, California
| | - Tina J. Vitale
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Kaiser Permanente San Rafael Medical Center, San Rafael, California
| | - Katherine R. McGaughey
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Kaiser Permanente Oakland Medical Center, Oakland, California
| | - Aaron Beardsley
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Kaiser Permanente Oakland Medical Center, Oakland, California
| | | | - Mary E. Reed
- Division of Research, Kaiser Permanente Northern California, Oakland
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Kern-Goldberger AS, Dalton EM, Rasooly IR, Congdon M, Gunturi D, Wu L, Li Y, Gerber JS, Bonafide CP. Factors Associated With Inpatient Subspecialty Consultation Patterns Among Pediatric Hospitalists. JAMA Netw Open 2023; 6:e232648. [PMID: 36912837 PMCID: PMC10011930 DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2023.2648] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/14/2023] Open
Abstract
IMPORTANCE Subspecialty consultation is a frequent, consequential practice in the pediatric inpatient setting. Little is known about factors affecting consultation practices. OBJECTIVES To identify patient, physician, admission, and systems characteristics that are independently associated with subspecialty consultation among pediatric hospitalists at the patient-day level and to describe variation in consultation utilization among pediatric hospitalist physicians. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS This retrospective cohort study of hospitalized children used electronic health record data from October 1, 2015, through December 31, 2020, combined with a cross-sectional physician survey completed between March 3 and April 11, 2021. The study was conducted at a freestanding quaternary children's hospital. Physician survey participants were active pediatric hospitalists. The patient cohort included children hospitalized with 1 of 15 common conditions, excluding patients with complex chronic conditions, intensive care unit stay, or 30-day readmission for the same condition. Data were analyzed from June 2021 to January 2023. EXPOSURES Patient (sex, age, race and ethnicity), admission (condition, insurance, year), physician (experience, anxiety due to uncertainty, gender), and systems (hospitalization day, day of week, inpatient team, and prior consultation) characteristics. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES The primary outcome was receipt of inpatient consultation on each patient-day. Risk-adjusted consultation rates, expressed as number of patient-days consulting per 100, were compared between physicians. RESULTS We evaluated 15 922 patient-days attributed to 92 surveyed physicians (68 [74%] women; 74 [80%] with ≥3 years' attending experience) caring for 7283 unique patients (3955 [54%] male patients; 3450 [47%] non-Hispanic Black and 2174 [30%] non-Hispanic White patients; median [IQR] age, 2.5 ([0.9-6.5] years). Odds of consultation were higher among patients with private insurance compared with those with Medicaid (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 1.19 [95% CI, 1.01-1.42]; P = .04) and physicians with 0 to 2 years of experience vs those with 3 to 10 years of experience (aOR, 1.42 [95% CI, 1.08-1.88]; P = .01). Hospitalist anxiety due to uncertainty was not associated with consultation. Among patient-days with at least 1 consultation, non-Hispanic White race and ethnicity was associated with higher odds of multiple consultations vs non-Hispanic Black race and ethnicity (aOR, 2.23 [95% CI, 1.20-4.13]; P = .01). Risk-adjusted physician consultation rates were 2.1 times higher in the top quartile of consultation use (mean [SD], 9.8 [2.0] patient-days consulting per 100) compared with the bottom quartile (mean [SD], 4.7 [0.8] patient-days consulting per 100; P < .001). CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE In this cohort study, consultation use varied widely and was associated with patient, physician, and systems factors. These findings offer specific targets for improving value and equity in pediatric inpatient consultation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew S. Kern-Goldberger
- Section of Pediatric Hospital Medicine, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Department of Pediatric Hospital Medicine, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio
- Center for Value-Based Care Research, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio
- Department of Quantitative Health Sciences, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio
| | - Evan M. Dalton
- Section of Pediatric Hospital Medicine, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Clinical Futures, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Irit R. Rasooly
- Section of Pediatric Hospital Medicine, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Clinical Futures, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Department of Biomedical and Health Informatics, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Department of Pediatrics, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia
| | - Morgan Congdon
- Section of Pediatric Hospital Medicine, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Department of Pediatrics, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia
| | - Deepthi Gunturi
- Department of Biomedical and Health Informatics, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Lezhou Wu
- Department of Biomedical and Health Informatics, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Yun Li
- Clinical Futures, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Department of Biostatistics, Epidemiology and Informatics, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia
| | - Jeffrey S. Gerber
- Clinical Futures, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Department of Pediatrics, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia
- Department of Biostatistics, Epidemiology and Informatics, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia
| | - Christopher P. Bonafide
- Section of Pediatric Hospital Medicine, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Clinical Futures, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Department of Biomedical and Health Informatics, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Department of Pediatrics, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia
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Wolf L, Delao A, Perhats C, Valdez A, Strout T, Clark P, Moon M, Frisch S, Callihan M. The Experiences of United States Emergency Nurses Related to Witnessed and Experienced Bias: A Mixed-Methods Study. J Emerg Nurs 2023; 49:175-197. [PMID: 36528419 DOI: 10.1016/j.jen.2022.11.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2022] [Revised: 11/17/2022] [Accepted: 11/20/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The purpose of this study was to obtain a broad view of the knowledge, attitudes, beliefs, and lived experiences of emergency nurses regarding implicit and explicit bias. METHODS An exploratory, descriptive, sequential mixed-methods approach using online surveys and focus groups to generate study data. Two validated instruments were incorporated into the survey to evaluate experiences of microaggression in the workplace and ethnocultural empathy. Focus group data were collected using Zoom meetings. RESULTS The final sample comprised 1140 participants in the survey arm and 23 focus group participants. Significant differences were found in reported experiences of institutional, structural, and personal microaggressions for non-white vs white participants. Respondents who identified Christianity as their religious group had lower mean scores on items representing empathetic awareness. Respondents who identified as nonheterosexual had significantly higher mean total Scale of Ethnocultural Empathy scores, empathetic awareness subscale scores, and empathetic feeling and expression subscale scores. Thematic categories that arose from the focus group data included witnessed bias, experienced bias, responses to bias, impact of bias on care, and solutions. DISCUSSION In both our survey and focus group data, we see evidence that racism and other forms of bias are threats to safe patient care. We challenge all emergency nurses and institutions to reflect on the implicit and explicit biases they hold and to engage in purposeful learning about the effects of individual and structural bias on patients and colleagues. We suggest an approach that favors structural analysis, intervention, and accountability.
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Hutton J, Gunatillake T, Barnes D, Phillips G, Maplesden J, Chan A, Shanahan P, Zordan R, Sundararajan V, Arabena K, Quigley A, Pynor-Greedy T, Mason T. Characteristics of First Nations patients who take their own leave from an inner-city emergency department, 2016-2020. Emerg Med Australas 2023; 35:74-81. [PMID: 36041727 PMCID: PMC10087393 DOI: 10.1111/1742-6723.14057] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2022] [Revised: 06/29/2022] [Accepted: 07/26/2022] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Using a strength-based framework, we aimed to describe and compare First Nations patients who completed care in an ED to those who took their own leave. METHODS Routinely collected adult patient data from a metropolitan ED collected over a 5-year period were analysed. RESULTS A total of 6446 presentations of First Nations patients occurred from 2016 to 2020, constituting 3% of ED presentations. Of these, 5589 (87%) patients waited to be seen and 857 (13%) took their own leave. Among patients who took their own leave, 624 (73%) left not seen and 233 (27%) left at own risk after starting treatment. Patients who were assigned a triage category of 4-5 were significantly more likely to take their own leave (adjusted odds ratio [OR] 3.17, 95% confidence interval [CI] 2.67-3.77, P < 0.001). Patients were significantly less likely to take their own leave if they were >60 years (adjusted OR 0.69, 95% CI 1.01-1.36, P = 0.014) and had private health insurance (adjusted OR 0.61, 95% CI 0.45-0.84, P < 0.001). Patients were more likely to leave if they were women (adjusted OR 1.17, 95% CI 1.01-1.36, P = 0.04), had an unknown housing status (adjusted OR 1.76, 95% CI 1.44-2.15, P < 0.001), were homeless (adjusted OR 1.50, 95% CI 1.22-1.93, P < 0.001) or had a safety alert (adjusted OR 1.60, 95% CI 1.35-1.90, P < 0.001). CONCLUSION A lower triage category is a strong predictor of First Nations patients taking their own leave. It has been documented that First Nations patients are under-triaged. One proposed intervention in the metropolitan setting is to introduce practices which expediate the care of First Nations patients. Further qualitative studies with First Nations patients should be undertaken to determine successful approaches to create equitable access to emergency healthcare for this population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennie Hutton
- Emergency Department, St Vincent's Hospital Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.,Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Tilini Gunatillake
- Victorian Comprehensive Cancer Centre, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Deborah Barnes
- Aboriginal Health Unit, St Vincent's Hospital Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Georgina Phillips
- Emergency Department, St Vincent's Hospital Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.,Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.,School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Jacqueline Maplesden
- Emergency Department, St Vincent's Hospital Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Andrew Chan
- Complex Care Services, St Vincent's Hospital Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Prudence Shanahan
- Department of Psychiatry, St Vincent's Hospital Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Rachel Zordan
- Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.,Education and Learning, St Vincent's Hospital Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Vijaya Sundararajan
- Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Kerry Arabena
- Karabena Consulting, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.,Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Alyssa Quigley
- St Vincent's Hospital Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - T'ia Pynor-Greedy
- Aboriginal Health Unit, St Vincent's Hospital Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Toni Mason
- Aboriginal Health Unit, St Vincent's Hospital Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
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23
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Ellis J, Landry AM, Darling A, Cabrera P, Ullman E, Grossestreuer AV, Dubosh NM. Racial disparities in emergency medicine: Implementation of a novel educational module in the emergency medicine clerkship. AEM EDUCATION AND TRAINING 2023; 7:e10837. [PMID: 36777103 PMCID: PMC9899628 DOI: 10.1002/aet2.10837] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2022] [Revised: 11/02/2022] [Accepted: 11/09/2022] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Objectives Despite decades of literature recognizing racial disparities (RDs) in emergency medicine (EM), published curricula dedicated to addressing them are sparse. We present details of our novel RD curriculum for EM clerkships and its educational outcomes. Methods We created a 30-min interactive didactic module on the topic designed for third- and fourth-year medical students enrolled in our EM clerkships. Through a modified Delphi process, education faculty and content experts in RD developed a 10-question multiple-choice test of knowledge on RD that the students completed immediately prior to and 2 weeks following the activity. Students also completed a Likert-style learner satisfaction survey. Median pre- and posttest scores were compared using a paired Wilcoxon signed-rank test and presented using medians and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Satisfaction survey responses were dichotomized into favorable and neutral/not favorable. Results For the 36 students who completed the module, the median pretest score was 40% (95% CI 36%-50%) and the posttest score was 70% (95% CI 60%-70%) with a p-value of <0.001. Thirty-five of the 36 students improved on the posttest with a mean increase of 24.2% (95% CI 20.2-28.2). The satisfaction survey also showed a positive response, with at least 83% of participants responding favorably to all statements (overall mean favorable response 93%, 95% CI 90%-96%).ConclusionsThis EM-based module on RD led to improvement in students' knowledge on the topic and positive reception by participants. This is a feasible option for educating students in EM on the topic of RD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joshua Ellis
- Department of Emergency MedicineBeth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Harvard Medical SchoolBostonMassachusettsUSA
| | - Alden M. Landry
- Department of Emergency MedicineBeth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Harvard Medical SchoolBostonMassachusettsUSA
| | - Alanna Darling
- Department of Emergency MedicineBaystate Medical CenterSpringfieldMassachusettsUSA
| | - Payton Cabrera
- Department of Emergency MedicineBeth Israel Deaconess Medical CenterBostonMassachusettsUSA
| | - Edward Ullman
- Department of Emergency MedicineBeth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Harvard Medical SchoolBostonMassachusettsUSA
| | - Anne V. Grossestreuer
- Department of Emergency MedicineBeth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Harvard Medical SchoolBostonMassachusettsUSA
| | - Nicole M. Dubosh
- Department of Emergency MedicineBeth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Harvard Medical SchoolBostonMassachusettsUSA
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24
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Jordan M, Hauser J, Cota S, Li H, Wolf L. The Impact of Cultural Embeddedness on the Implementation of an Artificial Intelligence Program at Triage: A Qualitative Study. J Transcult Nurs 2023; 34:32-39. [PMID: 36214065 DOI: 10.1177/10436596221129226] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/02/2023] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Triage requires rapid determination of acuity and resources. Current modalities allow for individual judgment, with varied application of algorithmic rules. Although artificial intelligence can improve triage accuracy, gaps remain in understanding implementation facilitators and barriers, especially those related to the cultural understandings by nurses of emergency department presentations. The purpose of this study was to explore the cultural and technological elements of the implementation of an artificial intelligence clinical decision support aid (i.e., KATE) in an emergency nursing triage process in an urban community hospital on the West Coast of the United States. METHOD An exploratory qualitative study using semi-structured small group and individual interviews and constant comparison analysis strategies. The sample comprised 13 emergency department triage nurses at one site. Campinha-Bacote's theory of cultural competence framed the study. RESULTS Responses yielded the overall theme of We know these people and we know these things. Supporting categories included the problem of aire; just another checkbox; gut trumps data; higher acuity with no resources; and technology as a safety net. Participants reported reliance on clinical experience and cultural knowledge to assign acuity. DISCUSSION The implementation of an artificial intelligence program was initially received skeptically due to the acontextual nature of AI, but grew to be perceived as a safety net for triage decision making among emergency nurses.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Hong Li
- Azusa Pacific University, CA, USA
| | - Lisa Wolf
- Emergency Nurses Association, Schaumburg, IL, USA
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25
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Darby A, Cleveland Manchanda EC, Janeway H, Samra S, Hicks MN, Long R, Gipson KA, Chary AN, Adjei BA, Khanna K, Pierce A, Kaltiso SAO, Spadafore S, Tsai J, Dekker A, Thiessen ME, Foster J, Diaz R, Mizuno M, Schoenfeld E. Race, racism, and antiracism in emergency medicine: A scoping review of the literature and research agenda for the future. Acad Emerg Med 2022; 29:1383-1398. [PMID: 36200540 DOI: 10.1111/acem.14601] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2022] [Revised: 09/23/2022] [Accepted: 09/25/2022] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES The objective was to conduct a scoping review of the literature and develop consensus-derived research priorities for future research inquiry in an effort to (1) identify and summarize existing research related to race, racism, and antiracism in emergency medicine (EM) and adjacent fields and (2) set the agenda for EM research in these topic areas. METHODS A scoping review of the literature using PubMed and EMBASE databases, as well as review of citations from included articles, formed the basis for discussions with community stakeholders, who in turn helped to inform and shape the discussion and recommendations of participants in the Society for Academic Emergency Medicine (SAEM) consensus conference. Through electronic surveys and two virtual meetings held in April 2021, consensus was reached on terminology, language, and priority research questions, which were rated on importance or impact (highest, medium, lower) and feasibility or ease of answering (easiest, moderate, difficult). RESULTS A total of 344 articles were identified through the literature search, of which 187 met inclusion criteria; an additional 34 were identified through citation review. Findings of racial inequities in EM and related fields were grouped in 28 topic areas, from which emerged 44 key research questions. A dearth of evidence for interventions to address manifestations of racism in EM was noted throughout. CONCLUSIONS Evidence of racism in EM emerged in nearly every facet of our literature. Key research priorities identified through consensus processes provide a roadmap for addressing and eliminating racism and other systems of oppression in EM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Darby
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Los Angeles County and University of Southern California Medical Center, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | | | - Hannah Janeway
- Department of EM, David Geffen School of Medicine at the University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Shamsher Samra
- Department of EM, David Geffen School of Medicine at the University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Marquita Norman Hicks
- Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA
| | - Ruby Long
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Katrina A Gipson
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Anita N Chary
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Brenda A Adjei
- National Cancer Institute Division of Cancer Control and Population Sciences, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Kajal Khanna
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, California, USA
| | - Ava Pierce
- Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA
| | - Sheri-Ann O Kaltiso
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Sophia Spadafore
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
| | - Jennifer Tsai
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - Annette Dekker
- Department of EM, David Geffen School of Medicine at the University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Molly E Thiessen
- Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Denver, Colorado, USA
| | - Jordan Foster
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, New York, USA
| | - Rose Diaz
- Department of EM, David Geffen School of Medicine at the University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Mikaela Mizuno
- University of California, Riverside School of Medicine, Riverside, California, USA
| | - Elizabeth Schoenfeld
- Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Massachusetts Medical School-Baystate, Springfield, Massachusetts, USA
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26
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Chang G, Blackstone M, McGuire JL. Race and the emergency department management of febrile seizures. Medicine (Baltimore) 2022; 101:e31315. [PMID: 36281195 PMCID: PMC9592322 DOI: 10.1097/md.0000000000031315] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
To determine if racial disparities exist in the management of febrile seizures in a large pediatric emergency department (ED), We performed a retrospective cross-sectional analysis of children 6 months to 6 years-old who presented to the ED with a febrile seizure over a 4-year period. Multivariate logistic regression models were built to examine the association between race and the primary outcome of neuroimaging, and secondary outcomes of hospital admission and abortive anticonvulsant prescription at ED discharge. There were 980 ED visits during the study period. Overall, 4.0% of children underwent neuroimaging and 11.1% were admitted. Of the 871 children discharged from the ED, 9.4% were prescribed an abortive anticonvulsant. There were no differences by race in neuroimaging or hospital admission. However, black children were less likely to be prescribed abortive anticonvulsants (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 0.47; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.23-0.96) compared to non-black peers, when adjusting for demographic and clinical confounders. Stratification by insurance revealed that this disparity existed in Medicaid-insured patients (aOR 0.33, 95% CI: 0.14-0.78) but not in privately-insured patients. We found no racial disparities in neuroimaging or hospital admission among ED patients with febrile seizures. We did find racial disparities in our secondary outcome of abortive anticonvulsant prescription, driven primarily by individuals on Medicaid insurance. This pattern of findings may reflect the lack of standardized recommendations regarding anticonvulsant prescription, in contrast to the guidelines issued for other ED management decisions. Further investigation into the potential for treatment guidelines to reduce racial disparities is needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gina Chang
- Department of Pediatrics, The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Division of Neurology, The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- * Correspondence: Gina Chang, Division of Neurology at The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, 34th St and Civic Center Blvd, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA (e-mail: )
| | - Mercedes Blackstone
- Division of Emergency Medicine, The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, The Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Jennifer L McGuire
- Division of Neurology, The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, The Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Department of Neurology, The Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
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Trinidad S, Kotagal M. Social determinants of health as drivers of inequities in pediatric injury. Semin Pediatr Surg 2022; 31:151221. [PMID: 36347129 DOI: 10.1016/j.sempedsurg.2022.151221] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
A child's social determinants of health (SDH), including their neighborhood environment, insurance status, race and ethnicity, English language proficiency and geographic location, all significantly impact their risk of injury and outcomes after injury. Children from socioeconomically disadvantaged neighborhoods experience overall higher rates of injury and different types of injuries, including higher rates of motor vehicle-, firearm-, and violence-related injuries. Similarly, children with public insurance or no insurance, as a proxy for lower socioeconomic status, experience higher rates of injuries including firearm-related injuries and non-accidental trauma, with overall worse outcomes. Race and associated racism also impact a child's risk of injury and care received after injury. Black children, Hispanic children, and those from other minority groups disproportionately experience socioeconomic disadvantage with sequelae of injury risk as described above. Even after controlling for socioeconomic status, there are still notable disparities with further evidence of racial inequities and bias in pediatric trauma care after injury. Finally, where a child lives geographically also significantly impacts their risk of injury and available care after injury, with differences based on whether a child lives in a rural or urban area and the degree of state laws regarding injury prevention. There are clear inequities based on a child's SDH, most predominantly in a child's risk of injury and the types of injuries they experience. These injuries are preventable and the SDH provide potential upstream targets in injury prevention efforts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephen Trinidad
- Division of Pediatric General and Thoracic Surgery, Cincinnati Children...s Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio.
| | - Meera Kotagal
- Assistant Professor, Division of General and Thoracic Surgery, Director, Trauma Services, Director, Pediatric Surgery Global Health Program, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, 3333 Burnet Avenue, MLC 2023, Cincinnati, OH 45229, United States.
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28
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Thirsk LM, Panchuk JT, Stahlke S, Hagtvedt R. Cognitive and implicit biases in nurses' judgment and decision-making: A scoping review. Int J Nurs Stud 2022; 133:104284. [PMID: 35696809 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijnurstu.2022.104284] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2022] [Revised: 05/17/2022] [Accepted: 05/18/2022] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Cognitive and implicit biases of healthcare providers can lead to adverse events in healthcare and have been identified as a patient safety concern. Most research on the impact of these systematic errors in judgment has been focused on diagnostic decision-making, primarily by physicians. As the largest component of the workforce, nurses make numerous decisions that affect patient outcomes; however, literature on nurses' clinical judgment often overlooks the potential impact of bias on these decisions. The aim of this study was to map the evidence and key concepts related to bias in nurses' judgment and decision-making, including interventions to correct or overcome these biases. METHODS We conducted a scoping review using Joanna Briggs methodology. In November 2020 we searched CINAHL, PsychInfo, and PubMed databases to identify relevant literature. Inclusion criteria were primary research about nurses' bias; evidence of a nursing decision or action; and English language. No date or geographic limitations were set. RESULTS We found 77 items that met the inclusion criteria. Over half of these items were published in the last 12 years. Most research focused on implicit biases related to racial/ethnic identity, obesity, and gender; other articles examined confirmation, attribution, anchoring, and hindsight biases. Some articles examined heuristics and were included if they described the process of, and the problems with, nurse decision-making. Only 5 studies tested interventions to overcome or correct biases. 61 of the studies relied on vignettes, surveys, or recall methods, rather than examining real-world nursing practice. This could be a serious oversight because contextual factors such as cognitive load, which have a significant impact on judgment and decision-making, are not necessarily captured with vignette or survey studies. Furthermore, survey and vignette studies make it difficult to quantify the impact of these biases in the healthcare system. CONCLUSIONS Given the serious effects that bias has on nurses' clinical judgment, and thereby patient outcomes, a concerted, systematic effort to identify and test debiasing strategies in real-world nursing settings is needed. TWEETABLE ABSTRACT Bias affects nurses' clinical judgment - we need to know how to fix it.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lorraine M Thirsk
- Faculty of Health Disciplines, Athabasca University, Athabasca, Alberta, Canada.
| | - Julia T Panchuk
- Faculty of Health Disciplines, Athabasca University, Athabasca, Alberta, Canada
| | - Sarah Stahlke
- Department of Sociology, Faculty of Arts, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Reidar Hagtvedt
- Alberta School of Business, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
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Dickerson-Young T, Uspal NG, Prince WB, Qu P, Klein EJ. Racial and Ethnic Differences in Ondansetron Use for Acute Gastroenteritis in Children. Pediatr Emerg Care 2022; 38:380-385. [PMID: 35353794 DOI: 10.1097/pec.0000000000002610] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES There is limited research examining racial/ethnic disparities in antiemetic use for acute gastroenteritis (AGE). We assessed racial/ethnic differences in the care of children with AGE. METHODS The Pediatric Health Information System was used to conduct a retrospective cohort study of children 6 months to 6 years old with AGE seen in participating emergency departments from 2016 to 2018. Cases were identified using International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision codes. The primary outcome was administration of ondansetron, secondary outcomes were administration of intravenous (IV) fluids and hospitalization, and primary predictor was race/ethnicity. Multivariable logistic regression followed by a mixed model adjusted for sex, age, insurance, and hospital to examine the association of race/ethnicity with each outcome. RESULTS There were 78,019 encounters included; 24.8% of patients were non-Hispanic White (NHW), 29.0% non-Hispanic Black (NHB), 37.3% Hispanic, and 8.9% other non-Hispanic (NH) race/ethnicity. Compared with NHW patients, minority children were more likely to receive ondansetron (NHB: adjusted odds ratio, 1.36 [95% confidence interval, 1.2-1.55]; Hispanic: 1.26 [1.1-1.44]; other NH: 1.22 [1.07-1.4]). However, minority children were less likely to receive IV fluids (NHB: 0.38 [0.33-0.43]; Hispanic: 0.44 [0.36-0.53]; other NH: 0.51 [0.44-0.61]) or hospital admission (NHB: 0.37 [0.29-0.48]; Hispanic: 0.41 [0.33-0.5]; other NH: 0.52 [0.41-0.66]). Ondansetron use by hospital ranged from 73% to 95%. CONCLUSIONS This large database analysis of emergency departments around the nation found that NHW patients were less likely to receive ondansetron but more likely to receive IV fluids and hospital admission than minority patients. These findings are likely multifactorial and may represent bias, social determinants of health, access to care, or illness severity among other possible causes.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Pingping Qu
- Biostatistics Epidemiology and Analytics in Research (BEAR), Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, WA
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30
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Emergency Department Evaluation of Abnormal Uterine Bleeding in US Children's Hospitals. J Pediatr Adolesc Gynecol 2022; 35:288-293. [PMID: 34999231 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpag.2021.12.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2021] [Revised: 12/15/2021] [Accepted: 12/29/2021] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
STUDY OBJECTIVE To assess initial evaluation patterns of patients presenting to the Emergency Department (ED) with abnormal uterine bleeding (AUB) including differences by race DESIGN: Retrospective multicenter cohort study from October 2015 through September 2020 SETTING: Forty-seven children's hospitals submitting data to the Pediatric Health Information System PARTICIPANTS: Female patients aged 8-21 with an ED encounter with AUB as the primary diagnosis code INTERVENTIONS AND MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Proportion of visits with at least 1 laboratory assessment for the evaluation of anemia, iron deficiency, and/or hemostatic disorders RESULTS: We identified 17,759 unique patients with AUB seen in the ED who met inclusion criteria. Median age was 16.3 years (IQR, 14.1-17.8 years). Most encounters (n = 11,576, 65.2%) included evaluation for anemia, but only 6.8% (n = 1,215) included assessment for iron deficiency and 26.2% (n = 4,654) for hemostatic disorders. Black patients accounted for 34.7% (n = 6,155) of AUB encounters yet constituted only 25% of all ED encounters (n = 198,192). Black patients with AUB were less likely to undergo bleeding disorder evaluation (OR = 0.76; 95% CI, 0.69-0.83) but more likely to receive evaluation for sexually transmitted infections (OR = 1.63; 95% CI, 1.48-1.80) compared with White patients, despite controlling for age and concomitant pain. CONCLUSIONS In a national cohort of adolescents presenting to the ED with AUB, evaluations for anemia and hemostatic disorders were infrequently performed, and racial differences existed regarding initial assessment. Further studies are needed to understand the factors underlying racial differences in hematologic testing and the impact of this disparity on health outcomes for females with AUB.
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31
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Ding L, Szymczak JE, Evans E, Canepa E, Martin AE, Contractor F, Aplenc R, Joseph G, Winestone LE. Factors that contribute to disparities in time to acute leukemia diagnosis in young people: an in depth qualitative interview study. BMC Cancer 2022; 22:531. [PMID: 35550034 PMCID: PMC9095817 DOI: 10.1186/s12885-022-09547-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2021] [Accepted: 04/11/2022] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Racial and ethnic disparities in outcomes for Black and Hispanic children with acute leukemia have been well documented, however little is known about the determinants of diagnostic delays in pediatric leukemia in the United States. The primary objective of this study is to identify factors contributing to delays preceding a pediatric leukemia diagnosis. METHODS This qualitative study utilized in-depth semi-structured interviews. Parents and/or patients within two years of receiving a new acute leukemia diagnosis were asked to reflect upon their family's experiences preceding the patient's diagnosis. Subjects were purposively sampled for maximum variation in race, ethnicity, income, and language. Interviews were analyzed using inductive theory-building and the constant comparative method to understand the process of diagnosis. Chart review was conducted to complement qualitative data. RESULTS Thirty-two interviews were conducted with a diverse population of English and Spanish speaking participants from two tertiary care pediatric cancer centers. Parents reported feeling frustrated when their intuition conflicted with providers' management decisions. Many felt laboratory testing was not performed soon enough. Additional contributors to delays included misattribution of vague symptoms to more common diagnoses, difficulties in obtaining appointments, and financial disincentives to seek urgent or emergent care. Reports of difficulty obtaining timely appointments and financial concerns were disproportionately raised among low-income Black and Hispanic participants. Comparatively, parents with prior healthcare experiences felt better able to navigate the system and advocate for additional testing at symptom onset. CONCLUSIONS While there are disease-related factors contributing to delays in diagnosis, it is important to recognize there are multiple non-disease-related factors that also contribute to delays. Evidence-based approaches to reduce outcome disparities in pediatric cancer likely need to start in the primary care setting where timeliness of diagnosis can be addressed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucky Ding
- grid.266102.10000 0001 2297 6811University of California San Francisco (UCSF) School of Medicine, San Francisco, CA USA
| | - Julia E. Szymczak
- grid.25879.310000 0004 1936 8972Department of Biostatistics, Epidemiology and Informatics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA USA
| | - Erica Evans
- grid.266102.10000 0001 2297 6811University of California San Francisco (UCSF) School of Medicine, San Francisco, CA USA
| | - Emma Canepa
- grid.266102.10000 0001 2297 6811University of California San Francisco (UCSF) School of Medicine, San Francisco, CA USA
| | - Ashley E. Martin
- grid.239552.a0000 0001 0680 8770Division of Neonatology, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA USA ,grid.239552.a0000 0001 0680 8770PolicyLab, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA USA
| | - Farah Contractor
- grid.239552.a0000 0001 0680 8770Center for Childhood Cancer Research, Division of Oncology, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA USA
| | - Richard Aplenc
- grid.239552.a0000 0001 0680 8770Center for Childhood Cancer Research, Division of Oncology, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA USA ,grid.239552.a0000 0001 0680 8770Center for Pediatric Clinical Effectiveness, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA USA
| | - Galen Joseph
- grid.266102.10000 0001 2297 6811Department of Humanities and Social Sciences, UCSF, San Francisco, CA USA ,grid.511215.30000 0004 0455 2953UCSF Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, CA San Francisco, USA
| | - Lena E. Winestone
- grid.511215.30000 0004 0455 2953UCSF Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, CA San Francisco, USA ,Division of Allergy, Immunology & BMT, UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospitals, Mail Stop 0434, 550 16th St, 4th Floor, San Francisco, CA USA
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Lowe JT, Monteiro KA, Zonfrillo MR. Disparities in Pediatric Emergency Department Length of Stay and Utilization Associated With Primary Language. Pediatr Emerg Care 2022; 38:e1192-e1197. [PMID: 34570076 DOI: 10.1097/pec.0000000000002545] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The aim of the study was to investigate the association between primary language and length of stay (LOS) in the pediatric emergency department (ED) within the context of known disparities impacting healthcare experiences and outcomes for patients with language barriers. METHODS We conducted a retrospective cohort study of consecutive encounters of patients presenting to, and discharged from, an urban pediatric ED from May 2015 through April 2018. Encounters were grouped into English primary language (EPL), Spanish (SPL), and other (OPL). Mean LOS comparisons were stratified by Emergency Severity Index (ESI). Bivariate and multivariate analyses were used to examine the relationship between LOS and variables, including age, sex, race/ethnicity, insurance, and time of presentation. RESULTS A total of 139,163 encounters were included. A higher proportion of SPL and OPL encounters were characterized as lower ESI acuity compared with EPL. Significantly longer LOS for SPL and OPL encounters was observed in the 2 lower acuity strata. The ESI 4-5 stratum demonstrated the greatest LOS disparity between EPL, SPL, and OPL (94 vs 103 vs 103 minutes, respectively, P < 0.001). In the highest acuity stratum, ESI 1-2, there was a nonsignificant trend toward longer LOS among EPL encounters (P = 0.08). The multivariate model accounted for 24% of LOS variance, but effect sizes were small for all variables except for ESI and age. CONCLUSIONS Patients with Spanish or other non-EPL who were triaged to lower acuity ESI levels experienced longer LOS in the pediatric ED than English-speaking counterparts. They also used the ED more frequently for low acuity issues, possibly reflecting disparities in access to primary care.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Mark R Zonfrillo
- Departments of Emergency Medicine and Pediatrics, Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, RI
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Metzger P, Allum L, Sullivan E, Onchiri F, Jones M. Racial and Language Disparities in Pediatric Emergency Department Triage. Pediatr Emerg Care 2022; 38:e556-e562. [PMID: 34009885 DOI: 10.1097/pec.0000000000002439] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to assess the impact race and language have on emergency department (ED) triage scores while accounting for illness severity. We hypothesized that non-White and non-English-speaking patients were assigned lower-acuity triage scores compared with White and English-speaking patients, respectively. METHODS We used a chart review-based retrospective cohort study design, examining patients aged 0 to 17 years at our pediatric ED from July 2015 through June 2016. Illness severity was measured using a truncated Modified Pediatric Early Warning Score calculated from patient vital signs. We used univariate and multivariate multinomial logistic regression to assess the association between race and language with Emergency Severity Index scores. RESULTS Our final data set consisted of 10,815 visits from 8928 patients. Non-Hispanic (NH) White patients accounted for 34.6% of patients. In the adjusted analyses, non-White patients had significantly reduced odds of receiving a score of 2 (emergency) (odds ratio [OR], 0.4; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.33-0.49) or 3 (urgent) (OR, 0.5; 95% CI, 0.45-0.56) and significantly higher odds of receiving a score of 5 (minor) (OR, 1.34; 95% CI, 1.07-1.69) versus a score of 4 (nonurgent). We did not find a consistent disparity in Emergency Severity Index scores when comparing English- and non-English-speaking patients. CONCLUSIONS We confirm that non-White patients receive lower triage scores than White patients. A more robust tool is required to account for illness severity and will be critical to understanding whether the relationship we describe reflects bias within the triage system or differences in ED utilization by racial groups.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter Metzger
- From the Department of Pediatrics, University of Washington
| | | | | | | | - Maya Jones
- Division of Emergency Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, University of Washington, Seattle, WA
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Andrade EG, Onufer EJ, Thornton M, Keller MS, Schuerer DJE, Punch LJ. Racial disparities in triage of adolescent patients after bullet injury. J Trauma Acute Care Surg 2022; 92:366-370. [PMID: 34538831 DOI: 10.1097/ta.0000000000003407] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND While pediatric trauma centers (PTCs) and adult trauma centers (ATCs) exhibit equivalent trauma mortality, the optimal care environment for traumatically injured adolescents remains controversial. Race has been shown to effect triage within emergency departments (EDs) with people of color receiving lower acuity triage scores. We hypothesized that African-American adolescents were more likely triaged to an ATC than a PTC compared with their White peers. METHODS Institutional trauma databases from a neighboring, urban Level I PTC and ATC were queried for gunshot wounds in adolescents (15-18 years) presenting to the ED from 2015 to 2017. The PTC and ATC were compared in terms of demographics, services, and outcomes. Results were analyzed using univariate analysis and logistic regression. RESULTS Among 316 included adolescents, 184 were treated in an ATC versus 132 in a PTC. Patients at the PTC were significantly more likely to be younger (16.1 vs. 17.5 years; p < 0.001), White (16% vs. 5%; p = 0.001), and privately insured (41% vs. 30%; p = 0.002). At each age, the proportion of Whites treated at the PTC exceeded the proportion of African-Americans. At the PTC, patients were more likely to receive inpatient and outpatient social work follow-up (89% vs. 1%, p < 0.001). Adolescents treated at the PTC were less likely to receive opioids (75% vs. 56%, p = 0.001) at discharge and to return to ED within 6 months (25% vs. 11%, p = 0.005). On multivariate logistic regression, African-American adolescents were less likely to be treated at a PTC (odds ratio, 0.30; 95% confidence interval, 0.10-0.85; p = 0.02) after controlling for age and Injury Severity Score. CONCLUSION Disparities in triage of African-American and White adolescents after bullet injury lead to unequal care. African-Americans were more likely to be treated at the ATC, which was associated with increased opioid prescription, decreased social work support, and increased return to ED. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE Therapeutic/Care Management, Level IV.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erin G Andrade
- From the Department of Surgery (E.G.A., E.J.O., M.T., M.S.K., D.J.E.S.), Washington University in St. Louis School of Medicine; and The T (L.J.P.), St. Louis, Missouri
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35
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Aysola J, Clapp JT, Sullivan P, Brennan PJ, Higginbotham EJ, Kearney MD, Xu C, Thomas R, Griggs S, Abdirisak M, Hilton A, Omole T, Foster S, Mamtani M. Understanding Contributors to Racial/Ethnic Disparities in Emergency Department Throughput Times: a Sequential Mixed Methods Analysis. J Gen Intern Med 2022; 37:341-350. [PMID: 34341916 PMCID: PMC8811086 DOI: 10.1007/s11606-021-07028-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2020] [Accepted: 07/08/2021] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Ensuring equitable care remains a critical issue for healthcare systems. Nationwide evidence highlights the persistence of healthcare disparities and the need for research-informed approaches for reducing them at the local level. OBJECTIVE To characterize key contributors in racial/ethnic disparities in emergency department (ED) throughput times. DESIGN We conducted a sequential mixed methods analysis to understand variations in ED care throughput times for patients eventually admitted to an emergency department at a single academic medical center from November 2017 to May 2018 (n=3152). We detailed patient progression from ED arrival to decision to admit and compared racial/ethnic differences in time intervals from electronic medical record time-stamp data. We then estimated the relationships between race/ethnicity and ED throughput times, adjusting for several patient-level variables and ED-level covariates. These quantitative analyses informed our qualitative study design, which included observations and semi-structured interviews with patients and physicians. KEY RESULTS Non-Hispanic Black as compared to non-Hispanic White patients waited significantly longer during the time interval from arrival to the physician's decision to admit, even after adjustment for several ED-level and patient demographic, clinical, and socioeconomic variables (Beta (average minutes) (SE): 16.35 (5.8); p value=.005). Qualitative findings suggest that the manner in which providers communicate, advocate, and prioritize patients may contribute to such disparities. When the race/ethnicity of provider and patient differed, providers were more likely to interrupt patients, ignore their requests, and make less eye contact. Conversely, if the race/ethnicity of provider and patient were similar, providers exhibited a greater level of advocacy, such as tracking down patient labs or consultants. Physicians with no significant ED throughput disparities articulated objective criteria such as triage scores for prioritizing patients. CONCLUSIONS Our findings suggest the importance of (1) understanding how our communication style and care may differ by race/ethnicity; and (2) taking advantage of structured processes designed to equalize care.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jaya Aysola
- Penn Medicine Center for Health Equity Advancement, Office of the CMO, University of Pennsylvania Health System, Philadelphia, PA, USA. .,Office of Inclusion, Diversity, and Equity, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, USA. .,Division of General Internal Medicine, Department of Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, USA. .,Leonard Davis Institute of Health Economics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, USA.
| | - Justin T Clapp
- Leonard Davis Institute of Health Economics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, USA.,Department of Anesthesiology & Critical Care, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Patricia Sullivan
- Leonard Davis Institute of Health Economics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, USA
| | - Patrick J Brennan
- Penn Medicine Center for Health Equity Advancement, Office of the CMO, University of Pennsylvania Health System, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Eve J Higginbotham
- Penn Medicine Center for Health Equity Advancement, Office of the CMO, University of Pennsylvania Health System, Philadelphia, PA, USA.,Office of Inclusion, Diversity, and Equity, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, USA
| | - Matthew D Kearney
- Penn Medicine Center for Health Equity Advancement, Office of the CMO, University of Pennsylvania Health System, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Chang Xu
- Penn Medicine Center for Health Equity Advancement, Office of the CMO, University of Pennsylvania Health System, Philadelphia, PA, USA.,Office of Inclusion, Diversity, and Equity, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, USA
| | - Rosemary Thomas
- Penn Medicine Center for Health Equity Advancement, Office of the CMO, University of Pennsylvania Health System, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Sarah Griggs
- Penn Medicine Center for Health Equity Advancement, Office of the CMO, University of Pennsylvania Health System, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Mohamed Abdirisak
- Penn Medicine Center for Health Equity Advancement, Office of the CMO, University of Pennsylvania Health System, Philadelphia, PA, USA.,Office of Inclusion, Diversity, and Equity, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, USA.,Leonard Davis Institute of Health Economics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, USA
| | - Alec Hilton
- Penn Medicine Center for Health Equity Advancement, Office of the CMO, University of Pennsylvania Health System, Philadelphia, PA, USA.,Office of Inclusion, Diversity, and Equity, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, USA.,Leonard Davis Institute of Health Economics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, USA
| | - Toluwa Omole
- Penn Medicine Center for Health Equity Advancement, Office of the CMO, University of Pennsylvania Health System, Philadelphia, PA, USA.,Office of Inclusion, Diversity, and Equity, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, USA.,Leonard Davis Institute of Health Economics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, USA
| | - Sean Foster
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Mira Mamtani
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
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Gutman CK, Lion KC, Fisher CL, Aronson PL, Patterson M, Fernandez R. Breaking through barriers: the need for effective research to promote language-concordant communication as a facilitator of equitable emergency care. J Am Coll Emerg Physicians Open 2022; 3:e12639. [PMID: 35072163 PMCID: PMC8759339 DOI: 10.1002/emp2.12639] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2021] [Revised: 12/10/2021] [Accepted: 12/14/2021] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Individuals with limited English proficiency (LEP) are at high risk for adverse outcomes in the US health care system. This is particularly true for patients with LEP seeking care in the emergency department (ED). Although professional language interpretation improves the quality of care for these patients, it remains underused. The dynamic, discontinuous nature of an ED visit poses distinct challenges and opportunities for providing equitable, high-quality care for patients with LEP. Evidence-based best practices for identifying patients with LEP and using professional interpretation are well described but inadequately implemented. There are few examples in the literature of rigorous interventions to improve quality of care and outcomes for patients with LEP. There is an urgent need for high-quality research to improve communication with patients with LEP along the continuum of emergency care in order to achieve equity in outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Colleen K Gutman
- Department of Emergency Medicine University of Florida College of Medicine Gainesville Florida USA
| | - K Casey Lion
- Department of Pediatrics University of Washington School of Medicine Seattle, Washington USA
- Center for Child Health, Behavior, and Development Seattle Children's Research Institute Seattle, Washington USA
| | - Carla L Fisher
- STEM Translational Communication Center University of Florida College of Journalism and Communication Gainesville Florida USA
- UF Health Cancer Center, Center for Arts in Medicine University of Florida Gainesville Florida USA
| | - Paul L Aronson
- Department of Pediatrics Yale School of Medicine New Haven Connecticut USA
- Department of Emergency Medicine Yale School of Medicine New Haven Connecticut USA
| | - Mary Patterson
- Department of Emergency Medicine University of Florida College of Medicine Gainesville Florida USA
- Center for Experiential Learning and Simulation University of Florida College of Medicine Gainesville Florida USA
| | - Rosemarie Fernandez
- Department of Emergency Medicine University of Florida College of Medicine Gainesville Florida USA
- Center for Experiential Learning and Simulation University of Florida College of Medicine Gainesville Florida USA
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Johnson TJ, Goyal MK, Lorch SA, Chamberlain JM, Bajaj L, Alessandrini EA, Simmons T, Casper TC, Olsen CS, Grundmeier RW, Alpern ER. Racial/Ethnic Differences in Pediatric Emergency Department Wait Times. Pediatr Emerg Care 2022; 38:e929-e935. [PMID: 34140453 PMCID: PMC8671570 DOI: 10.1097/pec.0000000000002483] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Wait time for emergency care is a quality measure that affects clinical outcomes and patient satisfaction. It is unknown if there is racial/ethnic variability in this quality measure in pediatric emergency departments (PEDs). We aim to determine whether racial/ethnic differences exist in wait times for children presenting to PEDs and examine between-site and within-site differences. METHODS We conducted a retrospective cohort study for PED encounters in 2016 using the Pediatric Emergency Care Applied Research Network Registry, an aggregated deidentified electronic health registry comprising 7 PEDs. Patient encounters were included among all patients 18 years or younger at the time of the ED visit. We evaluated differences in emergency department wait time (time from arrival to first medical evaluation) considering patient race/ethnicity as the exposure. RESULTS Of 448,563 visits, median wait time was 35 minutes (interquartile range, 17-71 minutes). Compared with non-Hispanic White (NHW) children, non-Hispanic Black (NHB), Hispanic, and other race children waited 27%, 33%, and 12% longer, respectively. These differences were attenuated after adjusting for triage acuity level, mode of arrival, sex, age, insurance, time of day, and month [adjusted median wait time ratios (95% confidence intervals): 1.11 (1.10-1.12) for NHB, 1.12 (1.11-1.13) for Hispanic, and 1.05 (1.03-1.06) for other race children compared with NHW children]. Differences in wait time for NHB and other race children were no longer significant after adjusting for clinical site. Fully adjusted median wait times among Hispanic children were longer compared with NHW children [1.04 (1.03-1.05)]. CONCLUSIONS In unadjusted analyses, non-White children experienced longer PED wait times than NHW children. After adjusting for illness severity, patient demographics, and overcrowding measures, wait times for NHB and other race children were largely determined by site of care. Hispanic children experienced longer within-site and between-site wait times compared with NHW children. Additional research is needed to understand structures and processes of care contributing to wait time differences between sites that disproportionately impact non-White patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tiffani J Johnson
- From the University of California, Davis Medical Center, Sacramento, CA
| | - Monika K Goyal
- Children's National Health System, The George Washington University, Washington, DC
| | - Scott A Lorch
- Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
| | - James M Chamberlain
- Children's National Health System, The George Washington University, Washington, DC
| | - Lalit Bajaj
- University of Colorado, Children's Hospital, Aurora, CO
| | | | | | | | | | - Robert W Grundmeier
- Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
| | - Elizabeth R Alpern
- Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL
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38
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McLane P, Barnabe C, Mackey L, Bill L, Rittenbach K, Holroyd BR, Bird A, Healy B, Janvier K, Louis E, Rosychuk RJ. First Nations status and emergency department triage scores in Alberta: a retrospective cohort study. CMAJ 2022; 194:E37-E45. [PMID: 35039386 PMCID: PMC8900783 DOI: 10.1503/cmaj.210779] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2022] [Accepted: 11/04/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Previous studies have found that race is associated with emergency department triage scores, raising concerns about potential health care inequity. As part of a project on quality of care for First Nations people in Alberta, we sought to understand the relation between First Nations status and triage scores. METHODS We conducted a population-based retrospective cohort study of health administrative data from April 2012 to March 2017 to evaluate acuity of triage scores, categorized as a binary outcome of higher or lower acuity score. We developed multivariable multilevel logistic mixed-effects regression models using the levels of emergency department visit, patient (for patients with multiple visits) and facility. We further evaluated the triage of visits related to 5 disease categories and 5 specific diagnoses to better compare triage outcomes of First Nations and non-First Nations patients. RESULTS First Nations status was associated with lower odds of receiving higher acuity triage scores (odds ratio [OR] 0.93, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.92-0.94) compared with non-First Nations patients in adjusted models. First Nations patients had lower odds of acute triage for all 5 disease categories and for 3 of 5 diagnoses, including long bone fractures (OR 0.82, 95% CI 0.76-0.88), acute upper respiratory infection (OR 0.90, 95% CI 0.84-0.98) and anxiety disorder (OR 0.67, 95% CI 0.60-0.74). INTERPRETATION First Nations status was associated with lower odds of higher acuity triage scores across a number of conditions and diagnoses. This may reflect systemic racism, stereotyping and potentially other factors that affected triage assessments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrick McLane
- Alberta Health Services (McLane, Rittenbach, Holroyd), Strategic Clinical Networks; Department of Emergency Medicine (McLane, Mackey, Holroyd), University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alta.; Departments of Medicine and of Community Health Sciences (Barnabe) University of Calgary; Alberta First Nations Information Governance Centre (Bill); Department of Psychiatry (Rittenbach), University of Calgary, Calgary, Alta.; Department of Psychiatry (Rittenbach), University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alta.; Yellowhead Tribal Council (Bird), Edmonton, Alta.; Blackfoot Confederacy Tribal Council (Healy), Standoff, Alta.; Organization of Treaty 8 First Nations of Alberta (Janvier), Edmonton, Alta.; Maskwacis Health Services (Louis), Maskwacis, Alta.; Department of Pediatrics (Rosychuk), Edmonton Clinic Health Academy, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alta.
| | - Cheryl Barnabe
- Alberta Health Services (McLane, Rittenbach, Holroyd), Strategic Clinical Networks; Department of Emergency Medicine (McLane, Mackey, Holroyd), University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alta.; Departments of Medicine and of Community Health Sciences (Barnabe) University of Calgary; Alberta First Nations Information Governance Centre (Bill); Department of Psychiatry (Rittenbach), University of Calgary, Calgary, Alta.; Department of Psychiatry (Rittenbach), University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alta.; Yellowhead Tribal Council (Bird), Edmonton, Alta.; Blackfoot Confederacy Tribal Council (Healy), Standoff, Alta.; Organization of Treaty 8 First Nations of Alberta (Janvier), Edmonton, Alta.; Maskwacis Health Services (Louis), Maskwacis, Alta.; Department of Pediatrics (Rosychuk), Edmonton Clinic Health Academy, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alta
| | - Leslee Mackey
- Alberta Health Services (McLane, Rittenbach, Holroyd), Strategic Clinical Networks; Department of Emergency Medicine (McLane, Mackey, Holroyd), University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alta.; Departments of Medicine and of Community Health Sciences (Barnabe) University of Calgary; Alberta First Nations Information Governance Centre (Bill); Department of Psychiatry (Rittenbach), University of Calgary, Calgary, Alta.; Department of Psychiatry (Rittenbach), University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alta.; Yellowhead Tribal Council (Bird), Edmonton, Alta.; Blackfoot Confederacy Tribal Council (Healy), Standoff, Alta.; Organization of Treaty 8 First Nations of Alberta (Janvier), Edmonton, Alta.; Maskwacis Health Services (Louis), Maskwacis, Alta.; Department of Pediatrics (Rosychuk), Edmonton Clinic Health Academy, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alta
| | - Lea Bill
- Alberta Health Services (McLane, Rittenbach, Holroyd), Strategic Clinical Networks; Department of Emergency Medicine (McLane, Mackey, Holroyd), University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alta.; Departments of Medicine and of Community Health Sciences (Barnabe) University of Calgary; Alberta First Nations Information Governance Centre (Bill); Department of Psychiatry (Rittenbach), University of Calgary, Calgary, Alta.; Department of Psychiatry (Rittenbach), University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alta.; Yellowhead Tribal Council (Bird), Edmonton, Alta.; Blackfoot Confederacy Tribal Council (Healy), Standoff, Alta.; Organization of Treaty 8 First Nations of Alberta (Janvier), Edmonton, Alta.; Maskwacis Health Services (Louis), Maskwacis, Alta.; Department of Pediatrics (Rosychuk), Edmonton Clinic Health Academy, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alta
| | - Katherine Rittenbach
- Alberta Health Services (McLane, Rittenbach, Holroyd), Strategic Clinical Networks; Department of Emergency Medicine (McLane, Mackey, Holroyd), University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alta.; Departments of Medicine and of Community Health Sciences (Barnabe) University of Calgary; Alberta First Nations Information Governance Centre (Bill); Department of Psychiatry (Rittenbach), University of Calgary, Calgary, Alta.; Department of Psychiatry (Rittenbach), University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alta.; Yellowhead Tribal Council (Bird), Edmonton, Alta.; Blackfoot Confederacy Tribal Council (Healy), Standoff, Alta.; Organization of Treaty 8 First Nations of Alberta (Janvier), Edmonton, Alta.; Maskwacis Health Services (Louis), Maskwacis, Alta.; Department of Pediatrics (Rosychuk), Edmonton Clinic Health Academy, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alta
| | - Brian R Holroyd
- Alberta Health Services (McLane, Rittenbach, Holroyd), Strategic Clinical Networks; Department of Emergency Medicine (McLane, Mackey, Holroyd), University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alta.; Departments of Medicine and of Community Health Sciences (Barnabe) University of Calgary; Alberta First Nations Information Governance Centre (Bill); Department of Psychiatry (Rittenbach), University of Calgary, Calgary, Alta.; Department of Psychiatry (Rittenbach), University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alta.; Yellowhead Tribal Council (Bird), Edmonton, Alta.; Blackfoot Confederacy Tribal Council (Healy), Standoff, Alta.; Organization of Treaty 8 First Nations of Alberta (Janvier), Edmonton, Alta.; Maskwacis Health Services (Louis), Maskwacis, Alta.; Department of Pediatrics (Rosychuk), Edmonton Clinic Health Academy, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alta
| | - Anne Bird
- Alberta Health Services (McLane, Rittenbach, Holroyd), Strategic Clinical Networks; Department of Emergency Medicine (McLane, Mackey, Holroyd), University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alta.; Departments of Medicine and of Community Health Sciences (Barnabe) University of Calgary; Alberta First Nations Information Governance Centre (Bill); Department of Psychiatry (Rittenbach), University of Calgary, Calgary, Alta.; Department of Psychiatry (Rittenbach), University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alta.; Yellowhead Tribal Council (Bird), Edmonton, Alta.; Blackfoot Confederacy Tribal Council (Healy), Standoff, Alta.; Organization of Treaty 8 First Nations of Alberta (Janvier), Edmonton, Alta.; Maskwacis Health Services (Louis), Maskwacis, Alta.; Department of Pediatrics (Rosychuk), Edmonton Clinic Health Academy, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alta
| | - Bonnie Healy
- Alberta Health Services (McLane, Rittenbach, Holroyd), Strategic Clinical Networks; Department of Emergency Medicine (McLane, Mackey, Holroyd), University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alta.; Departments of Medicine and of Community Health Sciences (Barnabe) University of Calgary; Alberta First Nations Information Governance Centre (Bill); Department of Psychiatry (Rittenbach), University of Calgary, Calgary, Alta.; Department of Psychiatry (Rittenbach), University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alta.; Yellowhead Tribal Council (Bird), Edmonton, Alta.; Blackfoot Confederacy Tribal Council (Healy), Standoff, Alta.; Organization of Treaty 8 First Nations of Alberta (Janvier), Edmonton, Alta.; Maskwacis Health Services (Louis), Maskwacis, Alta.; Department of Pediatrics (Rosychuk), Edmonton Clinic Health Academy, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alta
| | - Kris Janvier
- Alberta Health Services (McLane, Rittenbach, Holroyd), Strategic Clinical Networks; Department of Emergency Medicine (McLane, Mackey, Holroyd), University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alta.; Departments of Medicine and of Community Health Sciences (Barnabe) University of Calgary; Alberta First Nations Information Governance Centre (Bill); Department of Psychiatry (Rittenbach), University of Calgary, Calgary, Alta.; Department of Psychiatry (Rittenbach), University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alta.; Yellowhead Tribal Council (Bird), Edmonton, Alta.; Blackfoot Confederacy Tribal Council (Healy), Standoff, Alta.; Organization of Treaty 8 First Nations of Alberta (Janvier), Edmonton, Alta.; Maskwacis Health Services (Louis), Maskwacis, Alta.; Department of Pediatrics (Rosychuk), Edmonton Clinic Health Academy, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alta
| | - Eunice Louis
- Alberta Health Services (McLane, Rittenbach, Holroyd), Strategic Clinical Networks; Department of Emergency Medicine (McLane, Mackey, Holroyd), University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alta.; Departments of Medicine and of Community Health Sciences (Barnabe) University of Calgary; Alberta First Nations Information Governance Centre (Bill); Department of Psychiatry (Rittenbach), University of Calgary, Calgary, Alta.; Department of Psychiatry (Rittenbach), University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alta.; Yellowhead Tribal Council (Bird), Edmonton, Alta.; Blackfoot Confederacy Tribal Council (Healy), Standoff, Alta.; Organization of Treaty 8 First Nations of Alberta (Janvier), Edmonton, Alta.; Maskwacis Health Services (Louis), Maskwacis, Alta.; Department of Pediatrics (Rosychuk), Edmonton Clinic Health Academy, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alta
| | - Rhonda J Rosychuk
- Alberta Health Services (McLane, Rittenbach, Holroyd), Strategic Clinical Networks; Department of Emergency Medicine (McLane, Mackey, Holroyd), University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alta.; Departments of Medicine and of Community Health Sciences (Barnabe) University of Calgary; Alberta First Nations Information Governance Centre (Bill); Department of Psychiatry (Rittenbach), University of Calgary, Calgary, Alta.; Department of Psychiatry (Rittenbach), University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alta.; Yellowhead Tribal Council (Bird), Edmonton, Alta.; Blackfoot Confederacy Tribal Council (Healy), Standoff, Alta.; Organization of Treaty 8 First Nations of Alberta (Janvier), Edmonton, Alta.; Maskwacis Health Services (Louis), Maskwacis, Alta.; Department of Pediatrics (Rosychuk), Edmonton Clinic Health Academy, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alta
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Chmielewski N, Moretz J. ESI Triage Distribution in U.S. Emergency Departments. Adv Emerg Nurs J 2022; 44:46-53. [PMID: 35089282 DOI: 10.1097/tme.0000000000000390] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
The accurate triage of arriving emergency department (ED) patients is a key component of emergency nursing practice. Overtriage assignment of patients misallocates scarce resources in a time of department overcrowding, whereas patient undertriage can create risks for negative patient outcomes secondary to care delays. Limited evidence is available regarding ED triage accuracy. It is estimated that appropriate adherence to the Emergency Severity Index (ESI) triage tool and assigning triage categories could be as low as 60% (McFarlane, 2019a, 2019b). The purpose of this retrospective observational study was to examine the 2019 triage distribution of 954,847 ED encounters at 25 hospitals. Comparisons were then made with the spreads identified in the ESI Implementation Handbook (Gilboy, Tanabe, Travers, & Rosenau, 2020). Study results reflect the presence of wide variations in distribution when compared with the expected spread published by Gilboy et al. (2020). These variations illustrate the need for further facility-level evaluation. ESI Level 2 percentages varied from as little as 2.6% to as high as 69% of each facility's ED visit population. Examining an individual facility's annualized triage distribution may serve as a swift method in determining whether additional investigation into triage accuracy is warranted. EDs must implement and sustain an ongoing quality control program to achieve and maintain triage inter- and intrarater reliability. Further research is needed on the value of triage inaccuracy with real-time feedback on nurses' clinical decision-making and patient outcomes. It is also imperative that the expected and observed ESI triage distribution in U.S. EDs is updated when established accuracy quality control programs are present.
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Cozzi G, Molina Ruiz I, Giudici F, Romano S, Grigoletto V, Barbi E, Amaddeo A. Pediatric Emergency Cases in the First Year of the COVID-19 Pandemic in a Tertiary-Level Emergency Setting. Front Pediatr 2022; 10:918286. [PMID: 35844743 PMCID: PMC9279893 DOI: 10.3389/fped.2022.918286] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2022] [Accepted: 05/31/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
AIM Emergency cases are uncommon events in the pediatric emergency setting. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of the Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic by describing the number and type of pediatric emergency cases that arrived at the pediatric emergency department (PED) of a tertiary-level children's hospital in Italy. METHODS We performed a retrospective study, collecting the main features of pediatric emergency patients who arrived during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic (March 2020-February 2021) compared to the pre-pandemic period (March 2016-February 2020). RESULTS During the study period, 112,168 patients were visited at the PED, and 237 (0.21%) were emergency cases, median age of 4 years (IQR: 1-12). In the first year of the pandemic, 42 children were coded as emergency cases compared to 195 (49/year) during the pre-pandemic period. The proportion of emergency cases was stable (0.27% during the COVID-19 period versus 0.20% during the pre-COVID-19 period, p = 0.19). No differences were found regarding the age, gender, hour of arrival, and outcome of patients. We found a significant decrease in the proportion of emergency cases related to respiratory diseases (9/42, 21.4% during the COVID-19 period versus 83/195 during the pre-COVID-19 period (42.6%), p = 0.01). CONCLUSION In conclusion, our data suggest that the pandemic had a more significant impact on respiratory emergency cases than on pediatric emergencies in general.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giorgio Cozzi
- Institute for Maternal and Child Health IRCCS Burlo Garofolo, Trieste, Italy
| | | | - Fabiola Giudici
- University of Trieste, Trieste, Italy.,Unit of Biostatistics, Department of Cardiac, Thoracic, Vascular Sciences and Public Health, University of Padova, Padua, Italy
| | | | | | - Egidio Barbi
- Institute for Maternal and Child Health IRCCS Burlo Garofolo, Trieste, Italy.,University of Trieste, Trieste, Italy
| | - Alessandro Amaddeo
- Institute for Maternal and Child Health IRCCS Burlo Garofolo, Trieste, Italy
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41
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Dennis JA. Racial/Ethnic Disparities in Triage Scores Among Pediatric Emergency Department Fever Patients. Pediatr Emerg Care 2021; 37:e1457-e1461. [PMID: 32150002 DOI: 10.1097/pec.0000000000002072] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Emergency department (ED) triage scores are assigned to patients in a short period based on assessment of need for lifesaving measures, risk and pain levels, resource needs, and vital signs. Racial/ethnic disparities have been found across a number of outcomes but are not consistent across all studies. This study examines pediatric ED cases reporting fever, a commonly reported triage symptom, to explore racial/ethnic and age disparities in triage score assignment. METHODS This study uses the 2009-2015 National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey, an annual national sample of ED visits in the United States. Pediatric cases where fever is the sole reported reason for visit are analyzed for racial/ethnic disparities, controlling for sex, age, insurance status, body temperature, region, and hospital type. RESULTS Among all pediatric fever cases, temperature is the sole significant predictor of triage scores. However, non-Hispanic (NH) black pediatric patients older than 1 year have approximately 22% greater risk of being given a less urgent triage score relative to NH white patients. CONCLUSIONS Findings suggest racial disparities in the triage of NH black pediatric patients older than 1 year for fever. Although fever is a single and often non-life-threatening condition, especially after infancy, findings of racial disparities in triage scores suggests a need for further evaluation of the assignment of patient urgency in emergency medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeff A Dennis
- From the Department of Public Health, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX
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42
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Koch A, Kozhumam A. Addressing Adultification of Black Pediatric Patients in the Emergency Department: A Framework to Decrease Disparities. Health Promot Pract 2021; 23:555-559. [PMID: 34693783 DOI: 10.1177/15248399211049207] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
Systematic racism and structural discrimination in the United States are factors that have negatively affected the health of Black individuals and families. One form of racism that often goes unrecognized and yet has a profound negative impact on the health and safety of Black children is adultification. Adultification occurs when children are perceived, or treated, as being older than they are. We implemented the Racism as a Root Cause framework to identify ways health care providers and health care systems can work to dismantle inequities and address the adultification of Black children in the emergency department (ED). A shift to change policies, systems, and environments in the ED begins with recognition of blind spots through training, communication, and reflection. Utilizing methods to identify adultification and racism, such as the ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code Z60.5 Target of (perceived) adverse discrimination and persecution, can assist providers in recognizing the prevalence of racism and discrimination. To reduce the harms of inequities, injustice, and impacts of racism on Black children in the ED, it is essential to use trauma-informed care in all interactions. It is crucial for all employees of the ED to understand that adultification is extremely prevalent, hard to recognize, and causes harm to the health of Black children and their families. Without conscious efforts to decrease the pervasiveness and detriment of adultification bias, the repercussions of such racism will continue to perpetuate medical mistrust and negative health care experiences for Black children and families.
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43
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Purtell R, Tam RP, Avondet E, Gradick K. We are part of the problem: the role of children's hospitals in addressing health inequity. Hosp Pract (1995) 2021; 49:445-455. [PMID: 35061953 DOI: 10.1080/21548331.2022.2032072] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2021] [Accepted: 01/17/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Racism is an ongoing public health crisis that undermines health equity for all children in hospitals across our nation. The presence and impact of institutionalized racism contributes to health inequity and is under described in the medical literature. In this review, we focus on key interdependent areas to foster inclusion, diversity, and equity in Children's Hospitals, including 1) promotion of workforce diversity 2) provision of anti-racist, equitable hospital patient care, and 3) prioritization of academic scholarship focused on health equity research, quality improvement, medical education, and advocacy. We discuss the implications for clinical and academic practice.Plain Language Summary: Racism in Children's Hospitals harms children. We as health-care providers and hospital systems are part of the problem. We reviewed the literature for the best ways to foster inclusion, diversity, and equity in hospitals. Hospitals can be leaders in improving child health equity by supporting a more diverse workforce, providing anti-racist patient care, and prioritizing health equity scholarship.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca Purtell
- Assistant Professor of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Hospital Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
| | - Reena P Tam
- Assistant Professor of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Hospital Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
| | - Erin Avondet
- Assistant Professor of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Hospital Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
| | - Katie Gradick
- Assistant Professor of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Palliative Care, Department of Pediatrics, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
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Hester G, Nickel AJ, Watson D, Bergmann KR. Factors Associated With Bronchiolitis Guideline Nonadherence at US Children's Hospitals. Hosp Pediatr 2021; 11:1102-1112. [PMID: 34493589 DOI: 10.1542/hpeds.2020-005785] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The objective with this study was to explore factors associated with nonadherence to national bronchiolitis guidelines at 52 children's hospitals. METHODS We included patients 1 month to 2 years old with emergency department (ED) or admission encounters between January 2016 and December 2018 and bronchiolitis diagnoses in the Pediatric Health Information System database. We excluded patients with any intensive care, stay >7 days, encounters in the preceding 30 days, chronic medical conditions, croup, pneumonia, or asthma. Guideline nonadherence was defined as receiving any of 5 tests or treatments: bronchodilators, chest radiographs, systemic steroids, antibiotics, and viral testing. Nonadherence outcomes were modeled by using mixed effects logistic regression with random effects for providers and hospitals. Adjusted odds ratio (aOR) >1 indicates greater likelihood of nonadherence. RESULTS A total of 198 028 encounters were included (141 442 ED and 56 586 admission), and nonadherence was 46.1% (ED: 40.2%, admissions: 61.0%). Nonadherence increased with patient age, with both ED and hospital providers being more likely to order tests and treatments for children 12 to 24 months compared with infants 1 ot 2 months (ED: aOR, 3.39; 95% confidence interval [CI], 3.20-3.60; admissions: aOR, 2.97; CI, 2.79-3.17]). Admitted non-Hispanic Black patients were more likely than non-Hispanic white patients to receive guideline nonadherent care (aOR, 1.16; CI, 1.10-1.23), a difference driven by higher use of steroids (aOR, 1.29; CI, 1.17-1.41) and bronchodilators (aOR, 1.39; CI, 1.31-1.48). Hospital effects were prominent for viral testing in ED and admission encounters (intraclass correlation coefficient of 0.35 and 0.32, respectively). CONCLUSIONS Multiple factors are associated with national bronchiolitis guideline nonadherence.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Kelly R Bergmann
- Emergency Medicine, Children's Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota
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45
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Jones NK, Badolato GM, Boyle MD, Goyal MK. Racial/ethnic disparities in management of acute gastroenteritis in a pediatric emergency department. Acad Emerg Med 2021; 28:1067-1069. [PMID: 34533263 DOI: 10.1111/acem.14315] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2020] [Revised: 05/27/2021] [Accepted: 05/30/2021] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Nathaniel K. Jones
- Division of Pediatric Emergency Medicine Children's National Hospital Washington DC USA
| | - Gia M. Badolato
- Division of Pediatric Emergency Medicine Children's National Hospital Washington DC USA
| | - Meleah D. Boyle
- Division of Pediatric Emergency Medicine Children's National Hospital Washington DC USA
| | - Monika K. Goyal
- Division of Pediatric Emergency Medicine Children's National Hospital Washington DC USA
- George Washington University Washington DC USA
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46
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Congdon M, Schnell SA, Londoño Gentile T, Faerber JA, Bonafide CP, Blackstone MM, Johnson TJ. Impact of patient race/ethnicity on emergency department management of pediatric gastroenteritis in the setting of a clinical pathway. Acad Emerg Med 2021; 28:1035-1042. [PMID: 33745207 DOI: 10.1111/acem.14255] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2020] [Revised: 01/01/2021] [Accepted: 03/17/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Acute gastroenteritis (AGE) is a common pediatric diagnosis in emergency medicine, accounting for 1.7 million visits annually. Little is known about racial/ethnic differences in care in the setting of standardized care models. METHODS We used quality improvement data for children 6 months to 18 years presenting to a large, urban pediatric emergency department (ED) treated via a clinical pathway for AGE/dehydration between 2011 and 2018. Race/ethnicity was evaluated as a single variable (non-Hispanic [NH]-White, NH-Black, Hispanic, and NH-other) related to ondansetron and intravenous fluid (IVF) administration, ED length of stay (LOS), hospital admission, and ED revisits using multivariable regression. RESULTS Of 30,849 ED visits for AGE/dehydration, 18.0% were NH-White, 57.2% NH-Black, 12.5% Hispanic, and 12.3% NH-other. Multivariable mixed-effects generalized linear regression controlling for age, sex, triage acuity, payer, and language revealed that, compared to NH-White patients, NH-other patients were more likely to receive ondansetron (adjusted odds ratio [95% CI] = 1.30 [1.17 to 1.43]). NH-Black, Hispanic, and NH-other patients were significantly less likely to receive IVF (0.59 [0.53 to 0.65]; 0.74 [0.64 to 0.84]; 0.74 [0.65 to 0.85]) or be admitted to the hospital (0.54 [0.45 to 0.64]; 0.62 [0.49 to 0.78]; 0.76 [0.61 to 0.94]), respectively. NH-Black and Hispanic patients had shorter LOS (median = 245 minutes for NH-White, 176 NH-Black, 199 Hispanic, and 203 NH-other patients) without significant differences in ED revisits. CONCLUSIONS Despite the presence of a clinical pathway to guide care, NH-Black, Hispanic, and NH-other children presenting to the ED with AGE/dehydration were less likely to receive IVF or hospital admission and had shorter LOS compared to NH-White counterparts. There was no difference in patient revisits, which suggests discretionary overtreatment of NH-White patients, even with clinical guidelines in place. Further research is needed to understand the drivers of differences in care to develop interventions promoting equity in pediatric emergency care.
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Affiliation(s)
- Morgan Congdon
- Department of General Pediatrics Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia Philadelphia Pennsylvania USA
| | - Stephanie A. Schnell
- Department of Neonatology Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles Los Angeles California USA
| | - Tatiana Londoño Gentile
- Department of General Pediatrics Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia Philadelphia Pennsylvania USA
| | - Jennifer A. Faerber
- Department of Biomedical and Health Informatics Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia Philadelphia Pennsylvania USA
| | - Christopher P. Bonafide
- Department of General Pediatrics Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia Philadelphia Pennsylvania USA
| | - Mercedes M. Blackstone
- Department of Emergency Medicine Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia Philadelphia Pennsylvania USA
| | - Tiffani J. Johnson
- Department of Emergency Medicine University of California, Davis Sacramento California USA
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Wolf LA, Delao AM, Evanovich Zavotsky K, Baker KM. Triage Decisions Involving Pregnancy-Capable Patients: Educational Deficits and Emergency Nurses' Perceptions of Risk. J Contin Educ Nurs 2021; 52:21-29. [PMID: 33373003 DOI: 10.3928/00220124-20201215-07] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2020] [Accepted: 07/15/2020] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND In areas where obstetric services are not available, emergency departments often become the default for unplanned obstetric care, yet emergency nurses are not universally trained in the identification and treatment of obstetric emergencies. The purpose of this study was to explore emergency nurses' perception of acuity in the triage of pregnant or postpartum patients presenting to the emergency department with high-risk complaints and to identify facilitators and challenges to the accurate identification and treatment of these patients. METHOD A mixed-methods study was conducted using chart review data (N = 12,766) and focus group data (N = 39) from five emergency departments in the eastern United States. RESULTS In 86.5% of cases, pregnancy status was not documented. Ninety-four percent of pregnant patients with a systolic blood pressure over 140 mmHg were under-triaged. The overall theme of the qualitative data was acuity blindness, with identified barriers to assessment that included educational needs and triage processes and workflow issues. CONCLUSION There are significant knowledge deficits in the care of patients presenting with high-risk conditions associated with pregnancy. [J Contin Educ Nurs. 2021;52(1):21-29.].
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48
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Kharbanda AB. Improving Appendicitis Care for All Patients. JAMA Netw Open 2021; 4:e2124523. [PMID: 34463750 DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2021.24523] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Anupam B Kharbanda
- Department of Pediatric Emergency Medicine, Children's Minnesota, Minneapolis
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49
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First Nations emergency care in Alberta: descriptive results of a retrospective cohort study. BMC Health Serv Res 2021; 21:423. [PMID: 33947385 PMCID: PMC8096356 DOI: 10.1186/s12913-021-06415-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2020] [Accepted: 04/19/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Worse health outcomes are consistently reported for First Nations people in Canada. Social, political and economic inequities as well as inequities in health care are major contributing factors to these health disparities. Emergency care is an important health services resource for First Nations people. First Nations partners, academic researchers, and health authority staff are collaborating to examine emergency care visit characteristics for First Nations and non-First Nations people in the province of Alberta. Methods We conducted a population-based retrospective cohort study examining all Alberta emergency care visits from April 1, 2012 to March 31, 2017 by linking administrative data. Patient demographics and emergency care visit characteristics for status First Nations persons in Alberta, and non-First Nations persons, are reported. Frequencies and percentages (%) describe patients and visits by categorical variables (e.g., Canadian Triage and Acuity Scale). Means, medians, standard deviations and interquartile ranges describe continuous variables (e.g., age). Results The dataset contains 11,686,288 emergency care visits by 3,024,491 unique persons. First Nations people make up 4% of the provincial population and 9.4% of provincial emergency visits. The population rate of emergency visits is nearly 3 times higher for First Nations persons than non-First Nations persons. First Nations women utilize emergency care more than non-First Nations women (54.2% of First Nations visits are by women compared to 50.9% of non-First Nations visits). More First Nations visits end in leaving without completing treatment (6.7% v. 3.6%). Conclusions Further research is needed on the impact of First Nations identity on emergency care drivers and outcomes, and on emergency care for First Nations women. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12913-021-06415-2.
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Javalkar K, Robson VK, Gaffney L, Bohling AM, Arya P, Servattalab S, Roberts JE, Campbell JI, Sekhavat S, Newburger JW, de Ferranti SD, Baker AL, Lee PY, Day-Lewis M, Bucholz E, Kobayashi R, Son MB, Henderson LA, Kheir JN, Friedman KG, Dionne A. Socioeconomic and Racial and/or Ethnic Disparities in Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome. Pediatrics 2021; 147:peds.2020-039933. [PMID: 33602802 PMCID: PMC8086000 DOI: 10.1542/peds.2020-039933] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 02/11/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To characterize the socioeconomic and racial and/or ethnic disparities impacting the diagnosis and outcomes of multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C). METHODS This multicenter retrospective case-control study was conducted at 3 academic centers from January 1 to September 1, 2020. Children with MIS-C were compared with 5 control groups: children with coronavirus disease 2019, children evaluated for MIS-C who did not meet case patient criteria, children hospitalized with febrile illness, children with Kawasaki disease, and children in Massachusetts based on US census data. Neighborhood socioeconomic status (SES) and social vulnerability index (SVI) were measured via a census-based scoring system. Multivariable logistic regression was used to examine associations between SES, SVI, race and ethnicity, and MIS-C diagnosis and clinical severity as outcomes. RESULTS Among 43 patients with MIS-C, 19 (44%) were Hispanic, 11 (26%) were Black, and 12 (28%) were white; 22 (51%) were in the lowest quartile SES, and 23 (53%) were in the highest quartile SVI. SES and SVI were similar between patients with MIS-C and coronavirus disease 2019. In multivariable analysis, lowest SES quartile (odds ratio 2.2 [95% confidence interval 1.1-4.4]), highest SVI quartile (odds ratio 2.8 [95% confidence interval 1.5-5.1]), and racial and/or ethnic minority background were associated with MIS-C diagnosis. Neither SES, SVI, race, nor ethnicity were associated with disease severity. CONCLUSIONS Lower SES or higher SVI, Hispanic ethnicity, and Black race independently increased risk for MIS-C. Additional studies are required to target interventions to improve health equity for children.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karina Javalkar
- Departments of Medicine and,Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Harvard University, Boston, Massachusetts;,Department of Pediatrics, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts;,Contributed equally as co-first authors
| | - Victoria K. Robson
- Departments of Medicine and,Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Harvard University, Boston, Massachusetts;,Department of Pediatrics, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts;,Contributed equally as co-first authors
| | - Lukas Gaffney
- Departments of Medicine and,Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Harvard University, Boston, Massachusetts;,Department of Pediatrics, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Amy M. Bohling
- Cardiology, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts;,Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Harvard University, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Puneeta Arya
- Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Harvard University, Boston, Massachusetts;,Division of Cardiology and
| | - Sarah Servattalab
- Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Harvard University, Boston, Massachusetts;,Massachusetts General Hospital for Children, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts; and
| | - Jordan E. Roberts
- Divisions of Immunology and,Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Harvard University, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Jeffrey I. Campbell
- Infectious Diseases and,Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Harvard University, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Sepehr Sekhavat
- Department of Pediatrics, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts;,Department of Cardiology, Boston Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Jane W. Newburger
- Cardiology, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts;,Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Harvard University, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Sarah D. de Ferranti
- Cardiology, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts;,Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Harvard University, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Annette L. Baker
- Cardiology, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts;,Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Harvard University, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Pui Y. Lee
- Divisions of Immunology and,Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Harvard University, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Megan Day-Lewis
- Divisions of Immunology and,Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Harvard University, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Emily Bucholz
- Cardiology, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts;,Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Harvard University, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Ryan Kobayashi
- Cardiology, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts;,Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Harvard University, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Mary Beth Son
- Divisions of Immunology and,Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Harvard University, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Lauren A. Henderson
- Divisions of Immunology and,Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Harvard University, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - John N. Kheir
- Cardiology, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts;,Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Harvard University, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Kevin G. Friedman
- Cardiology, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts;,Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Harvard University, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Audrey Dionne
- Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Harvard University, Boston, Massachusetts; .,Cardiology, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts
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