scholarly journals The frequency and quality of delirium documentation in discharge summaries

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Victoria L Chuen ◽  
Adrian C.H Chan ◽  
Jin Ma ◽  
Shabbir M.H Alibhai ◽  
Vicky Chau
Keyword(s):  
Chart Review ◽  
Retrospective Chart Review ◽  
Discharge Summary ◽  
Medical Specialties ◽  
Surgical Services ◽  
Documentation Quality ◽  
Medication Changes ◽  
Discharge Summaries

Abstract Background The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence recommends documenting all delirium episodes in the discharge summary using the term “delirium”. Previous studies demonstrate poor delirium documentation rates in discharge summaries and no studies have assessed delirium documentation quality. The aim of this study was to determine the frequency and quality of delirium documentation in discharge summaries and explore differences between medical and surgical services. Methods This was a multi-center retrospective chart review. We included 110 patients aged ≥ 65 years identified to have delirium during their hospitalization using the Chart-based Delirium Identification Instrument (CHART-DEL). We assessed the frequency of any delirium documentation in discharge summaries, and more specifically, for the term “delirium”. We evaluated the quality of delirium discharge documentation using the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organization’s framework for quality discharge summaries. Comparisons were made between medical and surgical services. Secondary outcomes included assessing factors influencing the frequency of “delirium” being documented in the discharge summary. Results We identified 110 patients with sufficient chart documentation to identify delirium and 80.9 % of patients had delirium documented in their discharge summary (“delirium” or other acceptable term). The specific term “delirium” was reported in 63.6 % of all delirious patients and more often by surgical than medical specialties (76.5 % vs. 52.5 %, p = 0.02). Documentation quality was significantly lower by surgical specialties in reporting delirium as a diagnosis (23.5 % vs. 57.6 %, p < 0.001), documenting delirium workup (23.4 % vs. 57.6 %, p = 0.001), etiology (43.3 % vs. 70.4 %, p = 0.03), treatment (36.7 % vs. 66.7 %, p = 0.02), medication changes (44.4 % vs. 100 %, p = 0.002) and follow-up (36.4 % vs. 88.2 %, p = 0.01). Conclusions The frequency of delirium documentation is higher than previously reported but remains subpar. Medical services document delirium with higher quality, but surgical specialties document the term “delirium” more frequently. The documentation of delirium in discharge summaries must improve to meet quality standards.

Cochlear Implantation in the Elderly: Results and Quality-of-Life Assessment

2002 ◽  
Vol 111 (10) ◽  
pp. 890-895 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hamid R. Djalilian ◽  
Sharon L. Smith ◽  
Timothy A. King ◽  
Samuel C. Levine
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Complication Rate ◽  
Cochlear Implantation ◽  
Chart Review ◽  
Retrospective Chart Review ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Life Assessment ◽  
Test Results

To assess the efficacy, quality of life, and complication rate of cochlear implantation in patients over 60 years of age, we performed a retrospective chart review of 31 cochlear implant patients more than 60 years old at the time of surgery (mean, 70 years; range, 62 to 86 years). All patients had improvement in their audiological test results after operation. Twenty-eight patients (93%) are regular implant users at a median follow-up of 12 months. Major complications occurred in 2 patients (6%). We conclude that cochlear implantation in the elderly population has excellent results, with a complication rate similar to that in patients less than 60 years old, and yields an improved quality of life.

scholarly journals A Structured Workshop to Improve the Quality of Resident Discharge Summaries

2012 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 87-91 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jaideep S. Talwalkar ◽  
Jason R. Ouellette ◽  
Shawnette Alston ◽  
Gregory K. Buller ◽  
Daniel Cottrell ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Hospital Discharge ◽  
Discharge Summary ◽  
Faculty Members ◽  
Evaluation Tool ◽  
Outpatient Physician ◽  
Hospital Discharge Summary ◽  
Structured Program ◽  
Discharge Summaries

Abstract Background Poor communication at hospital discharge can increase the risk of adverse events. The hospital discharge summary is the most common tool for detailing events related to hospitalization in preparation for postdischarge follow-up, yet deficiencies in discharge summaries have been widely reported. Resident physicians are expected to dictate discharge summaries but receive little formal training in this arena. We hypothesized that implementation of an educational program on chart documentation skills would result in improvements in the quality of hospital discharge summaries in a community hospital internal medicine residency program. Methods A monthly, 1-hour workshop was launched in August 2007 to provide consistent and ongoing instruction on chart documentation. Guided by a faculty moderator, residents reviewed 2 randomly selected peer chart notes per session using instruments developed for that purpose. After the workshop had been in place for 2 years, 4 faculty members reviewed 63 randomly selected discharge summaries from spring 2007, spring 2008, and spring 2009 using a 14-item evaluation tool. Results Mean scores for 10 of the 14 individual items improved in a stepwise manner during the 3 years of the study. Items related to overall quality of the discharge summary showed statistically significant improvement, as did the portion of the summaries “carbon copied” to the responsible outpatient physician. Conclusions The quality of hospital discharge summaries improved following the implementation of a novel, structured program to teach chart documentation skills. Ongoing improvement was seen 1 and 2 years into the program, suggesting that continuing instruction in those skills was beneficial.

scholarly journals Efficacy of botulinum toxin for treating cramps in peripheral neuropathy

2021 ◽  
Vol 2 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Tejas Mehta ◽  
Richard Sommers ◽  
Raghav Govindarajan
Keyword(s):  
Botulinum Toxin ◽  
Peripheral Neuropathy ◽  
Pain Score ◽  
Chart Review ◽  
Botulinum Toxin A ◽  
Retrospective Chart Review ◽  
Wilcoxon Test ◽  
Safe Procedure

Abstract Introduction: Muscle cramps are a common occurrence in patients with peripheral neuropathy and are known to cause significant distress and decrease the quality of life. Although several drug formulations have been used in the management of cramps, there is significant variability in terms of efficacy and tolerability in patients with peripheral neuropathy. This study aims to assess the efficacy of botulinum toxin A in the management of lower limb cramps in patients with peripheral neuropathy.   Methods: This retrospective chart review included a total of ten patients with peripheral neuropathy with cramps. Relevant data such as age, gender, race, pain score and cause of peripheral neuropathy were documented. Statistical analyses to compare the variables was done using the Wilcoxon Test. The pain score before the administration, at 3-month, 6 month and 9 months follow up were compared.   Results All patients enrolled in the study showed improvement of pain assessed by visual pain analog scale. An improvement of 1.60 (95%CI, p<0.05), 2.70 (95%CI, p<0.05) and 3.50 (95%CI, p=0.05) was noted between test scores from before administration of botulinum toxin to 3-month, 6 months and 9 months follow up with a range of 6, 4 and 4 respectively.   Conclusion: Local BTX-A infiltration is a likely efficacious and safe procedure for improving pain associated with cramps in patients with peripheral neuropathy.

scholarly journals Psychosocial and Aesthetic Advantages of Reconstruction after Prophylactic Mastectomy: A Quality of Life and Aesthetic Analysis

2017 ◽  
Vol 33 (07) ◽  
pp. 483-492
Author(s):  
Michele Manahan ◽  
Pablo Baltodano ◽  
Myrna Reinhardt ◽  
Li Xie ◽  
Justin Muste ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Chart Review ◽  
Postoperative Morbidity ◽  
Prophylactic Mastectomy ◽  
Retrospective Chart Review ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Patient Counseling ◽  
Aesthetic Evaluation

Background Proper patient counseling regarding reconstruction after prophylactic mastectomy (PM) requires greater understanding of quality of life (QoL) and aesthetic outcomes. Our study evaluates these end points using the validated BREAST-Q and Garbay system. Methods We performed a retrospective chart review of 1,254 mastectomy patients (July 2008 through July 2012). Of those with completed preoperative BREAST-Q and reconstruction with a minimum of 6-month follow-up, 18 underwent bilateral PM (BPM), 36 underwent contralateral PM (CPM), and 30 matched controls were selected who underwent unilateral therapeutic mastectomy (TM) with contralateral symmetry procedure. Preoperative and 6-month postreconstruction BREAST-Q scores were compared within and between groups. Subsequently, aesthetic evaluation of 21 of a group of randomly selected reconstructions (7 TM, 7 CPM, and 7 BPM) was performed by 14 plastic surgery researchers. Potential correlations between aesthetic evaluations and QoL outcomes were examined. Results Demographic characteristics, preoperative satisfaction scores, and postoperative morbidity rates were similar among all three groups. Although reconstruction after BPM was associated with improved aesthetic outcomes (p < 0.001), a significant postoperative increase in satisfaction with breasts was noted only in the TM group (p = 0.006). CPM was associated with improved psychosocial well-being (p = 0.039) in our study. No further significant differences were noted. Conclusion Although BPM with reconstruction is associated with higher aesthetic outcomes compared with CPM or TM, QoL is not significantly increased. Reconstruction after CPM, but not BPM, is associated with increased psychosocial well-being. These valuable findings should be taken into account during preoperative counseling regarding elective PMs.

scholarly journals What makes a “successful” or “unsuccessful” discharge letter? Hospital clinician and General Practitioner assessments of the quality of discharge letters

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Katharine Weetman ◽  
Rachel Spencer ◽  
Jeremy Dale ◽  
Emma Scott ◽  
Stephanie Schnurr
Keyword(s):  
Corpus Linguistics ◽  
Care Transitions ◽  
Discharge Summary ◽  
Free Text ◽  
The United Kingdom ◽  
Discharge Letter ◽  
Guidelines And Standards ◽  
Medication Changes ◽  
Discharge Summaries

Abstract Background Sharing information about hospital care with primary care in the form of a discharge summary is essential to patient safety. In the United Kingdom, although discharge summary targets on timeliness have been achieved, the quality of discharge summaries’ content remains variable. Methods Mixed methods study in West Midlands, England with three parts: 1. General Practitioners (GPs) sampling discharge summaries they assessed to be “successful” or “unsuccessful” exemplars, 2. GPs commenting on the reasons for their letter assessment, and 3. surveying the hospital clinicians who wrote the sampled letters for their views. Letters were examined using content analysis; we coded 15 features (e.g. “diagnosis”, “GP plan”) based on relevant guidelines and standards. Free text comments were analysed using corpus linguistics, and survey data were analysed using descriptive statistics. Results Fifty-three GPs participated in selecting discharge letters; 46 clinicians responded to the hospital survey. There were statistically significant differences between “successful” and “unsuccessful” inpatient letters (n = 375) in relation to inclusion of the following elements: reason for admission (99.1% vs 86.5%); diagnosis (97.4% vs 74.5%), medication changes (61.5% vs 48.9%); reasons for medication changes (32.1% vs 18.4%); hospital plan/actions (70.5% vs 50.4%); GP plan (69.7% vs 53.2%); information to patient (38.5% vs 24.8%); tests/procedures performed (97.0% vs 74.5%), and test/examination results (96.2% vs 77.3%). Unexplained acronyms and jargon were identified in the majority of the sample (≥70% of letters). Analysis of GP comments highlighted that the overall clarity of discharge letters is important for effective and safe care transitions and that they should be relevant, concise, and comprehensible. Hospital clinicians identified several barriers to producing “successful” letters, including: juniors writing letters, time limitations, writing letters retrospectively from patient notes, and template restrictions. Conclusions The failure to uniformly implement national discharge letter guidance into practice is continuing to contribute to unsuccessful communication between hospital and general practice. While the study highlighted barriers to producing high quality discharge summaries which may be addressed through training and organisational initiatives, it also indicates a need for ongoing audit to ensure the quality of letters and so reduce patient risk at the point of hospital discharge.

scholarly journals Development of a Multidisciplinary Aerodigestive Program: An Institutional Experience

Children ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (7) ◽  
pp. 535
Author(s):  
Seung Kim ◽  
Mireu Park ◽  
Eunyoung Kim ◽  
Ga Eun Kim ◽  
Jae Hwa Jung ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Chart Review ◽  
Retrospective Chart Review ◽  
Multidisciplinary Management ◽  
Neurologic Disease ◽  
Institutional Experience ◽  
Swallowing Difficulty ◽  
The Common ◽  
Chronic Comorbidities

We share our experience on the implementation of a multidisciplinary aerodigestive program comprising an aerodigestive team (ADT) so as to evaluate its feasibility. We performed a retrospective chart review of the patients discussed at the monthly ADT meetings and analyzed the data. A total of 98 children were referred to the ADT during the study period. The number of cases increased steadily from 3.5 cases per month in 2019 to 8.5 cases per month in 2020. The median age of patients was 34.5 months, and 55% were male. Among the chronic comorbidities, neurologic disease was the most common (85%), followed by respiratory (36%) and cardiac (13%) disorders. The common reasons for consultation were suspected aspiration (56%), respiratory difficulty (44%), drooling/stertor (30%), regurgitation/vomiting (18%), and feeding/swallowing difficulty (17%). Following discussions, 58 patients received active interventions, including fundoplication, gastrostomy, laryngomicrosurgery, tracheostomy, and primary dilatation of the airway. According to the questionnaire of the caregiver, the majority agreed that the main symptoms and quality of life of patients had improved (88%), reducing the burden on caregivers (77%). Aerodigestive programs may provide comprehensive and multidisciplinary management for children with complex airway and digestive tract disorders.

scholarly journals Lack of recognition and documentation of stress hyperglycemia is a disruptor of optimal continuity of care

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Eric D. Moyer ◽  
Erik B. Lehman ◽  
Matthew D. Bolton ◽  
Jennifer Goldstein ◽  
Ariana R. Pichardo-Lowden
Keyword(s):  
Blood Glucose ◽  
Continuity Of Care ◽  
Clinical Documentation ◽  
Stress Hyperglycemia ◽  
Optimal Care ◽  
Continuity Clinic ◽  
Altered Glucose ◽  
Discharge Summaries

AbstractStress hyperglycemia (SH) is a manifestation of altered glucose metabolism in acutely ill patients which worsens outcomes and may represent a risk factor for diabetes. Continuity of care can assess this risk, which depends on quality of hospital clinical documentation. We aimed to determine the incidence of SH and documentation tendencies in hospital discharge summaries and continuity notes. We retrospectively examined diagnoses during a 12-months period. A 3-months representative sample of discharge summaries and continuity clinic notes underwent manual abstraction. Over 12-months, 495 admissions had ≥ 2 blood glucose measurements ≥ 10 mmol/L (180 mg/dL), which provided a SH incidence of 3.3%. Considering other glucose states suggestive of SH, records showing ≥ 4 blood glucose measurements ≥ 7.8 mmol/L (140 mg/dL) totaled 521 admissions. The entire 3-months subset of 124 records lacked the diagnosis SH documentation in discharge summaries. Only two (1.6%) records documented SH in the narrative of hospital summaries. Documentation or assessment of SH was absent in all ambulatory continuity notes. Lack of documentation of SH contributes to lack of follow-up after discharge, representing a disruptor of optimal care. Activities focused on improving quality of hospital documentation need to be integral to the education and competency of providers within accountable health systems.

Late endoscopic evaluation of the ostium size after external dacryocystorhinostomy

2020 ◽  
pp. 112067212097604
Author(s):  
Reem R Al Huthail ◽  
Yasser H Al-Faky
Keyword(s):  
Chart Review ◽  
Retrospective Chart Review ◽  
Tertiary Hospital ◽  
Nasal Endoscope ◽  
Long Term Follow Up ◽  
Mean Size ◽  
External Dacryocystorhinostomy ◽  
The Mean

Objective: To evaluate the effect of chronicity on the size of the ostium after external dacryocystorhinostomy (DCR) with intubation. Methods: Design: A retrospective chart review of patients who underwent external DCR with intubation over 10 years from January 2003 at a tertiary hospital. All patients were recruited and examined with rigid nasal endoscope. Results: A total number of 66 (85 eyes) patients were included. The mean age at the time of evaluation was 53.1 years with gender distribution of 54 females (81.8 %). The mean duration ±SD between the date of surgery and the date of evaluation was 33.2 ± 33.6 (6–118 months). Our study showed an overall anatomical and functional success of 98.8% and 95.3%, respectively. The mean size of the ostium (±SD) was 23.0 (±15.7) mm2 (ranging from 1 to 80.4 mm2). The size of the ostium was not a significant factor for failure ( p = 0.907). No statistically significant correlation was found between the long-term duration after surgery and the size of the ostium ( R: 0.025, p = 0.157). Conclusions: Nasal endoscopy after DCR is valuable in evaluating the ostium with no observed potential correlation between the long-term follow-up after surgery and the size of the ostium.

Cholecystectomy for Biliary Hyperkinesia

2019 ◽  
Vol 85 (2) ◽  
pp. 219-222 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joshua Gazzetta ◽  
Betty Fan ◽  
Paul Bonner ◽  
John Galante
Keyword(s):  
Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy ◽  
Chart Review ◽  
Gallbladder Disease ◽  
Retrospective Chart Review ◽  
Biliary Colic ◽  
Study Cohort ◽  
Final Pathology ◽  
Pathology Reports ◽  
Histologic Changes

Patients with classic biliary colic symptoms and documented gallbladder ejection fractions on the higher end of the spectrum on hepatobiliary iminoacetic acid scans with cholecystokinin stimulation are presently understudied and the benefits of cholecystectomy are unclear. To determine whether patients with biliary-type pain and biliary hyperkinesia (defined as a gallbladder ejection fractions of 80% or greater) benefit from laparoscopic cholecystectomy, a retrospective chart review encompassing five community hospitals was performed. Patients 16 years and older with diagnosed biliary hyperkinesia who underwent laparoscopic cholecystectomy between January 1, 2010 and May 31, 2015 were included. Pathology reports were reviewed for histologic changes indicating cholecystitis. Resolution of biliary colic symptoms was reviewed one to three weeks after surgery in their postoperative follow-up documentation. Within our study cohort, we found 97 patients who underwent laparoscopic cholecystectomy for biliary hyperkinesia. Within this population, 84.5 per cent of patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy for biliary hyper-kinesia had positive findings for gallbladder disease on final pathology. Of the 77 patients with data available from their first postoperative visit, 70 (90.9%) reported improvement or resolution of symptoms. Our findings suggest that symptomatic biliary hyperkinesia may be treated successfully with surgery.

Efficacy of Internal Neurolysis for Trigeminal Neuralgia without Vascular Compression

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ming-Wu Li ◽  
Xiao-feng Jiang ◽  
Chaoshi Niu
Keyword(s):  
Pain Relief ◽  
Trigeminal Neuralgia ◽  
Chart Review ◽  
Vascular Compression ◽  
Internal Neurolysis ◽  
Facial Numbness ◽  
Relief Rate

Abstract Background and Objective Trigeminal neuralgia is a common neurologic disease that seriously impacts a patient's quality of life. We retrospectively investigated the efficacy and safety of internal neurolysis (nerve combing) for trigeminal neuralgia without vascular compression. Patients and Methods This study was a retrospective review of all patients with trigeminal neuralgia who were admitted between January 2014 and February 2019. A subgroup of 36 patients had no vascular compression at surgery and underwent internal neurolysis. Chart review and postoperative follow-up were performed to assess the overall outcomes of internal neurolysis. Results Thirty-six patients were identified, with a mean age of 44.89 ± 7.90 (rang: 31–65) years and a disease duration of 5.19 ± 2.61 years. The immediate postoperative pain relief (Barrow Neurological Institute [BNI] pain score of I or II) rate was 100%. The medium- to long-term pain relief rate was 91.7%. Three patients experienced recurrence. Facial numbness was the primary postoperative complication. Four patients with a score of III on the BNI numbness scale immediately after surgery had marked improvement at 6 months. No serious complications occurred. Conclusion Internal neurolysis is a safe and effective treatment for trigeminal neuralgia without vascular compression or clear responsible vessels.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document