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Russell TL, Tiusaba L, Smith JC, Alexander R, Mahlet Q, Ho CP, Pohl HG, Varda BK. Getting to the bottom of why children with spina bifida use the emergency department: A qualitative analysis of parent and stakeholder perspectives. J Pediatr Urol 2024:S1477-5131(24)00265-1. [PMID: 38802289 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpurol.2024.05.007] [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: 12/04/2023] [Revised: 05/07/2024] [Accepted: 05/10/2024] [Indexed: 05/29/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Children with Spina Bifida (SB) have considerable healthcare utilization, including Emergency Department use (EDU). We aimed to elicit reasons for EDU using qualitative analysis of interviews with both patient-caregiver dyads and stakeholders. METHODS A cohort of children with SB followed at our institution between 2016 and 2020 was identified and patient and clinical characteristics abstracted. Purposeful sampling by age and degree of past EDU was performed. Semi-structured interviews of dyads were performed using iteratively revised interview guides. Spanish-language interviews were conducted by a native Spanish speaker and transcripts professionally translated. Supplemental interviews with stakeholders, namely knowledgeable healthcare professionals, were also conducted. A qualitative framework approach was used for analysis, including open followed by closed independent coding with calculation of inter-rater reliability. A final interpretation of coding reports assessing convergence, divergence, and variation in themes across participant characteristics. RESULTS 116 families (4 Spanish-speaking) and 7 stakeholders were interviewed. Sampling yielded a heterogenous cohort for EDU (56% with 0-10, 44% with >10 visits) and age (25% 0-4, 44% 5-11, 31% > 11 years). IRR was optimal (κ = 0.9). Themes in perceived reasons for EDU were 1) desire for "one-stop-shop" care, 2) an emergent medical problem, 3) providers' instructions, 4) negative past healthcare experience, 5) intrinsic caregiver moderators, and 6) temporospatial influences. Themes 1, 2, and 5 predominated in dyads, whereas themes 6, 3, and 5 were most common in stakeholders. Stakeholders focused largely on negative institutional and patient characteristics. Among dyads only, theme #1 was disproportionately emphasized by Spanish-speaking patients. DISCUSSION Families desired access to coordinated expert care, testing and imaging. The ED offers this for children with SB, regardless of clinical acuity. This may be especially valued by families with inherent challenges to navigating the healthcare system. Negative experiences in community clinical settings, healthcare provider recommendations and intrinsic parental factors were themes that seemed to contribute to seeking this "one-stop-shop" type of care. Care coordination may reduce ED reliance, but themes for the interviews suggest a systems-based efforts should weave in the community care setting. CONCLUSIONS For both stakeholders and caregivers, the ED represented a valued form of immediate access to multispecialty, expert care and testing in the context of perceived lack of timely, coordinated outpatient care. This may be moderated by intrinsic caregiver factors and negative past experiences. Although stakeholders discussed ideas that fit into patient-caregiver themes, the also uniquely focused on systems-based and patient-caregiver limitations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Teresa L Russell
- Division of Urology, Children's National Hospital, Washington, DC, USA; Division of Colorectal and Pelvic Reconstruction, Children's National Hospital, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Laura Tiusaba
- Division of Colorectal and Pelvic Reconstruction, Children's National Hospital, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Jacob C Smith
- Division of Urology, Children's National Hospital, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Rachel Alexander
- Division of Urology, Children's National Hospital, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Qene Mahlet
- Division of Urology, Children's National Hospital, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Christina P Ho
- Division of Urology, Children's National Hospital, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Hans G Pohl
- Division of Urology, Children's National Hospital, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Briony K Varda
- Division of Urology, Children's National Hospital, Washington, DC, USA.
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Stagg A, Giglia TM, Gardner MM, Offit BF, Fuller KM, Natarajan SS, Hehir DA, Szwast AL, Rome JJ, Ravishankar C, Laskin BL, Preminger TJ. Initial Experience with Telemedicine for Interstage Monitoring in Infants with Palliated Congenital Heart Disease. Pediatr Cardiol 2023; 44:196-203. [PMID: 36050411 PMCID: PMC9436461 DOI: 10.1007/s00246-022-02993-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2022] [Accepted: 08/17/2022] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Abstract
Infants with staged surgical palliation for congenital heart disease are at high-risk for interstage morbidity and mortality; home monitoring programs have mitigated these risks. In 2019, we instituted telemedicine (TM) in our established Infant Single Ventricle Monitoring Program. All consecutive patients discharged following neonatal operation/intervention were monitored until subsequent stage 2 surgical palliation. We offered TM (synchronous video) visits as part of regularly scheduled follow-up, replacing at least one in-person primary care visit with a TM cardiologist visit. We tracked emergency department (ED) visits, hospitalizations, how TM identified clinical concerns, and whether use of TM prevented unnecessary ED visits or expedited in-person assessment. We assessed caregiver and clinician satisfaction. Between 8/2019 and 5/2020, we conducted 60 TM visits for 29 patients. Of 31 eligible patients, 2 families (6.9%) declined. Median monitoring time was 199 days (range 75-264) and median number of TM visits/patient was 2 (range 1-5). In 6 visits (10%), significant clinical findings were identified which avoided an ED visit. Five TM visits led to expedited outpatient assessments, of which 1 patient required hospitalization. There were no missed events or deaths. Median ED visits/patient/month were significantly lower compared to the same calendar period of the prior year (0.0 (0-2.5) vs. 0.4 (0-3.7), p = 0.0004). Caregivers and clinicians expressed high levels of satisfaction with TM. TM for this high-risk population is feasible and effective in identifying clinical concerns and preventing unnecessary ED visits. TM was particularly effective during the COVID-19 pandemic, allowing for easy adaptation of care to ensure patient safety in this fragile cohort.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alyson Stagg
- Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, 3401 Civic Center Blvd, Philadelphia, PA, 19401, USA
- Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Therese M Giglia
- Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, 3401 Civic Center Blvd, Philadelphia, PA, 19401, USA
- Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Monique M Gardner
- Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, 3401 Civic Center Blvd, Philadelphia, PA, 19401, USA
- Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Bonnie F Offit
- Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, 3401 Civic Center Blvd, Philadelphia, PA, 19401, USA
| | - Kate M Fuller
- Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, 3401 Civic Center Blvd, Philadelphia, PA, 19401, USA
| | - Shobha S Natarajan
- Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, 3401 Civic Center Blvd, Philadelphia, PA, 19401, USA
- Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - David A Hehir
- Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, 3401 Civic Center Blvd, Philadelphia, PA, 19401, USA
- Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Anita L Szwast
- Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, 3401 Civic Center Blvd, Philadelphia, PA, 19401, USA
- Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Jonathan J Rome
- Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, 3401 Civic Center Blvd, Philadelphia, PA, 19401, USA
- Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Chitra Ravishankar
- Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, 3401 Civic Center Blvd, Philadelphia, PA, 19401, USA
- Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Benjamin L Laskin
- Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, 3401 Civic Center Blvd, Philadelphia, PA, 19401, USA
- Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Tamar J Preminger
- Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, 3401 Civic Center Blvd, Philadelphia, PA, 19401, USA.
- Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
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Coller RJ, Kelly MM, Sklansky DJ, Shadman KA, Ehlenbach ML, Barreda CB, Chung PJ, Zhao Q, Edmonson MB. Ambulatory quality, special health care needs, and emergency department or hospital use for US children. Health Serv Res 2020; 55:671-680. [PMID: 32594526 PMCID: PMC7518884 DOI: 10.1111/1475-6773.13308] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE This study examined family-reported ambulatory care quality and its association with emergency department and hospital utilization, and how these relationships differed across levels of medical complexity. DATA SOURCES The 2006-2013 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS). STUDY DESIGN Secondary analysis of MEPS data. Variables fitting the National Quality Measures Clearinghouse clinical quality measures domain framework were selected. Exploratory factor analysis grouped ambulatory quality into 12 access, experience, or process measures. Weighted negative binomial regression stratified by health status identified associations between ambulatory quality and ED visits or hospitalizations. DATA COLLECTION 41,497 children ≤18 years were included. The 5-item special health care needs (SHCN) screener categorized health status as complex, less complex, or no SHCN. PRINCIPAL FINDINGS Weighted SHCN proportions were 1.6 Percent complex, 18.2 Percent less complex, and 80.0 Percent no SHCN. Mean ED visits were 130 and 335 visits/1000 children/year for no/ complex SHCN, respectively. Mean hospitalizations were 20 and 175 hospitalizations/1000 children/year for no/complex SHCN, respectively. ED visits were associated with 8 of 12 quality measures for no/less complex SHCN. For example, usually/always receiving needed care right away was associated with 22 Percent lower ED visit rate (95% CI 0.64-0.96). Hospitalizations were associated with 4 of 12 quality measures for less complex SHCN. In complex SHCN, associations between ambulatory quality and ED/hospital use were weak and inconsistent. CONCLUSIONS Ambulatory quality may best predict ED and hospital use for children with no or less complex SHCN. Whether and how ambulatory care predicts emergency and hospital care in complex SHCN remains an important question.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ryan J. Coller
- Department of PediatricsUniversity of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public HealthMadisonWisconsinUSA
| | - Michelle M. Kelly
- Department of PediatricsUniversity of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public HealthMadisonWisconsinUSA
| | - Daniel J. Sklansky
- Department of PediatricsUniversity of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public HealthMadisonWisconsinUSA
| | - Kristin A. Shadman
- Department of PediatricsUniversity of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public HealthMadisonWisconsinUSA
| | - Mary L Ehlenbach
- Department of PediatricsUniversity of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public HealthMadisonWisconsinUSA
| | - Christina B. Barreda
- Department of PediatricsUniversity of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public HealthMadisonWisconsinUSA
| | - Paul J. Chung
- Departments of Pediatrics and Health Policy & Management, Health Systems ScienceKaiser Permanente School of MedicinePasadenaCaliforniaUSA
| | - Qianqian Zhao
- Department of PediatricsUniversity of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public HealthMadisonWisconsinUSA
| | - Marshall Bruce Edmonson
- Department of PediatricsUniversity of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public HealthMadisonWisconsinUSA
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