scholarly journals LO37: Reducing hemolysis of coagulation blood samples in the emergency department

CJEM ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 22 (S1) ◽  
pp. S20-S20
Author(s):  
H. Weatherby ◽  
V. Woolner ◽  
L. Chartier ◽  
S. Casey ◽  
C. Ong ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Emergency Department ◽  
Best Practice ◽  
Average Rate ◽  
International Normalized Ratio ◽  
Chi Square ◽  
Statistical Process ◽  
Blood Samples ◽  
Process Measure ◽  
Coagulation Testing ◽  
Ed Visits

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.

The Affordable Care Act and emergency department use by low acuity patients in a US hospital

2020 ◽  
pp. 095148482094359
Author(s):  
Daniel Keyes ◽  
Hisham Valiuddin ◽  
Hassan Mouzaihem ◽  
Patrick Stone ◽  
Jaqueline Vidosh
Keyword(s):  
Emergency Department ◽  
Affordable Care Act ◽  
Cohort Analysis ◽  
Severity Index ◽  
Chi Square ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Primary Care Patients ◽  
Ed Visits ◽  
The Affordable Care Act ◽  
Status Data

Background The Affordable Care Act (ACA) is one of the biggest healthcare reforms in US history. A key issue is the ACAs effect on low acuity, potentially primary care patients. This study evaluates the effect of the ACA on low acuity patients seen in the emergency department (ED). Methods This is an age-period-cohort analysis for a community hospital ED in Michigan, from 2009 to 2015. Patients were stratified by age, year seen, emergency severity index (ESI) and insurance status. Data were compared between before and after ACA along with descriptive statistics, Chi-square and Student t-tests. The primary outcome was the change in ED usage by low acuity. Patients > 65 were used as a temporal control. Results 305,350 ED visits were analyzed. ED visits with ESI 4/5 increased from 11.9% to 14.8%. Patients < 19 years increased from 25.5% to 34.3% (p = .0026). Ages 19–25 increased from 16.3% to 19.7% (p = 0.0515). Ages 26–64 increased from 11% to 14.9% (p = 0.0129). Ages > 65 increased from 5.1% to 6.5%. Patients < 65 showed a decreased uninsured rate from 12.30% to 6.28% (p < 0.0001). Comparatively, for age > 65: uninsured rate remained the same 0.46% to 0.49%. Conclusion Low acuity ED visits increased with the ACA reform in conjunction with a more insured population.

scholarly journals P.119 Emergency Department Use in Children with Cerebral Palsy: A Data Linkage Study

2021 ◽  
Vol 48 (s3) ◽  
pp. S53-S53
Author(s):  
O Fortin ◽  
P Ng ◽  
M Dorais ◽  
L Koclas ◽  
N Pigeon ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Emergency Department ◽  
Cerebral Palsy ◽  
Low Socioeconomic Status ◽  
Motor Impairment ◽  
Linkage Study ◽  
Administrative Databases ◽  
Chi Square ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Children With Cerebral Palsy ◽  
Ed Visits

Background: Improved understanding of factors predictive of emergency department (ED) visits in children with cerebral palsy (CP) can help optimize healthcare use. We sought to identify the pattern of ED consultations in these children. Methods: Data from the Registre de paralysie cérébrale du Québec and provincial administrative databases were linked. The CP cohort was comprised of children born between 1999 and 2002. Data pertaining to ED presentations between 1999 and 2012 were obtained. Relative risks were calculated to identify factors associated with increased ED visits. Peers without CP were selected from administrative databases and matched in a 20:1 ratio. Chi-square tests and Student’s T-tests were used to compare the two cohorts. Results: 301 children with CP and 6040 peer controls were selected. Ninety-two percent (92%) of the CP cohort had at least one ED visit, compared to 74% amongst controls. Children with CP had an increased risk of high ED use compared to peers (RR 1.40 95% CI 1.30-1.52). Factors predictive of high ED use were comorbid epilepsy, severe motor impairment and low socioeconomic status. Conclusions: Children with CP have a higher need for urgent health assessments than their peers, resulting in increased use of ED services. System factors and barriers should be investigated.

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
Keyword(s):  
Emergency Department ◽  
Turnaround Time ◽  
Radiology Resident ◽  
Statistical Process ◽  
Improvement Project ◽  
Electronic Survey ◽  
Ct Utilization ◽  
Workflow Efficiency ◽  
Ed Visits ◽  
After Hours

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.

scholarly journals Effect of a Resident Physician Educational Program on Pediatric Emergency Department Pharmacy Interventions and Medication Errors

2013 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
pp. 53-62
Author(s):  
Megan E. Foster ◽  
Donald E. Lighter ◽  
Ashok V. Godambe ◽  
Brandon Edgerson ◽  
Randy Bradley ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Emergency Department ◽  
Medication Errors ◽  
Educational Program ◽  
Adverse Drug Events ◽  
Pediatric Emergency ◽  
Resident Physician ◽  
Pediatric Emergency Department ◽  
Chi Square ◽  
Statistical Process ◽  
Pharmacy Interventions

PURPOSE To determine the effects of a resident physician educational program in a pediatric emergency department (ED) on pharmacy interventions and medication errors, particularly dose adjustments, order clarifications, and adverse drug events (ADE). METHODS The ED pharmacist recorded all interventions and medication errors on weekdays from 3 to 11 pm during a 9-month period, consisting of a preobservational (Quarter 1), observational (Quarter 2), and interventional (Quarter 3) phases. Program implementation occurred in Quarter 3, with an initial 3-hour lecture during the ED orientation, followed by daily patient case discussions. Weekly interventions and errors were analyzed using statistical process control u-chart analyses. Chi-square analyses of independence were also performed. Resident and ED staff feedback on the program was obtained through anonymous internet-based surveys. RESULTS A total of 3507 interventions were recorded during the 9-month period. Chi-square approximation and interval estimation of odds ratio showed a statistically significant decrease between Quarters 1 and 3 in the number of dose adjustments (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.324–0.689) and order clarifications (95% CI, 0.137 to 0.382) after initiation of the program. The decline in ADE, while not as substantial (95% CI, 0.003 to 1.078), still achieved a level of significance (90% CI, 0.006 to 0.674). Survey results were positive toward the program. CONCLUSIONS The implementation of a resident physician educational program in our pediatric ED significantly decreased the number of medication errors, increased resident physician awareness of the potential for errors, and increased ED pharmacist utilization.

scholarly journals Reduced Emergency Department Utilization During the Early Phase of the COVID-19 Pandemic: Viral Fear or Lockdown Effect?

2020 ◽  
pp. 1-4
Author(s):  
Dennis G. Barten ◽  
Gideon H.P. Latten ◽  
Frits H.M. van Osch
Keyword(s):  
Primary Care ◽  
Emergency Department ◽  
Early Phase ◽  
Emergency Department Utilization ◽  
Primary Care System ◽  
Chi Square ◽  
Frontline Workers ◽  
Admission Rates ◽  
Ed Visits ◽  
Care System

ABSTRACT Objective: Since the beginning of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, several frontline workers have expressed their concerns about reduced emergency department (ED) utilization. We aimed to examine the changes in ED utilization during the early phase of the COVID-19 pandemic, in a country with a well-developed primary care system. Methods: A retrospective analysis of ED utilization was performed in 3 Dutch hospitals during a 60-day period, starting on February 15, 2020. The identical period in 2019 was used as a reference. ED visits were labeled as COVID-related (defined as COVID-19 suspected) or non-COVID-related. Admission rates were compared using chi-square tests, and the reduction in ED visits was assessed descriptively. Results: During the study period, daily ED volume was 18% lower compared to that of 2019. ED utilization further declined (-29%) during lockdown. Combined admission rates were higher in 2020 compared to those in 2019 (P < 0.001), and they were higher for COVID-19 versus non-COVID-19 ED visits (P < 0.001). Conclusions: ED utilization was markedly reduced during the local rise of COVID-19 in a region with a well-developed primary care system and relatively low ED self-referral rates. Although it cannot directly be concluded from the findings of our study, this observation likely reflects a complex interaction between pure lockdown effects and viral fear, which warrants further research.

scholarly journals MP36: Reducing utilization of unnecessary coagulation tests by emergency providers

CJEM ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 22 (S1) ◽  
pp. S55-S55
Author(s):  
R. Gupta ◽  
S. Mondoux ◽  
G. Rutledge
Keyword(s):  
Emergency Department ◽  
Chest Pain ◽  
Length Of Stay ◽  
Cost Reduction ◽  
Control Charts ◽  
Cost Savings ◽  
International Normalized Ratio ◽  
Provider Education ◽  
Statistical Process ◽  
Process Measures

Background: Curbing unnecessary laboratory testing represents a significant opportunity for cost reduction in the Canadian health care system. A Choosing Wisely report cited a 31% decline in the number of tests ordered in a Canadian emergency department (ED) after implementation of recommendations. The international normalized ratio (INR) remains frequently ordered in emergency departments without an appropriate indication. Aim Statement: We aimed to reduce the number of INR tests completed in the St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton Emergency Department by 50% by April 30, 2019. Measures & Design: We conducted the study in an urban, academic ED employing the Epic electronic health record (EHR). We tailored interventions according to the Hierarchy of Effectiveness to address root causes revealed by analysis of our baseline ordering behaviour. Interventions included provider education around evidence-based ordering indications and removal of the INR from our “chest pain” bloodwork panel. Our outcome measure was the weekly number of INR tests completed per ED visit. Process measures included the proportion of INR tests ordered for inappropriate indications on monthly audits of 20 charts where an INR was completed. Balancing measures included average ED length of stay for patients receiving INR testing. Evaluation/Results: We collected outcome, process, and balancing measures through the EHR and analyzed this data using statistical process control charts. Over the nine-month study period, we decreased weekly INR tests from 248.4 to 115.0, a reduction of 56% which met criteria for special cause variation. This amounts to a cost savings of $43,008 per year. ED length of stay for patients receiving INR testing did not change significantly. Discussion/Impact: Our interventions were successful in realising our 50% target reduction in INR tests without an increase in ED length of stay from repeat venipuncture. This result is in keeping with similar efforts in other Canadian EDs. Our interventions could likely be spread to other settings where an INR is included as part of a “chest pain” panel. This may represent a substantial cost reduction opportunity on a national scale. Further work is needed in order to assess long term sustainability, which can be supported by employing high effectiveness mechanisms such as automation of optimal behaviour.

scholarly journals MP11: A quality improvement initiative to decrease the rate of solitary blood cultures in the emergency department

CJEM ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 19 (S1) ◽  
pp. S68-S69
Author(s):  
J. Choi ◽  
S. Ensafi ◽  
L.B. Chartier ◽  
O. Van Praet
Keyword(s):  
Emergency Department ◽  
Quality Improvement ◽  
Control Charts ◽  
Best Practice ◽  
Blood Cultures ◽  
Quality Improvement Initiative ◽  
Relative Reduction ◽  
Education Intervention ◽  
Statistical Process ◽  
Forcing Function

Introduction: Best practice guidelines recommend that at least two sets of blood cultures be sent when blood cultures are required. However, high rates of solitary blood cultures are still common in the emergency department. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of different quality improvement initiatives aimed at reducing the rate of solitary blood cultures being sent to the lab on patients ultimately discharged from our emergency department. Methods: This was a multi-centre, multi-phase, prospective study evaluating a comprehensive education-based intervention and a second intervention that combined a computerized forcing function along with a brief education-based intervention. The results were analyzed using segmented regression analysis, as well as statistical process control charts. Results: The baseline rate of solitary sets of blood cultures was 41.1%. The education intervention reduced this rate to 30.3%. The introduction of a forcing function with a brief educational intervention further reduced the rate to 11.6%. This represents an absolute reduction of 29.5% from baseline (relative reduction of 71.8%). According to segmental regression analyses, the education intervention alone did not produce a statistically significant change when factoring possible background time-related trends (P=0.071). However, the forcing function produced a statistically significant improvement (P &lt; 0.0005), which was maintained for 6 months. Conclusion: The combination of a brief education-based intervention and a computerized forcing function was more effective than education alone in reducing solitary blood culture collection in our emergency department in this time series study. Forcing functions can be a powerful tool in modifying behaviours and processes in the clinical setting.

scholarly journals MP09: Predictors of return acute asthma visits among patients receiving guideline recommended discharge management in the emergency department

CJEM ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 22 (S1) ◽  
pp. S45-S45
Author(s):  
C. Dhaliwal ◽  
T. Haji ◽  
G. Leung ◽  
T. Madhura ◽  
S. Giangioppo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Primary Care ◽  
Emergency Department ◽  
Children And Adolescents ◽  
Best Practice ◽  
Acute Asthma ◽  
Action Plan ◽  
Prior History ◽  
Discharge Management ◽  
History Of ◽  
Ed Visits

Introduction: Despite improvements in the recognition of asthma among the pediatric population and the use of preventative therapies, rates of emergency department (ED) visits and hospitalizations remain high, leading one to question how these acute health care visits for asthma can be further avoided. In this study, we aimed to identify predictors of future repeat acute care visits among children and adolescents who had already received ‘best practice’ discharge treatments and instructions during their first asthma ED visit. Methods: We performed a retrospective single center cohort study of all children ages 1-17 years presenting to the ED at the Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario in Ottawa, Canada for an acute asthma exacerbation during a 1-year time frame between September 1, 2014 – August 31, 2015. Only children with no prior ED asthma visit and documentation of receipt of a prescription for inhaled corticosteroids and/or a written asthma action plan were included. Multivariable logistic regression was performed to identify predictors of repeat future asthma ED visit or hospitalization in the year following the first ED visit. Results: We identified 909 children with an eligible ED visit during the study period, of whom 24% had a repeat asthma ED visit or hospitalization within the subsequent 1 year. Predictors of repeat acute asthma visits included having a nut allergy (OR 1.76, 95% CI: 1.15, 2.70), higher severity symptoms at triage (OR 2.04, 95% CI: 1.23, 3.39), a primary care physician (OR 2.23, 95% CI: 1.26, 3.93), or a prior history of asthma (OR 1.53, 95% CI: 1.03, 2.28). Conclusion: In children and adolescents with repeat asthma ED visits and hospitalizations despite having received ‘best practice’ asthma discharge management at their first ED visit, factors such as having an allergy to nuts, higher severity symptoms at presentation, a prior history of asthma, and having a primary care provider may be used to identify these more high-risk children and adolescents. Such parameters can be used practically to target and apply more intensive preventative interventions to those most in need at the first ED visit, in order to prevent future return visits.

Reducing unnecessary testing in the emergency department: The case for INR and aPTT

CJEM ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 22 (4) ◽  
pp. 534-541
Author(s):  
Davy Tawadrous ◽  
Sarah Detombe ◽  
Drew Thompson ◽  
Melanie Columbus ◽  
Kristine Van Aarsen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Emergency Department ◽  
Emergency Departments ◽  
Cost Savings ◽  
Clinical Decision ◽  
International Normalized Ratio ◽  
Educational Module ◽  
Patients Âgés ◽  
Coagulation Testing ◽  
Aggregate Rate ◽  
Routine Coagulation

ABSTRACTObjectiveRoutine coagulation testing is rarely indicated in the emergency department. Our goal is to determine the combined effects of uncoupling routine coagulation testing (i.e., international normalized ratio [INR]; activated partial thromboplastin time [aPTT]), disseminating an educational module, and implementing a clinical decision support system (CDSS) on coagulation testing rates in two academic emergency departments.MethodsA prospective pre-post study of INR-aPTT uncoupling, educational module distribution, and CDSS implementation in two academic emergency departments. All patients ages 18 years and older undergoing evaluation and treatment during the period of August 1, 2015, to November 30, 2017, were included. Primary outcome was coagulation testing utilization during the emergency department encounter. Secondary outcomes included associated costs, frequency of downstream testing, and frequency of blood transfusions.ResultsUncoupling INR-aPTT testing combined with educational module distribution and CDSS implementation resulted in significantly decreased coupled INR-aPTT testing, with significantly increased selective INR and aPTT testing. Overall, the aggregate rate of coagulation testing declined for both INR and aPTT testing (48 tests/100 patients/day to 26 tests/100 patients/day). There was a significant decrease in associated daily costs (median cost per day: $1048.32 v. $601.68), realizing estimated annual savings of $163,023 Canadian dollars (CAD). There was no signal of increased downstream testing or patient blood product requirements.ConclusionCompared to baseline practice patterns, our multimodal initiative significantly decreased coagulation testing, with meaningful cost savings and without evidence of patient harm. Clinicians and administrators now have a growing toolkit to target the plethora of low-value tests and treatments in emergency medicine.

Divergence in the epidemiological estimates of traumatic brain injury in the United States: comparison of two national databases

2020 ◽  
pp. 1-10
Author(s):  
Brittany M. Stopa ◽  
Maya Harary ◽  
Ray Jhun ◽  
Arun Job ◽  
Saef Izzy ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Traumatic Brain Injury ◽  
Emergency Department ◽  
Brain Injury ◽  
Data Bank ◽  
The United States ◽  
National Sample ◽  
Population Based ◽  
Weighted Estimates ◽  
True Incidence ◽  
Ed Visits

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.

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