Quantitative Effect of Emergency Department Case Management on Visits, Diagnostics, and Cost

Background and Hypothesis: In 2012, Parkview Health initiated a case management (CM) program with the hypothesis that it would reduce emergency department (ED) visits, radiation exposure, and costs for patients who had visited a Parkview ED 5 or more times within 6 months. Experimental Design or Project Methods: This retrospective case series involved examining medical records of 460 CM patients from 2011 to 2018, recording the amount of Parkview ED visits, diagnostic tests, and affected cost accumulated in the year prior to CM enrollment compared to each of the next 2 years. Demographics, chief complaints, diagnoses, psychiatric and drug use history, and whether the patients had insurance and a primary care provider were also recorded. Patient data was excluded if the patient was younger than 18 at the time of CM enrollment, had not yet completed 2 years in the CM program, or if medical records were not available. ANOVA and 1-sided, paired t-testing were performed to evaluate significance of the results. Results: Comparing the year before enrollment to the 2nd year after, ED visits were reduced from 5,264 to 2,012 for 378 patients (63%, p<0.01), the affected cost was reduced from $551,734.45 to $246,248.34 for 299 patients (55%, p<0.01), and the number of diagnostic tests was reduced from 6,040 to 1,883 for 104 patients (69%, p<0.01). Conclusion and Potential Impact: Patients enrolled in Parkview’s CM program showed statistically significant reductions in ED visits, radiologic exposures, and affected costs over 2 years, with implicit improved health outcomes. Projected 10-year affected cost savings range from $3.7 million to $9.1 million.

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P163: Methanol poisoning by inhalation: a case series

CJEM ◽

10.1017/cem.2018.361 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 20 (S1) ◽

pp. S115-S115

Author(s):

H. Yaworski ◽

W. Palatnick ◽

C. Oleschuk ◽

S. Ringland ◽

M. Tenebein

Keyword(s):

Emergency Department ◽

Chart Review ◽

Case Series ◽

Methanol Intoxication ◽

Methanol Poisoning ◽

Product Formulation ◽

Retail Outlets ◽

Chief Complaints ◽

Gastrointestinal Complaints ◽

Ed Visits

Introduction: Methanol intoxication is a well-recognized toxicological emergency. While most cases of significant methanol poisoning occur via ingestion, there are reports in the literature of poisoning resulting from the inhalational route. We report a series of methanol intoxications secondary to inhalational abuse of a methanol containing lacquer thinner presenting to an inner city Emergency Department. Methods: A laboratory database was searched for methanol levels > 5 mmol/L. (16mg/dL). from January 1, 2010 to December 31, 2015. A chart review was completed to determine mode of poisoning, clinical presentation, treatment, and disposition. Results: We found 35 patients who made a total of 83 emergency department (ED) visits with a methanol level > 5mmol/L. (16mg/dL). The methanol levels ranged from 5.3-39.6 mmol/L. (16.96 -126.72 mg/dL) . 73% of poisonings were secondary to inhalation of a methanol-containing lacquer thinner. The median age of these patients was 43 years, and 49% were male. The majority of patients (96%) resided in the core area. The most frequent chief complaints were substance abuse/intoxication, gastrointestinal complaints, and chest pain. 18% of patients described visual symptoms. Treatments were fomepizole only (59%), fomepizole plus hemodialysis (26%), and hemodialysis alone (2%). 49% of patients were discharged from the ED, while 28% and 23% were admitted to an intensive care unit (ICU) and an internal medicine ward respectively. There were no cases of blindness. We describe a cohort of patients who developed methanol poisoning from inhalation of a methanol containing lacquer thinner that required treatment with fomepizole and hemodialysis. While almost 1/3 of these patients were admitted to ICU, 49% were discharged from the emergency department after a course of fomepizole. The etiology of this outbreak was found to be a change in the formulation of the lacquer thinner, substituting a higher concentration of methanol for toluene. The manufacturer and a number of local retail outlets were contacted. This resulted in the product being taken off the shelves by the retail outlets, and eventually, a change in the product formulation by the manufacturer, with a resultant decrease in the methanol content. After these actions, we have not seen any additional presentations of inhalational methanol intoxication. Conclusion: We report the largest case series to date of patients who presented with methanol intoxication, requiring fomepizole and/or hemodialysis, secondary to inhalation of a methanol containing lacquer thinner. Physician advocacy regarding the etiology of this outbreak resulted in collaboration with retail outlets and subsequent action by the manufacturer. This ended the outbreak.

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Predicting Divertible Medicaid Emergency Department Costs

10.31219/osf.io/q36es ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Justine S. Hastings ◽

Mark Howison

Keyword(s):

Emergency Department ◽

Case Management ◽

Rhode Island ◽

Administrative Data ◽

Social Insurance ◽

De Novo ◽

Cost Savings ◽

Medicaid Enrollment ◽

Ed Visits ◽

Policy Priority

Lowering health care costs is a policy priority for public health insurance programs. Policies that divert Emergency Department (ED) care to less costly, more effective health services are a promising avenue for cost savings. Using comprehensive, anonymized administrative data from the State of Rhode Island, which includes Medicaid and other social insurance programs, we demonstrate how government can identify and conduct efficient outreach to Medicaid recipients at risk of becoming high-cost ED users for potentially divertible care. The top predictors from our models include age, Medicaid enrollment and eligibility factors, and prior medical procedures. Our predictive models capture more future divertible spending than existing methods for identifying ED “super-utilizers” based on multiple prior ED visits. By using comprehensive administrative data that includes all of the state’s social insurance programs, we can also establish connections between predicted high-cost ED users and existing case management in non-Medicaid programs. Policymakers could use these models to improve their identification of divertible spending and reduce the need for de novo outreach and case management programs.

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Cost Analysis With Use of Expandable Cage or Cement in Single level Thoracic Vertebrectomy in Metastasis

Global Spine Journal ◽

10.1177/2192568220975375 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 219256822097537

Author(s):

Miki Katzir ◽

Tarush Rustagi ◽

Jeffrey Hatef ◽

Ehud Mendel

Keyword(s):

Electronic Medical Records ◽

Medical Records ◽

Metastatic Cancer ◽

Case Series ◽

Retrospective Case ◽

Single Level ◽

Expandable Cage ◽

Kyphosis Correction ◽

Survival Differences ◽

Surgical Cost

Study Design: Retrospective case series. Objective: Patient with metastatic cancer frequently require spinal operations for neural decompression and stabilization, most commonly thoracic vertebrectomy with reconstruction. Objective of the study was to assess economic aspects associated with use of cement versus expandable cage in patients with single level thoracic metastatic disease. We also looked at the differences in the clinical, radiological, complications and survival differences to assess non-inferiority of PMMA over cages. Methods: The electronic medical records of patients undergoing single level thoracic vertebrectomy and reconstruction were reviewed. Two groups were made: PMMA and EC. Totals surgical cost, implant costs was analyzed. We also looked at the clinical/ radiological outcome, complication and survival analysis. Results: 96 patients were identified including 70 one-level resections. For 1-level surgeries, Implant costs for use of cement—$75 compared to $9000 for cages. Overall surgical cost was significantly less for PMMA compared to use of EC. No difference was seen in clinical outcome or complication was seen. We noticed significantly better kyphosis correction in the PMMA group. Conclusions: Polymethylmethacrylate cement offers significant cost advantage for reconstruction after thoracic vertebrectomy. It also allows for better kyphosis correction and comparable clinical outcomes and non-inferior to cages.

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Dissemination of Evidence-Based Recommendations for Sickle Cell Disease to Primary Care and Emergency Department Providers in North Carolina: A Cost Benefit Analysis

Journal of Health Economics and Outcomes Research ◽

10.36469/jheor.2021.21535 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 8 (1) ◽

pp. 18-28

Author(s):

Paula Tanabe ◽

Audrey L. Blewer ◽

Emily Bonnabeau ◽

Hayden B. Bosworth ◽

Denise H. Clayton ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Primary Care ◽

Health Care ◽

Emergency Department ◽

North Carolina ◽

Sickle Cell Disease ◽

Cost Benefit ◽

Care Utilization ◽

Evidence Based ◽

Cell Disease ◽

Ed Visits

Background: Sickle cell disease (SCD) is a genetic condition affecting primarily individuals of African descent, who happen to be disproportionately impacted by poverty and who lack access to health care. Individuals with SCD are at high likelihood of high acute care utilization and chronic pain episodes. The multiple complications seen in SCD contribute to significant morbidity and premature mortality, as well as substantial costs to the healthcare system. Objectives: SCD is a complex chronic disease resulting in the need for primary, specialty and emergency care. Many providers do not feel prepared to care for individuals with SCD, despite the existence of evidence-based guidelines. We report the development of a SCD toolbox and the dissemination process to primary care and emergency department (ED) providers in North Carolina (NC). We report the effect of this dissemination on health-care utilization, cost of care, and overall cost-benefit. Methods: The SCD toolbox was adapted from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute recommendations. Toolbox training was provided to quality improvement specialists who then disseminated the toolbox to primary care providers (PCPs) affiliated with the only NC managed care coordination system and ED providers. Tools were made available in paper, online, and in app formats to participating managed care network practices (n=1800). Medicaid claims data were analyzed for total costs and benefits of the toolbox dissemination for a 24-month pre- and 18-month post-intervention period. Results: There was no statistically significant shift in the number of outpatient specialty visits, ED visits or hospitalizations. There was a small decrease in the number of PCP visits in the post-implementation period. The dissemination resulted in a net cost-savings of $361 414 ($14.03 per-enrollee per-month on average). However, the estimated financial benefit associated with the dissemination of the SCD toolbox was not statistically significant. Conclusions: Although we did not find the expected shift to increased PCP visits and decreased ED visits and hospitalizations, there were many lessons learned.

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Smoking and Stroke in Appalachian Kentucky

Neurology and Neurobiology ◽

10.31487/j.nnb.2018.10.006 ◽

2018 ◽

pp. 1-4

Author(s):

Dignan Mark ◽

Kitzman Patrick ◽

S Gutti Subhash ◽

N Gutti Swathi ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Medical Records ◽

Case Series ◽

Eastern Region ◽

Retrospective Case ◽

Series Design ◽

Stroke Prevalence ◽

Appalachian Kentucky ◽

The Mean ◽

Stroke Type ◽

Stroke Belt

This project used a retrospective case series design to investigate factors associated with stroke in a rural area in Appalachian Kentucky. The south-eastern region of the U.S. is often referred to as the ‘stroke belt,’ and includes the Appalachian region of the state of Kentucky. Data were collected from medical records of patients from a neurology practice and regional hospital with a diagnosis of stroke from March 2012 through November 2015. Data were collected without personal identifiers and included demographic characteristics, stroke type, treatments received, and referrals for additional care including rehabilitation. Data from a total of 84 stroke cases diagnosed between March 2012 and November 2015 were included. Of the 84 cases, 46 (54.8%) were female and all but one was Caucasian. The distribution by race is consistent with the population of the region. The stroke cases ranged in age from 41 to 92 (M=66.3) and the age at stroke diagnosis ranged from 40 to 90 (M=65.7). Fourteen (16.7%) had evidence of a previous stroke at diagnosis. For smokers, the mean age at diagnosis was 62.7 for smokers while for non-smokers it was 67.5. The study reported smoking rates that were nearly three-times the national average, and the smokers in this study were found to have stroke onset approximately five-years earlier than non-smokers. The results from this case series support the need for further investigation on stroke prevalence and factors contributing to continued risk for stroke in Appalachia.

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An Active In-Home Physician Model of Palliative Care and Its Resulting Performance Indicators Related to Home Deaths, Unplanned Emergency Department Visits and Unplanned Hospital Admissions

Journal of Palliative Care ◽

10.1177/0825859720951368 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 36 (1) ◽

pp. 46-49

Author(s):

Colleen Webber ◽

Aurelia Ona Valiulis ◽

Peter Tanuseputro ◽

Valerie Schulz ◽

Tavis Apramian ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Emergency Department ◽

Palliative Care ◽

Hospital Admissions ◽

Case Series ◽

Palliative Care Team ◽

Emergency Department Visits ◽

Care Team ◽

Retrospective Case ◽

Palliative Care Teams ◽

Unplanned Hospital Admissions

Background: Limited research has characterized team-based models of home palliative care and the outcomes of patients supported by these care teams. Case presentation: A retrospective case series describing care and outcomes of patients managed by the London Home Palliative Care Team between May 1, 2017 and April 1, 2019. Case management: The London Home Palliative Care (LHPC) Team care model is based upon 3 pillars: 1) physician visit availability 2) active patient-centered care with strong physician in-home presence and 3) optimal administrative organization. Case outcomes: In the 18 month study period, 354 patients received care from the London Home Palliative Care Team. Most significantly, 88.4% ( n = 313) died in the community or at a designated palliative care unit after prearranged direct transfer; no comparable provincial data is available. 21.2% ( n = 75) patients visited an emergency department and 24.6% ( n = 87) were admitted to hospital at least once in their final 30 days of life. 280 (79.1%) died in the community. These values are better than comparable provincial estimates of 62.7%, 61.7%, and 24.0%, respectively. Conclusion: The London Home Palliative Care (LHPC) Team model appears to favorably impact community death rate, ER visits and unplanned hospital admissions, as compared to accepted provincial data. Studies to determine if this model is reproducible could support palliative care teams achieving similar results.

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P060: Cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome presentation to the emergency department: a two-year multi-centre retrospective study

CJEM ◽

10.1017/cem.2016.236 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 18 (S1) ◽

pp. S98-S99 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

J.M. Hernandez ◽

J. Paty ◽

I. Price

Keyword(s):

Emergency Department ◽

Tertiary Care ◽

Case Series ◽

Kappa Statistic ◽

Cannabis Use ◽

Data Abstraction ◽

Tertiary Care Centre ◽

Associated Symptoms ◽

Cannabinoid Hyperemesis Syndrome ◽

Ed Visits

Introduction: Cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome (CHS) is a paradoxical side effect of cannabis use. Patients with CHS often present multiple times to the Emergency Department (ED) with cyclical nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain, and are discharged with various misdiagnoses. CHS studies to date are limited to case series. We examined the epidemiology of CHS cases presenting to two major urban Tertiary Care Centre EDs. Methods: Using explicit variables, trained abstractors, and standardized abstraction forms, we abstracted data for all adults (18-55 years) with a presenting complaint of vomiting, and/or a discharge diagnosis of vomiting and/or cyclical vomiting, during a 2-year period. Inter-rater agreement was measured using a kappa statistic. Results: We identified 494 cases: mean age 31 years; 36% male; only 19.4% of charts specifically reported cannabis use. Among the regular cannabis users (>3 times per week), 43% had repeat ED visits for similar complaints. Interestingly, of these patients, 92% had bloodwork done in the ED, 92% received IV fluids, 89% received anti-emetics, 27% received opiates, 19% underwent imaging, 8% were admitted to hospital, and 8% were referred to the Gastroentorology service. Inter-rater reliability for data abstraction was kappa = 1. Conclusion: This study suggests CHS may be an overlooked diagnosis for nausea and vomiting, a factor which can possibly contribute to unnecessary investigations and treatment in the ED. Additionally, this indicates a lack of screening for CHS on ED history, especially in quantifying cannabis use and eliciting associated symptoms of CHS.

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Adjacent Primary Care May Reduce Less Urgent Pediatric Emergency Department Visits

Journal of Primary Care & Community Health ◽

10.1177/2150132720926276 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 11 ◽

pp. 215013272092627

Author(s):

Julia Ellbrant ◽

Jonas Åkeson ◽

Helena Sletten ◽

Jenny Eckner ◽

Pia Karlsland Åkeson

Keyword(s):

Primary Care ◽

Emergency Department ◽

Patient Characteristics ◽

Pediatric Emergency ◽

Emergency Department Visits ◽

University Hospital ◽

Pediatric Emergency Department ◽

Hospital Data ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Ed Visits

Aims: Pediatric emergency department (ED) overcrowding is a challenge. This study was designed to evaluate if a hospital-integrated primary care unit (HPCU) reduces less urgent visits at a pediatric ED. Methods: This retrospective cross-sectional study was carried out at a university hospital in Sweden, where the HPCU, open outside office hours, had been integrated next to the ED. Children seeking ED care during 4-week high- and low-load study periods before (2012) and after (2015) implementation of the HPCU were included. Information on patient characteristics, ED management, and length of ED stay was obtained from hospital data registers. Results: In total, 3216 and 3074 ED patient visits were recorded in 2012 and 2015, respectively. During opening hours of the HPCU, the proportions of pediatric ED visits (28% lower; P < .001), visits in the lowest triage group (36% lower; P < .001), patients presenting with fever ( P = .001) or ear pain ( P < .001), and nonadmitted ED patients ( P = .033), were significantly lower in 2015 than in 2012, whereas the proportion of infants ≤3 months was higher in 2015 ( P < .001). Conclusions: By enabling adjacent management of less urgent pediatric patients at adequate lower levels of medical care, implementation of a HPCU outside office hours may contribute to fewer and more appropriate pediatric ED visits.

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Syndromic Surveillance of Emergency Department Visits for Acute Adverse Effects of Marijuana, Tri-County Health Department, Colorado, 2016-2017

Public Health Reports ◽

10.1177/0033354919826562 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 134 (2) ◽

pp. 132-140 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Grace E. Marx ◽

Yushiuan Chen ◽

Michele Askenazi ◽

Bernadette A. Albanese

Keyword(s):

Emergency Department ◽

Adverse Effects ◽

Medical Records ◽

Surveillance System ◽

Syndromic Surveillance ◽

Marijuana Use ◽

Emergency Department Visits ◽

Diagnostic Codes ◽

Icd 10 ◽

Ed Visits

Objectives: In Colorado, legalization of recreational marijuana in 2014 increased public access to marijuana and might also have led to an increase in emergency department (ED) visits. We examined the validity of using syndromic surveillance data to detect marijuana-associated ED visits by comparing the performance of surveillance queries with physician-reviewed medical records. Methods: We developed queries of combinations of marijuana-specific International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision (ICD-10) diagnostic codes or keywords. We applied these queries to ED visit data submitted through the Electronic Surveillance System for the Early Notification of Community-Based Epidemics (ESSENCE) syndromic surveillance system at 3 hospitals during 2016-2017. One physician reviewed the medical records of ED visits identified by ≥1 query and calculated the positive predictive value (PPV) of each query. We defined cases of acute adverse effects of marijuana (AAEM) as determined by the ED provider’s clinical impression during the visit. Results: Of 44 942 total ED visits, ESSENCE queries detected 453 (1%) as potential AAEM cases; a review of 422 (93%) medical records identified 188 (45%) true AAEM cases. Queries using ICD-10 diagnostic codes or keywords in the triage note identified all true AAEM cases; PPV varied by hospital from 36% to 64%. Of the 188 true AAEM cases, 109 (58%) were among men and 178 (95%) reported intentional use of marijuana. Compared with noncases of AAEM, cases were significantly more likely to be among non-Colorado residents than among Colorado residents and were significantly more likely to report edible marijuana use rather than smoked marijuana use ( P < .001). Conclusions: ICD-10 diagnostic codes and triage note keyword queries in ESSENCE, validated by medical record review, can be used to track ED visits for AAEM.

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Variation in emergency department visits for conditions that may be treated in alternative primary care settings

CJEM ◽

10.1017/s1481803500014391 ◽

2005 ◽

Vol 7 (04) ◽

pp. 252-256 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Chris A. Altmayer ◽

Sten Ardal ◽

Graham L. Woodward ◽

Michael J. Schull

Keyword(s):

Primary Care ◽

Emergency Department ◽

Geographic Variation ◽

Emergency Department Visits ◽

Primary Care Settings ◽

Rural Counties ◽

Ed Visits ◽

Care Capacity ◽

The Relationship

ABSTRACT The purpose of this report is to examine Ontario's geographic variation in emergency department (ED) visits for conditions that may be treated in alternative primary care settings. We studied all visits to Ontario EDs in 2002/03 and calculated county-specific age-standardized rates. Overall in Ontario, there were 3174 ED visits per 100 000 population aged 1-74 for conditions that could be treated in alternate primary care settings, but rates varied widely across counties. They were higher in rural counties with rates up to 7-fold higher than the provincial average. Urban counties had lower rates, some were less than one-third of the provincial average. Further research is needed to determine the relationship between ED utilization and primary care capacity.

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