scholarly journals The value of telephone consultations during COVID-19 pandemic. An observational study

QJM ◽  
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
F Martos-Pérez ◽  
M D Martín-Escalante ◽  
J Olalla-Sierra ◽  
J L Prada-Pardal ◽  
M D García-de-Lucas ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Emergency Department ◽  
Observational Study ◽  
Diagnostic Tests ◽  
Hospital Admissions ◽  
Statistical Significance ◽  
Score Test ◽  
Descriptive Study ◽  
Lower Number ◽  
Emergency Department Visits ◽  
Z Score

Summary Background Many Spanish hospitals converted scheduled in-person visits to telephone visits during the COVID-19 lockdown. There is scarce information about the performance of those visits. Aim To compare telephone visits during the COVID-19 lockdown period with previous in-person visits. Design Retrospective descriptive study. Methods Telephone visits from 15 March to 31 May 2020 were compared with in-person visits during the same period in 2019. Main measures The proportions of both groups were compared in term of failure to contact patient, requested diagnostic tests/referrals, discharges, admissions and emergency visits within 30–60 days. A sample of patients, and all participating physicians completed surveys. Z-score test was used (statistical significance P<0.05). Results A total of 5602 telephone visits were conducted. In comparison to in-person visits, telephone visits showed higher rates of visit compliance (95.9% vs. 85.2%, P<0.001) and discharges (22.12% vs. 11.82%; P<0.001), and lower number of ancillary tests and referrals. During the 30- and 60-day periods following the telephone visit, a reduction of 52% and 47% in the combined number of emergency department visits and hospital admissions was observed compared to in-person visits (P<0.01). Of the 120 patients surveyed, 95% were satisfied/very satisfied with the telephone visits. Of the 26 physicians, 84.6% considered telephone visits were useful to prioritize patients. Conclusions During health emergencies, previously scheduled outpatient in-person visits can be converted to telephone visits, reducing absenteeism, increasing the rate of discharges and reducing ancillary tests and referrals without increasing the rate of hospital admissions or emergency department visits.

Risk factors of hospital admissions and recurrent emergency department visits among pediatric asthma patients

2020 ◽  
pp. 1011-1015
Author(s):  
Abdullah Aldamigh ◽  
Afaf Alnefisah ◽  
Abdulrahman Almutairi ◽  
Fatima Alturki ◽  
Suhailah Alhtlany ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Emergency Department ◽  
Hospital Admissions ◽  
Pediatric Asthma ◽  
Emergency Department Visits ◽  
Asthma Patients

Emergency department visits for dental problems among adults with private dental insurance: A national observational study

2021 ◽  
Vol 44 ◽  
pp. 166-170
Author(s):  
Troy B. Amen ◽  
Inkyu Kim ◽  
Gregory Peters ◽  
Alba Gutiérrez-Sacristán ◽  
Nathan Palmer ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Emergency Department ◽  
Observational Study ◽  
Emergency Department Visits ◽  
Dental Insurance

scholarly journals Program of Integrated Care for Patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease and Multiple Comorbidities (PIC COPD+): a randomised controlled trial

2018 ◽  
Vol 51 (1) ◽  
pp. 1701567 ◽  
Author(s):  
Louise Rose ◽  
Laura Istanboulian ◽  
Lise Carriere ◽  
Anna Thomas ◽  
Han-Byul Lee ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Emergency Department ◽  
Hospital Admissions ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Case Manager ◽  
Emergency Department Visits ◽  
Chronic Obstructive ◽  
Obstructive Pulmonary Disease ◽  
Secondary Outcomes ◽  
Randomised Controlled ◽  
Component Case

We sought to evaluate the effectiveness of a multi-component, case manager-led exacerbation prevention/management model for reducing emergency department visits. Secondary outcomes included hospitalisation, mortality, health-related quality of life, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) severity, COPD self-efficacy, anxiety and depression.Two-centre randomised controlled trial recruiting patients with ≥2 prognostically important COPD-associated comorbidities. We compared our multi-component intervention including individualised care/action plans and telephone consults (12-weekly then 9-monthly) with usual care (both groups). We used zero-inflated Poisson models to examine emergency department visits and hospitalisation; Cox proportional hazard model for mortality.We randomised 470 participants (236 intervention, 234 control). There were no differences in number of emergency department visits or hospital admissions between groups. We detected difference in emergency department visit risk, for those that visited the emergency department, favouring the intervention (RR 0.74, 95% CI 0.63–0.86). Similarly, risk of hospital admission was lower in the intervention group for those requiring hospital admission (RR 0.69, 95% CI 0.54–0.88). Fewer intervention patients died (21 versus 36) (HR 0.56, 95% CI 0.32–0.95). No differences were detected in other secondary outcomes.Our multi-component, case manager-led exacerbation prevention/management model resulted in no difference in emergency department visits, hospital admissions and other secondary outcomes. Estimated risk of death (intervention) was nearly half that of the control.

Management of Poisoning and Drug Overdose

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Timothy J Wiegand ◽  
Manish M Patel ◽  
Kent R. Olson
Keyword(s):  
Emergency Department ◽  
Drug Overdose ◽  
Activated Charcoal ◽  
Hospital Admissions ◽  
Clinical Laboratory ◽  
The United States ◽  
Emergency Department Visits ◽  
The Body ◽  
Smoke Inhalation ◽  
Drug Induced

Drug overdose and poisoning are leading causes of emergency department visits and hospital admissions in the United States, accounting for more than 500,000 emergency department visits and 11,000 deaths each year. This chapter discusses the approach to the patient with poisoning or drug overdose, beginning with the initial stabilization period in which the physician proceeds through the ABCDs (airway, breathing, circulation, dextrose, decontamination) of stabilization. The management of some of the more common complications of poisoning and drug overdose are summarized and include coma, hypotension and cardiac dysrhythmias, hypertension, seizures, hyperthermia, hypothermia, and rhabdomyolysis. The physician should also perform a careful diagnostic evaluation that includes a directed history, physical examination, and the appropriate laboratory tests. The next step is to prevent further absorption of the drug or poison by decontaminating the skin or gastrointestinal tract and, possibly, by administering antidotes and performing other measures that enhance elimination of the drug from the body. The diagnosis and treatment of overdoses of a number of specific drugs and poisons that a physician may encounter, as well as food poisoning and smoke inhalation, are discussed. Tables present the ABCDs of initial stabilization of the poisoned patient; mechanisms of drug-induced hypotension; causes of cardiac disturbances; drug-induced seizures; drug-induced hyperthermia; autonomic syndromes induced by drugs or poison; the use of the clinical laboratory in the initial diagnosis of poisoning; methods of gastrointestinal decontamination; methods of and indications for enhanced drug removal; toxicity of common beta blockers; common stimulant drugs; corrosive agents; dosing of digoxin-specific antibodies; poisoning with ethylene glycol or methanol; manifestations of excessive acetylcholine activity; common tricyclic and other antidepressants; seafood poisonings; drugs or classes that require activated charcoal treatment; and special circumstances for use of activated charcoal. This review contains 3 figures, 22 tables, and 198 references.

scholarly journals The Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on Psychiatric Emergency Department Visits – A Descriptive Study

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Manuel Gonçalves-Pinho ◽  
Pedro Mota ◽  
João Ribeiro ◽  
Silvério Macedo ◽  
Alberto Freitas
Keyword(s):  
Emergency Department ◽  
Descriptive Study ◽  
Emergency Department Visits ◽  
Psychiatric Emergency ◽  
The Impact

An Active In-Home Physician Model of Palliative Care and Its Resulting Performance Indicators Related to Home Deaths, Unplanned Emergency Department Visits and Unplanned Hospital Admissions

2020 ◽  
Vol 36 (1) ◽  
pp. 46-49
Author(s):  
Colleen Webber ◽  
Aurelia Ona Valiulis ◽  
Peter Tanuseputro ◽  
Valerie Schulz ◽  
Tavis Apramian ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Emergency Department ◽  
Palliative Care ◽  
Hospital Admissions ◽  
Case Series ◽  
Palliative Care Team ◽  
Emergency Department Visits ◽  
Care Team ◽  
Retrospective Case ◽  
Palliative Care Teams ◽  
Unplanned Hospital Admissions

Background: Limited research has characterized team-based models of home palliative care and the outcomes of patients supported by these care teams. Case presentation: A retrospective case series describing care and outcomes of patients managed by the London Home Palliative Care Team between May 1, 2017 and April 1, 2019. Case management: The London Home Palliative Care (LHPC) Team care model is based upon 3 pillars: 1) physician visit availability 2) active patient-centered care with strong physician in-home presence and 3) optimal administrative organization. Case outcomes: In the 18 month study period, 354 patients received care from the London Home Palliative Care Team. Most significantly, 88.4% ( n = 313) died in the community or at a designated palliative care unit after prearranged direct transfer; no comparable provincial data is available. 21.2% ( n = 75) patients visited an emergency department and 24.6% ( n = 87) were admitted to hospital at least once in their final 30 days of life. 280 (79.1%) died in the community. These values are better than comparable provincial estimates of 62.7%, 61.7%, and 24.0%, respectively. Conclusion: The London Home Palliative Care (LHPC) Team model appears to favorably impact community death rate, ER visits and unplanned hospital admissions, as compared to accepted provincial data. Studies to determine if this model is reproducible could support palliative care teams achieving similar results.

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