scholarly journals Do automatic push notifications improve patient flow in the emergency department? analysis of an ED in a large medical center in Israel

PLoS ONE ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (10) ◽  
pp. e0258169
Author(s):  
Daniel Trotzky ◽  
Liron Posner ◽  
Jonathan Mosery ◽  
Aya Cohen ◽  
Shiran Avisar ◽  
...  

Introduction Congestion in emergency departments [ED] is a significant challenge worldwide. Any delay in the timely and immediate medical care provided in the ED can affect patient morbidity and mortality. Our research analyzed the use of an innovative platform to improve patient navigation in the ED, as well as provide updated information about their care. Our hope is that this can improve ED efficiency and improve overall patient care. Objective The primary objective of our study was to determine whether the use of an automatic push notification system can shorten ‘length of stay’ (LOS) in the ED, improve patient flow, and decrease ED patient load. Methods This was a prospective cohort study utilizing data extrapolated from the electronic medical records of 2972 patients who visited the walk-in ED of a large-scale central hospital in Israel from January 17, 2021 to March 15, 2021. During this period, the automatic push text notification system was activated on a week-on week-off basis. We compared data from our experimental group with the control group. Results The results of this study indicate that the use of an automatic push notification system had a minimal impact on specific parameters of ED patient flow. Apart from a few significant reductions of specific timed-intervals during patients’ ED visit, the majority of results were not statistically significant. Conclusion This study concluded that the anticipated benefits of a push text notification system in the ED do not, at this stage, justify the system’s additional cost. We recommend a follow-up study to further investigate other possible benefits.

2020 ◽  
Vol 79 (Suppl 1) ◽  
pp. 100.3-100
Author(s):  
Y. Wang ◽  
X. Liu ◽  
Y. Shi ◽  
X. Ji ◽  
W. Wang ◽  
...  

Background:Clinical practice guidelines recommend that exercise is an essential component in the self-management of Ankylosing Spondylitis (AS). Attending supervised interventions requiring periodic medical center visits can be burdensome and patients may decline participation, whereas, effective home-based exercise interventions that do not need regular medical center visits are likely to be more accessible and acceptable for patients with AS. Recently, increasing evidences have been accumulated that the wearable devices could facilitate patients with inflammatory arthritis by giving exercise instructions and improving self-efficacy. Therefore, patients with AS may benefit from an effective technology-assisted home-based exercise intervention.Objectives:To investigate the efficacy of a comprehensive technology-assisted home-based exercise intervention on disease activity in patients with AS.Methods:This study was a 16-week assessor-blinded, randomized, waiting-list controlled trial (ChiCTR1900024244). Patients with AS were randomly allocated to the home-based exercise intervention group and the waiting-list control group. A 16-week comprehensive exercise program consisting of a moderate intensity (64%-76% HRmax) aerobic training for 30min on 5 days/week and a functional training for 60min on 3 days/week was given to patients in the intervention group immediately after randomization, with 1.5h training sessions for two consecutive days by a study physical therapist at baseline and Week 8. The aerobic exercise intensity was controlled by a Mio FUSE Wristband with a smartphone application. The functional training consisted of the posture training, range of motion exercises, strength training, stability training and stretching exercises. Patients in control group received standard care during the 16-week follow-up and started to receive the exercise program at Week 16. The primary outcome was ASDAS at Week 16. The secondary outcomes were BASDAI, BASFI, BASMI, ASAS HI, peak oxygen uptake, body composition and muscle endurance tests. The mean difference between groups in change from baseline was analyzed with the analysis of covariance.Results:A total of 54 patients with AS were enrolled (26 in intervention group and 28 in control group) and 46 (85.2%) patients completed the 16-week follow-up. The mean difference of ASDAS between groups in change from baseline to 16-week follow-up was −0.2 (95% CI, −0.4 to 0.003, P = 0.032), and the mean change from baseline was -0.4 (95% CI, -0.5 to -0.2) in the intervention group vs -0.1 (95% CI, -0.3 to 0.01) in the control group, respectively. Significant between-group differences were found between groups for BASDAI (−0.5 [95% CI, −0.9 to −0.2], P = 0.004), BASMI (−0.7 [95% CI, −1.1 to −0.4], P <0.001), BASFI (−0.3 [95% CI, −0.6 to 0.01], P=0.035), peak oxygen uptake (2.7 [95% CI, 0.02 to 5.3] ml/kg/min, P=0.048) and extensor endurance test (17.8 [95% CI, 0.5 to 35.2]s, P=0.044) at Week 16. Between-group differences were detected in ASAS HI (−0.9 [95% CI, −1.7 to −0.1], P=0.030), body fat percentage (−1.0 [95% CI, −2.0 to −0.01] %, P=0.048) and visceral adipose tissue (−4.9 [95% CI, −8.5 to −1.4] cm2, P=0.008) at Week 8, but not at Week 16. No significant between-group differences were detected in the total lean mass, time up and go test and the flexor endurance test during the follow-up.Conclusion:Comprehensive technology-assisted home-based exercise has been shown to have beneficial effects on disease activity, physical function, spinal mobility, aerobic capacity, and body composition as well as in improving fatigue and morning stiffness of patients with AS.References:[1]van der Heijde D, Ramiro S, Landewé R, et al. Ann Rheum Dis 2017;76:978–991.Disclosure of Interests:None declared


2021 ◽  
Vol 108 (Supplement_2) ◽  
Author(s):  
T Havenhand ◽  
L Hoggett ◽  
A Bhutta

Abstract Introduction COVID-19 has dictated a shift towards virtual clinics. Pennine Acute Hospitals NHS Trust serves over a million patients with a significant number of face-to-face fracture clinics. Introduction of a Virtual Fracture Clinic (VFC) reduces hospital return rates and improves patient experience. The referral data can be used to give immediate monthly feedback to the referring department to further improving patient flow. Method Prospective data was collected for all referrals to VFC during March 2020. Data included referral diagnosis, actual diagnosis, referrers grade, and final outcome. Results 630 referrals were made to VFC. 347 (55%) of those referrals were directly discharged without the need for physical consultation. Of these 114 (32%) were injuries which can be discharged by the Emergency Department with an advice leaflet using existing pathways. Of the remaining discharges 102 (29%) were query fractures or sprains; and 135 (39%) were minor fractures; which needed only advice via a letter and no face to face follow up. Conclusions Implementation of VFC leads to a decrease in physical appointments by 55% saving 347 face to face appointments. The new system has also facilitated effective audit of referrals in order to further improve patient flow from the Emergency Department via feedback mechanisms and education.


2021 ◽  
Vol 28 (Supplement_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
M Perez Serrano ◽  
CNP Carlos Nicolas Perez Garcia ◽  
DEV Daniel Enriquez Vazquez ◽  
MFE Marcos Ferrandez Escarabajal ◽  
JDD Jesus Diz Diaz ◽  
...  

Abstract Funding Acknowledgements Type of funding sources: None. Introduction patients with heart failure (HF) are especially vulnerable to SAR-CoV-2 infection especially due to their worse prognosis for this disease. Purpose to demonstrate that patients with HF will present similar health outcomes if their education and pharmacological treatment is optimised remotely by a nurse rather than through conventional care. Methods  A single-centre, observational, prospective, non-randomized study was carried out in which two groups were compared. The experimental group had most of their care provided virtually by a nurse who could optimise their medication according to the clinical guides whilst the control group received conventional face-to-face care. During a follow-up period of 6 months, patients included in the study have an initial face-to-face consultation with a cardiologist and an evaluation of the patient where the treatment objectives are established. The rest of the follow-ups were done through videoconsultation with the nurse every 15 days for 6 months where the neurohormonal treatment was optimized and an educational program was carried out with different cardiovascular educational topics. Results   Thirty-seven patients have been included. Sex: 30 men (81.0%) and 7 women (19.0%) Mean age: 67.9 years (12.8). Range 42-87 years. Etiology: 61.2% ischemic and 38.8% non-ischemic mean LVEF at inclusion = 30.2%. A total of 17 patients have completed the study: a 13% average improvement of FEVI, a reduction of NT-proBNP of and improvement in functional heart failure class. The primary objective was to compare the proportion of neurohormonal drugs prescribed, as well as the mean of the maximum doses reached in each after 6 months of follow-up, as well as mean ejection fraction, NYHA class and mean NT-proBNP (Table 1) Conclusions Telemedicine offers us valuable tools that allow us to take care of chronic patients, reducing exposure to the virus as much as possible. Efficient use of virtual tools and human resources makes close monitoring possible. Specialized nursing is a key element in the education, pharmacological optimization and monitoring of these patients. Parámetros analíticos Valores iniciales Valores finales NT-proBNP ( pg/mL) 3469,7 (± 4057,3) 1446,4 (± 1305,2) Creatinina (mg/dL) 1,10 (± 0,24) 1,12 (± 0,39) TFG (mL/min/1,73m2 ) 65,4 (± 21,2) 62,7 (± 23, 6) Potasio (meq /L) 4,5 (± 0,5) 4,6 (± 0,4) Fevi 29,4 % (± 7,2) FEVI 42,7 % (± 9,6)


2021 ◽  
pp. 1-3
Author(s):  
Margit Juhasz ◽  
Rosalynn R.Z. Conic ◽  
Natasha Atanaskova Mesinkovska

The mechanism of alopecia areata (AA) is not well-elucidated, and hair follicle melanogenesis pathways are implicated as possible sources for autoantigens. After a retrospective medical record review at a single tertiary medical center, the hair color of 112 AA patients were identified and compared to a control group of 104 androgenetic alopecia patients. There were no statistically significant differences in the natural hair color prevalence between the 2 groups (<i>p</i> = 0.164), and hair color was not a predictor of the alopecia type. Our results suggest hair pigmentation, determined by the eumelanin-to-pheomelanin ratio, is not a positive risk factor for AA development. We hope that our study will encourage multiple large-scale, collaborative, retrospective medical reviews to determine if our results are reproducible in diverse patient populations.


BMJ Open ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (6) ◽  
pp. e026286 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amaria Baghdadli ◽  
Stéphanie Miot ◽  
Cécile Rattaz ◽  
Tasnime Akbaraly ◽  
Marie-Maude Geoffray ◽  
...  

IntroductionThere is global concern about the increasing prevalence of autism spectrum disorders (ASDs), which are early-onset and long-lasting disorders. Although ASDs are considered to comprise a unique syndrome, their clinical presentation and outcome vary widely. Large-scale and long-term cohort studies of well-phenotyped samples are needed to better understand the course of ASDs and their determinants. The primary objective of the multicEntric Longitudinal study of childrEN with ASD (ELENA) study is to understand the natural history of ASD in children and identify the risk and prognostic factors that affect their health and development.Methods and analysisThis is a multicentric, longitudinal, prospective, observational cohort in which 1000 children with ASD diagnosed between 2 and 16 years of age will be recruited by 2020 and followed over 6 years. The baseline follow-up starts with the clinical examination to establish the ASD diagnosis. A battery of clinical tools consisting of the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule, the revised version of the Autism Diagnostic Interview, measures of intellectual functioning, as well as large-scale behavioural and developmental measurements will allow us to study the heterogeneity of the clinical presentation of ASD subtypes. Subsequent follow-up at 18 months and at 3, 4.5 and 6 years after the baseline examination will allow us to explore the developmental trajectories and variables associated with the severity of ASD. In addition to the children’s clinical and developmental examinations, parents are invited to complete self-reported questionnaires concerning perinatal and early postnatal history, congenital anomalies, genetic factors, lifestyle factors, medical and psychiatric comorbidities, and the socioeconomic environment. As of 1 November 2018, a total of 766 participants have been included.Ethics and disseminationEthical approval was obtained through the Marseille Mediterranean Ethics Committee (ID RCB: 2014-A01423-44), France. We aim to disseminate the findings through national and international conferences, international peer-reviewed journals, and social media.Trial registration numberNCT02625116; Pre-results.


2020 ◽  
pp. 089719002095826
Author(s):  
Katherine L. March ◽  
Michael J. Peters ◽  
Christopher K. Finch ◽  
Lauchland A. Roberts ◽  
Katie M. McLean ◽  
...  

Background: Pharmacists ability to directly impact patient satisfaction through increases in the Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (HCAHPS) surveys utilizing transitions-of-care (TOC) services is unclear. Methods: Retrospective analysis of TOC patients from 07/01/2018 to 03/31/2019 was conducted. Intervention (INV) patients received pharmacist medication reconciliation and education prior to discharge and post-discharge telephone follow-up. All other patients served as control group (CON). Primary outcome: Evaluate impact of TOC services on HCAHPS scores for “Communication about Medicines” and “Care Transitions.” Secondary outcomes: 30-day readmissions, quantification of prevented potential safety events, assessment of discharge prescriptions sent to the academic medical center outpatient pharmacy (MOP) for TOC patients. Results: Of 1,728 patients screened, 414 patients met inclusion criteria (INV = 414, CON = 1314). A significant improvement (14.7%; p = <0.0001) in overall medication-related HCAHPS results was seen when comparing pre- vs post-implementation of the TOC service. Statistically significant increases for individual questions “staff told you what the medicine was for” (14.2%; p = 0.018), “staff describe possible effects” (21.2%; p = 0.004), and “understood the purpose of taking medications” (11.4%; p = 0.035) were observed. A non-significant decrease in 30-day readmission rates for the groups was observed (CON 16.4%, INV 13.3%; p = 0.133); however, an unplanned subgroup analysis evaluating impact of discharge phone calls on 30-day readmission rates revealed a significant reduction of 17.3% to 12.4% (p = 0.007). One hundred forty-three medication safety event(s) were potentially prevented by the TOC pharmacist. Lastly, 562 prescriptions were captured at the MOP as a result of the TOC initiative. Conclusions: Pharmacy-based TOC models can improve patient satisfaction, prevent hospital readmissions, and generate revenue.


2020 ◽  
Vol 38 (4_suppl) ◽  
pp. 627-627
Author(s):  
Vincent Quoc-Huy Trinh ◽  
Chanjuan Shi ◽  
Jordan Berlin ◽  
Satya Das

627 Background: Predicting recurrence risk (RR) for resected (res) PNET patients (pts) is challenging using existing pathologic criteria. Better predictive models to tailor surveillance for individual pts are needed. A recent study suggests expression patterns of the transcriptomic/epigenomic enhancers ARX and PDX1 may predict RR. In this study, distant metastases occurred almost exclusively in ARX+/PDX1- tumors. Our primary objective was to validate ESCs within our institutional cohort. Methods: We used a tissue microarray generated from res localized PNETs at Vanderbilt University Medical Center (VUMC) between 2002-2012. Clinical, pathological, and outcomes data were extracted from records. Immunohistochemistry was performed with PDX1 by Novus and ARX by Sigma. Patients were grouped as double-positives (DP), ARX+/PDX1-, ARX-/PDX1+ and double-negatives (DN). Time-dependent ROC analysis was performed in R (v3.6.1; survivalROC v1.0.3) to determine ARX and PDX1 positivity. Comparative analyses were performed in SPSS v23.0 (Kruskal-Wallis, Freeman-Halton exact test, Log-rank). Primary outcomes were progression-free survival (PFS) and cancer-specific survival (CSS). Results: 61 PNET specimens had adequate tissue for analysis. Table shows PFS plus CSS data by ESC distribution. Pts with ARX+ (DP & ARX+/PDX1-) tumors were younger (P=0.015) and possessed larger tumors (P=0.065). Pts with ARX+ tumors demonstrated shorter PFS (log-rank P=0.006) and a trend toward lower CSS (log-rank P=0.09). Notably, pts with ARX-/PDX1+ and DN tumors had no deaths and only 1 progression event over a median follow-up period of 91 months (m). Conclusions: Building upon earlier data that ARX+ res PNETs are more likely to relapse, we demonstrate that pts with such tumors have diminished PFS and a trend toward diminished CSS. ESCs need prospective validation but carry the potential to guide surveillance for res PNET patients. [Table: see text]


2017 ◽  
Vol 49 (06) ◽  
pp. 430-433 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lakshmi Kannan ◽  
Justyna Kotus-Bart ◽  
Aman Amanullah

AbstractThe thyroid functions as a regulator of cardiac function and rhythm through genomic and nongenomic actions of triiodothyronine (T3) in cardiac myocytes. Atrial fibrillation is a common complication of thyrotoxicosis. Hypothyroidism is not considered a risk factor for arrhythmias despite well-known EKG changes in this condition. This case control study was conducted to analyze the differences, if any, in the prevalence of cardiac arrhythmias between hypothyroid patients and euthyroid controls. Three hundred and four consecutive patients admitted at our medical center for a period of one year were included in the study. The study population was divided into 2 groups (age, gender and race matched): patients with hypothyroidism and euthyroid subjects as a control group. Major arrhythmia data were obtained from telemetry recordings and from known past medical history. There were 152 subjects in each arm of the study. The mean age was 61.9 years. Mean TSH in hypothyroid group was 40.4 mIU/l (95% CI 33.3–47.5) (range 10.09–304, SE 3.62) and in euthyroid group was 0.89 mIU/l (95% CI 0.82–0.96). Chi-square analysis revealed a higher prevalence of ventricular tachycardia (p=0.04) and any ventricular arrhythmia in the hypothyroid group (p=0.007). This relatively large case control study revealed a statistically higher prevalence of ventricular arrhythmias in hypothyroidism. Our study has thrown light on the prevalence of arrhythmias in hypothyroidism and the observation of increased ventricular arrhythmias necessitates future large scale prospective studies to better define the risk of such ventricular arrhythmias and the effects of thyroid supplementation on this risk.


2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aliza Werner-Seidler ◽  
Kit Huckvale ◽  
Mark E. Larsen ◽  
Alison L. Calear ◽  
Kate Maston ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Depression frequently first emerges during adolescence, and one in five young people will experience an episode of depression by the age of 18 years. Despite advances in treatment, there has been limited progress in addressing the burden at a population level. Accordingly, there has been growing interest in prevention approaches as an additional pathway to address depression. Depression can be prevented using evidence-based psychological programs. However, barriers to implementing and accessing these programs remain, typically reflecting a requirement for delivery by clinical experts and high associated delivery costs. Digital technologies, specifically smartphones, are now considered a key strategy to overcome the barriers inhibiting access to mental health programs. The Future Proofing Study is a large-scale school-based trial investigating whether Cognitive Behaviour Therapies (CBT) delivered by smartphone application can prevent depression.Methods A randomized controlled trial targeting up to 20,000 Year 8 Australian secondary school students will be conducted. In Stage I, schools will be randomized at the cluster level to receive either the CBT intervention app (SPARX) or to a non-active control group comparator. The primary outcome will be symptoms of depression and secondary outcomes include psychological distress, anxiety and insomnia. At the 12-month follow-up, participants in the intervention arm with elevated depressive symptoms will participate in an individual-level RCT (Stage II) and be randomised to receive a second CBT app which targets sleep difficulties (Sleep Ninja) or a control condition. Assessments will occur at post-intervention (both trial stages), and at 6, 12, 24, 36, 48- and 60-months post-baseline. Primary analyses will use an intention-to-treat approach and compare changes in symptoms from baseline to follow-up relative to the control group using mixed effect models.Discussion This is the first trial testing the effectiveness of smartphone apps delivered to school students to prevent depression at scale. Results from this trial will provide much needed insight into the feasibility of this approach. They stand to inform policy and commission decisions concerning if and how such programs should be deployed in school-based settings in Australia and beyond.


Author(s):  
Yuko Urao ◽  
Ikuyo Ohira ◽  
Takako Koshiba ◽  
Shin-ichi Ishikawa ◽  
Yasunori Sato ◽  
...  

Abstract Background In Japan, ‘Journey of the Brave’, a cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT)-based anxiety preventive education programme, was previously developed and its effectiveness examined in two small-scale controlled trials. These studies had some limitations, including a small number of participants and not having regular classroom teachers as programme facilitators. Therefore, we conducted a large-scale controlled trial, with teachers as programme implementers. Methods Twenty-seven elementary schools participated: 1622 and 1123 children were allocated to the intervention and control groups, respectively. The intervention group received a programme comprising ten 45-min sessions, while the control group underwent the regular school curriculum. Anxiety symptoms among participants were assessed using the Spence Children’s Anxiety Scale (SCAS) at three stages (pre-intervention, post-intervention, and follow-up). Results Following primary analysis, estimated mean changes in SCAS from baseline to follow-up were − 4.91 (95% CI − 5.91, − 3.90) in the intervention group and − 2.53 (95% CI − 3.52, − 1.54) in the control group; the group difference was 2.37 (95% CI 1.42, 3.33, p < 0.0001). Children in the intervention group showed significant reduction in their anxiety score versus children in the control group. Conclusions The results showed a statistically significant anxiety score reduction in the intervention group, thus verifying the programme’s effectiveness. Trial registration The University Hospital Medical Information Network (UMIN): UMIN000032517. Registered 10 May 2018—Retrospectively registered, https://upload.umin.ac.jp/cgi-open-bin/ctr_e/ctr_view.cgi?recptno=R000037083


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