Emergency department crowding and length of stay before and after an increased catchment area

Merging of two level-1 trauma centers in Amsterdam: premerger demand in integrated acute trauma care

PURPOSE

Availability of adequate and appropriate trauma care is essential. A merger of two Dutch academic level-1 trauma centers is upcoming. However, in the literature, volume effects after a merger are inconclusive. This study aimed to examine the premerger demand for level-1 trauma care on integrated acute trauma care and evaluate the expected demand on the system.

METHODS

A retrospective observational study was conducted between 1-1-2018 and 1-1-2019 in two level-1 trauma centers in the Amsterdam region using data derived from the local trauma registries and electronic patient records. All trauma patients presented at both centers' Emergency Departments (ED) were included. Patient- and injury characteristics and data concerning all prehospital and in-hospital-delivered trauma care were collected and compared. Pragmatically, the demand for trauma care in the post-merger setting was considered a sum of care demand for both centers.

RESULTS

In total, 8277 trauma patients were presented at both EDs, 4996 (60.4%) at location A and 3281 (39.6%) at location B. Overall, 462 patients were considered severely injured patients (Injury Severity Score ≥ 16). In total, 702 emergency surgeries (< 24 h) were performed, and 442 patients were admitted to the ICU. The sum care demand of both centers resulted in a 167.4% increase in trauma patients and a 151.1% increase in severely injured patients. Moreover, on 96 occasions annually, two or more patients within the same hour would require advanced trauma resuscitation by a specialized team or emergency surgery.

CONCLUSION

A merger of two Dutch level-1 trauma centers would, in this scenario, result in a more than 150% increase in the post-merger setting's demand for integrated acute trauma care.

Paired analysis of ED efficiency for low-acuity children treated by PAs and pediatricians

OBJECTIVE

To determine if there was a clinically important difference (15 minutes or more) in length of stay (LOS) for low-acuity pediatric ED patients treated by PAs compared with those treated by pediatricians.

METHODS

Between July 2017 and February 2020, shifts were identified that had shared PA and pediatrician staffing in the low-acuity care area for a large, urban ED. LOS was collected for every patient during the 6 hours of overlap for each shift. Using a paired analysis, we calculated the difference in mean LOS for these shifts.

RESULTS

Mean shift LOS for children seen by PAs (160.1 minutes, SD: 48.6) was 10.1 minutes longer (95% CI: 6.1, 14.1) than mean shift LOS for children seen by pediatricians (150 minutes, SD: 47.3).

CONCLUSIONS

No clinically important difference in LOS was found for low-acuity children treated by PAs compared with those treated by pediatricians in a large, urban ED.

Prolonged length of stay and its associated factors at adult emergency department in amhara region comprehensive specialized hospitals, northwest Ethiopia

Background

Prolonged length of stay at the emergency department interferes with the main goal of emergency care and results in adverse patient outcomes like nosocomial infection, dissatisfaction, morbidity, and mortality. Despite this, little is known about the length of stay and the factors that influence it in Ethiopia’s emergency department.

Methods

An institution-based cross-sectional study was conducted on 495 patients admitted at Amhara region comprehensive specialized hospitals emergency department from May 14 to June 15/2022. A systematic random sampling was employed to select study participants. A pretested structured interview-based questionnaire was used to collect data by using Kobo toolbox software. SPSS version 25 was used for data analysis. Bi-variable logistic regression analysis was carried out to select variables with P-value < 0.25. The significance of association was interpreted using an Adjusted Odds Ratio with a 95% confidence interval. Variables with P-value < 0.05 in the multivariable logistic regression analysis were inferred to be significantly associated with length of stay.

Result

Out of 512 enrolled participants, 495 were participated with a response rate of 96.7%. The prevalence of prolonged length of stay in the adult emergency department was 46.5% (95%CI: 42.1, 51.1). Lack of insurance (AOR: 2.11; 95% CI: 1.22, 3.65), non-communicative presentation (AOR: 1.98; 95% CI: 1.07, 3.68), delayed consultation (AOR: 9.5; 95% CI: 5.00, 18.03), overcrowding (AOR: 4.98; 95% CI: 2.13, 11.68), and shift change experience (AOR: 3.67; 95% CI: 1.30, 10.37) were significantly associated with prolonged length of stay.

Conclusion

The result of this study is found to be high based on Ethiopian target emergency department patient length of stay. Lack of insurance, presentation without communication, delayed consultation, overcrowding, and shift change experience were significant factors for prolonged emergency department length of stay. Therefore, interventions like expansion of organizational setup are needed to decrease the length of stay to an acceptable level.

Factors Affecting the Length of Stay in the Emergency Department in Psychiatric Emergency Patients in the COVID-19 Pandemic Context

To reduce overcrowding in emergency departments (ED), which is a serious international problem, it is important to reduce the length of ED stay (ED LOS) of emergency patients. In particular, due to the COVID 19 pandemic, psychiatric emergency patients spent much longer in ED. This study was conducted to identify the characteristics of psychiatric emergency patients who visited the ED during the COVID-19 pandemic and to identify factors affecting ED LOS. This retrospective study was conducted on adult patients aged 19 years or older who visited a psychiatric emergency center operated by an ED from 1 May 2020 to 31 April 2021 because of the COVID-19 pandemic. In this study, the average ED LOS of psychiatric emergency patients was 7.8 h. Factors affecting ED LOS for over 12 h were isolation (OR = 2.39, CI = 1.409-4.052), unaccompanied police officers (OR = 2.106, CI = 1.338-3.316), night-time visits (OR = 2.127, CI = 1.357-3.332), use of sedatives (OR = 1.671, CI = 1.030-2.713), and restraints (OR = 1.968, CI = 1.172-4.895). The ED LOS of psychiatric emergency patients is longer than that of general emergency patients, and a long ED LOS causes ED overcrowding. To reduce the ED LOS of psychiatric emergency patients, they must be accompanied by a police officer when visiting the ED, and the treatment process should be reorganized so that a psychiatrist can promptly intervene. Furthermore, it is necessary to reorganize the isolation guidelines and admission criteria for mental emergency patients.

Assessment of a novel continuous cleaning device using metatranscriptomics in diverse hospital environments

Introduction

Despite routine implementation of cleaning and disinfection practices in clinical healthcare settings, high-touch environmental surfaces and contaminated equipment often serve as reservoirs for the transmission of pathogens associated with healthcare-associated infections (HAIs).

Methods

The current study involved the analysis of high-touch surface swabs using a metatranscriptomic sequencing workflow (CSI-Dx™) to assess the efficacy of cleanSURFACES® technology in decreasing microbial burden by limiting re-contamination. This is a non-human single center study conducted in the Emergency Department (ED) and on an inpatient Oncology Ward of Walter Reed National Military Medical Center that have followed hygienic practices during the COVID-19 pandemic environment.

Results

Although there was no difference in observed microbial richness (two-tailed Wilcoxon test with Holm correction, P > 0.05), beta diversity findings identified shifts in microbial community structure between surfaces from baseline and post-intervention timepoints (Day 1, Day 7, Day 14, and Day 28). Biomarker and regression analyses identified significant reductions in annotated transcripts for various clinically relevant microorganisms' post-intervention, coagulase-negative staphylococci and Malassezia restricta, at ED and Oncology ward, respectively. Additionally, post-intervention samples predominantly consisted of Proteobacteria and to a lesser extent skin commensals and endogenous environmental microorganisms in both departments.

Discussion

Findings support the value of cleanSURFACES®, when coupled with routine disinfection practices, to effectively impact on the composition of active microbial communities found on high-touch surfaces in two different patient care areas of the hospital (one outpatient and one inpatient) with unique demands and patient-centered practices.

Impact of systematic medication review in emergency department on patients’ post-discharge outcomes—A randomized controlled clinical trial

Introduction

The main objective of this study was to investigate whether systematic medication review conducted by clinical pharmacists can impact clinical outcomes and post-discharge outcomes for patients admitted to the emergency department.

Method

This parallel group, non-blinded, randomized controlled trial was conducted in the emergency department, Diakonhjemmet Hospital, Oslo, Norway. The study was registered in ClinicalTrials.gov, Identifier: NCT03123640 in April 2017. From April 2017 to May 2018, patients ≥18 years were included and randomized (1:1) to intervention- or control group. The control group received standard care from emergency department physicians and nurses. In addition to standard care, the intervention group received systematic medication review including medication reconciliation conducted by pharmacists, during the emergency department stay. The primary outcome was proportion of patients with an unplanned contact with hospital within 12 months from inclusion stay discharge.

Results

In total, 807 patients were included and randomized, 1:1, to intervention or control group. After excluding 8 patients dying during hospital stay and 10 patients lacking Norwegian personal identification number, the primary analysis comprised 789 patients: 394 intervention group patients and 395 control group patients. Regarding the primary outcome, there was no significant difference in proportion of patients with an unplanned contact with hospital within 12 months after inclusion stay discharge between groups (51.0% of intervention group patients vs. 53.2% of control group patients, p = 0.546).

Conclusion

As currently designed, emergency department pharmacist-led medication review did not significantly influence clinical- or post-discharge outcomes. This study did, however pinpoint important practical implementations, which can be used to design tailored pharmacist-led interventions and workflow regarding drug-related issues in the emergency department setting.

Drug-related emergency department visits: prevalence and risk factors

The study aimed to investigate the prevalence of drug-related emergency department (ED) visits and associated risk factors. This retrospective cohort study was conducted in the ED, Diakonhjemmet Hospital, Oslo, Norway. From April 2017 to May 2018, 402 patients allocated to the intervention group in a randomized controlled trial were included in this sub-study. During their ED visit, these patients received medication reconciliation and medication review conducted by study pharmacists, in addition to standard care. Retrospectively, an interdisciplinary team assessed the reconciled drug list and identified drug-related issues alongside demographics, final diagnosis, and laboratory tests for all patients to determine whether their ED visit was drug-related. The study population's median age was 67 years (IQR 27, range 19-96), and patients used a median of 4 regular drugs (IQR 6, range 0-19). In total, 79 (19.7%) patients had a drug-related ED visits, and identified risk factors were increasing age, increasing number of regular drugs and medical referral reason. Adverse effects (72.2%) and non-adherence (16.5%) were the most common causes of drug-related ED visits. Antithrombotic agents were most frequently involved in drug-related ED visits, while immunosuppressants had the highest relative frequency. Only 11.4% of the identified drug-related ED visits were documented by physicians during ED/hospital stay. In the investigated population, 19.7% had a drug-related ED visit, indicating that drug-related ED visits are a major concern. If not recognized and handled, this could be a threat against patient safety. Identified risk factors can be used to identify patients in need of additional attention regarding their drug list during the ED visit.

Predicting Patient Length of Stay in Australian Emergency Departments Using Data Mining

Length of Stay (LOS) is an important performance metric in Australian Emergency Departments (EDs). Recent evidence suggests that an LOS in excess of 4 h may be associated with increased mortality, but despite this, the average LOS continues to remain greater than 4 h in many EDs. Previous studies have found that Data Mining (DM) can be used to help hospitals to manage this metric and there is continued research into identifying factors that cause delays in ED LOS. Despite this, there is still a lack of specific research into how DM could use these factors to manage ED LOS. This study adds to the emerging literature and offers evidence that it is possible to predict delays in ED LOS to offer Clinical Decision Support (CDS) by using DM. Sixteen potentially relevant factors that impact ED LOS were identified through a literature survey and subsequently used as predictors to create six Data Mining Models (DMMs). An extract based on the Victorian Emergency Minimum Dataset (VEMD) was used to obtain relevant patient details and the DMMs were implemented using the Weka Software. The DMMs implemented in this study were successful in identifying the factors that were most likely to cause ED LOS > 4 h and also identify their correlation. These DMMs can be used by hospitals, not only to identify risk factors in their EDs that could lead to ED LOS > 4 h, but also to monitor these factors over time.

Disparities in outcomes among patients diagnosed with cancer in proximity to an emergency department visit

A suspected diagnosis of cancer in the emergency department (ED) may be associated with poor outcomes, related to health disparities, however data are limited. This is a retrospective observational cohort of the Indiana State Department of Health Cancer Registry, and the Indiana Network for Patient Care. First time cancer diagnoses appearing in the registry between January 2013 and December 2017 were included. Cases identified as patients who had an ED visit in the 6 months before their cancer diagnosis; controls had no preceding ED visits. The primary outcome was mortality, comparing ED-associated mortality to non-ED-associated. 134,761 first-time cancer patients were identified, including 15,432 (11.5%) cases. The mean age was same at 65, more of the cases were Black than the controls (12.4% vs 7.4%, P < .0001) and more were low income (36.4%. vs 29.3%). The top 3 ED-associated cancer diagnoses were lung (18.4%), breast (8.9%), and colorectal cancers (8.9%), whereas the controls were breast (17%), lung (14.9%), and prostate cancers (10.1%). Cases observed an over three-fold higher mortality, with cumulative death rate of 32.9% for cases vs 9.0% for controls (P < .0001). Regression analysis predicting mortality, controlling for many confounders produced an odds ratio of 4.12 (95% CI 3.72-4.56 for cases). This study found that an ED visit within 6 months prior to the first time of ICD-coded cancer is associated with Black race, low income and an overall three-fold increased adjusted risk of death. The mortality rates for ED-associated cancers are uniformly worse for all cancer types. These data suggest that additional work is needed to reduce disparities among ED-associated cancer diagnoses.

Psychiatric patients at the emergency department: factors associated with length of stay and likelihood of hospitalization

Emergency department (ED) care for psychiatric patients is currently understudied despite being highly utilized. Therefore, we aimed to analyze psychiatric patients' length of stay (LOS) and LOS-related factors at the ED and to investigate and quantify the likelihood of being hospitalized after an emergency psychiatric evaluation. Charts of 408 individuals who sought help at the ED were retrospectively assessed to identify patients' sociodemographic and clinical data upon ED admission and discharge. All interventions performed at the ED (e.g., medications, hospitalization, clinical advice at discharge) were collected as well. The LOS for psychiatric patients was relatively short (6.5 h), and substance/alcohol intoxication was the main factor impacting LOS. Upon ED arrival, hospitalized patients were mostly men, most often had a yellow/severe triage code, and most often had a positive history of psychiatric illness, psychotic symptoms, euphoric mood, or suicidal ideation. Manic symptoms and suicidal ideation were the conditions most frequently leading to hospitalization. Given the paucity of real-world data on psychiatric patients' LOS and outcomes in the ED context, our findings show that psychiatric patients are evaluated in a reasonable amount of time. Their hospitalization is mostly influenced by clinical conditions rather than predisposing (e.g., age) or system-related factors (e.g., mode of arrival).

Comparing International Experiences With Electronic Health Records Among Emergency Medicine Physicians in the United States and Norway: Semistructured Interview Study

Background

The variability in physicians’ attitudes regarding electronic health records (EHRs) is widely recognized. Both human and technological factors contribute to user satisfaction. This exploratory study considers these variables by comparing emergency medicine physician experiences with EHRs in the United States and Norway.

Objective

This study is unique as it aims to compare individual experiences with EHRs. It creates an opportunity to expand perspective, challenge the unknown, and explore how this technology affects clinicians globally. Research often highlights the challenge that health information technology has created for users: Are the negative consequences of this technology shared among countries? Does it affect medical practice? What determines user satisfaction? Can this be measured internationally? Do specific factors account for similarities or differences? This study begins by investigating these questions by comparing cohort experiences. Fundamental differences between nations will also be addressed.

Methods

We used semistructured, participant-driven, in-depth interviews (N=12) for data collection in conjunction with ethnographic observations. The conversations were recorded and transcribed. Texts were then analyzed using NVivo software (QSR International) to develop codes for direct comparison among countries. Comprehensive understanding of the data required triangulation, specifically using thematic and interpretive phenomenological analysis. Narrative analysis ensured appropriate context of the NVivo (QSR International) query results.

Results

Each interview resulted in mixed discussions regarding the benefits and disadvantages of EHRs. All the physicians recognized health care’s dependence on this technology. In Norway, physicians perceived more benefits compared with those based in the United States. Americans reported fewer benefits and disproportionally high disadvantages. Both cohorts believed that EHRs have increased user workload. However, this was mentioned 2.6 times more frequently by Americans (United States [n=40] vs Norway [n=15]). Financial influences regarding health information technology use were of great concern for American physicians but rarely mentioned among Norwegian physicians (United States [n=37] vs Norway [n=6]). Technology dysfunctions were the most common complaint from Norwegian physicians. Participants from each country noted increased frustration among older colleagues.

Conclusions

Despite differences spanning geographical, organizational, and cultural boundaries, much is to be learned by comparing individual experiences. Both cohorts experienced EHR-related frustrations, although etiology differed. The overall number of complaints was significantly higher among American physicians. This study augments the idea that policy, regulation, and administration have compelling influence on user experience. Global EHR optimization requires additional investigation, and these results help to establish a foundation for future research.

Emergency department physicians' distribution of time in the fast paced-workflow-a novel time-motion study of drug-related activities

Background In the emergency department physicians are forced to distribute their time to ensure that all admitted patients receive appropriate emergency care. Previous studies have raised concerns about medication discrepancies in patient's drug lists at admission to the emergency department. Thus, it is important to study how emergency department physicians distribute their time, to highlight where workflow redesign can be needed.Aim to quantify how emergency department physicians distribute their time between various task categories, with particular focus on drug-related tasks.Method Direct observation, time-motion study of emergency department physicians at Diakonhjemmet Hospital, Oslo, Norway. Physicians' activities were categorized in discrete categories and data were collected with the validated method of Work Observation Method By Activity Timing between October 2018 to January 2019. Bootstrap analysis determined 95% confidence intervals for proportions and interruption rates.Results During the observation time of 91.4 h, 31 emergency department physicians were observed. In total, physicians spent majority of their time gathering information (36.5%), communicating (26.3%), and documenting (24.2%). Further, physicians spent 17.8% (95% CI 16.8%, 19.3%) of their time on drug-related tasks. On average, physicians spent 7.8 min (95% CI 7.2, 8.6) per hour to obtain and document patients' drug lists.Conclusion Emergency department physicians are required to conduct numerous essential tasks and distributes a minor proportion of their time on drug-related tasks. More efficient information flow regarding drugs should be facilitated at transitions of care. The presence of healthcare personnel dedicated to obtaining drug lists in the emergency department should be considered.

Advances in point-of-care testing for cardiovascular diseases

Point-of-care testing (POCT) is a specific format of diagnostic testing that is conducted without accompanying infrastructure or sophisticated instrumentation. Traditionally, such rapid sample-to-answer assays provide inferior analytical performances to their laboratory counterparts when measuring cardiac biomarkers. Hence, their potentially broad applicability is somewhat bound by their inability to detect clinically relevant concentrations of cardiac troponin (cTn) in the early stages of myocardial injury. However, the continuous refinement of biorecognition elements, the optimization of detection techniques, and the fabrication of tailored fluid handling systems to manage the sensing process has stimulated the production of commercial assays that can support accelerated diagnostic pathways. This review will present the latest commercial POC assays and examine their impact on clinical decision-making. The individual elements that constitute POC assays will be explored, with an emphasis on aspects that contribute to economically feasible and highly sensitive assays. Furthermore, the prospect of POCT imparting a greater influence on early interventions for medium to high-risk individuals and the potential to re-shape the paradigm of cardiovascular risk assessments will be discussed.

Exploring Potential Association Between Emergency Department Crowding Status and Patients' Length of Stay at a University Hospital in Saudi Arabia

Background

Emergency department (ED) crowding has been described as the most serious problem that endangers the reliability of healthcare system worldwide. The aim of this study was to explore the possible relationship of ED crowding status and length of stay in patient received care. In addition, association between LOS and other variables in relation to crowding status has been explored.

Methods

This is a retrospective cohort analysis study done by using dataset abstracted from Quadra Med Information System of patients visited emergency department of a tertiary university hospital at Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia during the period of January 1st, 2018 to December 30th, 2018. ED occupancy rates were used to define crowding status (as crowding and overcrowding), while the percentage of patient who spent in ED more than 6 hours was used to define the length of stay in ED.

Results

There were 53,309 crowded and 57,290 overcrowded presentations in ED. The median length ± interquartile range of the length of stay for low-crowded and high-crowded conditions were 211 ± 606 and 242 ± 659 minutes, respectively. There was a significant association between ED crowding status and length of stay (p < 0.05).

Conclusion

The increased patients' length of stay at ED was associated with crowding status of ED. Therefore, decision-makers at ministry of health should develop and implement measures and interventions to shed light on the causes of crowding, to reduce the crowding at ED, and resolve the problem steamed from such crowding for the purpose of shorten patients' length of stay at ED.

Areas of delay related to prolonged length of stay in an emergency department of an academic hospital in South Africa

Introduction

Globally, length of stay of patients in emergency departments remains a challenge. Remaining in the emergency department for >12 h increases health care costs, morbidity and mortality rates and leads to crowding and lower patient satisfaction.The aim of this research was to describe the areas of delay related to prolonged length of stay in the emergency department of an academic hospital.

Methods

A quantitative retrospective study was done. The Input-Throughput-Output model was used to identify the areas of patients' journey through the emergency department. The possible areas of delay where then described. Using systematic sampling, a total of 100 patient files managed in an emergency department of an academic hospital in South Africa were audited over a period of 3 months. Descriptive statistics and regression analysis was used to analyse data.

Results

The mean length of stay of patients in the emergency department was 73 h 49 min. The length of stay per phase was: input (3 h 17 min), throughput (16 h 25 min) and output (54 h 7 min). A strong significant relationship found between the length of stay and the time taken between disposition decision (throughput phase) disposition decision to admission or discharge of patients from the ED (output phase) (p < 0.05).

Conclusion

The output phase was identified as the longest area of delay in this study, with the time taken between disposition decision to admission or discharge of patients from the ED (patients waiting for inpatient beds) as the main significant area of delay.

Administration of Strategic Agreements in Public Hospitals: Considerations to Enhance the Quality and Sustainability of Mergers and Acquisitions

Merger processes between hospitals have high benefit potential for patients, staff and managers. This integration of health centres can improve the quality and safety in patient care. Additionally, cooperative processes enhance the sustainability of the health system, by increasing team spirit, giving innovative ideas and improving staff satisfaction. In this article, the critical factors for successful hospital mergers and acquisitions in the Public Health System were considered to develop a brief guide to help with the organisation of a merger process. Five sections were designed: Strategic administration and objectives, Staff management, New hospital complex structure, Processes and Results. This guide facilitates the communication between a variety of stakeholders, thus improving the engagement between all members of the new healthcare system. This could be particularly important for countries with large regional variance in the organisation of health care and resources.

Long emergency department length of stay: A concept analysis

INTRODUCTION

Emergency Department (ED) Length of stay (LOS) has been associated with poor patient outcomes, which has led to the implementation of time targets designed to keep EDLOS below a specific limit. The cut-offs defining long EDLOS varies across settings and seem to be arbitrarily chosen. This study aimed to clarify the meaning of long EDLOS.

METHODS

A concept analysis using the Walker and Avant approach was conducted. It included a literature search aiming to identify all uses of the concept, resulting in a set of defining attributes and a way of measuring the concept empirically.

RESULTS

Long EDLOS was primarily used as proxy for other phenomena, e.g. boarding or crowding. The definitions had cut-offs ranging between 4 and 48 h. The attributes defining long EDLOS was waiting, a crowded ED environment and an inefficient organization.

DISCUSSION

Time targets are probably more suitable when directed towards and tailored for specific sub-groups of the ED population.

Blood sampling during nurse triage reduces patient length of stay in the emergency department: A propensity score-weighted, population-based study

BACKGROUND

Increases in patients' length of stay (LOS) in the emergency department (ED) have led to overcrowding.

OBJECTIVES

In this study, the implementation of blood sampling during triage in lower priority level patients was assessed as a possible means to reduce LOS.

METHODS

A retrospective study was performed from January 2018 to January 2019. Lower priority level patients who required blood sampling for further diagnosis were considered. Patients who underwent blood sampling during triage evaluation were compared with those who underwent blood sampling after a physician's initial evaluation.

RESULTS

During the study period, 15,596 patients were enrolled. LOS was shorter in patients who underwent triage blood sampling, presenting a median value of 154 min in comparison with the 172 min recorded in the control group (p < 0.001). Using a propensity score-matching to control the two groups' differences, LOS remained lower in the triage-sampling group (151 vs. 175 min; p < 0.001). In the adjusted multivariate model, triage blood sampling was found to be an independent factor for a decrease in the LOS, with standardized coefficient β = 0.857 (0.822-0.894; p < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

Performing blood sampling during nurse triage can decrease LOS in ED and also reduce ED permanence after a physician's initial evaluation.