Implementation of a Chest Pain Management Service Improves Patient Care and Reduces Length of Stay

Chest pain is a common medical symptom that paramedics attend to in the out-of-hospital environment. The causes of chest pain and the signs and symptoms are explained in this article, alongside tools that could be useful in diagnosis, such as clinical risk scores and troponin testing. Finally, pain management strategies that use a balanced approach for optimal patient care are referred to, with some specificity for cardiac chest pain explained.

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Temporal Changes in Central-Line–Associated Bloodstream Infection Time Between Events, 2017–2018 Versus 2015–2016

Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology ◽

10.1017/ice.2020.1051 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 41 (S1) ◽

pp. s403-s404

Author(s):

Jonathan Edwards ◽

Katherine Allen-Bridson ◽

Daniel Pollock

Keyword(s):

Length Of Stay ◽

Patient Care ◽

Average Length ◽

Bloodstream Infections ◽

Central Line ◽

Significant Shift ◽

Care Hospital ◽

Average Length Of Stay ◽

Period 2 ◽

Hospital Bed

Background: The CDC NHSN surveillance coverage includes central-line–associated bloodstream infections (CLABSIs) in acute-care hospital intensive care units (ICUs) and select patient-care wards across all 50 states. This surveillance enables the use of CLABSI data to measure time between events (TBE) as a potential metric to complement traditional incidence measures such as the standardized infection ratio and prevention progress. Methods: The TBEs were calculated using 37,705 CLABSI events reported to the NHSN during 2015–2018 from medical, medical-surgical, and surgical ICUs as well as patient-care wards. The CLABSI TBE data were combined into 2 separate pairs of consecutive years of data for comparison, namely, 2015–2016 (period 1) and 2017–2018 (period 2). To reduce the length bias, CLABSI TBEs were truncated for period 2 at the maximum for period 1; thereby, 1,292 CLABSI events were excluded. The medians of the CLABSI TBE distributions were compared over the 2 periods for each patient care location. Quantile regression models stratified by location were used to account for factors independently associated with CLABSI TBE, such as hospital bed size and average length of stay, and were used to measure the adjusted shift in median CLABSI TBE. Results: The unadjusted median CLABSI TBE shifted significantly from period 1 to period 2 for the patient care locations studied. The shift ranged from 20 to 75.5 days, all with 95% CIs ranging from 10.2 to 32.8, respectively, and P < .0001 (Fig. 1). Accounting for independent associations of CLABSI TBE with hospital bed size and average length of stay, the adjusted shift in median CLABSI TBE remained significant for each patient care location that was reduced by ∼15% (Table 1). Conclusions: Differences in the unadjusted median CLABSI TBE between period 1 and period 2 for all patient care locations demonstrate the feasibility of using TBE for setting benchmarks and tracking prevention progress. Furthermore, after adjusting for hospital bed size and average length of stay, a significant shift in the median CLABSI TBE persisted among all patient care locations, indicating that differences in patient populations alone likely do not account for differences in TBE. These findings regarding CLABSI TBEs warrant further exploration of potential shifts at additional quantiles, which would provide additional evidence that TBE is a metric that can be used for setting benchmarks and can serve as a signal of CLABSI prevention progress.Funding: NoneDisclosures: None

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Development of an interdisciplinary specialist facial pain management programme

British Journal of Pain ◽

10.1177/20494637211027607 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 204946372110276

Author(s):

John Tetlow ◽

Christian Ainsley ◽

Hannah Twiddy ◽

Graham Derbyshire ◽

Rajiv Chawla

Keyword(s):

Pain Management ◽

Facial Pain ◽

Small Sample Size ◽

Small Sample ◽

Management Programme ◽

Management Service ◽

Team Members ◽

End Of Treatment ◽

Programme Content ◽

Multidisciplinary Perspective

Aims: This article aims to describe the development of a specialist chronic facial pain (CFP) management programme within an already well-established pain management service, including the content from a multidisciplinary perspective, and present preliminary descriptive 6-month outcomes from patients who have attended the programme. Methods: Authors used their clinical experience of working with people who have a diagnosis of CFP. They researched available literature, liaised with CFP support organisations and visited an existing UK-based CFP programme. Programme content was designed based on findings. The roles of pain interdisciplinary team members involved in delivering the programme are described, as well as a brief description of the structure of the programme and programme sessions provided by each discipline. Results: Clinical outcomes from programme participants were collected at assessment, end of treatment and 6 months post-treatment, which measured relevant outcomes for a pain management programme (PMP). Outcomes from 36 participants at both end of programme and 6 months following completion of programme demonstrate promising improvements. Qualitative data from patient satisfaction questionnaires completed at the end of programme suggest that providing a CFP-specific programme was beneficial for participants, with the main critique being that the programme sessions should be longer than 45 minutes. Conclusion: Attending a CFP-specific programme demonstrated positive 6-month changes in relevant outcome measures for people with CFP. With a small sample size, there is a need for further research into the effectiveness. It would also be beneficial to compare outcomes from the usual PMP treatment with people who have CFP, with outcomes from a CFP-specific programme.

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144 The Use of a Multidisciplinary Team Discharge “Huddle” to Improve Patient Flow and Planning

Age and Ageing ◽

10.1093/ageing/afz102.30 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 48 (Supplement_3) ◽

pp. iii1-iii16

Author(s):

Mary Randles ◽

Sylvia Hickey ◽

Susanne Cotter ◽

Carmel Walsh ◽

Kieran O'Connor ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Length Of Stay ◽

Patient Care ◽

Multidisciplinary Team ◽

Older Persons ◽

Patient Flow ◽

Geriatric Medicine ◽

City Centre ◽

Nurse Specialist ◽

Complex Care ◽

Clinical Nurse

Abstract Background Patient flow, the movement of patients is an integral part of the patient care pathway. With the goal of improving overall patient care and discharge planning, a hospital wide, multidisciplinary team based, patient discharge meeting or ‘HUDDLE’ was devised with the goal of facilitating onward care planning for all inpatients especially those with complex discharge needs in a city centre teaching hospital. Methods The patient flow huddle has evolved to include a Patient Flow Clinical Nurse Manager, Bed Manager, Medicine for Older Persons Clinical Nurse Specialist, Physiotherapist/Occupational Therapist, Consultant Geriatrician and Geriatric Medicine Registrar. Each team in the hospital are requested to attend at least twice a week. Predicted discharge dates are established. Teams discuss patients who have a requirement for rehabilitation, either short-term or complex rehabilitation and patients over 65 years who may need review from Older Persons Services .We sought to optimise issues including housing, home care packages, interim home supports, community intervention team referrals, integrated care and Nursing Home Support Scheme applications. Results There were 3918 Emergency Department presentations by adults over 75 in 2018 and 2113 admissions (3704, 2081 respectively in 2017). Accuracy for discharge within one day of PDD ranged from 52.5% (Jan) to 72.6 % (Nov). The average length of stay was 6.2days (SD 0.47). 172 patients (84 female, 88 male) were admitted for slow stream rehabilitation (median length of stay 30 days). Conclusion Rather than using a negative view of older adults as potential ‘bed blockers’, the discharge huddle allowed a pro-active approach to assist medical and surgical teams in the management and re-enablement of patients with complex care needs. Early identification of such patients with complex care and discharge needs allowed greater focus on appropriate planning earlier in the patient’s hospital journey.

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Effect of online literature searching on length of stay and patient care costs

Academic Medicine ◽

10.1097/00001888-199406000-00017 ◽

1994 ◽

Vol 69 (6) ◽

pp. 489-95 ◽

Cited By ~ 72

Author(s):

M S Klein ◽

F V Ross ◽

D L Adams ◽

C M Gilbert

Keyword(s):

Length Of Stay ◽

Patient Care ◽

Literature Searching ◽

Care Costs

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Strategies to Enhance Patient Care and Compliance with Pain Order Duplications and Gaps

Hospital Pharmacy ◽

10.1177/00185787211032358 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 001857872110323

Author(s):

Shayna Cruz ◽

Amberene Daya ◽

Andrea Quinn ◽

Amanda Ries

Keyword(s):

Pain Management ◽

Patient Care ◽

Visual Analog Scale ◽

Patient Preferences ◽

Joint Commission ◽

Hospital Level ◽

Analog Scale ◽

Vas Scores ◽

Enhance Patient Care ◽

The Joint Commission

According to the Joint Commission every patient has a right to pain management. Due to multimodal pain management, pain orders have the potential for duplication as well as gaps in therapy. At our institution, we evaluated pain orders and implemented strategies that aimed to reduce those gaps. We found that current ordering practices permitted the use of varying visual analog scale (VAS) ranges (e.g., VAS 1-3 and 1-5) which inherently increased the potential for duplicate therapies. When gaps in therapy occurred, medication orders for corresponding VAS scores were not available and thus, therapy was delayed. Additionally, current administration policies did not take into account patient preferences for less potent agents which can also cause a delay in care. In summary, simple strategies, discussed in this article, may be implemented at the hospital level to optimize patient care while maintaining recommendations by the Joint Commission for clear medication orders.

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Nonspecific electrocardiographic abnormalities are associated with increased length of stay and adverse cardiac outcomes in prehospital chest pain

Heart & Lung ◽

10.1016/j.hrtlng.2018.09.001 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 48 (2) ◽

pp. 121-125 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Diana Rivero ◽

Mohammad Alhamaydeh ◽

Ziad Faramand ◽

Mohammad Alrawashdeh ◽

Christian Martin-Gill ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Chest Pain ◽

Length Of Stay ◽

Cardiac Outcomes ◽

Electrocardiographic Abnormalities

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Manejo da dor em punção venosa pediátrica: um pacote de medidas

Revista Recien - Revista Científica de Enfermagem ◽

10.24276/rrecien2021.11.33.157-168 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (33) ◽

pp. 157-168

Author(s):

Larissa Grispan e Silva Guimarães ◽

Natália Shinkai Binotto ◽

Stela Faccioli Ederli ◽

Mauren Teresa Grubisich Mendes Tacla

Keyword(s):

Pain Management ◽

Patient Care ◽

Nursing Staff ◽

Professional Growth ◽

Management Strategies ◽

Care Bundle ◽

Evidence Based ◽

Topical Anesthetic ◽

Care Research ◽

Before And After

Apresentar o processo de elaboração de um pacote de medidas para manejo da dor de crianças submetidas à punção venosa pela equipe de enfermagem. Pesquisa Convergente Assistencial, do tipo antes e após intervenção, realizada com a equipe de enfermagem de uma unidade pediátrica do sul do Brasil. Elaboração de pacote de medidas com seis estratégias selecionadas pela equipe de enfermagem a serem utilizadas antes e durante a punção venosa: preparo da criança e/ou acompanhante, posicionamento da criança, distração, amamentação, solução adocicada associada ou não à sucção não nutritiva e anestésico tópico. Os participantes manifestaram satisfação quanto ao modo de elaboração do mesmo, destacando a contribuição deste para seu crescimento profissional. O pacote de medidas otimizou a adoção das estratégias para manejo da dor. A Pesquisa Convergente Assistencial alicerçada na prática baseada em evidências mostrou-se adequada, visto que propiciou a aplicação de achados científicos no cenário assistencial considerando suas particularidades.Descritores: Manejo da Dor, Criança, Cateterismo Periférico, Enfermagem Baseada em Evidências. Management of pediatric venipuncture pain: a package of measuresAbstract: To present the process of elaboration of a patient care package for pain management in children undergoing venipuncture by the nursing staff. Convergent Care Research, before and after intervention, conducted with the nursing staff of a southern pediatric unit in Brazil. Patient care packege with six strategies, selected by the nursing staff, to be used before and during venipuncture: preparation of the child and/or companion, child positioning, distraction, breastfeeding, sweet-tasting solution with or without non-nutritive suction and topical anesthetic usage. The package of measures optimized the adoption of pain management strategies, highlighting its contribution to their professional growth. The patient care bundle optimized the adoption of strategies for pain management. The Convergent Care Research grounded in evidence-based practice showed appropriate, since it allowed the application of scientific findings in the care setting, considering its peculiarities.Descriptors: Pain Management, Child, Catheterization, Peripheral, Evidence-Based Nursing. Manejo del dolor de la venopunción pediátrica: un paquete de medidasResumen: Presentar el proceso de elaboración de un paquete de medidas para manejo del dolor de niños sometidos a la venopunción por el equipo de enfermería. Investigación Convergente Asistencial, del tipo antes y después de la intervención, realizada con el equipo de enfermería de una unidad pediátrica en el sur de Brasil. Paquete de medidas con seis estrategias seleccionadas por el equipo de enfermería que deben ser utilizadas antes y durante la venopunción: preparación del niño y/o acompañante, posicionamiento del niño, distracción, amamantamiento, solución dulce asociada o no a succión no nutritiva y anestésica tópica. Los participantes manifestaron satisfacción en cuanto al modo de elaboración del mismo, destacando la contribución de este para su crecimiento profesional. El paquete de medidas optimizó la adopción de estrategias para manejo del dolor. La Investigación Convergente Asistencial cimentada en la práctica basada en evidencias se mostró adecuada, visto que propició la aplicación de hallazgos científicos en el escenario asistencial considerando sus particularidades.Descriptores: Manejo del Dolor, Niño, Cateterismo Periférico, Enfermería Basada en la Evidencia.

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Abstract 18655: Efficacy of Cardiac Computerized Tomographic Angiography in the Evaluation of Patients with Cocaine-Induced Chest Pain: A Pilot Randomized Trial

Circulation ◽

10.1161/circ.130.suppl_2.18655 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 130 (suppl_2) ◽

Author(s):

Richard Peralta ◽

Andrew Yoon ◽

Moustapha Atoui ◽

Karomibal Mejia ◽

Maryam Afshar ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Chest Pain ◽

Length Of Stay ◽

Emergency Room ◽

Randomized Trial ◽

Cardiovascular Events ◽

Hospital Admissions ◽

Major Adverse Cardiovascular Events ◽

Emergency Room Visits ◽

Tomographic Angiography

Background: Cocaine-induced chest pain (CICP) is reported in 40% of patients using cocaine and is associated with frequent emergency room visits and hospital admissions. Hypothesis: Coronary computed tomographic angiography (CCTA) has better outcomes than standard-of-care (SOC) for the evaluation of patients with CICP. Method: CICP patients were randomized to CCTA protocol or SOC. The primary outcome of the study was a composite of recurrent emergency room visits and hospital admissions. Secondary outcomes included length of stay, major adverse cardiovascular events and all-cause mortality. Results: The study population consisted of 202 patients with CICP (CCTA=23 and SOC=179). As compared to SOC, the number of emergency room visits in the CCTA group were lower at 30 days (1.04±0.1 vs. 1.24±0.5, p=0.012) and 1 year (2.43±0.9 vs. 2.61±2.1, p=0.008), but not at 3 years (5.04±3.3 vs. 4.87±1, p=0.112) findings that were independent of CCTA results. Mean admission rates for the CCTA group were slightly but not significantly lower than the SOC group at 30 days (0.91±0.1 vs.1.10±0.2 p=0.438) and 1 year (1.52±0.3 vs. 1.82±0.3 p=0.187), but not at 3 years (3.22±0.6 vs. 2.95±0.5, p=0.111). Hospital length of stay was also lower in CCTA patients than in SOC patients (2.61±0.5 vs. 3.34 ± 0.5 p<0.001). After 3 year follow-up, there was 1 major adverse cardiovascular event in the CCTA group compared to 22 in the SOC group (p=0.024). No patient died in the CCTA while 3 patients died from any cause in the SOC group (p=0.776) after 3 years of follow-up. Conclusion: In this prospective randomized trial, CCTA reduced near and intermediate-term but not long-term rates of emergency room visits and hospitalizations. When compared to SOC, the use of CCTA was associated with a reduction of major adverse cardiovascular events. Larger randomized controlled trials to further assess the efficacy of a CCTA-based strategy for CICP appear warranted.

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