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Ward MJ, Kripalani S, Muñoz D, Collins SP, Moser K, Jenkins CA, Liu D, Vogus TJ. Association of Physician Coordination With Interfacility Transfer Acceptance Timeliness. AMERICAN JOURNAL OF ACCOUNTABLE CARE 2022; 10:7-15. [PMID: 38617098 PMCID: PMC11014424 DOI: 10.37765/ajac.2022.89231] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/16/2024]
Abstract
Objectives Interfacility transfer for time-sensitive emergencies involves rapid and complex care transitions between facilities. We sought to validate relational coordination, a 7-dimension measure of coordination in which a higher score reflects higher-quality coordination, to examine how the quality of coordination affects timeliness in an emergency care setting. Study Design Retrospective observational cohort design. Methods We used a novel method to examine how the quality of coordination between physicians at the time of transfer affects timeliness of physician acceptance. We recorded physician-to-physician conversations from the transfer of patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), a time-sensitive emergency requiring immediate intervention to prevent morbidity and mortality. Results We identified 81 patients experiencing STEMI who were transferred between August 1, 2016, and March 31, 2018. Descriptive statistics, interrater reliability (Spearman correlation coefficients), and generalized linear models were used to examine the association between relational coordination and the physician time-to-acceptance duration. Median (IQR) relational coordination score was 445 (403-493) of a maximum of 700, and median (IQR) time to acceptance was 90.4 (60.2-140.8) seconds. Agreement between abstractors was high (ρ = 0.76). There was a significant, negative relationship between relational coordination and time to acceptance (ρ = -0.38; P < .001). Every 40-point increase in relational coordination was associated with a 25% reduction in time to acceptance. Conclusions Relational coordination not only demonstrated high interrater reliability, but we also found that higher-quality coordination was associated with faster physician acceptance during time-sensitive transfers. Use of such measures may provide a mechanism to improve the quality of care and outcomes for patients with STEMI who experience interfacility transfers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael J Ward
- Department of Emergency Medicine (MJW, SPC, KM) and Department of Biomedical Informatics (MJW), Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN; Veterans Affairs Tennessee Valley Healthcare System, Geriatric Research, Education and Clinical Center (GRECC), Nashville, Tennessee (MJW, SPC), Nashville, TN; Section of Hospital Medicine, Division of General Internal Medicine and Public Health, Center for Clinical Quality and Implementation Research, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine (SK), Nashville, TN; Division of Cardiology, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine (DM), Nashville, TN; Department of Biostatistics, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine (CAJ, DL), Nashville, TN; Owen Graduate School of Management, Vanderbilt University (TJV), Nashville, TN
| | - Sunil Kripalani
- Department of Emergency Medicine (MJW, SPC, KM) and Department of Biomedical Informatics (MJW), Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN; Veterans Affairs Tennessee Valley Healthcare System, Geriatric Research, Education and Clinical Center (GRECC), Nashville, Tennessee (MJW, SPC), Nashville, TN; Section of Hospital Medicine, Division of General Internal Medicine and Public Health, Center for Clinical Quality and Implementation Research, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine (SK), Nashville, TN; Division of Cardiology, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine (DM), Nashville, TN; Department of Biostatistics, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine (CAJ, DL), Nashville, TN; Owen Graduate School of Management, Vanderbilt University (TJV), Nashville, TN
| | - Daniel Muñoz
- Department of Emergency Medicine (MJW, SPC, KM) and Department of Biomedical Informatics (MJW), Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN; Veterans Affairs Tennessee Valley Healthcare System, Geriatric Research, Education and Clinical Center (GRECC), Nashville, Tennessee (MJW, SPC), Nashville, TN; Section of Hospital Medicine, Division of General Internal Medicine and Public Health, Center for Clinical Quality and Implementation Research, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine (SK), Nashville, TN; Division of Cardiology, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine (DM), Nashville, TN; Department of Biostatistics, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine (CAJ, DL), Nashville, TN; Owen Graduate School of Management, Vanderbilt University (TJV), Nashville, TN
| | - Sean P Collins
- Department of Emergency Medicine (MJW, SPC, KM) and Department of Biomedical Informatics (MJW), Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN; Veterans Affairs Tennessee Valley Healthcare System, Geriatric Research, Education and Clinical Center (GRECC), Nashville, Tennessee (MJW, SPC), Nashville, TN; Section of Hospital Medicine, Division of General Internal Medicine and Public Health, Center for Clinical Quality and Implementation Research, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine (SK), Nashville, TN; Division of Cardiology, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine (DM), Nashville, TN; Department of Biostatistics, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine (CAJ, DL), Nashville, TN; Owen Graduate School of Management, Vanderbilt University (TJV), Nashville, TN
| | - Kelly Moser
- Department of Emergency Medicine (MJW, SPC, KM) and Department of Biomedical Informatics (MJW), Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN; Veterans Affairs Tennessee Valley Healthcare System, Geriatric Research, Education and Clinical Center (GRECC), Nashville, Tennessee (MJW, SPC), Nashville, TN; Section of Hospital Medicine, Division of General Internal Medicine and Public Health, Center for Clinical Quality and Implementation Research, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine (SK), Nashville, TN; Division of Cardiology, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine (DM), Nashville, TN; Department of Biostatistics, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine (CAJ, DL), Nashville, TN; Owen Graduate School of Management, Vanderbilt University (TJV), Nashville, TN
| | - Cathy A Jenkins
- Department of Emergency Medicine (MJW, SPC, KM) and Department of Biomedical Informatics (MJW), Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN; Veterans Affairs Tennessee Valley Healthcare System, Geriatric Research, Education and Clinical Center (GRECC), Nashville, Tennessee (MJW, SPC), Nashville, TN; Section of Hospital Medicine, Division of General Internal Medicine and Public Health, Center for Clinical Quality and Implementation Research, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine (SK), Nashville, TN; Division of Cardiology, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine (DM), Nashville, TN; Department of Biostatistics, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine (CAJ, DL), Nashville, TN; Owen Graduate School of Management, Vanderbilt University (TJV), Nashville, TN
| | - Dandan Liu
- Department of Emergency Medicine (MJW, SPC, KM) and Department of Biomedical Informatics (MJW), Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN; Veterans Affairs Tennessee Valley Healthcare System, Geriatric Research, Education and Clinical Center (GRECC), Nashville, Tennessee (MJW, SPC), Nashville, TN; Section of Hospital Medicine, Division of General Internal Medicine and Public Health, Center for Clinical Quality and Implementation Research, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine (SK), Nashville, TN; Division of Cardiology, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine (DM), Nashville, TN; Department of Biostatistics, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine (CAJ, DL), Nashville, TN; Owen Graduate School of Management, Vanderbilt University (TJV), Nashville, TN
| | - Timothy J Vogus
- Department of Emergency Medicine (MJW, SPC, KM) and Department of Biomedical Informatics (MJW), Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN; Veterans Affairs Tennessee Valley Healthcare System, Geriatric Research, Education and Clinical Center (GRECC), Nashville, Tennessee (MJW, SPC), Nashville, TN; Section of Hospital Medicine, Division of General Internal Medicine and Public Health, Center for Clinical Quality and Implementation Research, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine (SK), Nashville, TN; Division of Cardiology, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine (DM), Nashville, TN; Department of Biostatistics, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine (CAJ, DL), Nashville, TN; Owen Graduate School of Management, Vanderbilt University (TJV), Nashville, TN
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Ward MJ, Vogus TJ, Muñoz D, Collins SP, Moser K, Jenkins CA, Liu D, Kripalani S. Examining the Timeliness of ST-elevation Myocardial Infarction Transfers. West J Emerg Med 2021; 22:319-325. [PMID: 33856318 PMCID: PMC7972365 DOI: 10.5811/westjem.2020.8.47770] [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: 04/17/2020] [Accepted: 08/30/2020] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction Despite large-scale quality improvement initiatives, substantial proportions of patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) transferred to percutaneous coronary intervention centers do not receive percutaneous coronary intervention within the recommended 120 minutes. We sought to examine the contributory role of emergency medical services (EMS) activation relative to percutaneous coronary intervention center activation in the timeliness of care for patients transferred with STEMI. Methods We conducted a retrospective analysis of interfacility transfers from emergency departments (ED) to a single percutaneous coronary intervention center between 2011–2014. We included emergency department (ED) patients transferred to the percutaneous coronary intervention center and excluded scene transfers and those given fibrinolytics. We calculated descriptive statistics and used multivariable linear regression to model the association of variables with ED time intervals (arrival to electrocardiogram [ECG], ECG-to-EMS activation, and ECG-to-STEMI alert) adjusting for patient age, gender, mode of arrival, weekday hour presentation, facility transfers in the past year, and transferring facility distance. Results We identified 159 patients who met inclusion criteria. Subjects were a mean of 59 years old (standard deviation 13), 22% female, and 93% White; 59% arrived by private vehicle, and 24% presented after weekday hours. EDs transferred a median of 9 STEMIs (interquartile range [IQR] 3, 15) in the past year and a median of 65 miles (IQR 35, 90) from the percutaneous coronary intervention center. Median ED length of stay was 65 minutes (IQR 51, 85). Among component intervals, arrival to ECG was 6%, ECG-to-EMS activation 32%, and ECG-to-STEMI alert was 49% of overall ED length of stay. Only 18% of transfers had EMS activation earlier than STEMI alert. ECG-to-EMS activation was shorter in EDs achieving length of stay ≤60 minutes compared to those >60 minutes (12 vs 31 minutes, P<0.001). Multivariable modeling showed that after-hours presentation was associated with longer ECG-to-EMS activation (adjusted relative risk [RR] 1.05, P<0.001). Female gender (adjusted RR 0.81, P<0.001), prior facility transfers (adjusted RR 0.84, P<0.001), and initial ambulance presentation (adjusted RR 0.93, P = 0.02) were associated with shorter ECG-to-EMS activation. Conclusion In STEMI transfers, faster EMS activation was more likely to achieve a shorter ED length of stay than a rapid, percutaneous coronary intervention center STEMI alert. Large-scale quality improvement efforts such as the American Heart Association’s Mission Lifeline that were designed to regionalize STEMI have improved the timeliness of reperfusion, but major gaps, particularly in interfacility transfers, remain. While the transferring EDs are recognized as the primary source of delay during interfacility STEMI transfers, the contributions to delays at transferring EDs remain poorly understood.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael J Ward
- Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Department of Emergency Medicine, Nashville, Tennessee.,VA Tennessee Valley Healthcare System, Department of Emergency Medicine, Murfreesboro, Tennessee
| | - Timothy J Vogus
- Vanderbilt University, Owen Graduate School of Management, Nashville, Tennessee
| | - Daniel Muñoz
- Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Division of Cardiology, Nashville, Tennessee
| | - Sean P Collins
- Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Department of Emergency Medicine, Nashville, Tennessee.,VA Tennessee Valley Healthcare System, Department of Emergency Medicine, Murfreesboro, Tennessee
| | - Kelly Moser
- Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Department of Emergency Medicine, Nashville, Tennessee
| | - Cathy A Jenkins
- Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Department of Biostatistics, Nashville, Tennessee
| | - Dandan Liu
- Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Department of Biostatistics, Nashville, Tennessee
| | - Sunil Kripalani
- Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Section of Hospital Medicine, Division of General Internal Medicine and Public Health, Department of Medicine, Center for Clinical Quality and Implementation Research, Nashville, Tennessee
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McNaughton CD, Bonnet K, Schlundt D, Mohr NM, Chung S, Kaboli PJ, Ward MJ. Rural Interfacility Emergency Department Transfers: Framework and Qualitative Analysis. West J Emerg Med 2020; 21:858-865. [PMID: 32726256 PMCID: PMC7390588 DOI: 10.5811/westjem.2020.3.46059] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2019] [Accepted: 03/31/2020] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction Interfacility transfers from rural emergency departments (EDs) are an important means of access to timely and specialized care. Methods Our goal was to identify and explore facilitators and barriers in transfer processes and their implications for emergency rural care and access. Semi-structured interviews with ED staff at five rural and two urban Veterans Health Administration (VHA) hospitals were recorded, transcribed, coded, and analyzed using an iterative inductive-deductive approach to identify themes and construct a conceptual framework. Results From 81 interviews with clinical and administrative staff between March–June 2018, four themes in the interfacility transfer process emerged: 1) patient factors; 2) system resources; and 3) processes and communication for transfers, which culminate in 4) the location decision. Current and anticipated resource limitations were highly influential in transfer processes, which were described as burdensome and diverting resources from clinical care for emergency patients. Location decision was highly influenced by complexity of the transfer process, while perceived quality at the receiving location or patient preferences were not reported in interviews as being primary drivers of location decision. Transfers were described as burdensome for patients and their families. Finally, patients with mental health conditions epitomized challenges of emergency transfers. Conclusion Interfacility transfers from rural EDs are multifaceted, resource-driven processes that require complex coordination. Anticipated resource needs and the transfer process itself are important determinants in the location decision, while quality of care or patient preferences were not reported as key determinants by interviewees. These findings identify potential benefits from tracking transfer boarding as an operational measure, directed feedback regarding outcomes of transferred patients, and simplified transfer processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Candace D McNaughton
- Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Department of Emergency Medicine, Nashville, Tennessee.,Tenessee Valley Healthcare System, Department of Emergency Medicine, Nashville, Tennessee
| | - Kemberlee Bonnet
- Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Department of Emergency Medicine, Nashville, Tennessee
| | - David Schlundt
- Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Department of Emergency Medicine, Nashville, Tennessee
| | - Nicholas M Mohr
- Evaluation (CADRE) Iowa City VA Healthcare System, Center for Access & Delivery Research and Evaluation, Iowa City, Iowa.,University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, Department of Emergency Medicine, Iowa City, Iowa.,University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, Department of Anesthesia, Iowa City, Iowa
| | - Suemin Chung
- Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Department of Emergency Medicine, Nashville, Tennessee
| | - Peter J Kaboli
- Evaluation (CADRE) Iowa City VA Healthcare System, Center for Access & Delivery Research and Evaluation, Iowa City, Iowa.,University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Iowa City, Iowa
| | - Michael J Ward
- Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Department of Emergency Medicine, Nashville, Tennessee.,Tenessee Valley Healthcare System, Department of Emergency Medicine, Nashville, Tennessee
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Neil Holby S, Muñoz D, Collins SP, Vogus TJ, Jenkins CA, Liu D, Ward MJ. Quality of physician care coordination during inter-facility transfer for cardiac arrest patients. Am J Emerg Med 2019; 38:339-342. [PMID: 31785983 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajem.2019.10.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2019] [Revised: 09/23/2019] [Accepted: 10/05/2019] [Indexed: 10/25/2022] Open
Abstract
AIM We sought to evaluate whether the quality of coordination between physicians transferring comatose cardiac arrest survivors to a high-volume cardiac arrest center for targeted temperature management (TTM) was associated with timeliness of care. METHODS We conducted a retrospective analysis of inter-facility transfers to Vanderbilt University Medical Center for TTM between October 2016 and October 2018. We examined the relationship between Relational Coordination (RC) - a measure of communication and relationship quality - during phone conversations between transferring physicians and time-to-acceptance. RESULTS We identified 18 patients meeting criteria. TTM was initiated or continued in 72%, and in-hospital mortality was 75%. Median time-to-acceptance was 2.77 (interquartile range [IQR] 2.0, 4.1) minutes, and duration of calls was 3.95 (IQR 2.7, 5.2) minutes. Interrater reliability for overall RC was high (rho = 0.87). The correlation between RC and the time-to-acceptance was significant in univariate analyses (adjusted relative risk = 0.96, 95%CI 0.93, 1.0, p = 0.05). Secondary analyses did not find a significant relationship between RC and timeliness measures. CONCLUSION In this sample of patients transferred for TTM, we found that RC as a measure of care coordination, was reliable. Higher quality care coordination for cardiac arrest survivors was associated with faster physician acceptance. Future work using a larger cohort should explore if higher RC among a broader set of stakeholders (physicians, EMS, families, etc.) is associated with timeliness measures after adjusting for other factors, to better understand how the quality of care coordination impacts timeliness of care and patient outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Neil Holby
- Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, United States
| | - Daniel Muñoz
- Division of Cardiology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, United States
| | - Sean P Collins
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, VA Tennessee Valley Healthcare System, United States
| | - Timothy J Vogus
- Owen Graduate School of Management, Vanderbilt University, United States
| | - Cathy A Jenkins
- Department of Biostatistics, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, United States
| | - Dandan Liu
- Department of Biostatistics, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, United States
| | - Michael J Ward
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, VA Tennessee Valley Healthcare System, United States.
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