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Skains RM, Koehl JL, Aldeen A, Carpenter CR, Gettel CJ, Goldberg EM, Hwang U, Kocher KE, Southerland LT, Goyal P, Berdahl CT, Venkatesh AK, Lin MP. Geriatric Emergency Medication Safety Recommendations (GEMS-Rx): Modified Delphi Development of a High-Risk Prescription List for Older Emergency Department Patients. Ann Emerg Med 2024; 84:274-284. [PMID: 38483427 PMCID: PMC11343681 DOI: 10.1016/j.annemergmed.2024.01.033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2023] [Revised: 01/22/2024] [Accepted: 01/25/2024] [Indexed: 04/14/2024]
Abstract
STUDY OBJECTIVE Half of emergency department (ED) patients aged 65 years and older are discharged with new prescriptions. Potentially inappropriate prescriptions contribute to adverse drug events. Our objective was to develop an evidence- and consensus-based list of high-risk prescriptions to avoid among older ED patients. METHODS We performed a modified, 3-round Delphi process that included 10 ED physician experts in geriatrics or quality measurement and 1 pharmacist. Consensus members reviewed all 35 medication categories from the 2019 American Geriatrics Society Beers Criteria and ranked each on a 5-point Likert scale (5=highest) for overall priority for avoidance (Round 1), risk of short-term adverse events and avoidability (Round 2), and reasonable medical indications for high-risk medication use (Round 3). RESULTS For each round, questionnaire response rates were 91%, 82%, and 64%, respectively. After Round 1, benzodiazepines (mean, 4.60 [SD, 0.70]), skeletal muscle relaxants (4.60 [0.70]), barbiturates (4.30 [1.06]), first-generation antipsychotics (4.20 [0.63]) and first-generation antihistamines (3.70 [1.49]) were prioritized for avoidance. In Rounds 2 and 3, hypnotic "Z" drugs (4.29 [1.11]), metoclopramide (3.89 [0.93]), and sulfonylureas (4.14 [1.07]) were prioritized for avoidability, despite lower concern for short-term adverse events. All 8 medication classes were included in the final list. Reasonable indications for prescribing high-risk medications included seizure disorders, benzodiazepine/ethanol withdrawal, end of life, severe generalized anxiety, allergic reactions, gastroparesis, and prescription refill. CONCLUSION We present the first expert consensus-based list of high-risk prescriptions for older ED patients (GEMS-Rx) to improve safety among older ED patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rachel M Skains
- Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL; Geriatric Research, Education and Clinical Center, Birmingham VAMC, Birmingham, AL
| | - Jennifer L Koehl
- Department of Pharmacy, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA
| | | | | | - Cameron J Gettel
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Yale University, New Haven, CT
| | | | - Ula Hwang
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Yale University, New Haven, CT; Geriatric Research, Education and Clinical Center, James J. Peters VAMC, Bronx, NY
| | - Keith E Kocher
- Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
| | | | - Pawan Goyal
- Quality Division, American College of Emergency Physicians, Irving, TX
| | - Carl T Berdahl
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Cedars Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA
| | | | - Michelle P Lin
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA.
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Vandenberg AE, Hwang U, Das S, Genes N, Nyamu S, Richardson L, Ezenkwele U, Legome E, Richardson C, Belachew A, Leong T, Kegler M, Vaughan CP. Scaling the EQUIPPED medication safety program: Traditional and hub-and-spoke implementation models. J Am Geriatr Soc 2024; 72:2184-2194. [PMID: 38259070 DOI: 10.1111/jgs.18746] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2023] [Revised: 11/09/2023] [Accepted: 12/09/2023] [Indexed: 01/24/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The EQUIPPED (Enhancing Quality of Prescribing Practices for Older Adults Discharged from the Emergency Department) medication safety program is an evidence-informed quality improvement initiative to reduce potentially inappropriate medications (PIMs) prescribed by Emergency Department (ED) providers to adults aged 65 and older at discharge. We aimed to scale-up this successful program using (1) a traditional implementation model at an ED with a novel electronic medical record and (2) a new hub-and-spoke implementation model at three new EDs within a health system that had previously implemented EQUIPPED (hub). We hypothesized that implementation speed would increase under the hub-and-spoke model without cost to PIM reduction or site engagement. METHODS We evaluated the effect of the EQUIPPED program on PIMs for each ED, comparing their 12-month baseline to 12-month post-implementation period prescribing data, number of months to implement EQUIPPED, and facilitators and barriers to implementation. RESULTS The proportion of PIMs at all four sites declined significantly from pre- to post-EQUIPPED: at traditional site 1 from 8.9% (8.1-9.6) to 3.6% (3.6-9.6) (p < 0.001); at spread site 1 from 12.2% (11.2-13.2) to 7.1% (6.1-8.1) (p < 0.001); at spread site 2 from 11.3% (10.1-12.6) to 7.9% (6.4-8.8) (p = 0.045); and at spread site 3 from 16.2% (14.9-17.4) to 11.7% (10.3-13.0) (p < 0.001). Time to implement was equivalent at all sites across both models. Interview data, reflecting a wide scope of responsibilities for the champion at the traditional site and a narrow scope at the spoke sites, indicated disproportionate barriers to engagement at the spoke sites. CONCLUSIONS EQUIPPED was successfully implemented under both implementation models at four new sites during the COVID-19 pandemic, indicating the feasibility of adapting EQUIPPED to complex, real-world conditions. The hub-and-spoke model offers an effective way to scale-up EQUIPPED though a speed or quality advantage could not be shown.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ann E Vandenberg
- Division of Geriatrics & Gerontology, Department of Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Ula Hwang
- Department of Emergency Medicine, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York, New York, USA
- James J. Peters VA Medical Center GRECC, Bronx, New York, USA
| | - Shamie Das
- Division of Geriatrics & Gerontology, Department of Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Nicholas Genes
- Department of Emergency Medicine, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York, New York, USA
| | - Sylviah Nyamu
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
| | - Lynne Richardson
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
| | - Ugo Ezenkwele
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
| | - Eric Legome
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
| | - Christopher Richardson
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
| | - Adam Belachew
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
| | - Traci Leong
- Department of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Michelle Kegler
- Department of Behavioural, Social and Health Education Sciences, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Camille P Vaughan
- Division of Geriatrics & Gerontology, Department of Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
- Birmingham/Atlanta VA GRECC, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
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Lee S, Skains RM, Magidson PD, Qadoura N, Liu SW, Southerland LT. Enhancing healthcare access for an older population: The age-friendly emergency department. J Am Coll Emerg Physicians Open 2024; 5:e13182. [PMID: 38726466 PMCID: PMC11079440 DOI: 10.1002/emp2.13182] [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: 09/27/2023] [Revised: 12/29/2023] [Accepted: 01/24/2024] [Indexed: 05/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Healthcare systems face significant challenges in meeting the unique needs of older adults, particularly in the acute setting. Age-friendly healthcare is a comprehensive approach using the 4Ms framework-what matters, medications, mentation, and mobility-to ensure that healthcare settings are responsive to the needs of older patients. The Age-Friendly Emergency Department (AFED) is a crucial component of a holistic age-friendly health system. Our objective is to provide an overview of the AFED model, its core principles, and the benefits to older adults and healthcare clinicians. The AFED optimizes the delivery of emergency care by integrating age-specific considerations into various aspects of (1) ED physical infrastructure, (2) clinical care policies, and (3) care transitions. Physical infrastructure incorporates environmental modifications to enhance patient safety, including adequate lighting, nonslip flooring, and devices for sensory and ambulatory impairment. Clinical care policies address the physiological, cognitive, and psychosocial needs of older adults while preserving focus on emergency issues. Care transitions include communication and involving community partners and case management services. The AFED prioritizes collaboration between interdisciplinary team members (ED clinicians, geriatric specialists, nurses, physical/occupational therapists, and social workers). By adopting an age-friendly approach, EDs have the potential to improve patient-centered outcomes, reduce adverse events and hospitalizations, and enhance functional recovery. Moreover, healthcare clinicians benefit from the AFED model through increased satisfaction, multidisciplinary support, and enhanced training in geriatric care. Policymakers, healthcare administrators, and clinicians must collaborate to standardize guidelines, address barriers to AFEDs, and promote the adoption of age-friendly practices in the ED.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sangil Lee
- Department of Emergency MedicineUniversity of Iowa Carver College of MedicineIowa CityIowaUSA
| | - Rachel M. Skains
- University of Alabama at BirminghamBirminghamAlabamaUSA
- Geriatric Research, Education, and Clinical CenterBirmingham VA Medical CenterBirminghamAlabamaUSA
| | | | - Nadine Qadoura
- Department of Emergency MedicineUniversity of Iowa Carver College of MedicineIowa CityIowaUSA
| | - Shan W. Liu
- Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical SchoolBostonMassachusettsUSA
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Goldberg EM, Dresden SM, Carpenter CR. Clin-STAR corner: Practice changing advances in prescribing for geriatric emergency department patients. J Am Geriatr Soc 2023; 71:3686-3691. [PMID: 37801018 DOI: 10.1111/jgs.18619] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2023] [Revised: 08/21/2023] [Accepted: 09/07/2023] [Indexed: 10/07/2023]
Abstract
Reducing adverse drug events among older adults in heterogeneous and often chaotic emergency department (ED) settings requires a multidisciplinary approach. Recent research evaluates the impact of multicomponent protocols designed to reduce ED physician prescribing of potentially inappropriate medications (PIMs), including transdisciplinary training and leveraging electronic health records to provide real-time alternative safer pharmaceuticals while providing personalized feedback to prescribers. Most new research is not randomized trial data. Although this current research does not consistently demonstrate a reduction in the prescribing of PIMs, these studies provide a foundation for emergency medicine healthcare teams, geriatricians, and pharmacists to collaborate with health informatics to continue advancing the frontiers of safer medication prescribing during episodes of acute care.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth M Goldberg
- Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, Colorado, USA
| | - Scott M Dresden
- School of Medicine Department of Emergency Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois, USA
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Vaughan CP, Burningham Z, Kelleher JL, McGwin G, Jasien CL, Hastings SN, Stevens MB, Morris I, Jackson GL. A cluster-randomized trial of two implementation strategies to deliver audit and feedback in the EQUIPPED medication safety program. Acad Emerg Med 2023; 30:340-348. [PMID: 36790188 DOI: 10.1111/acem.14697] [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: 09/15/2022] [Revised: 02/09/2023] [Accepted: 02/12/2023] [Indexed: 02/16/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES The Enhancing the Quality of Prescribing Practices for Older Adults Discharged from the Emergency Department (EQUIPPED) medication safety program involves three core components including provider education, clinical decision support, and audit and feedback using the American Geriatrics Society Beers Criteria to determine potentially inappropriate medications (PIMs). This study evaluated implementation of audit and feedback through a centralized informatics-based dashboard compared to academic detailing delivered one on one by an EQUIPPED champion. METHODS In a cluster-randomized study (October 2019-September 2021), eight VA emergency department (EDs) implemented either the academic detailing (n = 4) or the dashboard (n = 4) strategy for the audit and feedback component of EQUIPPED. The primary outcome was the monthly proportion of PIMs prescribed to Veterans 65 years or older at ED discharge. Poisson regression was used to evaluate the proportion of PIMs prescribed 6 months prior to EQUIPPED implementation compared to 12 months following implementation. RESULTS Eight VA ED sites successfully implemented the EQUIPPED program. During the 6-month baseline period, the academic detailing and dashboard sites had similar PIM prescribing rates of 8.01% for academic detailing versus 8.04% for dashboard (p = 0.90). Comparing 12 months of prescribing data after EQUIPPED implementation, the academic detailing group significantly improved PIM prescribing (7.07%) compared to the dashboard group (8.10%; odds ratio 1.14, 95% confidence interval 1.08-1.22, p ≤ 0.0001). Within the groups, two of the four academic detailing sites demonstrated statistically significant reductions in PIM prescribing. One of the four dashboard sites achieved nearly 50% relative reduction in PIM prescribing. CONCLUSIONS Eight VA EDs successfully implemented the core components of the EQUIPPED program amid the unprecedented challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. While the academic detailing approach to EQUIPPED audit and feedback was more effective at the group level to improve safe prescribing for older Veterans discharged from the ED, the trial suggests that dashboard-based audit and feedback is a reasonable strategy in resource-limited settings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Camille P Vaughan
- Department of Veterans Affairs, Birmingham/Atlanta Geriatric Research, Education, and Clinical Center, Decatur, Georgia, USA.,Department of Medicine, Division of Geriatrics and Gerontology, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Zach Burningham
- Salt Lake City Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA.,Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Epidemiology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
| | | | - Gerald McGwin
- Department of Veterans Affairs, Birmingham/Atlanta Geriatric Research, Education, and Clinical Center, Decatur, Georgia, USA.,Department of Epidemiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, USA
| | | | - S Nicole Hastings
- Center of Innovation to Accelerate Discovery and Practice Transformation, Durham Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina, USA.,Department of Medicine (Division of Geriatrics), Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | - Melissa B Stevens
- Department of Veterans Affairs, Birmingham/Atlanta Geriatric Research, Education, and Clinical Center, Decatur, Georgia, USA.,Department of Medicine, Division of General Internal Medicine, Emory University, Georgia, Atlanta, USA
| | - Isis Morris
- Department of Medicine (Division of Geriatrics), Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | - George L Jackson
- Department of Medicine (Division of Geriatrics), Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, USA.,Department of Population Health Sciences, Medicine (Division of General Internal Medicine), and Family Medicine & Community Health, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, USA.,Peter O'Donnell Jr. School of Public Health, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA
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Kegler MC, Rana S, Vandenberg AE, Hastings SN, Hwang U, Eucker SA, Vaughan CP. Use of the consolidated framework for implementation research in a mixed methods evaluation of the EQUIPPED medication safety program in four academic health system emergency departments. FRONTIERS IN HEALTH SERVICES 2022; 2:1053489. [PMID: 36925898 PMCID: PMC10012623 DOI: 10.3389/frhs.2022.1053489] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2022] [Accepted: 11/15/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Background Enhancing Quality of Prescribing Practices for Older Adults Discharged from the Emergency Department (EQUIPPED) is an effective quality improvement program initially designed in the Veterans Administration (VA) health care system to reduce potentially inappropriate medication prescribing for adults aged 65 years and older. This study examined factors that influence implementation of EQUIPPED in EDs from four distinct, non-VA academic health systems using a convergent mixed methods design that operationalized the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR). Fidelity of delivery served as the primary implementation outcome. Materials and methods Four EDs implemented EQUIPPED sequentially from 2017 to 2021. Using program records, we scored each ED on a 12-point fidelity index calculated by adding the scores (1-3) for each of four components of the EQUIPPED program: provider receipt of didactic education, one-on-one academic detailing, monthly provider feedback reports, and use of order sets. We comparatively analyzed qualitative data from focus groups with each of the four implementation teams (n = 22) and data from CFIR-based surveys of ED providers (108/234, response rate of 46.2%) to identify CFIR constructs that distinguished EDs with higher vs. lower levels of implementation. Results Overall, three sites demonstrated higher levels of implementation (scoring 8-9 of 12) and one ED exhibited a lower level (scoring 5 of 12). Two constructs distinguished between levels of implementation as measured through both quantitative and qualitative approaches: patient needs and resources, and organizational culture. Implementation climate distinguished level of implementation in the qualitative analysis only. Networks and communication, and leadership engagement distinguished level of implementation in the quantitative analysis only. Discussion Using CFIR, we demonstrate how a range of factors influence a critical implementation outcome and build an evidence-based approach on how to prime an organizational setting, such as an academic health system ED, for successful implementation. Conclusion This study provides insights into implementation of evidence-informed programs targeting medication safety in ED settings and serves as a potential model for how to integrate theory-based qualitative and quantitative methods in implementation studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michelle C. Kegler
- Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Shaheen Rana
- School of Medicine, Winship Cancer Institute, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | | | | | - Ula Hwang
- Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, United States
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