scholarly journals Primary triage nurses do not divert patients away from the emergency department at times of high in-hospital bed occupancy - a retrospective cohort study

2016 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mathias C Blom ◽  
Karin Erwander ◽  
Lars Gustafsson ◽  
Mona Landin-Olsson ◽  
Fredrik Jonsson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Emergency Department ◽  
Cohort Study ◽  
Retrospective Cohort Study ◽  
Retrospective Cohort ◽  
Bed Occupancy ◽  
Hospital Bed ◽  
Primary Triage

scholarly journals Ambulance dispatch of older patients following primary and secondary telephone triage in metropolitan Melbourne, Australia: a retrospective cohort study

BMJ Open ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (11) ◽  
pp. e042351
Author(s):  
Kathryn Eastwood ◽  
Dhanya Nambiar ◽  
Rosamond Dwyer ◽  
Judy A Lowthian ◽  
Peter Cameron ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cohort Study ◽  
Older Adult ◽  
Retrospective Cohort Study ◽  
Older Patients ◽  
Retrospective Cohort ◽  
Vital Signs ◽  
Telephone Triage ◽  
Ambulance Dispatch ◽  
Emergency Ambulance ◽  
Primary Triage

BackgroundMost calls to ambulance result in emergency ambulance dispatch (direct dispatch) following primary telephone triage. Ambulance Victoria uses clinician-led secondary telephone triage for patients identified as low-acuity during primary triage to refer them to alternative care pathways; however, some are returned for ambulance dispatch (secondary dispatch). Older adult patients are frequent users of ambulance services; however, little is known about the appropriateness of subsequent secondary dispatches.ObjectivesTo examine the appropriateness of secondary dispatch through a comparison of the characteristics and ambulance outcomes of older patients dispatched an emergency ambulance via direct or secondary dispatch.DesignA retrospective cohort study of ambulance patient data between September 2009 and June 2012 was conducted.SettingThe secondary telephone triage service operated in metropolitan Melbourne, Victoria, Australia during the study period.ParticipantsThere were 90 086 patients included aged 65 years and over who had an emergency ambulance dispatch via direct or secondary dispatch with one of the five most common secondary dispatch paramedic diagnoses.Main outcome measuresDescriptive analyses compared characteristics, treatment and transportation rates between direct and secondary dispatch patients.ResultsThe dispatch groups were similar in demographics, vital signs and hospital transportation rates. However, secondary dispatch patients were half as likely to be treated by paramedics (OR 0.51; CI 0.48 to 0.55; p<0.001). Increasing age was associated with decreasing treatment (p<0.005) and increasing transportation rates (p<0.005).ConclusionSecondary triage could identify patients who would ultimately be transported to an emergency department. However, the lower paramedic treatment rates suggest many secondary dispatch patients may have been suitable for referral to alternative low-acuity transport or referral options.

scholarly journals Predicting mortality in patients with suspected sepsis at the Emergency Department; A retrospective cohort study comparing qSOFA, SIRS and National Early Warning Score

PLoS ONE ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
pp. e0211133 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anniek Brink ◽  
Jelmer Alsma ◽  
Rob Johannes Carel Gerardus Verdonschot ◽  
Pleunie Petronella Marie Rood ◽  
Robert Zietse ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Emergency Department ◽  
Cohort Study ◽  
Early Warning ◽  
Retrospective Cohort Study ◽  
Retrospective Cohort ◽  
Early Warning Score ◽  
Suspected Sepsis ◽  
National Early Warning Score

scholarly journals Performance of the Manchester triage system in older emergency department patients: a retrospective cohort study

2019 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Steffie H. A. Brouns ◽  
Lisette Mignot-Evers ◽  
Floor Derkx ◽  
Suze L. Lambooij ◽  
Jeanne P. Dieleman ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Emergency Department ◽  
Cohort Study ◽  
Retrospective Cohort Study ◽  
Retrospective Cohort ◽  
Triage System ◽  
Manchester Triage System ◽  
Emergency Department Patients

scholarly journals Organisational Factors Induce Prolonged Emergency Department Length of Stay in Elderly Patients – A Retrospective Cohort Study

PLoS ONE ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 10 (8) ◽  
pp. e0135066 ◽  
Author(s):  
Steffie H. A. Brouns ◽  
Patricia M. Stassen ◽  
Suze L. E. Lambooij ◽  
Jeanne Dieleman ◽  
Irene T. P. Vanderfeesten ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Emergency Department ◽  
Cohort Study ◽  
Length Of Stay ◽  
Elderly Patients ◽  
Retrospective Cohort Study ◽  
Retrospective Cohort ◽  
Organisational Factors

Association between acute psychiatric bed availability in the Veterans Health Administration and veteran suicide risk: a retrospective cohort study

2021 ◽  
pp. bmjqs-2020-012975
Author(s):  
Peter J Kaboli ◽  
Matthew R Augustine ◽  
Bjarni Haraldsson ◽  
Nicholas M Mohr ◽  
M Bryant Howren ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Cohort Study ◽  
Retrospective Cohort Study ◽  
Retrospective Cohort ◽  
Suicide Risk ◽  
Veterans Health Administration ◽  
Veterans Health ◽  
Health Administration ◽  
Bed Occupancy ◽  
Increased Risk

BackgroundVeteran suicides have increased despite mental health investments by the Veterans Health Administration (VHA).ObjectiveTo examine relationships between suicide and acute inpatient psychiatric bed occupancy and other community, hospital and patient factors.MethodsRetrospective cohort study using administrative and publicly available data for contextual community factors. The study sample included all veterans enrolled in VHA primary care in 2011–2016 associated with 111 VHA hospitals with acute inpatient psychiatric units. Acute psychiatric bed occupancy, as a measure of access to care, was the main exposure of interest and was categorised by quarter as per cent occupied using thresholds of ≤85%, 85.1%–90%, 90.1%–95% and >95%. Hospital-level analyses were conducted using generalised linear mixed models with random intercepts for hospital, modelling number of suicides by quarter with a negative binomial distribution.ResultsFrom 2011 to 2016, the national incidence of suicide among enrolled veterans increased from 39.7 to 41.6 per 100 000 person-years. VHA psychiatric bed occupancy decreased from a mean of 68.2% (IQR 56.5%–82.2%) to 65.4% (IQR 53.9%–79.9%). VHA hospitals with the highest occupancy (>95%) in a quarter compared with ≤85% had an adjusted incident rate ratio (IRR) for suicide of 1.10 (95% CI 1.01 to 1.19); no increased risk was observed for 85.1%–90% (IRR 0.96; 95% CI 0.89 to 1.03) or 90.1%–95% (IRR 0.96; 95% CI 0.89 to 1.04) compared with ≤85% occupancy. Of hospital and community variables, suicide risk was not associated with number of VHA or non-VHA psychiatric beds or amount spent on community mental health. Suicide risk increased by age categories, seasons, geographic regions and over time.ConclusionsHigh VHA hospital occupancy (>95%) was associated with a 10% increased suicide risk for veterans whereas absolute number of beds was not, suggesting occupancy is an important access measure. Future work should clarify optimal bed occupancy to meet acute psychiatric needs and ensure adequate bed distribution.

scholarly journals Association of patient-to-emergency department staff ratio with the incidence of cardiac arrest: A retrospective cohort study

2021 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Emergency Department ◽  
Cardiac Arrest ◽  
Cohort Study ◽  
Length Of Stay ◽  
Retrospective Cohort Study ◽  
Retrospective Cohort ◽  
Medical Center ◽  
Occupancy Rate ◽  
Number Of Patients ◽  
Ed Overcrowding

Background: Emergency department (ED) overcrowding and overuse are global healthcare problems. Despite that substantial pieces of literature have explored quality parameters to monitor the patients’ safety and quality of care in the ED, to the best of our knowledge, no reasonable patient-to-ED staff ratios were established. Objectives: This study aimed to find the association between unexpected emergency department cardiac arrest (EDCA) and the patient-to-ED staff ratio. Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted in a medical center in Taiwan. Non-trauma patients (age > 18) who visited the ED from January 1, 2016 to November 30, 2018 were included. The total number of patients in ED, number of patients waiting for boarding, length of stay over 48 hours, and physician/nurse number in ED were collected and analyzed. The primary outcome was the association of each parameter with the incidence of EDCA. Results: A total of 508 patients were included. The total number of patients in ED ( > 361, RR: 1.54; 95% CI {1.239-1.917}), ED occupancy rate (> 280, RR: 1.54; 95% CI {1.245-1.898}), ED bed occupancy rate (> 184, RR: 1.63; 95% CI {1.308-2.034}), number of patients waiting for boarding (> 134, RR: 1.45; 95% CI {1.164-1.805}), number of patients in ED with length of stay over 48 hours (> 36, RR: 1.27; 95% CI {1.029-1.558}) and patient-to-nurse ratio (> 8.5, adjusted RR: 1.33; 95% CI {1.054-1.672}) had significant associations with higher incidence of EDCA. However, the patient-to-physician ratio was not associated with EDCA incidence. Discussions: Regarding loading parameters, the patient-to-nurse ratio is more representative than the patient-to-physician ratio as regards association with higher EDCA incidence. Conclusions: A higher patient-to-nurse ratio (> 8.5) was associated with an increment in the incidence of EDCA. Our findings provide a basis for setting different thresholds for different ED settings to adjust ED staff and develop individually tailored approaches corresponding to the level of ED overcrowding.

scholarly journals The Hanging Chin Sign As A Mortality Predictor In Geriatric Patients At The Emergency Department: A Retrospective Cohort Study

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anneloes NJ Huijgens ◽  
Laurens J van Baardewijk ◽  
Carolina JPW Keijsers
Keyword(s):  
Emergency Department ◽  
Cohort Study ◽  
Retrospective Cohort Study ◽  
Retrospective Cohort ◽  
Geriatric Patients ◽  
Lateral View ◽  
X Ray ◽  
Hospital Patients ◽  
Chest X Ray

Abstract BACKGROUND: At the emergency department, there is a need for an instrument which is quick and easy to use to identify geriatric patients with the highest risk of mortality. The so- called ‘hanging chin sign’, meaning that the mandibula is seen to project over one or more ribs on the chest X-ray, could be such an instrument. This study aims to investigate whether the hanging chin sign is a predictor of mortality in geriatric patients admitted through the emergency department. METHODS: We performed an observational retrospective cohort study in a Dutch teaching hospital. Patients of ≥ 65 years who were admitted to the geriatric ward following an emergency department visit were included. The primary outcome of this study was mortality. Secondary outcomes included the length of admission, discharge destination and the reliability compared to patient-related variables and the APOP screener.RESULTS: 396 patients were included in the analysis. Mean follow up was 300 days; 207 patients (52%) died during follow up. The hanging chin sign was present in 85 patients (21%). Patients with the hanging chin sign have a significantly higher mortality risk during admission (OR 2.94 (1.61 to 5.39), p < 0.001), within 30 days (OR 2.49 (1.44 to 4.31), p = 0.001), within 90 days (OR 2.16 (1.31 to 3.56), p = 0.002) and within end of follow up (OR 2.87 (1.70 to 4.84),p < 0.001). A chest X-ray without a PA view or lateral view was also associated with mortality. This technical detail of the chest x-ray and the hanging chin sign both showed a stronger association with mortality than patient-related variables or the APOP screener. CONCLUSIONS: The hanging chin sign and other details of the chest x-ray were strong predictors of mortality in geriatric patients presenting at the emergency department. Compared to other known predictors, they seem to do even better in predicting mortality.

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