Teleneurology Comprehensive Inpatient Consultations Expedite Access to Care and Decreases Hospital Length of Stay

2021 ◽  
pp. 194187442110009
Author(s):  
Robert McCormick ◽  
Juan Estrada ◽  
Cynthia Whitney ◽  
Mona Hinrichsen ◽  
Patrick T. Lee ◽  
...  

Background and Purpose: While the successful provision of telestroke care has been well documented in the literature, studies on the impact of comprehensive teleneurology service (TN) to hospital measures are lacking. We evaluated 3 traditional health services metrics of hospital performance: time from consult request to consult completion, inpatient length of stay (LOS), and the rate of patients transferred for tertiary care. Methods: Medical records (n = 899) from 3 community hospitals and our TN consultation database were retrospectively reviewed during the 2 years before (n = 703, 3 hospitals) and 4 months (n = 2 hospitals) to 2 years (n = 1 hospital) after implementation (n = 196) of a TN program for routine and urgent consult requests. Consult order time, consult completion time, total length of stay and discharge disposition were compared across the pre-TN implementation group, which consisted of in-person consultations and the post-TN implementation group, which consisted of TN consultations only. Results: After TN implementation, median length of stay decreased 28% (3.9 vs. 2.8 days, p < 0.0001) and median time from consult order to consult completion decreased by 74% across all diagnoses (5.8 vs. 1.5 hours, p < 0.0001). There were no significant differences in the percentage of patients discharged home (52.3% vs. 56.1%, p = 0.10) or transferred to tertiary care (6.1% to 9.2%, p = 0.10). Conclusions: Implementation of TN program was associated with significant reductions in LOS and time to consultation completion without an increase in shunting of patients to more advanced facilities. Further research is warranted to confirm these findings in independent cohorts and other models of teleneurology delivery.

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
pp. 237437352110114
Author(s):  
Andrew Nyce ◽  
Snehal Gandhi ◽  
Brian Freeze ◽  
Joshua Bosire ◽  
Terry Ricca ◽  
...  

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.


Nutrients ◽  
2022 ◽  
Vol 14 (2) ◽  
pp. 342
Author(s):  
Jen-Fu Huang ◽  
Chih-Po Hsu ◽  
Chun-Hsiang Ouyang ◽  
Chi-Tung Cheng ◽  
Chia-Cheng Wang ◽  
...  

This study aimed to assess current evidence regarding the effect of selenium (Se) supplementation on the prognosis in patients sustaining trauma. MEDLINE, Embase, and Web of Science databases were searched with the following terms: “trace element”, “selenium”, “copper”, “zinc”, “injury”, and “trauma”. Seven studies were included in the meta-analysis. The pooled results showed that Se supplementation was associated with a lower mortality rate (OR 0.733, 95% CI: 0.586, 0.918, p = 0.007; heterogeneity, I2 = 0%). Regarding the incidence of infectious complications, there was no statistically significant benefit after analyzing the four studies (OR 0.942, 95% CI: 0.695, 1.277, p = 0.702; heterogeneity, I2 = 14.343%). The patients with Se supplementation had a reduced ICU length of stay (standard difference in means (SMD): −0.324, 95% CI: −0.382, −0.265, p < 0.001; heterogeneity, I2 = 0%) and lesser hospital length of stay (SMD: −0.243, 95% CI: −0.474, −0.012, p < 0.001; heterogeneity, I2 = 45.496%). Se supplementation after trauma confers positive effects in decreasing the mortality and length of ICU and hospital stay.


2019 ◽  
Vol 14 (8) ◽  
pp. 492-495 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paul L Aronson ◽  
Andrea T Cruz ◽  
Stephen B Freedman ◽  
Fran Balamuth ◽  
Kendra L Grether-Jones ◽  
...  

Although neonatal herpes simplex virus (HSV) causes significant morbidity, utilization of the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) HSV polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test remains variable. Our objective was to examine the association of CSF HSV PCR testing with length of stay (LOS) in a 20-center retrospective cohort of hospitalized infants aged ≤60 days undergoing evaluation for meningitis after adjustment for patient-level factors and clustering by center. Of 20,496 eligible infants, 7,399 (36.1%) had a CSF HSV PCR test performed, and 46 (0.6% of those tested) had a positive test. Infants who had a CSF HSV PCR test performed had a 23% longer hospital LOS (incident rate ratio 1.23; 95% CI: 1.14-1.33). Targeted CSF HSV PCR testing may mitigate the impact on LOS for low-risk infants.


Circulation ◽  
2007 ◽  
Vol 116 (suppl_16) ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert O’Connor ◽  
Ross Megargel ◽  
Angela DiSabatino ◽  
William Weintrub ◽  
Charles Reese

Introduction : The purpose of this study is to determine the degree of gender differences in lay person recognition, emergency medical services (EMS) activation, and the prehospital management of STEMI. Methods : Data were gathered prospectively from May 1999 to January 2007 on consecutive patients with STEMI who presented to a tertiary care hospital emergency department. Patients arriving by ambulance and private vehicle were included. Data collection included determining symptom duration, whether a prehospital ECG was obtained, whether the cardiac interventional lab was activated prior to patient arrival at the hospital, patient age, and hospital length of stay. Prehospital activation of the cath lab was done by emergency medicine based on paramedic ECG interpretation in consultation with cardiology. Statistical analysis was performed using the Mann-Whitney U test, the Yates-corrected chi-square test, and linear regression. Results : A total of 3260 cases were studied, of which, 3097 had complete data for analysis. Only EMS cases were included in the ECG analysis, and only patients having a prehospital ECG were included in the prehospital activation of cath lab analysis. Regression analysis showed that older age and female gender were significant predictors of access and arrival by EMS. The mean age in years was higher for EMS arrival (69 women; 59 men) than for private vehicle (62 women; 56 men). Conclusion : Women with STEMI tend to use EMS more frequently then men, but are older and wait longer before seeking treatment. Whether these factors contribute to the longer length of stay remains to be determined.


Circulation ◽  
2008 ◽  
Vol 118 (suppl_18) ◽  
Author(s):  
Karen Uzark ◽  
Paula Eldridge ◽  
William Border ◽  
Mary Pat Alfaro ◽  
Megan Donley ◽  
...  

Infants with complex congenital heart disease are at increased risk for malnutrition and poor weight gain. At our institution, infants who undergo Stage I Norwood operation are discharged with a home surveillance (HomeSurv) program which includes weight monitoring. To evaluate the impact of home surveillance on interstage growth, a current cohort of patients enrolled in Home Surv (n=18) was compared to a cohort discharged immediately prior to the implementation of the Home Surv program (n=20). The cohorts were compared using parametric and non-parametric methods as appropriate. Results: Infants underwent Stage I at a median age of 3.5 days (range 1–26), and at a mean weight 3.0 ± 0.4 kg., 26 with a modified Blalock-Taussig shunt and 12 with a right ventricular-to-pulmonary artery shunt. There were 26 males and 12 females. There were no significant differences between the groups with and without HomeSurv with respect to Stage I age, sex, Stage I weight, or shunt type. Stage I discharge weights were similar between the two cohorts (p=0.23) and there was no significant difference in Stage I hospital length of stay (p=0.10). Mean age at Stage II was 5.1 mos in the HomeSurv group and 4.9 mos in the pre-HomeSurv group, (p = 0.63). Mean weight at Stage II was higher in the HomeSurv group, but not statistically significant (5.9 kg vs 5.5 kg, p=0.30). However, weight gain >15 gms/day post Stage I discharge (our minimum weight gain threshold) was achieved by 89% of infants with Home Surv in comparison to 60% of the pre-HomeSurv group, p<.05. Weight gain was not significantly correlated with weight at Stage I, Stage I hospital length of stay, or age at Stage II, and was not significantly different related to shunt type. Conclusion: Home surveillance including weight monitoring following Stage I Norwood positively impacts interstage weight gain. In particular, it appears to confer protection for at-risk infants who fall below the threshold weight gain of 15gms/day. Future studies should explore whether this improved weight gain is an important factor in interstage morbidity and mortality.


2020 ◽  
pp. 175045892093432 ◽  
Author(s):  
Edgar Poon ◽  
David Pache ◽  
Alana Delaforce ◽  
Lemya Abdalla ◽  
Treasure McGuire

Aim The study aimed to compare the frequency and alignment of preoperative anaemia screening and treatment with Australian guidelines in elective bowel surgery and determine the impact on clinical outcomes. Methods We performed a retrospective observational study, with an audit of 559 adult patients who underwent major elective bowel surgery in an Australian metropolitan hospital, January 2016–December 2018. Outcome measures included rate of anaemia, guideline compliance, hospital length of stay, and transfusion rate. Results Preoperative anaemia assessment occurred in 82.6% of patients. However, only 5.2% received recommended biochemical tests at least one week before surgery. Only 25.2% of anaemic patients received preoperative treatment; they experienced a longer hospital length of stay (9.93 days versus 7.88 days, p < 0.001) and an increased rate of transfusion (OR: 3.186, p < 0.05). Conclusion The gaps between current preoperative anaemia screening, management and national guidelines may place patients at higher risk of poor surgical outcome.


2014 ◽  
Vol 8 (3-4) ◽  
pp. 92 ◽  
Author(s):  
Louis-Olivier Gagnon ◽  
Larry Goldenberg ◽  
Kenny Lynch ◽  
Antonio Hurtado ◽  
Martin Gleave

Introduction: We assessed outcomes and costs of open prostatectomy (OP) versus robotic-assisted prostatectomy (RAP) at a single tertiary care university hospital.Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 200 consecutive OP by 1 experienced open surgeon (MG) and 200 consecutive RAP by an experienced open surgeon (SLG), after allowing for a short learning curve of 70 cases.Results: The 2 groups had similar demographics, including mean age (64.7 vs. 64.2) and mean body mass index (27.2 vs. 27.2). The OP group had a higher proportion of higher risk cancers compared to the RAP group (32.5% vs. 8.5%). Mean skin-to-skin operative room time was less for the OP (114.2 vs. 234.1 minutes). Transfusion rates were similar at 1.5% with OP compared to 3.5% with RAP. The mean length of stay was 1.78 days for OP compared to 1.76 days for RAP, for the last 100 patients in each group. The OP group had more high-grade disease in the prostatectomy specimen, with Gleason ≥8 in 23.5% compared to 3.5% in the RAP group. Positive surgical margin rates were comparable at 31% for OP and 24.6% for RAP, and remained similar after stratification for pT2 and pT3 disease. The grade I and II perioperative complication rate (Clavien-Dindo classification) was lower in the OP group (8.5% vs. 20%). Postoperative stress urinary incontinence rates (4.8% for OP and 4.6% for RAP) and biochemical-free status (91.8% for OP and 96% for RAP) did not differ at 12 months post-surgery. The additional cost of RAP was calculated as $5629 per case. The main limitations of this study are its retrospective nature and lack of validated questionnaires for evaluation of postoperative functional outcomes.Conclusion: While hospital length of stay, transfusion rates, positive surgical margin rates and postoperative urinary incontinence were similar, OP had a shorter operative time and a lower cost compared to the very early experience of RAP. Future parallel prospective analysis will address the impact of the learning curve on these outcomes.


2019 ◽  
Vol 6 (Supplement_2) ◽  
pp. S449-S449
Author(s):  
Túlio Alves Jeangregório Rodrigues ◽  
Guilherme Fernandes de Oliveira ◽  
Júlia G C Dias ◽  
Laís Souza Campos ◽  
Letícia Rodrigues ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Exploratory laparotomy surgery is abdominal operations not involving the gastrointestinal tract or biliary system. The objective of our study is to answer three questions: (a) What is the risk of surgical site infection (SSI) after exploratory abdominal surgery? (b) What is the impact of SSI in the hospital length of stay and hospital mortality? (c) What are risk factors for SSI after exploratory abdominal surgery? Methods A retrospective cohort study assessed meningitis and risk factors in patients undergoing exploratory laparotomy between January 2013 and December 2017 from 12 hospitals at Belo Horizonte, Brazil. Data were gathered by standardized methods defined by the National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN)/CDC procedure-associated protocols for routine SSI surveillance. 26 preoperative and operative categorical and continuous variables were evaluated by univariate and multivariate analysis (logistic regression). Outcome variables: Surgical site infection (SSI), hospital death, hospital length of stay. Variables were analyzed using Epi Info and applying statistical two-tailed test hypothesis with significance level of 5%. Results A sample of 6,591 patients submitted to exploratory laparotomy was analyzed (SSI risk = 4.3%): Hospital length of stay in noninfected patients (days): mean = 16, median = 6, std. dev. = 30; hospital stay in infected patients: mean = 32, median = 22, std. dev. = 30 (P < 0.001). The mortality rate in patients without infection was 14% while hospital death of infected patients was 20% (P = 0.009). Main risk factors for SSI: ügeneral anesthesia (SSI = 4.9%, relative risk – RR = 2.8, P < 0.001); preoperative hospital length of stay more than 4 days (SSI=3.9%, RR=1.8, P = 0.003); wound class contaminated or dirty (SSI = 5.4%, RR = 1.5, P = 0.002); duration of procedure higher than 3 hours (SSI = 7.1%, RR = 2.1, P < 0.001); after trauma laparotomy (SSI = 7.8%, RR = 1.9, P = 0.001). Conclusion We identified patients at high risk of surgical site infection after exploratory laparotomy: trauma patients from contaminated or dirty wound surgery, submitted to a procedure with general anesthesia that last more than 3 hours have 13% SSI. Patients without any of these four risk factors have only 1.2% SSI. Disclosures All authors: No reported disclosures.


2018 ◽  
Vol 38 (2) ◽  
pp. 66-67
Author(s):  
A.L. Marshall ◽  
U. Durani ◽  
A. Bartley ◽  
C.E. Hagen ◽  
A. Ashrani ◽  
...  

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