scholarly journals Explaining variation in emergency admissions: a mixed-methods study of emergency and urgent care systems

2014 ◽  
Vol 2 (48) ◽  
pp. 1-126 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alicia O’Cathain ◽  
Emma Knowles ◽  
Janette Turner ◽  
Ravi Maheswaran ◽  
Steve Goodacre ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Case Studies ◽  
Emergency Departments ◽  
Admission Rate ◽  
Mixed Methods Study ◽  
Urgent Care ◽  
Emergency Admissions ◽  
Admission Rates ◽  
Avoidable Admissions ◽  
Care Systems ◽  
Age And Sex

BackgroundRecent increases in emergency admission rates have caused concern. Some emergency admissions may be avoidable if services in the emergency and urgent care system are available and accessible. A set of 14 conditions, likely to be rich in avoidable emergency admissions, was identified by expert consensus.ObjectiveWe aimed to understand variation in avoidable emergency admissions between different emergency and urgent care systems in England.MethodsThe design was a sequential mixed-methods study in three phases. In phase 1 we calculated an age- and sex-adjusted avoidable admission rate for 2008–11. We located routine data on characteristics of emergency and urgent care systems and used linear regression to explain variation in avoidable admissions rates in 150 systems. In phase 2 we undertook in-depth case studies in six systems to identify further factors. A key part of these case studies was interviews with commissioners, service providers and patient representatives, totalling 82 interviews. In phase 3 we returned to the linear regression to test further factors identified in the case studies.ResultsThe 14 conditions accounted for 3,273,395 admissions in 2008–11 (22% of all emergency admissions). The mean age- and sex-adjusted admission rate was 2258 per year per 100,000 population, with a 3.4-fold variation between systems (1268–4359). Characteristics of the population explained the majority of variation: deprivation explained 72% of variation, with urban/rural status explaining 3% more. Systems serving populations with high levels of deprivation and in urban areas had high rates of potentially avoidable admissions. Interviewees described the complexity of deprivation, representing high levels of morbidity, low awareness of alternative services to emergency departments and high expressed need for immediate access to urgent care. Factors related to emergency departments (EDs), hospitals, emergency ambulance services and general practice explained a further 10% of variation in avoidable admissions. Systems with high, potentially avoidable, admission rates had high rates of acute beds (suggesting supply-induced demand), high rates of attendance at EDs (which have been associated with poor perceived access to general practice), high rates of conversion from ED attendances to admissions, and low rates of non-transport to emergency departments by emergency ambulances. The six case studies revealed further possible explanations of variation: there was variation in how hospitals coded admissions; some systems focused proactively on admission avoidance whereas others were more interested in hospital discharge, for example use of multidisciplinary teams based at acute trusts; there were different levels of integration between different services such as health and social care, and acute and community trusts; and some systems faced more challenging problems around geographical boundaries operating for different services in the system. Interviewees often described admission as the easy or safe option.ConclusionsDeprivation explained most of the variation in avoidable admission rates. Research is needed to understand the complex relationship between deprivation and avoidable admission, and to develop interventions tailored to avoid admissions from deprived communities. Standardisation of coding of admissions would reduce variation.FundingThe National Institute for Health Research Health Service and Research Delivery programme.

Variation in avoidable emergency admissions: multiple case studies of emergency and urgent care systems

2015 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
pp. 5-14 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alicia O’Cathain ◽  
Emma Knowles ◽  
Janette Turner ◽  
Enid Hirst ◽  
Steve Goodacre ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Case Studies ◽  
Urgent Care ◽  
Emergency Admissions ◽  
Care Systems ◽  
Multiple Case ◽  
Multiple Case Studies

scholarly journals General practitioners and emergency departments (GPED)—efficient models of care: a mixed-methods study protocol

BMJ Open ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 8 (10) ◽  
pp. e024012
Author(s):  
Katherine Morton ◽  
Sarah Voss ◽  
Joy Adamson ◽  
Helen Baxter ◽  
Karen Bloor ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Emergency Department ◽  
Case Studies ◽  
General Practitioners ◽  
Emergency Departments ◽  
Quantitative Methods ◽  
Public Involvement ◽  
Clinical Care ◽  
Urgent Care ◽  
The Uk ◽  
The Impact

IntroductionPressure continues to grow on emergency departments in the UK and throughout the world, with declining performance and adverse effects on patient outcome, safety and experience. One proposed solution is to locate general practitioners to work in or alongside the emergency department (GPED). Several GPED models have been introduced, however, evidence of effectiveness is weak. This study aims to evaluate the impact of GPED on patient care, the primary care and acute hospital team and the wider urgent care system.Methods and analysisThe study will be divided into three work packages (WPs). WP-A; Mapping and Taxonomy: mapping, description and classification of current models of GPED in all emergency departments in England and interviews with key informants to examine the hypotheses that underpin GPED. WP-B; Quantitative Analysis of National Data: measurement of the effectiveness, costs and consequences of the GPED models identified in WP-A, compared with a no-GPED model, using retrospective analysis of Hospital Episode Statistics Data. WP-C; Case Studies: detailed case studies of different GPED models using a mixture of qualitative and quantitative methods including: non-participant observation of clinical care, semistructured interviews with staff, patients and carers; workforce surveys with emergency department staff and analysis of available local routinely collected hospital data. Prospective case study sites will be identified by completing telephone interviews with sites awarded capital funding by the UK government to implement GPED initiatives. The study has a strong patient and public involvement group that has contributed to study design and materials, and which will be closely involved in data interpretation and dissemination.Ethics and disseminationThe study has been approved by the National Health Service East Midlands—Leicester South Research Ethics Committee: 17/EM/0312. The results of the study will be disseminated through peer-reviewed journals, conferences and a planned programme of knowledge mobilisation.Trial registration numberISRCTN51780222.

scholarly journals Waiting times in emergency departments: a resource allocation or an efficiency issue?

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Milena Vainieri ◽  
Cinzia Panero ◽  
Lucrezia Coletta
Keyword(s):  
Emergency Departments ◽  
Evaluation System ◽  
Clinical Pathways ◽  
Waiting Times ◽  
Rank Correlation ◽  
Admission Rate ◽  
Specific Situation ◽  
Chronic Patients ◽  
Admission Rates ◽  
The Matrix

Abstract Background: In recent years, the flow of patients to emergency departments (ED) in Western countries has steadily increased, generating overcrowding and extended waiting times. Scholars have identified four main causes for this phenomenon, related to continuity of primary care services; availability of specific clinical pathways for chronic patients; ED’s personnel endowment; and organization of the ED. This study aims to provide a logical diagnostic framework to support managers in investigating specific solutions to be applied to their EDs to cope with high ED waiting times. The framework is based on the ED waiting times and ED admission rate matrix. It is applied to Tuscan EDs as illustrative example. Methods: To provide the factors to be analysed once the EDs are positioned into the matrix, a list of issues is identified. The matrix is applied to Tuscan EDs. Data are collected from the Tuscan performance evaluation system, integrated with specific data on Tuscan EDs’ personnel. The Tuscan ED matrix, descriptive statistics for each quadrant and Spearman’s rank correlation analysis among waiting times, admission rates and a set of performance indicators were conducted to help managers to read the phenomena that they need to investigate. Results: The combined reading of the correlations and waiting times–admission rates matrix shows that there are no optimal rules for all the EDs in managing admission rates and waiting times, but solutions have to be found considering mixed and personalized strategies. Conclusions: The waiting times–admission rates matrix provides a tool able to support managers in detecting problems related to the management of ED services. In particular, using this matrix, healthcare managers can be facilitated in the identification of possible solutions for their specific situation.

scholarly journals P108: Cannabis hyperemesis syndrome within emergency department users in the Calgary health region: a retrospective analysis

CJEM ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 20 (S1) ◽  
pp. S95-S95
Author(s):  
N. G. Packer ◽  
A. D. McRae ◽  
D. Wang
Keyword(s):  
Emergency Departments ◽  
Care Center ◽  
Admission Rate ◽  
Cannabis Use ◽  
Urgent Care ◽  
Health Region ◽  
Calgary Health Region ◽  
Number Of Patients ◽  
Ed Visits ◽  
Cannabis Hyperemesis Syndrome

Introduction: Cannabis hyperemesis syndrome (CHS) is associated with long-term, regular use of marijuana. CHS patients typically present to emergency departments (ED) during a hyper-emetic phase of paroxysmal nausea and vomiting. Despite extensive investigations as well as frequent ED presentations, CHS patients have a delayed time to diagnosis, and many are often missed. To date, there is a paucity of research examining CHS in emergency departments. Our objective was to identify CHS cases presenting to EDs within the Calgary health region, and to quantify the number of patients and frequency of ED visits for CHS. Methods: A retrospective chart review was performed on all patients who presented to any Calgary ED or urgent care center between January 1, 2015 and December 31, 2016 (ages 18 55 years) who had an ED discharge diagnosis of either nausea or vomiting alone, nausea with vomiting, or poisoning by cannabis, as identified in administrative data. Data abstraction from medical records was performed by trained personnel using standardized forms with comprehensive inclusion criteria for CHS. Results: The search strategy yielded a total of 320 ED visits from 156 individual patients. 55% of visits were by males, and 45% by females. The average age was 29.5 years. Of the 156 patients, 53% had cannabis use documented in the chart, with 51% reporting daily and/or regular cannabis use. Relief of symptoms from use of hot showers (a pathognomonic finding) was found in 17% of patients. 18% of patients (n=28) met criteria for CHS, and 28% (n=44) met partial criteria for CHS (having documented regular cannabis use, cyclic vomiting and abdominal pain) but no record of symptom resolution with cessation of cannabis use or from the use of hot showers. Patients meeting CHS criteria had an average of five repeat ED visits during the study period with 16% (n=12) of ED visits resulting in hospital admission. Conclusion: We identified a large cohort of patients with confirmed or suspected CHS. Given that nearly one third of the sample met partial criteria for CHS highlights the need for improved patient screening, as it is possible that this cohort may include missed cases. Further, many CHS patients are not responsive to first-line anti-emetics and accurate diagnosis is crucial for managing these patients effectively in the ED. This is of particular importance given the admission rate for CHS and resulting burden on the health system.

scholarly journals Reducing inequality in avoidable emergency admissions: Case studies of local health care systems in England using a realist approach

2021 ◽  
pp. 135581962110216
Author(s):  
John Ford ◽  
Julia Knight ◽  
John Brittain ◽  
Chris Bentley ◽  
Sarah Sowden ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Case Studies ◽  
Health Care Systems ◽  
Decision Makers ◽  
Local Health ◽  
Emergency Admissions ◽  
Local Health Care ◽  
Local Decision ◽  
Care Systems ◽  
Local Decision Makers

Objective People in disadvantaged areas are more likely to have an avoidable emergency hospital admission. Socio-economic inequality in avoidable emergency hospital admissions is monitored in England. Our aim was to inform local health care purchasing and planning by identifying recent health care system changes (or other factors), as reported by local health system leaders, that might explain narrowing or widening trends. Methods Case studies were undertaken in one pilot and at five geographically distinct local health care systems (Clinical Commissioning Groups, CCGs), identified as having consistently increasing or decreasing inequality. Local settings were explored through discussions with CCG officials and stakeholders to identify potential local determinants. Data were analysed using a realist evaluation approach to generate context-mechanism-outcome (CMO) configurations. Results Of the five geographically distinct CCGs, two had narrowing inequality, two widening, and one narrowing inequality, which widened during the project. None of the CCGs had designed a large-scale package of service changes with the explicit aim of reducing socio-economic inequality in avoidable emergency admissions, and local decision makers were unfamiliar with their own trends. Potential primary and community care determinants included: workforce, case finding and exclusion, proactive care co-ordination for patients with complex needs, and access and quality. Potential commissioning determinants included: data use and incentives, and targeting of services. Other potential determinants included changes in care home services, national A&E targets, and wider issues - such as public services financial constraints, residential gentrification, and health care expectations. Conclusions We did not find any bespoke initiatives that explained the inequality trends. The trends were more likely due to an interplay of multiple health care and wider system factors. Local decision makers need greater awareness, understanding and support to interpret, use and act upon inequality indicators. They are unlikely to find simple, cheap interventions to reduce inequalities in avoidable emergency admissions. Rather, long-term multifaceted interventions are required that embed inequality considerations into mainstream decision making.

scholarly journals Are more GPs associated with a reduction in emergency hospital admissions?

2020 ◽  
pp. BJGP.2020.0737
Author(s):  
Catia Nicodemo ◽  
Barry McCormick ◽  
FD Richard Hobbs ◽  
Raphael Wittenberg
Keyword(s):  
Fixed Effects ◽  
Hospital Admissions ◽  
Admission Rate ◽  
Emergency Admission ◽  
Population Data ◽  
Local Area ◽  
Emergency Admissions ◽  
Admission Rates ◽  
Access To Primary Care ◽  
Deprived Areas

Background: Recent studies have found an association between access to primary care and accident and emergency attendances, with better access associated with fewer attendances. Analyses of an association with emergency admissions however have produced conflicting findings. Aim: We investigate whether emergency admission rates in an area are associated with (i) the number of GPs, and (ii) mean size of GP practices. Design and Setting: Analysis was conducted utilising Hospital Episode Statistics, the numbers of GPs and GP practices, ONS population data, Quality and Outcomes Framework (QoF) prevalence data, and Index of Multiple Derivation data, from 2004/5 to 2011/12, for all practices in England. Method: Regression analysis of panel data with fixed effects to address (i) a potential two-way relationship between the numbers of GPs and emergency admissions, and (ii) unobservable characteristics of GP practices. Results: There is not a statistically significant relationship between the number of GPs in a local area and the number of emergency admissions when analysing all areas. However, in deprived areas, a higher number of GPs is associated with lower emergency admissions. There is also a lower emergency admission rate in areas in which practices are on average larger, holding constant GP supply. Conclusions In deprived areas an increase in GPs was found to reduce emergency admissions but does not do so elsewhere. Areas in which GPs became concentrated into larger practices experienced reduced levels of emergency admissions, all else equal.

scholarly journals Changing patterns of hospital admission for asthma, 1981–97

Thorax ◽  
2001 ◽  
Vol 56 (9) ◽  
pp. 687-690
Author(s):  
D S Morrison ◽  
P McLoone
Keyword(s):  
Hospital Admission ◽  
Hospital Admissions ◽  
Admission Rate ◽  
Hospital Admission Rate ◽  
Admission Rates ◽  
Lengths Of Stay ◽  
Icd 10 ◽  
Changing Patterns ◽  
Bed Days ◽  
Age And Sex

BACKGROUNDHospital admission rates for asthma have stopped rising in several countries. The aim of this study was to use linked hospital admission data to explore recent trends in asthma admissions in Scotland.METHODSLinked Scottish Morbidity Records (SMR1) for asthma (ICD-9 493 and ICD-10 J45–6) from 1981 to 1997 were used to describe rates of first admissions and readmissions by age and sex. As a measure of resource use, annual trends in bed days used were also explored by age and sex.RESULTSThere were 160 039 hospital admissions for asthma by 82 421 individuals in Scotland during the study period. The overall hospital admission rate increased by 122% (from 106.7 to 236.7 per 100 000 population) but this varied by sex, age, and admission type. First admissions rose by 70% from 73.2 per 100 000 in 1986 to 124.8 per 100 000 in 1997 while readmissions fell. Children (<15 years) experienced a decline in overall admissions after 1992 due to falls in both new admissions and readmissions. By 1997 the ratio of female to male admissions was 0.57 in children, but 1.50 above 14 years of age. Mean lengths of stay fell from 10.7 days to 3.7 days between 1981 and 1997 and bed days used showed little change except for a decline after 1992 in children.CONCLUSIONSAfter a period of increasing hospitalisation for asthma in Scotland, rates of admission among children have begun to fall but among adults admissions continue to rise.

scholarly journals An Investigation of Variation in Emergency Admission Rates between New Zealand General Practices: a national database linkage study

2017 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Hywel Lloyd ◽  
Andrew Tomlin ◽  
Susan Dovey
Keyword(s):  
New Zealand ◽  
Role Models ◽  
Admission Rate ◽  
Emergency Admission ◽  
National Database ◽  
Long Term Conditions ◽  
Emergency Admissions ◽  
Admission Rates ◽  
General Practices

ABSTRACT ObjectiveTo quantify variation in emergency admission rates between all New Zealand general practices and to investigate the influence of patients with long-term conditions. ApproachThis retrospective cohort study linked three national data collection. The Primary Health Organisation (PHO) Enrolment Collection provided practice register data on age sex ethnicity and deprivation. The National Minimum Dataset for Hospital Events (NMDS) allowed access to discharge data. The national Pharmaceutical Collection enabled medicine use to provide a proxy measures of patient morbidity. Expected emergency admission rates for each practice in 2014 were calculated using indirect standardisation with the total registered patient population of all study practices as the reference population. A standardised emergency admission ratio (SAR) of the actual admission rate to the expected admission rate was calculated for each practice. ResultOver the fourteen year period 2001-2014 total emergency admissions from all causes in New Zealand increased by 42%. Arranged and waiting list admissions increased by 29% over the same period. Emergency admissions represented 54% of all admissions by 2014 and increased by 56%. Patients with hospital diagnoses for long-term conditions accounted for 56.5% of all emergency admissions and 78.6% of all associated bed days. More females had unplanned admissions than males (p<0.001, 95% CI 0.48%-0.59%) and more Maori (p<0.001, 95% CI 1.33%-1.49%) and Pacific Island patients (p<0.001, 95% CI 0.96%-1.17%) were admitted than Europeans. Increasing deprivation status was significantly associated with an increased likelihood of admission (p<0.001; chi-squared test for trend). Practices with the highest SARs in 2014 tended to have the highest admission rates in that year and in previous years. They also had high admission rates for both high and low risk patient groups. ConclusionThis study indicates that there is considerable variation in the emergency admission rates of New Zealand general practices and in their standardised emergency admission rates after adjusting for differences in patient demography. A more meaningful measure of true disease morbidity is required to understand more the role ‘models of care’ play in the degree of variation of emergency admission. Keywords: Emergency Admission, practice variation, primary care, New Zealand

scholarly journals 272 Morbid Obesity in Lower Limb Arthroplasty: Short Length of Stay and Favourable One-Year Outcomes

2021 ◽  
Vol 108 (Supplement_2) ◽  
Author(s):  
M Sharrock ◽  
A Nugur ◽  
S Hossain
Keyword(s):  
Morbid Obesity ◽  
Length Of Stay ◽  
Lower Limb ◽  
Average Length ◽  
Perioperative Complications ◽  
Joint Infection ◽  
Admission Rate ◽  
Tendon Injury ◽  
Morbidly Obese ◽  
Admission Rates

Abstract Introduction There are concerns that BMI is associated with a greater length of stay (LOS) and perioperative complications in lower limb arthroplasty. Method We analysed data from a six-month period to see if there was a correlation between BMI and LOS. We performed a subgroup analysis for patients with morbid obesity (BMI &gt;40). Results 285 TKRs and 195 THRs were analysed. For TKRs, the average length of stay was 2.7 days. There was no significant correlation between BMI and LOS (r=-0.0447, p = 0.2267). The morbidly obese category (n = 33) had the shortest LOS (2.5 days) compared to other BMI categories. 30-day readmission rate was 6%. 90-day re-admission rate was 12%. Six patients had minor wound issues requiring no intervention or antibiotics only. The was one prosthetic joint infection, one stitch abscess, one DVT and one patellar tendon injury. For THRs, the average LOS was 2.9 days. There was no significant correlation between BMI and LOS (r = 0.007, p = 0.4613). The morbid obese category (n = 9) had the shortest LOS (1.9 days) compared to other BMI categories. No patients were readmitted within 90 days or had documented complications. Conclusions Increased BMI is not associated with increased LOS. The morbidly obese had the shortest LOS, and commendable complication and re-admission rates.

Finding the path of least resistance: Locally adapting the MITIGATE toolkit in emergency departments and urgent care centers

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-3
Author(s):  
Joanne Huang ◽  
Zahra Kassamali Escobar ◽  
Todd S. Bouchard ◽  
Jose Mari G. Lansang ◽  
Rupali Jain ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Primary Care ◽  
Emergency Department ◽  
Antimicrobial Stewardship ◽  
Emergency Departments ◽  
Urgent Care ◽  
Complex Data ◽  
University Of Washington ◽  
Primary Care Clinics ◽  
Urgent Care Centers ◽  
The University

Abstract The MITIGATE toolkit was developed to assist urgent care and emergency departments in the development of antimicrobial stewardship programs. At the University of Washington, we adopted the MITIGATE toolkit in 10 urgent care centers, 9 primary care clinics, and 1 emergency department. We encountered and overcame challenges: a complex data build, choosing feasible outcomes to measure, issues with accurate coding, and maintaining positive stewardship relationships. Herein, we discuss solutions to challenges we encountered to provide guidance for those considering using this toolkit.

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