scholarly journals P121: A quality improvement project to improve medical imaging ordering workflow in the emergency department

CJEM ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 22 (S1) ◽  
pp. S108-S109
Author(s):  
J. Choi ◽  
R. Bhayana ◽  
D. Wang ◽  
E. Bartlett ◽  
R. Menezes

Background: Many computerized tomography (CT) scans ordered after-hours from the emergency department (ED) at our institution required a discussion between the emergency physician (EP) and radiology resident (RR), leading to workflow inefficiency. Aim Statement: The aim was to improve workflow efficiency and provider satisfaction, and reduce CT turnaround time, without significantly affecting CT utilization within six months. Measures & Design: We created a new workflow by creating an electronic list of ED CT requests that RRs monitor. RRs protocolled all requests and only called the ED physician for more details when required. The intervention was implemented in a stepwise fashion via plan-do-study-act cycles. An electronic survey measured qualitative outcomes, and quantitative outcomes were analyzed via statistical process control (SPC) charts and other statistical methods. Evaluation/Results: Survey response was high (76% EP, 79% RR). Most EPs and RRs felt more efficient (96.3%, 73.3%), RRs felt fewer disruptions (83.3%), and most EPs felt that scans were done faster (84.1%). We analyzed CT turnaround times and utilization using SPC charts and segmented regression analyses. Turnaround time trended to improvement (33 mins vs 29 mins on weekdays [WD], 37 mins vs 33 on weekends [WE]), but was not statistically significant. There was background rising CT utilization over time (+0.7 and + 1.9 CT/100 ED visits/year on WD and WE, respectively, p < 0.0005), but the intervention itself did not cause a significant change. The total number of pages to RR (a measure of workflow disruption) decreased significantly on the WDs (23 vs 19 pages, p = 0.0011), but not on WE (79 vs 75 pages, p = 0.1663). However when adjusting for number of scans ordered, there was a decrease in paging rates (0.73 vs 0.54 pages per scan ordered on WD [p < 0.00005], 3.24 vs 2.63 pages per scan ordered on WE [p = 0.0012]). Discussion/Impact: Our intervention led to improved work satisfaction and perceived efficiency experienced by both EPs and RRs. It did not statistically significantly affect imaging turnaround times or utilization rates. Our project shows that calling for preapproval of imaging studies does not seem to provide any benefit in our setting.

2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
pp. e000969
Author(s):  
Rajesh Bhayana ◽  
Chenhan D Wang ◽  
Ravi J Menezes ◽  
Eric S Bartlett ◽  
Joseph Choi

Ordering and protocolling CT scans after-hours from the emergency department (ED) at our institution previously required discussion between the ED physician and radiology resident, which led to workflow inefficiency. Our intervention consisted of creating an electronic list of CT requests that radiology residents would monitor. Radiology protocolled straightforward requests and contacted the ordering physician for more details when required. We aimed to improve workflow efficiency, increase provider satisfaction and reduce CT turnaround time without significantly affecting CT utilisation. Plan-do-study-act cycles were used to plan and evaluate the intervention. The intervention was initiated on weekday evenings and then expanded to weekend hours after an interim analysis. Qualitative outcomes were measured via electronic survey, and quantitative outcomes were collected from administrative data and analysed via control charts and other statistical methods. Survey response was high from ED physicians (76%, n=82/108) and radiology residents (79%, n=30/38). After the intervention, the majority of ED staff and radiology residents perceived improved workflow efficiency (96.3%, 73.3%), radiology residents noted a subjective decrease in disruptions (83.3%) and most ED staff felt that scans were performed more quickly (84.1%). Radiology residents received fewer pages per shift, adjusted for scan volume. There was a reduction in time from order entry to protocol on weekday shifts only, with no statistically significant effect on time from order entry to scan. Segmented regression analysis demonstrated a background increase in utilisation over time (0.7–2.0 CT/100 ED visits/year, p<0.0005), but the intervention itself did not contribute to an overall increase in CT utilisation. In conclusion, our intervention led to improved perceived workflow efficiency and reduced pages. Scans were protocoled more quickly on weekdays, but turnaround times were otherwise not significantly affected by the intervention. Background CT utilisation increased over time, but this increase was not attributable to our intervention.


CJEM ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 15 (03) ◽  
pp. 161-166 ◽  
Author(s):  
Deljit Dhanoa ◽  
Kirsteen Rennie Burton ◽  
Lyne Noël de Tilly ◽  
Ravi J. Menezes

ABSTRACTObjective:To evaluate the impact of an emergency department (ED) automatic preauthorization policy on after-hours utilization of neuroradiology computed tomography (CT).Methods:All CT studies of the head with contrast facial bones, orbits, spine, and neck requested through the ED and performed between January 1, 2004, and December 31, 2010, were reviewed. The preauthorization policy was instituted on February 25, 2008. A control group of noncontrast CT head studies was used for comparison. Pre- and postpolicy implementation utilization rates were compared between the control group of noncontrast CT head studies and the study group neuroradiology CT studies.Results:During the study period, 408,501 ED patient visits occurred and 20,703 neuroradiology CT studies were carried out. The pre- and postimplementation groups of noncontrast CT head scans totalled 7,474 and 6,094, respectively, whereas the pre- and postimplementation groups of all other neuroradiology CT studies totalled 3,833 and 3,302, respectively. The CT utilization between the two groups did not differ significantly: the noncontrast head group pre- and postpolicy implementation increased by 0.31 to 3.41%, whereas the utilization of all other neuroradiology CT studies increased by 0.22 to 1.84% (pvalue = 0.061 for a difference between groups).Conclusion:Implementation of an automatic preauthorization policy for after-hours neuroradiology CT studies did not result in a statistically significant increase in CT utilization. This suggests that concerns regarding the negative effects of such policiesmay be unfounded, and further research in this area is warranted.


CJEM ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 22 (S1) ◽  
pp. S20-S20
Author(s):  
H. Weatherby ◽  
V. Woolner ◽  
L. Chartier ◽  
S. Casey ◽  
C. Ong ◽  
...  

Background: Hemolysis of blood samples is the leading cause of specimen rejection from hospital laboratories. It contributes to delays in patient care and disposition decisions. Coagulation tests (prothrombin time/international normalized ratio [PT/INR] and activated partial thromboplastin time [aPTT]) are especially problematic for hemolysis in our academic hospital, with at least one sample rejected daily from the emergency department (ED). Aim Statement: We aimed to decrease the monthly rate of hemolyzed coagulation blood samples sent from the ED from a rate of 2.9% (53/1,857) to the best practice benchmark of less than 2% by September 1st, 2019. Measures & Design: Our outcome measure was the rate of hemolyzed coagulation blood samples. Our process measure was the rate of coagulation blood tests sent per 100 ED visits. Our balancing measure was the number of incident reports by clinicians when expected coagulation testing did not occur. We used monthly data for our Statistical Process Control (SPC) charts, as well as Chi square and Mann-Whitney U tests for our before-and-after evaluation. Using the Model for Improvement to develop our project's framework, we used direct observation, broad stakeholder engagement, and process mapping to identify root causes. We enlisted nursing champions to develop our Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) cycles/interventions: 1) educating nurses on hemolysis and coagulation testing; 2) redesigning the peripheral intravenous and blood work supply carts to encourage best practice; and 3) removing PT/INR and aPTT from automatic inclusion in our electronic chest pain bloodwork panel. Evaluation/Results: The average rate of hemolysis remained unchanged from baseline (2.9%, p = 0.83). The average rate of coagulation testing sent per 100 ED visits decreased from 41.5 to 28.8 (absolute decrease 12.7 per 100, p < 0.05), avoiding $4,277 in monthly laboratory costs. The SPC chart of our process measure showed special cause variation with greater than eight points below the centerline. Discussion/Impact: Our project reduced coagulation testing, without changing hemolysis rates. Buy-in from frontline nurses was integral to the project's early success, prior to implementing our electronic approach – a solution ranked higher on the hierarchy of intervention effectiveness – to help sustainability. This resource stewardship project will now be spread to a nearby institution by utilizing similar approaches.


2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. e001123
Author(s):  
Tony Wan ◽  
Anna Rahmani ◽  
Michaela Hanakova ◽  
Hing Yi Wong ◽  
Glenyth Caragata ◽  
...  

Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is an acute medical condition that requires urgent diagnosis and treatment to prevent significant morbidity and mortality. Patients with DVT frequently present to the emergency department (ED) because the necessary diagnostic investigations and medical treatment for successful outpatient management are not readily accessible in the outpatient clinics. A collaborative quality improvement project was undertaken to implement and evaluate a standardised outpatient treatment pathway designed to direct patients with a newly diagnosed DVT from the ultrasound department to the thrombosis clinic, where guideline-based management for DVT can be accomplished without ED visits. During the baseline period (1 February 2017 to 31 January 2019), the number of ED visits for DVT was 383 with an average of 16 visits per month. During the intervention period (1 February 2019 to 31 January 2020), the number of ED visits for DVT was 106 with an average of 8.8 visits per month. This represents almost a 50% reduction in the average ED visits during the intervention period. A standardised outpatient treatment pathway can significantly reduce the number of ED visits in patients with DVT, potentially improving patient care and reducing ED overcrowding.


2020 ◽  
pp. 1-10
Author(s):  
Brittany M. Stopa ◽  
Maya Harary ◽  
Ray Jhun ◽  
Arun Job ◽  
Saef Izzy ◽  
...  

OBJECTIVETraumatic brain injury (TBI) is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in the US, but the true incidence of TBI is unknown.METHODSThe National Trauma Data Bank National Sample Program (NTDB NSP) was queried for 2007 and 2013, and population-based weighted estimates of TBI-related emergency department (ED) visits, hospitalizations, and deaths were calculated. These data were compared to the 2017 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) report on TBI, which used the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project’s National (“Nationwide” before 2012) Inpatient Sample and National Emergency Department Sample.RESULTSIn the NTDB NSP the incidence of TBI-related ED visits was 59/100,000 in 2007 and 62/100,000 in 2013. However, in the CDC report there were 534/100,000 in 2007 and 787/100,000 in 2013. The CDC estimate for ED visits was 805% higher in 2007 and 1169% higher in 2013. In the NTDB NSP, the incidence of TBI-related deaths was 5/100,000 in 2007 and 4/100,000 in 2013. In the CDC report, the incidence was 18/100,000 in both years. The CDC estimate for deaths was 260% higher in 2007 and 325% higher in 2013.CONCLUSIONSThe databases disagreed widely in their weighted estimates of TBI incidence: CDC estimates were consistently higher than NTDB NSP estimates, by an average of 448%. Although such a discrepancy may be intuitive, this is the first study to quantify the magnitude of disagreement between these databases. Given that research, funding, and policy decisions are made based on these estimates, there is a need for a more accurate estimate of the true national incidence of TBI.


2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Rhonda J. Rosychuk ◽  
Jeff W.N. Bachman ◽  
Anqi Chen ◽  
X. Joan Hu

Abstract Background Administrative databases offer vast amounts of data that provide opportunities for cost-effective insights. They simultaneously pose significant challenges to statistical analysis such as the redaction of data because of privacy policies and the provision of data that may not be at the level of detail required. For example, ages in years rather than birthdates available at event dates can pose challenges to the analysis of recurrent event data. Methods Hu and Rosychuk provided a strategy for estimating age-varying effects in a marginal regression analysis of recurrent event times when birthdates are all missing. They analyzed emergency department (ED) visits made by children and youth and privacy rules prevented all birthdates to be released, and justified their approach via a simulation and asymptotic study. With recent changes in data access rules, we requested a new extract of data for April 2010 to March 2017 that includes patient birthdates. This allows us to compare the estimates using the Hu and Rosychuk (HR) approach for coarsened ages with estimates under the true, known ages to further examine their approach numerically. The performance of the HR approach under five scenarios is considered: uniform distribution for missing birthdates, uniform distribution for missing birthdates with supplementary data on age, empirical distribution for missing birthdates, smaller sample size, and an additional year of data. Results Data from 33,299 subjects provided 58,166 ED visits. About 67% of subjects had one ED visit and less than 9% of subjects made over three visits during the study period. Most visits (84.0%) were made by teenagers between 13 and 17 years old. The uniform distribution and the HR modeling approach capture the main trends over age of the estimates when compared to the known birthdates. Boys had higher ED visit frequencies than girls in the younger ages whereas girls had higher ED visit frequencies than boys for the older ages. Including additional age data based on age at end of fiscal year did not sufficiently narrow the widths of potential birthdate intervals to influence estimates. The empirical distribution of the known birthdates was close to a uniform distribution and therefore, use of the empirical distribution did not change the estimates provided by assuming a uniform distribution for the missing birthdates. The HR approach performed well for a smaller sample size, although estimates were less smooth when there were very few ED visits at some younger ages. When an additional year of data is added, the estimates become better at these younger ages. Conclusions Overall the Hu and Rosychuk approach for coarsened ages performed well and captured the key features of the relationships between ED visit frequency and covariates.


2017 ◽  
Vol 4 (suppl_1) ◽  
pp. S333-S334
Author(s):  
So Lim Kim ◽  
Angela Everett ◽  
Susan J Rehm ◽  
Steven Gordon ◽  
Nabin Shrestha

Abstract Background Outpatient parenteral antimicrobial therapy (OPAT) carries risk of vascular access complications, antimicrobial adverse effects, and worsening of infection. Both OPAT-related and unrelated events may lead to emergency department (ED) visits. The purpose of this study was to describe adverse events that result in ED visits and risk factors associated with ED visits during OPAT. Methods OPAT courses between January 1, 2013 and December 31, 2016 at Cleveland Clinic were identified from the institution’s OPAT registry. ED visits within 30 days of OPAT initiation were reviewed. Reasons and potential risk factors for ED visits were sought in the medical record. Results Among 11,440 OPAT courses during the study period, 603 (5%) were associated with 1 or more ED visits within 30 days of OPAT initiation. Mean patient age was 58 years and 57% were males. 379 ED visits (49%) were OPAT-related; the most common visit reason was vascular access complication, which occurred in 211 (56%) of OPAT-related ED visits. The most common vascular access complications were occlusion and dislodgement, which occurred in 99 and 34 patients (47% and 16% of vascular access complications, respectively). In a multivariable logistic regression model, at least one prior ED visit in the preceding year (prior ED visit) was most strongly associated with one or more ED visits during an OPAT course (OR 2.96, 95% CI 2.38 – 3.71, p-value &lt; 0.001). Other significant factors were younger age (p 0.01), female sex (p 0.01), home county residence (P &lt; 0.001), and having a PICC (p 0.05). 549 ED visits (71%) resulted in discharge from the ED within 24 hours, 18 (2%) left against medical advice, 46 (6%) were observed up to 24 hours, and 150 ED visits (20%) led to hospital admission. Prior ED visit was not associated with hospital admission among patients who visited the ED during OPAT. Conclusion OPAT-related ED visits are most often due to vascular access complications, especially line occlusions. Patients with a prior ED visit in the preceding year have a 3-fold higher odds of at least one ED visit during OPAT compared with patients without a prior ED visit. A strategy of managing occlusions at home and a focus on patients with prior ED visits could potentially prevent a substantial proportion of OPAT-related ED visits. Disclosures All authors: No reported disclosures.


2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (20) ◽  
Author(s):  
Akshay Pendyal ◽  
Craig Rothenberg ◽  
Jean E. Scofi ◽  
Harlan M. Krumholz ◽  
Basmah Safdar ◽  
...  

Background Despite investments to improve quality of emergency care for patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI), few studies have described national, real‐world trends in AMI care in the emergency department (ED). We aimed to describe trends in the epidemiology and quality of AMI care in US EDs over a recent 11‐year period, from 2005 to 2015. Methods and Results We conducted an observational study of ED visits for AMI using the National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey, a nationally representative probability sample of US EDs. AMI visits were classified as ST‐segment–elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) and non‐STEMI. Outcomes included annual incidence of AMI, median ED length of stay, ED disposition type, and ED administration of evidence‐based medications. Annual ED visits for AMI decreased from 1 493 145 in 2005 to 581 924 in 2015. Estimated yearly incidence of ED visits for STEMI decreased from 1 402 768 to 315 813. The proportion of STEMI sent for immediate, same‐hospital catheterization increased from 12% to 37%. Among patients with STEMI sent directly for catheterization, median ED length of stay decreased from 62 to 37 minutes. ED administration of antithrombotic and nonaspirin antiplatelet agents rose for STEMI (23%–31% and 10%–27%, respectively). Conclusions National, real‐world trends in the epidemiology of AMI in the ED parallel those of clinical registries, with decreases in AMI incidence and STEMI proportion. ED care processes for STEMI mirror evolving guidelines that favor high‐intensity antiplatelet therapy, early invasive strategies, and regionalization of care.


2019 ◽  
Vol 2019 ◽  
pp. 1-4 ◽  
Author(s):  
David I. Zimmer ◽  
Ross McCauley ◽  
Varun Konanki ◽  
Joseph Dynako ◽  
Nuha Zackariya ◽  
...  

Background. Chronic cannabis use has become prevalent with decriminalization, medical prescription, and recreational legalization in numerous US states. With this increasing incidence of chronic cannabis use a new clinical syndrome has become apparent in emergency departments and hospitals across the country, termed Cannabinoid Hyperemesis (CH). CH has been described as cyclical vomiting and abdominal pain in the setting of chronic cannabis use, which is often temporarily relieved by hot showers. CH presents a diagnostic challenge to clinicians who do not have a high clinical suspicion for the syndrome and can result in high costs and resource utilization for hospitals and patients. This study investigates the expenditures associated with delayed CH evaluation and delayed diagnosis. Methods. This is a retrospective observational study of 17 patients diagnosed with CH at three medical centers in the United States from 2010 to 2015, consisting of two academic centers and a community hospital. Emergency department (ED) costs were calculated and analyzed for patients eventually diagnosed with CH. Results. For the 17 patients treated, the total cost for combined ED visits and radiologic evaluations was an average of $76,920.92 per patient. On average these patients had 17.9 ED visits before the diagnosis of CH was made. Conclusion. CH provides a diagnostic challenge to clinicians without a high suspicion of the syndrome and may become increasingly prevalent with current trends toward cannabis legalization. The diagnosis of CH can be made primarily through a thorough history and physical examination. Awareness of this syndrome can save institutions money, prevent inappropriate utilization of healthcare resources, and save patients from unnecessary diagnostic tests.


BMJ Open ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (12) ◽  
pp. e040272
Author(s):  
Catherine Laferté ◽  
Andréa Dépelteau ◽  
Catherine Hudon

ObjectiveTo review all studies having examined the association between patients with physical injuries and frequent emergency department (ED) attendance or return visits.DesignSystematic review.Data sourceMedline, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL) and PsycINFO databases were searched up to and including July 2019.Eligibility criteriaEnglish and French language publications reporting on frequent use of ED services (frequent attendance and return visits), evaluating injured patients and using regression analysis.Data extraction and synthesisTwo independent reviewers screened the search results, and assessed methodological quality using the Joanna Briggs Institute tool for prevalence studies. Results were collated and summarised using a narrative synthesis. A sensitivity analysis was performed to evaluate the repercussions of removing a study that did not meet the quality criteria.ResultsOf the 2184 studies yielded by this search, 1957 remained after the removal of duplicates. Seventy-eight studies underwent full-text screening leaving nine that met the eligibility criteria and were included in this study: five retrospective cohort studies; two prospective cohort studies; one cross-sectional study; and one case-control study. Different types of injuries were represented, including fractures, trauma and physical injuries related to falls, domestic violence or accidents. Sample sizes ranged from 200 to 1 259 809. Six studies included a geriatric population while three addressed a younger population. Of the four studies evaluating the relationship between injuries and frequent ED use, three reported an association. Additionally, of the five studies in which the dependent variable was return ED visits, three articles identified a positive association with injuries.ConclusionsPhysical injuries appear to be associated with frequent use of ED services (frequent ED attendance as well as return ED visits). Further research into factors including relevant youth-related covariates such as substance abuse and different types of traumas should be undertaken to bridge the gap in understanding this association.


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