scholarly journals Implementation, Evolution and Impact of ICU Telepharmacy Services Across a Health care System

2019 ◽  
Vol 54 (4) ◽  
pp. 232-240 ◽  
Author(s):  
Desiree E. Kosmisky ◽  
Sonia S. Everhart ◽  
Carrie L. Griffiths
Keyword(s):  
Critical Care ◽  
Patient Care ◽  
Healthcare System ◽  
Improve Patient Care ◽  
The United States ◽  
Hospital Length ◽  
Hospital Length Of Stay ◽  
Use Of Technology ◽  
American Society ◽  
The Impact

Purpose: A review of the implementation and development of telepharmacy services that ensure access to a critical care-trained pharmacist across a healthcare system. Summary: Teleintensive care unit (tele-ICU) services use audio, video, and electronic databases to assist bedside caregivers. Telepharmacy, as defined by the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists, is a method in which a pharmacist uses telecommunication technology to oversee aspects of pharmacy operations or provide patient care services. Telepharmacists can ensure accurate and timely order verification, recommend interventions to improve patient care, provide drug information to clinicians, assist in standardization of care, and promote medication safety. This tele-ICU pharmacy team is one of the only entirely clinical-based tele-ICU pharmacy models among the tele-ICU programs across the United States. The use of technology for customized alert generation and intervention proposal with medication orders and chart notation are unique. In a 34-month period from September 2015 to July 2018, more than 110 000 alerts were generated and 13 000 interventions were performed by telepharmacists. Conclusions: Tele-ICU pharmacists employ limited resources to provide critical care pharmacy expertise to multiple sites within a healthcare system during nontraditional hours with documented clinical and financial benefits. Further study is needed to determine the impact of tele-ICU pharmacists on ICU and hospital length of stay, morbidity, and mortality.

Impact of Postoperative Venous Thromboembolism on Postoperative Morbidity, Mortality, and Resource Utilization after Hepatectomy

2015 ◽  
Vol 81 (12) ◽  
pp. 1216-1223 ◽  
Author(s):  
Timothy E. Newhook ◽  
Damien J. Lapar ◽  
Dustin M. Walters ◽  
Shruti Gupta ◽  
Joshua S. Jolissaint ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Venous Thromboembolism ◽  
Fold Increase ◽  
The United States ◽  
Albumin Level ◽  
Hospital Length ◽  
Hospital Length Of Stay ◽  
Resource Usage ◽  
Vte Prophylaxis ◽  
The Impact

The impact of venous thromboembolism (VTE) after hepatectomy on patient morbidity, mortality, and resource usage remains poorly defined. Better understanding of thromboembolic complications is needed to improve perioperative management and overall outcomes. About 3973 patients underwent hepatectomy within NSQIP between 2005 and 2008. Patient characteristics, operative features, and postoperative correlates of VTE were compared with identify risk factors for VTE and to assess its overall impact on postoperative outcomes. Overall incidence of postoperative VTE was 2.4 per cent. Risk factors for postoperative VTE included older age, male gender, compromised functional status, degree of intraoperative blood transfusion, preoperative albumin level (all P < 0.05), and extent of hepatectomy ( P = 0.004). Importantly, major postoperative complications, including acute renal failure, pneumonia, sepsis, septic shock, reintubation, prolonged ventilation, cardiac arrest, and reoperation were all associated with higher rates of VTE (all P < 0.05). Operative mortality was increased among patients with VTE (6.5% vs 2.4%, P = 0.03), and patients with VTE had a 2-fold increase in hospital length of stay (12.0 vs 6.0 days, P < 0.001). Postoperative VTE remains a significant source of morbidity, mortality, and increased resource usage after hepatectomy in the United States. Routine aggressive VTE prophylaxis measures are imperative to avoid development of VTE among patients requiring hepatectomy.

Improving Patient Safety through the Use of Nursing Surveillance

2017 ◽  
Vol 51 (s2) ◽  
pp. 34-43 ◽  
Author(s):  
Karen K. Giuliano
Keyword(s):  
Patient Care ◽  
Clinical Care ◽  
Warning System ◽  
Rapid Response Team ◽  
Hospital Length ◽  
Rapid Response ◽  
Hospital Length Of Stay ◽  
Clinical Implications ◽  
Response Team ◽  
The Impact

Surveillance and monitoring each represent a distinct process in patient care. Monitoring involves observation, measurement, and recording of physiological parameters, while surveillance is a systematic, goal-directed process based on early detection of signs of change, interpretation of the clinical implications of such changes, and initiation of rapid, appropriate interventions. Through use of an illustrative clinical example based on Early Warning System scoring and rapid response teams, this article seeks to distinguish between nurse monitoring and surveillance to demonstrate the impact of surveillance on improving both care processes and patient care. Using a clinical example, differences between surveillance and monitoring as a trigger for deployment of the rapid response team were reviewed. The use of surveillance versus monitoring resulted in a mean reduction in rapid response team deployment time of 291 minutes. The median hospital length of stay for patients whose clinical care included using surveillance to initiate the deployment of the rapid response team was reduced by 4 days. Monitoring relies on observation and assessment while nursing surveillance incorporates monitoring with recognition and interpretation of the clinical implications of changes to guide decisions about subsequent actions. The clinical example described here supports that the use of an automated surveillance system versus monitoring had a measurable impact on clinical care.

scholarly journals Modern family: Texas critical care clinicians need to know about informal marriage

2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (34) ◽  
pp. 73-76
Author(s):  
Jamie Crist
Keyword(s):  
Critical Care ◽  
Patient Care ◽  
Interpersonal Relationships ◽  
Family Relationship ◽  
Improve Patient Care ◽  
Medical Decision ◽  
Modern Family ◽  
Surrogate Decision Makers ◽  
Surrogate Decision ◽  
The Impact

Critical care clinicians are legally and ethically obligated to identify the appropriate surrogate decision-makers for patients who lack capacity and cannot make medical decisions for themselves. When the identification of the appropriate surrogate is streamlined, patient care is improved due to an uninterrupted and consistent plan of care that adheres to patient preferences. However, the process of identifying this “appropriate” person can be complex, especially as interpersonal relationships have evolved over time. One such modern family relationship is informal marriage, a Texas-specific relationship formerly known as “common-law” marriage. Though crucially important, this relationship is can difficult to recognize and frequently misunderstood. Utilizing a case study that illustrates the impact the existence of an informal marriage has on medical decision-making, this paper seeks to demystify informal marriage by outlining what makes a relationship an informal marriage and provide tools to assist clinicians with identifying it.  In an age where non-traditional relationships are more common, Texas critical care clinicians should be familiar enough with informal marriage to recognize it in their patients in order to efficiently identify surrogates and therefore improve patient care.

Assessing the Impact of a Clinical Pharmacist in a Postsurgical Inpatient Population

2020 ◽  
pp. 089719002093819
Author(s):  
Farrah C. Tavakoli ◽  
Victoria L. Adams-Sommer ◽  
Lynn S. Frendak ◽  
Nicole D. Kiehle ◽  
Stacy E. Dalpoas
Keyword(s):  
Adverse Events ◽  
Patient Care ◽  
Clinical Pharmacist ◽  
Multidisciplinary Team ◽  
Patient Population ◽  
Improve Patient Safety ◽  
Care Patient ◽  
Hospital Length ◽  
Hospital Length Of Stay ◽  
The Impact

Objective: To quantify the number and type of clinical pharmacist interventions with an impact on patient care in a postsurgical nonintensive care patient population. Background: Studies have shown that pharmacists are able to improve the quality of patient care; however, the pharmacist role in postsurgical nonintensive care areas is not well defined. Methods: A clinical pharmacist provided care for 2 postsurgical floors for 2 weeks and collected information about the number and type of interventions made and adverse events avoided. In addition, the study team conducted an anonymous survey amongst the multidisciplinary team who collaborated with the pharmacist at the end of the trial period to understand the perception of having access to a clinical pharmacist who was designated to their floor. Results: In a 2-week time period, the clinical pharmacist was able to make 218 interventions, including 38 recommendations for optimization of antimicrobials, 26 recommendations for anticoagulation optimization, and providing education for 20 patients planned for discharge on high-risk medications. Interventions made by the clinical pharmacist helped decrease adverse events, improve patient safety and knowledge, and potentially avoid readmissions and reduce hospital length of stay. The survey results revealed that 100% strongly agreed that a clinical pharmacist should be a member of the multidisciplinary team for the postsurgical floors. Conclusion: This data signifies that having a clinical pharmacist dedicated to the postsurgical patient population allows for optimization of antimicrobial and anticoagulant use, improves outcomes for patients through medication education, and enhances provider satisfaction.

Abstract 16236: Hyperthyroidism Does Not Negatively Impact the Outcomes of Patients Admitted for Atrial Fibrillation: Analysis of the National Inpatient Sample

Circulation ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 142 (Suppl_3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Hafeez Shaka ◽  
Emmanuel Akuna ◽  
Iriagbonse Asemota ◽  
Ehizogie Edigin ◽  
Precious O Eseaton ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Atrial Fibrillation ◽  
Linear Regression Analysis ◽  
The United States ◽  
Hospital Length ◽  
Electrical Cardioversion ◽  
Hospital Length Of Stay ◽  
Secondary Diagnosis ◽  
National Inpatient Sample ◽  
Inpatient Mortality ◽  
The Impact

Introduction: Hyperthyroidism is a well-established risk factor for developing Atrial fibrillation (AF). The impact of hyperthyroidism in patients admitted for AF is unclear. This study aims to compare the outcomes of patients primarily admitted for AF with and without a secondary diagnosis of hyperthyroidism. Methods: We queried the National Inpatient Sample (NIS) 2016 and 2017 database. The NIS is the largest inpatient hospitalization database in the United States (US). The NIS was searched for hospitalization of adult patients with AF as a principal diagnosis with and without hyperthyroidism as a secondary diagnosis using ICD-10 codes. The primary outcome was inpatient mortality while the secondary outcomes were hospital length of stay (LOS), rate of ablation and electrical cardioversion. STATA software was used for analysis. Multivariate logistic and linear regression analysis was used accordingly to adjust for confounders. Results: There were over 71 million discharges in the combined 2016 and 2017 NIS database. Out of 821,629 AF hospitalizations, 1.8% had hyperthyroidism. Hospitalization for AF with hyperthyroidism had similar inpatient mortality (0.5% vs 0.9%, AOR 0.61, CI 0.36-1.04, P=0.069), longer LOS (3.6 vs 3.4 days, p<0.0001), with lower rates of ablation (2.8% vs 4.2%, AOR 0.62, CI 0.49-0.78, P<0.0001) and electrical cardioversion (14.6% vs 17.6%, AOR 0.82, CI 0.73-0.91, P<0.0001) compared to those without hyperthyroidism. Conclusion: Hospitalizations for AF with hyperthyroidism had similar inpatient mortality, decreased LOS and less rates of ablation and electrical cardioversion compared to those without hyperthyroidism. Although, hyperthyroidism increases the risk of AF, hyperthyroidism does not negatively impact outcomes of patients admitted for AF based on US national hospital billing database.

Comparative Analysis of Hospital Length of Stay and Discharge Status of Two Contemporary Primary Total Knee Systems

2017 ◽  
Vol 31 (06) ◽  
pp. 541-550 ◽  
Author(s):  
Katherine Etter ◽  
Jason Lerner ◽  
Iftekhar Kalsekar ◽  
Carl de Moor ◽  
Andrew Yoo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Length Of Stay ◽  
The United States ◽  
Hospital Length ◽  
Hospital Length Of Stay ◽  
Total Hospital ◽  
Discharge Status ◽  
Total Knee ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Single Radius ◽  
Primary Total Knee

AbstractThis study compares the differences in hospital length of stay (LOS), operating room time (ORT), discharge status, and total hospital costs among primary total knee arthroplasty (TKA) patients implanted with one of two contemporary primary total knee systems. A retrospective cohort analysis of elective inpatient, primary, unilateral TKA patients in the United States from 2013 to 2014 was conducted using the Premier Perspective® hospital billing database. The included patients had a diagnosis for osteoarthritis and received an ATTUNE® Knee (Gradually Reducing Radius Knee) or Triathlon™ (Single Radius Knee) from a hospital where both devices were used. Patient, provider, and procedure characteristics were included in generalized estimating equation (GEE) models to explore the impact of device on LOS, ORT, discharge status, and costs accounting for clustering within hospitals. A 1:1 propensity score–matched sensitivity analysis was also conducted. There were 1,178 patients who received gradually reducing radius knee and 5,707 patients who received single radius knee. GEE models indicated that the adjusted mean LOS and ORT for patients who received gradually reducing radius knee were significantly shorter than those who received single radius knee (p < 0.001). The adjusted odds ratios for gradually reducing radius knee patients being discharged to a skilled nursing facility (SNF) or other facility were 39% lower than that for single radius knee patients (odds ratio = 0.61; 95% confidence interval: 0.50–0.75; p < 0.001). The adjusted mean costs for gradually reducing radius knee patients were significantly lower than the single radius knee patients ($12,824 [1,813] vs. $18,713 [1,505]; p < 0.01). Findings were similar in the propensity-matched cohort of 2,044 patients, which was balanced on baseline covariates between devices (standardized differences were ≤ 8%). Patients who received gradually reducing radius knee had a shorter LOS and ORT, were less likely to be discharged to a SNF or other facility, and had lower total hospital cost than those who received single radius knee. These outcomes are increasingly relevant as hospitals bear the financial burden for episodes of care, and will require optimization to achieve success under the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services' Comprehensive Care for Joint Replacement model.

Rapid Identification of Bloodstream Pathogens and Timely Reporting Resulting in Effective Antibiotic Interventions Optimizing Patient Care

2019 ◽  
Vol 152 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S144-S144
Author(s):  
Bo Lin ◽  
Manan Christian ◽  
Margarita Kogan ◽  
Alejandro Zuretti
Keyword(s):  
Blood Culture ◽  
Patient Care ◽  
Median Time ◽  
Medical Center ◽  
Antibiotic Use ◽  
The United States ◽  
Rapid Identification ◽  
Hospital Length ◽  
Hospital Length Of Stay ◽  
Culture Identification

Abstract Objectives Bloodstream infection is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in the United States. Rapid identification of bloodstream pathogens is a critical laboratory practice that allows rapid transition to direct targeted therapy, providing timely and effective patient care. Here, we examined the utilization impact of Biofire blood culture identification panel in identifying bloodstream pathogens and subsequent implementation of treatment on patient care at our medical center. Methods Results of patients’ blood culture results and the subsequent medical interventions were reviewed. A policy of reviewing and reporting positive blood culture results every 2 hours was implemented and the results before and after the policy implementation were compared. Results We reviewed blood culture results from 288 patients during 1/20/2018 to 4/30/2018. In total, 96.5% of patients had antibiotic interventions. Based on the blood culture results, the interventions were adjusted: 32% changed in dosing, 32% escalated, 25% deescalated, and 11% added sensitivity. After the every 2-hour blood culture result reporting policy was implemented, the median time for physicians to order escalation dropped from 3 hours to 1 hour and median time to deescalate also dropped from 2 hours to 1 hour. Conclusion We were able to improve the timeliness of identifying bloodstream pathogens and support effective patient care by using the Biofire blood culture identification panel with timely result reports. Rapid identification of bloodstream pathogens had impacted patient outcomes in multiple ways, including reductions in mortality, morbidity, hospital length of stay, antibiotic use, and patient care cost.

scholarly journals Association of Emergency Department Waiting Times With Patient Experience in Admitted and Discharged Patients

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
pp. 237437352110114
Author(s):  
Andrew Nyce ◽  
Snehal Gandhi ◽  
Brian Freeze ◽  
Joshua Bosire ◽  
Terry Ricca ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Emergency Department ◽  
Length Of Stay ◽  
Patient Experience ◽  
Waiting Times ◽  
Hospital Length ◽  
Short Length ◽  
Hospital Length Of Stay ◽  
Patient’S Experience ◽  
Discharged Patients ◽  
The Impact

Prolonged waiting times are associated with worse patient experience in patients discharged from the emergency department (ED). However, it is unclear which component of the waiting times is most impactful to the patient experience and the impact on hospitalized patients. We performed a retrospective analysis of ED patients between July 2018 and March 30, 2020. In all, 3278 patients were included: 1477 patients were discharged from the ED, and 1680 were admitted. Discharged patients had a longer door-to-first provider and door-to-doctor time, but a shorter doctor-to-disposition, disposition-to-departure, and total ED time when compared to admitted patients. Some, but not all, components of waiting times were significantly higher in patients with suboptimal experience (<100th percentile). Prolonged door-to-doctor time was significantly associated with worse patient experience in discharged patients and in patients with hospital length of stay ≤4 days. Prolonged ED waiting times were significantly associated with worse patient experience in patients who were discharged from the ED and in inpatients with short length of stay. Door-to-doctor time seems to have the highest impact on the patient’s experience of these 2 groups.

scholarly journals Ethnicity and outcomes in patients hospitalised with COVID-19 infection in East London: an observational cohort study

BMJ Open ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. e042140
Author(s):  
Vanessa J Apea ◽  
Yize I Wan ◽  
Rageshri Dhairyawan ◽  
Zudin A Puthucheary ◽  
Rupert M Pearse ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Premature Death ◽  
Hospital Length ◽  
Hospital Length Of Stay ◽  
Organ Support ◽  
Invasive Ventilation ◽  
Black Patients ◽  
Hospitalised Patients ◽  
Observational Cohort ◽  
The Impact ◽  
To Receive

ObjectiveTo describe outcomes within different ethnic groups of a cohort of hospitalised patients with confirmed COVID-19 infection. To quantify and describe the impact of a number of prognostic factors, including frailty and inflammatory markers.SettingFive acute National Health Service Hospitals in east London.DesignProspectively defined observational study using registry data.Participants1737 patients aged 16 years or over admitted to hospital with confirmed COVID-19 infection between 1 January and 13 May 2020.Main outcome measuresThe primary outcome was 30-day mortality from time of first hospital admission with COVID-19 diagnosis during or prior to admission. Secondary outcomes were 90-day mortality, intensive care unit (ICU) admission, ICU and hospital length of stay and type and duration of organ support. Multivariable survival analyses were adjusted for potential confounders.Results1737 were included in our analysis of whom 511 had died by day 30 (29%). 538 (31%) were from Asian, 340 (20%) black and 707 (40%) white backgrounds. Compared with white patients, those from minority ethnic backgrounds were younger, with differing comorbidity profiles and less frailty. Asian and black patients were more likely to be admitted to ICU and to receive invasive ventilation (OR 1.54, (95% CI 1.06 to 2.23); p=0.023 and OR 1.80 (95% CI 1.20 to 2.71); p=0.005, respectively). After adjustment for age and sex, patients from Asian (HR 1.49 (95% CI 1.19 to 1.86); p<0.001) and black (HR 1.30 (95% CI 1.02 to 1.65); p=0.036) backgrounds were more likely to die. These findings persisted across a range of risk factor-adjusted analyses accounting for major comorbidities, obesity, smoking, frailty and ABO blood group.ConclusionsPatients from Asian and black backgrounds had higher mortality from COVID-19 infection despite controlling for all previously identified confounders and frailty. Higher rates of invasive ventilation indicate greater acute disease severity. Our analyses suggest that patients of Asian and black backgrounds suffered disproportionate rates of premature death from COVID-19.

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