scholarly journals Effect of Triage Nurse Initiated Radiography Using the Ottawa Ankle Rules on Emergency Department Length of Stay at a Tertiary Centre

CJEM ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 18 (2) ◽  
pp. 90-97 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wailliam W. Lee ◽  
Lyne Filiatrault ◽  
Riyad B. Abu-Laban ◽  
Anita Rashidi ◽  
Lawrence Yau ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Emergency Department ◽  
Length Of Stay ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Tertiary Care ◽  
Local Context ◽  
Power Calculation ◽  
Triage Nurse ◽  
Tertiary Care Centre ◽  
Tertiary Centre ◽  
Ottawa Ankle Rules

AbstractObjectiveTo determine the effect of triage nurse initiated radiographs using the Ottawa Ankle Rules (OAR) on emergency department (ED) throughput. We hypothesized OAR use would reduce median ED length of stay (LOS) by 25 minutes or more.MethodsA randomized controlled trial was conducted at a tertiary centre ED with an annual census of over 90,000 patients. Adult patients presenting within 10 days of isolated blunt ankle trauma were eligible. Participants were randomly assigned to standard triage or OAR application by 15 explicitly trained triage nurses. Our primary outcome was ED LOS. Secondary outcomes included triage nurses' and patients’ satisfaction. A power calculation indicated 142 patients were required. The Mann-Whitney U test was used to compare the medians between the two groups.ResultsOf 176 patients with blunt ankle injury screened, 146 were enrolled (83.0%); baseline characteristics in the two groups were similar. The median/mean ED LOS in the control and OAR groups were 128/143 minutes and 108/115 minutes respectively (median difference 20 minutes; p=0.003). Agreement in OAR use between emergency physicians and nurses was moderate (kappa 0.46/0.77 for foot/ankle rule components), and satisfaction of both nurses and participants was high.ConclusionTriage nurse initiated radiography using OAR leads to a statistically significant decrease of 20 minutes in the median ED LOS at a tertiary care centre. The overall impact of implementing such a process is likely site-specific, and the decision to do so should involve consideration of the local context.

scholarly journals Rapid Multiplex Testing for Upper Respiratory Pathogens in the Emergency Department: A Randomized Controlled Trial

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Larissa May ◽  
Grant Tatro ◽  
Eduard Poltavskiy ◽  
Benjamin Mooso ◽  
Simson Hon ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Emergency Department ◽  
Length Of Stay ◽  
Usual Care ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Antibiotic Use ◽  
Respiratory Pathogens ◽  
Upper Respiratory Tract ◽  
Upper Respiratory ◽  
Tract Infections ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Background Acute upper respiratory tract infections are a common cause of Emergency Department (ED) visits and often result in unnecessary antibiotic treatment.  Methods We conducted a randomized clinical trial to evaluate the impact of a rapid, multi-pathogen respiratory panel (RP) test versus usual care (control). Patients were eligible if they were ≥12 months old, had symptoms of upper respiratory infection or influenza like illness, and were not on antibiotics. The primary outcome was antibiotic prescription; secondary outcomes included antiviral prescription, disposition, and length of stay (ClinicalTrials.gov# NCT02957136). Results Of 191 patients enrolled, 93 (49%) received RP testing; 98 (51%) received usual care. Fifty-three (57%) RP and 7 (7%) control patients had a virus detected and reported during the ED visit (p=0.0001). Twenty (22%) RP patients and 33 (34%) usual care patients received antibiotics during the ED visit (-12% [95% CI -25%, 0.4%]; p=0.06/0.08); 9 RP patients received antibiotics despite having a virus detected. The magnitude of antibiotic reduction was greater in children (-19%) versus adults (-9%; post-hoc analysis). There was no difference in antiviral use, length of stay, or disposition. Conclusions Rapid RP testing was associated with a trend towards decreased antibiotic use, suggesting a potential benefit from more rapid viral tests in the ED. Future studies should determine if specific groups are more likely to benefit from testing and evaluate relative cost and effectiveness of broad testing, focused testing, and a combined diagnostic and antimicrobial stewardship approach.

scholarly journals A Study on Shock Index in Early Diagnosis of Sepsis in Emergency Department of Tertiary Care Centre of Nepal

2019 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 37-42
Author(s):  
Manish Nath Pant ◽  
Subash Dawadi ◽  
Ashish Thapa
Keyword(s):  
Emergency Department ◽  
Heart Rate ◽  
Severe Sepsis ◽  
Early Diagnosis ◽  
Blood Lactate ◽  
Lactate Level ◽  
Tertiary Care ◽  
Serum Lactate ◽  
Shock Index ◽  
Tertiary Care Centre

Introduction: Sepsis and its consequences, severe sepsis and septic shock is at menace in country like ours where infectious disease are at toll. Early diagnosis and treatment is very important to decrease the morbidity and mortality. Shock index is one of such tool that is very handy in these situations as this is just a mathematical calculation using heart rate(HR) and systolic blood pressure(SBP). The main aim of this study was to find the effectiveness of using SI as an adjunct to blood lactate in diagnosing patients in sepsis. Methods: This was an observational hospital-based study conducted at Emergency Department of TUTH, Maharajgunj on 104 patients, obtained by purposive sampling method, who had presented to the “Red Area”, aged between 18 to 65 years. These patients were screened for severe sepsis using triage vital signs, basic laboratory tests and an initial serum lactate level. Test characteristics were calculated for hyperlactatemia. I considered the following covariates in our analysis: heart rate >90 beats/min; mean arterial pressure <65 mmHg; respiratory rate > 20 breaths/min; ≥2 SIRS including white blood cell count; SI <0.6; SI 0.6 to 1; SI 1 to 1.4and SI ≥ 1.4.  Results: There was a positive correlation between shock index and blood lactate level, r=0.2, n=104, p=0.042. No relationship was found between SI>=1 and hyperlactemia, X2 (.285, N = 104) = 1, p =.594 and relationship was found between SI >=0.7 and hyperlactemia, X2 (4.1, N = 104) = 1, p =.04. sensitivity and specificity for detecting hyperlactemia of SI>=1, SI.=0.7, SIRS was 84% and 20%, 93% and 0%, 79% and 20% respectively. Conclusions: There was weak correlation between the lactate level and shock index with statistically significant correlation between the shock index grouped >=0.7 and hyperlactatemia with high sensitivity and very low specificity.

scholarly journals Towards more patient-centred endometriosis care: a cross-sectional survey using the ENDOCARE questionnaire

2020 ◽  
Vol 2020 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
A M F Schreurs ◽  
M van Hoefen Wijsard ◽  
E A F Dancet ◽  
S Apers ◽  
W K H Kuchenbecker ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Tertiary Care ◽  
Diagnostic Delay ◽  
Care Centre ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Tertiary Care Centre ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Tertiary Centre ◽  
Validated Questionnaire ◽  
Physical Comfort ◽  
Patient Centredness

Abstract STUDY QUESTION What is the performance of the patient-centredness of endometriosis care in a secondary and a tertiary care setting and how can it be improved? SUMMARY ANSWER Overall, patient-centredness was comparable in the two endometriosis care centres, but differed regarding ‘physical comfort’ and ‘continuity and transition’; both centres can learn how to improve several of their targets from the other’s strengths. WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY The ENDOCARE questionnaire (ECQ) is a validated questionnaire for assessing the important quality dimension ‘patient-centredness’. Patient-centredness is associated with quality of life, although this should be explored further by larger-scale studies. STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATION A cross-sectional survey, relying on the ECQ, was performed (during 2015 and 2016) among 407 women with surgically diagnosed endometriosis. PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODS This study was conducted in a secondary and a tertiary care centre in the Netherlands. A total of 209 Dutch-speaking women who had endometriosis surgery (2013–2014), completed the ECQ after a postal invitation and, if needed, postal reminders. The assessed outcomes were: overall patient-centredness, the patient-centredness for each of its 10 dimensions, and the patient-centred strengths and targets for improvement. Case-mix adjusted patient-centredness scores (PCS) were compared and strengths and targets for improvement were identified with a matrix modelling importance against experience. The need to improve the targets was quantified with quality impact indices. MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE No difference was demonstrated between the overall PCS of the secondary and tertiary centres (respectively: 4.8 and 4.5; P = 0.15). No difference was found in PCS per dimension between the two clinics except for the secondary care centre performing better regarding ‘physical comfort’ (respectively: 4.5 and 3.0; P = 0.01) and ‘continuity and transition’ (respectively: 6.0 and 4.2; P = 0.01). The two centres had nine targets for improvement in common. The secondary and tertiary centres, respectively, had five and seven additional centre-specific targets for improvement. Cross-centre learning is encouraged as 9 out the 12 additional centre-specific targets were strengths in the other centre. The main improvement targets were being able to contact the centre in case of emergency (both centres), the involvement of a significant other (secondary centre), diagnostic delay (secondary centre), personal follow-up (tertiary centre) and disclosing the level of competence of healthcare providers (tertiary centre). LIMITATIONS, REASON FOR CAUTION Responders did not differ from non-responders in their stage of endometriosis, educational level, rating of endometriosis care and degree to which their complaints are suppressed. Endometriosis is a chronic condition and patient-centredness might be experienced differently at other points of the endometriosis care trajectory. WIDER IMPLICATION OF THE FINDINGS The ECQ is a useful tool to assess patient-centredness in both secondary and tertiary care centres. Further research should focus on how to improve endometriosis care. STUDY FUNDING/COMPETING INTEREST(S) No external funding was used. V.M. and C.B.L. report grants from Guerbet, grants from Merck and grants from Ferring outside the submitted work. All authors declare that they have no competing interests concerning this publication.

scholarly journals P060: Cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome presentation to the emergency department: a two-year multi-centre retrospective study

CJEM ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 18 (S1) ◽  
pp. S98-S99 ◽  
Author(s):  
J.M. Hernandez ◽  
J. Paty ◽  
I. Price
Keyword(s):  
Emergency Department ◽  
Tertiary Care ◽  
Case Series ◽  
Kappa Statistic ◽  
Cannabis Use ◽  
Data Abstraction ◽  
Tertiary Care Centre ◽  
Associated Symptoms ◽  
Cannabinoid Hyperemesis Syndrome ◽  
Ed Visits

Introduction: Cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome (CHS) is a paradoxical side effect of cannabis use. Patients with CHS often present multiple times to the Emergency Department (ED) with cyclical nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain, and are discharged with various misdiagnoses. CHS studies to date are limited to case series. We examined the epidemiology of CHS cases presenting to two major urban Tertiary Care Centre EDs. Methods: Using explicit variables, trained abstractors, and standardized abstraction forms, we abstracted data for all adults (18-55 years) with a presenting complaint of vomiting, and/or a discharge diagnosis of vomiting and/or cyclical vomiting, during a 2-year period. Inter-rater agreement was measured using a kappa statistic. Results: We identified 494 cases: mean age 31 years; 36% male; only 19.4% of charts specifically reported cannabis use. Among the regular cannabis users (>3 times per week), 43% had repeat ED visits for similar complaints. Interestingly, of these patients, 92% had bloodwork done in the ED, 92% received IV fluids, 89% received anti-emetics, 27% received opiates, 19% underwent imaging, 8% were admitted to hospital, and 8% were referred to the Gastroentorology service. Inter-rater reliability for data abstraction was kappa = 1. Conclusion: This study suggests CHS may be an overlooked diagnosis for nausea and vomiting, a factor which can possibly contribute to unnecessary investigations and treatment in the ED. Additionally, this indicates a lack of screening for CHS on ED history, especially in quantifying cannabis use and eliciting associated symptoms of CHS.

scholarly journals P139: The impact of a pancreatitis admission algorithm on emergency department length of stay in a tertiary care academic hospital

CJEM ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 22 (S1) ◽  
pp. S114-S115
Author(s):  
A. Albina ◽  
F. Kegel ◽  
F. Dankoff ◽  
G. Clark
Keyword(s):  
Emergency Department ◽  
Length Of Stay ◽  
Tertiary Care ◽  
Physician Satisfaction ◽  
Academic Hospital ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Potential Applicability ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Algorithm Implementation ◽  
The Impact

Background: Emergency department (ED) overcrowding is associated with a broad spectrum of poor medical outcomes, including medical errors, mortality, higher rates of leaving without being seen, and reduced patient and physician satisfaction. The largest contributor to overcrowding is access block – the inability of admitted patients to access in-patient beds from the ED. One component to addressing access block involves streamlining the decision process to rapidly determine which hospital service will admit the patient. Aim Statement: As of Sep 2011, admission algorithms at our institution were supported and formalised. The pancreatitis algorithm clarified whether general surgery or internal medicine would admit ED patients with pancreatitis. We hypothesize that this prior uncertainty delayed the admission decision and prolonged ED length of stay (LOS) for patients with pancreatitis. Our project evaluates whether implementing a pancreatitis admission algorithm at our institution reduced ED time to disposition (TTD) and LOS. Measures & Design: A retrospective review was conducted in a tertiary care academic hospital in Montreal for all adult ED patients diagnosed with pancreatitis from Apr 2010 to Mar 2014. The data was used to plot separate run charts for ED TTD and LOS. Serial measurements of each outcome were used to monitor change and evaluate for special cause variation. The mean ED LOS and TTD before and after algorithm implementation were also compared using the Student's t test. Evaluation/Results: Over four years, a total of 365 ED patients were diagnosed with pancreatitis and 287 (79%) were admitted. The mean ED LOS for patients with pancreatitis decreased following the implementation of an admission algorithm (1616 vs. 1418 mins, p = 0.05). The mean ED TTD was also reduced (1171 vs. 899 mins, p = 0.0006). A non-random signal of change was suggested by a shift above the median prior to algorithm implementation and one below the median following. Discussion/Impact: This project demonstrates that in a busy tertiary care academic hospital, an admission algorithm helped reduce ED TTD and LOS for patients with pancreatitis. This proves especially valuable when considering the potential applicability of such algorithms to other disease processes, such as gastrointestinal bleeding and congestive heart failure, among others. Future studies demonstrating this external applicability, and the impact of such decision algorithms on physician decision fatigue and within non-academic institutions, proves warranted.

Intravenous dexketoprofen vs placebo for migraine attack in the emergency department: A randomized, placebo-controlled trial

Cephalalgia ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 36 (2) ◽  
pp. 179-184 ◽  
Author(s):  
Faruk Gungor ◽  
Kamil Can Akyol ◽  
Mustafa Kesapli ◽  
Ahmet Celik ◽  
Adeviye Karaca ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Emergency Department ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Tertiary Care ◽  
Study Drug ◽  
Final Analysis ◽  
Allocation Concealment ◽  
Double Blind Study ◽  
Care Hospital ◽  
Double Blind ◽  
Migraine Headaches

Objective Migraine is a leading headache etiology that frequently presents to the emergency department (ED). In the present study, we aimed to determine the efficacy of dexketoprofen in aborting migraine headaches in the ED. Methods This prospective, randomized, double-blind study was conducted in an ED of a tertiary care hospital using allocation concealment. Patients were allocated into two arms to receive the study drug; 50 mg dexketoprofen in 50 ml saline and 50 ml saline as placebo. Change in pain intensity was measured by the visual analog scale at baseline, both at 30 and 45 minutes after the study medication was administered. Rescue medication requirement and pain relapse were also recorded by a telephone follow-up at 48 hours. Results A total of 224 patients (112 in each group) were included into the final analysis. Mean age of the study participants was 37 ± 11 (SD) and 25% ( n = 56) of them were male. The median pain improvement at 45 minutes for patients receiving dexketoprofen was 55 (IQR: 49 to 60) and 30 (IQR: 25 to 35) for those receiving placebo. The mean difference between the two groups at 45 minutes was 21.4 (95% CI: 14.4. to 28.5). Rescue drugs were needed in 22.3% of patients who received dexketoprofen compared to 55.4% in patients who received placebo (dif: 33.1%; 95% CI: 20% to 45%). There were no adverse events reported in either group during the study period. Conclusion Intravenous dexketoprofen is superior to placebo in relieving migraine headaches in the ED. It may be a suitable therapy with minimum side effects in patients presenting with a migraine headache to the ED.

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