Improving the Qaulity of Patient Care in an Emergency Department Through Modeling and Simulation of its Process

2010 ◽  
pp. 343-352
Keyword(s):  
Emergency Department ◽  
Modeling And Simulation ◽  
Patient Care

Development and Performance Assessment of a Digital Serious Game to Assess Multi-Patient Care Skills in a Simulated Pediatric Emergency Department

2020 ◽  
Vol 51 (4) ◽  
pp. 550-570
Author(s):  
Cindy Luu ◽  
Thomas B. Talbot ◽  
Cha Chi Fung ◽  
Eyal Ben-Isaac ◽  
Juan Espinoza ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Emergency Department ◽  
Diagnostic Accuracy ◽  
Patient Care ◽  
Skill Acquisition ◽  
Video Game ◽  
Rank Correlation ◽  
Fixed Time ◽  
Serious Game ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Number Of Patients

Objective. Multi-patient care is important among medical trainees in an emergency department (ED). While resident efficiency is a typically measured metric, multi-patient care involves both efficiency and diagnostic / treatment accuracy. Multi-patient care ability is difficult to assess, though simulation is a potential alternative. Our objective was to generate validity evidence for a serious game in assessing multi-patient care skills among a variety of learners. Methods. This was a cross-sectional validation study using a digital serious game VitalSignsTM simulating multi-patient care within a pediatric ED. Subjects completed 5 virtual “shifts,” triaging, stabilizing, and discharging or admitting patients within a fixed time period; patients arrived at cascading intervals with pre-programmed deterioration if neglected. Predictor variables included generic multi-tasking ability, video game experience, medical knowledge, and clinical efficiency with real patients. Outcome metrics in 3 domains measured diagnostic accuracy (i.e. critical orders, diagnoses), efficiency (i.e. number of patients, time-to-order) and critical thinking (number of differential diagnoses); MANOVA determined differences between novice learners and expected expert physicians. Spearman Rank correlation determined associations between levels of expertise. Results. Ninety-five subjects’ gameplays were analyzed. Diagnostic accuracy and efficiency distinguished skill level between residency trained (residents, fellows and attendings) and pre-residency trained (medical students and undergraduate) subjects, particularly for critical orders, patients seen, and correct diagnoses (p < 0.003). There were moderate to strong correlations between the game’s diagnostic accuracy and efficiency metrics compared to level of training, including patients seen (rho = 0.47, p < 0.001); critical orders (rho = 0.80, p < 0.001); time-to-order (rho = −0.24, p = 0.025); and correct diagnoses (rho = 0.69, p < 0.001). Video game experience also correlated with patients seen (rho = 0.24, p = 0.003). Conclusion. A digital serious game depicting a busy virtual ED can distinguish between expected experts in multi-patient care at the pre- vs. post-residency level. Further study can focus on whether the game appropriately assesses skill acquisition during residency.

scholarly journals Use of a Unique Mobile Medical Asset in COVID Monoclonal Antibody Treatment

Healthcare ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (8) ◽  
pp. 990
Author(s):  
Herman Morchel ◽  
David Clark ◽  
Leighanne Buenvenida ◽  
Chinwe Ogedegbe
Keyword(s):  
Emergency Department ◽  
Monoclonal Antibody ◽  
Patient Care ◽  
Emergency Care ◽  
Environmental Changes ◽  
Physical Space ◽  
Antibody Treatment ◽  
Monoclonal Antibody Treatment ◽  
Mobile Satellite ◽  
Novel Coronavirus

The COVID-19 pandemic and the subsequent surge of patients presented to emergency departments has forever changed the paradigm of delivering emergency care. The highly infectious nature of the 2019 Novel Coronavirus, or COVID-19, mandated strict environmental changes, novel patient care, and flexible strategies to continue to deliver efficient emergency care while maintaining appropriate physical distancing between suspect and non-suspect COVID-19 patients. The engagement of a unique rapidly deployable Mobile Satellite Emergency Department (MSED) with scalable capability from prompt care to resuscitation level allowed the emergency care team to optimize patient care and throughput. The MSED was strategically located adjacent to the ambulance entrance. While initially deployed to increase Emergency Department surge capacity, the MSED was repurposed to cohort and treat COVID patients with the monoclonal antibody, Bamlanivimab, who were expected to be discharged after treatment. This allowed for more efficient use of Emergency Department resources, including physical space and staffing.

Accuracy of Computer Simulation to Predict Patient Flow during Mass-Casualty Incidents

2008 ◽  
Vol 23 (4) ◽  
pp. 354-360 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jeffrey M. Franc-Law ◽  
Micheal J. Bullard ◽  
F. Della Corte
Keyword(s):  
Emergency Department ◽  
Computer Simulation ◽  
Patient Care ◽  
Patient Flow ◽  
Emergency Department Patient ◽  
Simulation Software ◽  
Simulated Patients ◽  
Disaster Plan ◽  
Data Set ◽  
Patient Database

AbstractIntroduction:Although most hospitals have an emergency department disas- ter plan, most never have been implemented in a true disaster or been tested objectively. Computer simulation may be a useful tool to predict emergency department patient flow during a disaster.Purpose:The aim of this study was to compare the accuracy of a computer simulation in predicting emergency department patient flow during a masscasualty incident with that of a real-time, virtual, live exercise.Methods:History, physical examination findings, and laboratory results for 136 simulated patients were extracted from the disastermed.ca patient database as used as input into a computer simulation designed to represent the emergency department at the University of Alberta Hospital.The computer simulation was developed using a commercially available simulation software platform (2005, SimProcess, CACI Products, San Diego CA). Patient flow parameters were compared to a previous virtual, live exercise using the same data set.Results:Although results between the computer simulation and the live exercise appear similar, they differ statistically with respect to many patient benchmarks. There was a marked difference between the triage codes assigned during the live exercise and those from the patient database; however, this alone did not account for the differences between the patient groups. It is likely that novel approaches to patient care developed by the live exercise group, which are difficult to model by computer software, contributed to differences between the groups. Computer simulation was useful, however, in predicting how small changes to emergency department structure, such as adding staff or patient care areas, can influence patient flow.Conclusions:Computer simulation is helpful in defining the effects of changes to a hospital disaster plan. However, it cannot fully replace participant exercises. Rather, computer simulation and live exercises are complementary, and both may be useful for disaster plan evaluation.

scholarly journals Effectiveness of early assessment and intervention by interdisciplinary teams including health and social care professionals in the emergency department: protocol for a systematic review

BMJ Open ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 8 (7) ◽  
pp. e023464 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marica Cassarino ◽  
Katie Robinson ◽  
Rosie Quinn ◽  
Breda Naddy ◽  
Andrew O’Regan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Emergency Department ◽  
Patient Care ◽  
Systematic Reviews ◽  
Social Care ◽  
Interdisciplinary Teams ◽  
Cochrane Library ◽  
Early Assessment ◽  
Health And Social Care ◽  
The Impact

IntroductionFinding cost-effective strategies to improve patient care in the emergency department (ED) is an increasing imperative given growing numbers of ED attendees. Encouraging evidence indicates that interdisciplinary teams including health and social care professionals (HSCPs) enhance patient care across a variety of healthcare settings. However, to date no systematic reviews of the effectiveness of early assessment and/or interventions carried by such teams in the ED exist. This systematic review aims to explore the impact of early assessment and/or intervention carried out by interdisciplinary teams including HSCPs in the ED on the quality, safety and cost-effectiveness of care, and to define the content of the assessment and/or intervention offered by HSCPs.Methods and analysisUsing the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses standardised guidelines, we will conduct a systematic review of randomised controlled trials (RCTs), non-RCTs, controlled before–after studies, interrupted time series and repeated measures studies that report the impact of early assessment and/or intervention provided to adults aged 18+ by interdisciplinary teams including HSCPs in the ED. Searches will be carried in Cumulative Index of Nursing and Allied Health Literature, Embase, Cochrane Library and MEDLINE from inception to March 2018. We will also hand-search the reference lists of relevant studies. Following a two-step screening process, two independent reviewers will extract data on the type of population, intervention, comparison, outcomes and study design. The quality of the studies will be appraised using the Cochrane Risk of Bias Tool. The findings will be synthesised in a narrative summary, and a meta-analysis will be conducted where appropriate.Ethics and disseminationEthical approval will not be sought since it is not required for systematic reviews. The results of this review will be disseminated through publication in a peer-review journal and presented at relevant conferences.Trial registration numberCRD42018091794.

Unscheduled Revisits after Diagnosis of Abdominal Pain at Emergency Department, Mukdahan Hospital

2021 ◽  
Vol 104 (Suppl. 1) ◽  
pp. S40-S43
Keyword(s):  
Emergency Department ◽  
Abdominal Pain ◽  
Patient Care ◽  
Acute Abdominal Pain ◽  
Signs And Symptoms ◽  
Discharge System ◽  
Effective Discharge ◽  
Time Period ◽  
Pain Patients

Background: Abdominal pain is a common complaint for patients revisiting the Emergency Department (ED). Evaluating the cause of the revisit can improve the quality of ED patient care. Objective: We aimed to analyzed unscheduled revisits after diagnosis of abdominal pain at emergency department. Materials and Methods: In order to determine the characteristics of their abdominal pain and the causes for the revisits, the charts of 90 patients were reviewed. These patients had experienced acute abdominal pain and had returned to the Emergency Department within 48 hours after their initial treatment during the period between January 2019 and December 2019. Results: During that time period, 44,000 patients visited the ED. Of these, 90 patients (0.2%) with acute abdominal pain or related symptoms had revisited the ED within the following 48 hours. Most of these patients had been 20 to 60 years of age and had had no co-morbid diseases. Almost half of patient revisits had occurred during the evening shift (45.6%). There were 74% of these patients, who had been admitted to hospital for observation or for procedures. No in-hospital mortality was reported for this study. The signs and symptoms of abdominal pain in these patients had not been specific. The factors, which most often contributed to the ED revisits, had been inappropriate consultations and inappropriate discharges or advises. Conclusion: The majority of the acute abdominal pain patients, who revisited the ED within 48 hours, had been admitted. The most common cause of revisits had been inappropriate consultations and inappropriate discharges. Improving ED patient care can be managed by contributing to effective consultations and to establishing an effective discharge system for the ED. Keywords: Revisits, Emergency medicine department, Acute abdominal pain

scholarly journals The Unmet Need for Pharmacists as Important Members of the Emergency Department Team in Resource-Limited Settings: A Case of Nepal

2019 ◽  
Vol 35 (5) ◽  
pp. 219-224 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sunil Shrestha ◽  
Krisha Danekhu ◽  
Santosh Thapa ◽  
Saval Khanal ◽  
P. Ravi Shankar
Keyword(s):  
Emergency Department ◽  
Patient Care ◽  
Unmet Need ◽  
Developed Countries ◽  
Limited Information ◽  
Limited Evidence ◽  
Resource Limited Settings ◽  
Traditional Practice ◽  
Resource Limited

Background: The role of pharmacists in many developed countries has evolved from the traditional practice of dispensing medicines to contributing directly or indirectly to improve patient health outcomes. They are providing hospital services and patient care including services in the emergency department (ED). However, there is limited evidence for pharmacist involvement in the ED from resource-limited countries such as Nepal. Objective: The aim of this study is to discuss the role of pharmacists and highlight the unmet need of pharmacists in ED in Nepal. Methods: A narrative review of existing literature was conducted. Results: The status of ED services in Nepalese hospitals is not yet at a desirable level, and there is limited information about the role of pharmacists in EDs. Evidence obtained from developed nations on the role of pharmacists in EDs suggests that they help in improving patient outcomes by minimizing medication errors, adverse drug reactions, and enhance patient care. Conclusion: The study highlights the need for pharmacists in EDs in resource-limited settings. There is limited evidence of pharmacists’ role in EDs from Nepal. Therefore, this study suggests a need for further studies on the possible contribution of pharmacists to ED services in Nepal.

P035: Development of a province-wide audit program for return visits to the emergency department

CJEM ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 19 (S1) ◽  
pp. S89-S90
Author(s):  
L.B. Chartier ◽  
O. Ostrow ◽  
I. Yuen ◽  
S. Kutty ◽  
B. Davis ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Emergency Department ◽  
Patient Care ◽  
Quality Care ◽  
Improve Patient Care ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
Quality And Safety ◽  
Term Care ◽  
Clinical Observations ◽  
Quality Program ◽  
Physician Leaders

Introduction: Routine auditing of charts of patients with an emergency department (ED) return visit (RV) resulting in hospital admission can uncover quality and safety gaps in care. This feedback can be helpful to clinicians, administrators, and leaders working to improve clinical outcomes, increase patient satisfaction, and promote high-value care. Health Quality Ontario (HQO) has been tasked by Ontario’s Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care (MOHLTC) to manage the newly created ED RV Quality Program (RVQP), which mandates EDs participating in the Pay-for-Results (P4R) program to audit a minimum of 25-50 RVs/year. The goal of the first-ever ED-specific province-wide Quality Improvement (QI) initiative of this kind is to promote a culture of QI that will lead to improved patient care. Methods: Participating hospitals receive quarterly confidential reports from Access to Care (ATC) that show their and other hospitals’ rates of RVs, as well as identifying information for patients meeting RV inclusion criteria at their ED (within 72 hrs of index visit, or within 7 days with specific diagnoses). HQO has partnered with QI experts and ED physician-leaders to develop various guidance materials. These materials have been disseminated through various media. Hospitals are conducting audits to identify underlying quality issues, take steps to address the underlying causes, and submit reports to HQO. A taskforce will then analyze clinical observations, summarize key findings and lessons learned, and share improvements at a provincial level through an annual report. Results: Since its launch in April 2016, 73 P4R and 16 voluntarily enrolled non-P4R hospitals (which collectively receive approximately 90% of ED visits in the province) are participating in the RVQP. ED leaders have engaged their hospital’s leadership to leverage interest and resources to improve patient care in the ED. To date, hospitals have conducted thousands of audits and have identified quality and safety gaps to address, which will be analyzed in February 2017 for reporting shortly thereafter. These will inform QI endeavours locally and provincially, and be the largest source of such data ever created in Ontario. Conclusion: The ED RVQP aims to create a culture of continuous QI in the Ontario health care system, which provides care to over 13.8 million people. Other jurisdictions can replicate this model to promote high-quality care.

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