Ophthalmic Microsurgery Lab for Medical Students: Enhancing Learner Intrinsic Motivation and Comfort with Microsurgery

Abstract Objective This study aimed to evaluate the impact of an ophthalmic microsurgery laboratory on medical students' intrinsic motivation, explicit interest in ophthalmology, and comfort with microsurgical skills. Design In this noncontrolled trial, medical students attended a Zoom-based lecture on corneal suturing, watched an instructional video on operating microscopes, and attended a wet laboratory on corneal suturing. Participants completed pre- and posttest surveys assessing comfort with microsurgical skills and explicit interest in ophthalmology. Additionally, the posttest survey included items from the Intrinsic Motivation Inventory (IMI). Setting This study was conducted at a single academic medical center. Participants A total of 20 students enrolled in the MD program at the University of California, San Francisco School of Medicine. Results Pre- and posttest response rates were 100% (n = 20) and 90% (n = 18), respectively. Comfort with microsurgical skills increased significantly between pre- and posttest surveys with large effect sizes (95% confidence interval [CI]; p-value): loading a needle, 1.67 (1.04–2.29; p < 0.001); passing a suture, 1.72 (1.04–2.40; p < 0.001); knot tying, 1.05 (0.34–1.76; p = 0.004); using a microscope, 0.83 (0.04–1.63; p = 0.040); and suturing under a microscope, 1.44 (0.88–2.00; p < 0.001). Comparing pre- and posttest surveys, students reporting moderate to extreme interest in ophthalmology increased from 44 to 61%. Intrinsic motivation was high, indicated by the mean IMI Interest score reaching 93% of the maximum score. Multiple linear regression analyses predicted that IMI Interest scores increased with higher scores of familiarity (p = 0.002), explicit interest in ophthalmology (p = 0.042), and comfort with microscopes (p = 0.005), knot tying (p = 0.026), and performing surgical maneuvers under a microscope (p = 0.032). Conclusion Ophthalmic microsurgery laboratories may increase medical students' explicit interest in ophthalmology, comfort with microsurgical skills, and intrinsic motivation. Future studies are needed to evaluate the impact of microsurgical electives on students' objective skills and specialty selection.

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Implementation of Machine Learning Software on the Radiology Worklist Decreases Scan View Delay for the Detection of Intracranial Hemorrhage on CT

Brain Sciences ◽

10.3390/brainsci11070832 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (7) ◽

pp. 832

Author(s):

Daniel Ginat

Keyword(s):

Artificial Intelligence ◽

Intracranial Hemorrhage ◽

Medical Center ◽

Academic Medical Center ◽

P Value ◽

Head Ct ◽

Significant Difference ◽

The Difference ◽

Learning Software ◽

The Impact

Background and Purpose: Prompt identification of acute intracranial hemorrhage on CT is important. The goal of this study was to assess the impact of artificial intelligence software for prioritizing positive cases. Materials and Methods: Cases analyzed by Aidoc (Tel Aviv, Israel) software for triaging acute intracranial hemorrhage cases on non-contrast head CT were retrospectively reviewed. The scan view delay time was calculated as the difference between the time the study was completed on PACS and the time the study was first opened by a radiologist. The scan view delay was stratified by scan location, including emergency, inpatient, and outpatient. The scan view delay times for cases flagged as positive by the software were compared to those that were not flagged. Results: A total of 8723 scans were assessed by the software, including 6894 cases that were not flagged and 1829 cases that were flagged as positive. Although there was no statistically significant difference in the scan view time for emergency cases, there was a significantly lower scan view time for positive outpatient and inpatient cases flagged by the software versus negative cases, with a reduction of 604 min on average, 90% in the scan view delay (p-value < 0.0001) for outpatients, and a reduction of 38 min on average, and 10% in the scan view delay (p-value <= 0.01) for inpatients. Conclusion: The use of artificial intelligence triage software for acute intracranial hemorrhage on head CT scans is associated with a significantly shorter scan view delay for cases flagged as positive than cases not flagged among outpatients and inpatients at an academic medical center.

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391. Small Towns, Big Cities: Rural and Urban Disparities Among Hospitalized Patients with COVID-19

Open Forum Infectious Diseases ◽

10.1093/ofid/ofab466.592 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 8 (Supplement_1) ◽

pp. S297-S298

Author(s):

Caroline Hamilton ◽

Deepak Nag Ayyala ◽

David Walsh ◽

Christian-Jevon Bramwell ◽

Christopher Walker ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Length Of Stay ◽

Census Data ◽

Medical Center ◽

Academic Medical Center ◽

Hospitalized Patients ◽

Hospital Length Of Stay ◽

Level Of Care ◽

P Value ◽

Rural And Urban ◽

The Impact

Abstract Background More than half of all hospitals in the U.S. are rural hospitals. Frequently understaffed and resource limited, community hospitals serve a population that tends to be older and have less access to care with increased poverty and medical co-morbidities. There is a lack of data surrounding the impact of COVID-19 among rural minority communities. This study seeks to determine rural and urban disparities among hospitalized individuals with COVID-19. Methods This is a descriptive, retrospective analysis of the first 155 adult patients admitted to a tertiary hospital with a positive COVID-19 nasopharyngeal PCR test. Augusta University Medical Center serves the surrounding rural and urban counties of the Central Savannah River Area. Rural and urban categories were determined using patient address and county census data. Demographics, comorbidities, admission data and 30-day outcomes were evaluated. Results Of the patients studied, 62 (40%) were from a rural county and 93 (60%) were from an urban county. No difference was found when comparing the number of comorbidities of rural vs urban individuals; however, African Americans had significantly more comorbidities compared to other races (p-value 0.02). In a three-way comparison, race was not found to be significantly different among admission levels of care. Rural patients were more likely to require an escalation in the level of care within 24 hours of admission (p-value 0.02). Of the patients that were discharged or expired at day 30, there were no differences in total hospital length of stay or ICU length of stay between the rural and urban populations. Baseline Characteristics of Hospitalized Patients with COVID-19 Day 30 Outcomes and Characteristics Level of Care at Time of Admission Conclusion This study suggests that patients in rural communities may be more critically ill or are at a higher risk of early decompensation at time of hospitalization compared to patients from urban communities. Nevertheless, both populations had similar lengths of stay and outcomes. Considering this data is from an academic medical center with a large referral area and standardized inpatient COVID-19 management, these findings may prompt further investigations into other disparate outcomes. Disclosures All Authors: No reported disclosures

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Alcohol Hand Rub Significantly Reduces Overall Bacterial Bioburden on Stethoscopes in a Real-World Clinical Setting

Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology ◽

10.1017/ice.2020.620 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 41 (S1) ◽

pp. s114-s115

Author(s):

Alexandra Johnson ◽

Bobby Warren ◽

Deverick John Anderson ◽

Melissa Johnson ◽

Isabella Gamez ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Real World ◽

Medical Center ◽

Academic Medical Center ◽

Randomized Study ◽

Healthcare Providers ◽

Clinical Workflow ◽

Provider Type ◽

Academic Medical ◽

Rn Students ◽

The Impact

Background: Stethoscopes are a known vector for microbial transmission; however, common strategies used to clean stethoscopes pose certain barriers that prevent routine cleaning after every use. We aimed to determine whether using readily available alcohol-based hand rub (ABHR) would effectively reduce bacterial bioburden on stethoscopes in a real-world setting. Methods: We performed a randomized study on inpatient wards of an academic medical center to assess the impact of using ABHR (AlcareExtra; ethyl alcohol, 80%) on the bacterial bioburden of stethoscopes. Stethoscopes were obtained from healthcare providers after routine use during an inpatient examination and were randomized to control (no intervention) or ABHR disinfection (2 pumps applied to tubing and bell or diaphragm by study personnel, then allowed to dry). Cultures of the tubing and bell or diaphragm were obtained with premoistened cellulose sponges. Sponges were combined with 1% Tween20-PBS and mixed in the Seward Stomacher. The homogenate was centrifuged and all but ~5 mL of the supernatant was discarded. Samples were plated on sheep’s blood agar and selective media for clinically important pathogens (CIPs) including S. aureus, Enterococcus spp, and gram-negative bacteria (GNB). CFU count was determined by counting the number of colonies on each plate and using dilution calculations to calculate the CFU of the original ~5 mL homogenate. Results: In total, 80 stethoscopes (40 disinfection, 40 control) were sampled from 46 physicians (MDs) and MD students (57.5%), 13 advanced practice providers (16.3%), and 21 nurses (RNs) and RN students (26.3%). The median CFU count was ~30-fold lower in the disinfection arm compared to control (106 [IQR, 50–381] vs 3,320 [986–4,834]; P < .0001). The effect was consistent across provider type, frequency of recent usual stethoscope cleaning, age, and status of pet ownership (Fig. 1). Overall, 26 of 80 (33%) of stethoscopes harbored CIP. The presence of CIP was lower but not significantly different for stethoscopes that underwent disinfection versus controls: S. aureus (25% vs 32.5%), Enterococcus (2.5% vs 10%), and GNB (2.5% vs 5%). Conclusions: Stethoscopes may serve as vectors for clean hands to become recontaminated immediately prior to performing patient care activities. Using ABHR to clean stethoscopes after every use is a practical and effective strategy to reduce overall bacterial contamination that can be easily incorporated into clinical workflow. Larger studies are needed to determine the efficacy of ABHR at removing CIP from stethoscopes as stethoscopes in both arms were frequently contaminated with CIP. Prior cleaning of stethoscopes on the study day did not seem to impact contamination rates, suggesting the impact of alcohol foam disinfection is short-lived and may need to be repeated frequently (ie, after each use).Funding: NoneDisclosures: NoneDisclosures: NoneFunding: None

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The Impact of an Educational Program on Medical Students’ Knowledge and Awareness of Elder Abuse

Journal of Medical Education and Curricular Development ◽

10.1177/23821205211016487 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 8 ◽

pp. 238212052110164

Author(s):

Abbie West ◽

Cara Cawley ◽

Elizabeth Crow ◽

Alexis M. Stoner ◽

Natalie M. Fadel ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Medical Students ◽

Educational Program ◽

Survey Methodology ◽

Elder Abuse ◽

P Value ◽

Significant Difference ◽

Survey Results ◽

Second Year ◽

College Of Osteopathic Medicine ◽

The Impact

Objective: Approximately 1 in 6 adults 60 and older have experienced a form of abuse in the past year. Many cases remain under-reported due to lack of knowledge and awareness. This study created an educational program on elder abuse for medical students to determine if participation would increase knowledge and awareness of elder abuse. Methods: This study used a pre and post survey methodology to evaluate students’ knowledge and awareness of elder abuse before and after participating in this educational program. Sixty first and second year osteopathic medical students at the Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine, Carolinas Campus participated in this study. Students were emailed a pre-survey to evaluate their pre-existing knowledge and awareness. The survey was, previously created by the Student Training on Preventing Domestic Violence (STOP-DV) team using validated measures. Participants then attended educational events about various forms of elder abuse and recognizing its associated signs, and afterward completed the post-survey. The results were compared using t-tests to determine if there was a significant difference. Results: First and second year students differed significantly in pre-survey results of knowledge but not post-survey results. The results showed a significant difference in overall mean knowledge ( P-value < .001) and awareness scores ( P-value < .001) in all students. Conclusion: These results suggest education on elder abuse can enable future physicians to better recognize, understand, and support older adults regarding elder maltreatment.

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Communications and Screening for 2019 Novel Coronavirus at a Tertiary-Care Medical Center

Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology ◽

10.1017/ice.2020.578 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 41 (S1) ◽

pp. s84-s84

Author(s):

Lorinda Sheeler ◽

Mary Kukla ◽

Oluchi Abosi ◽

Holly Meacham ◽

Stephanie Holley ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Screening Tool ◽

Medical Center ◽

Academic Medical Center ◽

Tertiary Care ◽

The United States ◽

World Health ◽

Communication Campaign ◽

Electronic Screening ◽

Novel Coronavirus ◽

The Impact

Background: In December of 2019, the World Health Organization reported a novel coronavirus (severe acute respiratory coronavirus virus 2 [SARS-CoV-2)]) causing severe respiratory illness originating in Wuhan, China. Since then, an increasing number of cases and the confirmation of human-to-human transmission has led to the need to develop a communication campaign at our institution. We describe the impact of the communication campaign on the number of calls received and describe patterns of calls during the early stages of our response to this emerging infection. Methods: The University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics is an 811-bed academic medical center with >200 outpatient clinics. In response to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak, we launched a communications campaign on January 17, 2020. Initial communications included email updates to staff and a dedicated COVID-19 webpage with up-to-date information. Subsequently, we developed an electronic screening tool to guide a risk assessment during patient check in. The screening tool identifies travel to China in the past 14 days and the presence of symptoms defined as fever >37.7°C plus cough or difficulty breathing. The screening tool was activated on January 24, 2020. In addition, university staff contacted each student whose primary residence record included Hubei Province, China. Students were provided with medical contact information, signs and symptoms to monitor for, and a thermometer. Results: During the first 5 days of the campaign, 3 calls were related to COVID-19. The number of calls increased to 18 in the 5 days following the implementation of the electronic screening tool. Of the 21 calls received to date, 8 calls (38%) were generated due to the electronic travel screen, 4 calls (19%) were due to a positive coronavirus result in a multiplex respiratory panel, 4 calls (19%) were related to provider assessment only (without an electronic screening trigger), and 2 calls (10%) sought additional information following the viewing of the web-based communication campaign. Moreover, 3 calls (14%) were for people without travel history but with respiratory symptoms and contact with a person with recent travel to China. Among those reporting symptoms after travel to China, mean time since arrival to the United States was 2.7 days (range, 0–11 days). Conclusion: The COVID-19 outbreak is evolving, and providing up to date information is challenging. Implementing an electronic screening tool helped providers assess patients and direct questions to infection prevention professionals. Analyzing the types of calls received helped tailor messaging to frontline staff.Funding: NoneDisclosures: None

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The Educational and Career Impact of Using Medical Students for Triaging Off-Hour Diagnostic Imaging Requests at a Major Academic Medical Center

American Journal of Roentgenology ◽

10.2214/ajr.09.3221 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 194 (4) ◽

pp. 1027-1033 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Scott Kennedy ◽

Darren B. Knibutat ◽

Serena L. DelBasso ◽

Syed A. J. Bokhari ◽

Howard P. Forman

Keyword(s):

Medical Students ◽

Diagnostic Imaging ◽

Medical Center ◽

Academic Medical Center ◽

Academic Medical

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154. Antibiotic Use During Three Separate Waves of the COVID-19 Pandemic at a Large Academic Medical Center in Detroit, MI

Open Forum Infectious Diseases ◽

10.1093/ofid/ofab466.356 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 8 (Supplement_1) ◽

pp. S188-S189

Author(s):

Deepika Sivakumar ◽

Shelbye R Herbin ◽

Raymond Yost ◽

Marco R Scipione

Keyword(s):

Retrospective Review ◽

Bacterial Pneumonia ◽

Medical Center ◽

Academic Medical Center ◽

Antibiotic Use ◽

Percent Change ◽

Academic Medical ◽

Days Of Therapy ◽

Time Periods ◽

The Impact

Abstract Background Inpatient antibiotic use early on in the COVID-19 pandemic may have increased due to the inability to distinguish between bacterial and COVID-19 pneumonia. The purpose of this study was to determine the impact of COVID-19 on antimicrobial usage during three separate waves of the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods We conducted a retrospective review of patients admitted to Detroit Medical Center between 3/10/19 to 4/24/21. Median days of therapy per 1000 adjusted patient days (DOT/1000 pt days) was evaluated for all administered antibiotics included in our pneumonia guidelines during 4 separate time periods: pre-COVID (3/3/19-4/27/19); 1st wave (3/8/20-5/2/20); 2nd wave (12/6/21-1/30/21); and 3rd wave (3/7/21-4/24/21). Antibiotics included in our pneumonia guidelines include: amoxicillin, azithromycin, aztreonam, ceftriaxone, cefepime, ciprofloxacin, doxycycline, linezolid, meropenem, moxifloxacin, piperacillin-tazobactam, tobramycin, and vancomycin. The percent change in antibiotic use between the separate time periods was also evaluated. Results An increase in antibiotics was seen during the 1st wave compared to the pre-COVID period (2639 [IQR 2339-3439] DOT/1000 pt days vs. 2432 [IQR 2291-2499] DOT/1000 pt days, p=0.08). This corresponded to an increase of 8.5% during the 1st wave. This increase did not persist during the 2nd and 3rd waves of the pandemic, and the use decreased by 8% and 16%, respectively, compared to the pre-COVID period. There was an increased use of ceftriaxone (+6.5%, p=0.23), doxycycline (+46%, p=0.13), linezolid (+61%, p=0.014), cefepime (+50%, p=0.001), and meropenem (+29%, p=0.25) during the 1st wave compared to the pre-COVID period. Linezolid (+39%, p=0.013), cefepime (+47%, p=0.08) and tobramycin (+47%, p=0.05) use remained high during the 3rd wave compared to the pre-COVID period, but the use was lower when compared to the 1st and 2nd waves. Figure 1. Antibiotic Use 01/2019 to 04/2019 Conclusion Antibiotics used to treat bacterial pneumonia during the 1st wave of the pandemic increased and there was a shift to broader spectrum agents during that period. The increased use was not sustained during the 2nd and 3rd waves of the pandemic, possibly due to the increased awareness of the differences between patients who present with COVID-19 pneumonia and bacterial pneumonia. Disclosures All Authors: No reported disclosures

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The Impact of Delayed Symptomatic Treatment Implementation in the Intensive Care Unit

Healthcare ◽

10.3390/healthcare10010035 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 10 (1) ◽

pp. 35

Author(s):

Lesley Meng ◽

Krzysztof Laudanski ◽

Mariana Restrepo ◽

Ann Huffenberger ◽

Christian Terwiesch

Keyword(s):

Intensive Care Unit ◽

Intensive Care ◽

Medical Center ◽

Academic Medical Center ◽

Symptomatic Treatment ◽

Medication Administration ◽

Average Delay ◽

Treatment Implementation ◽

Medication Delivery ◽

The Impact

We estimated the harm related to medication delivery delays across 12,474 medication administration instances in an intensive care unit using retrospective data in a large urban academic medical center between 2012 and 2015. We leveraged an instrumental variables (IV) approach that addresses unobserved confounds in this setting. We focused on nurse shift changes as disruptors of timely medication (vasodilators, antipyretics, and bronchodilators) delivery to estimate the impact of delay. The average delay around a nurse shift change was 60.8 min (p < 0.001) for antipyretics, 39.5 min (p < 0.001) for bronchodilators, and 57.1 min (p < 0.001) for vasodilators. This delay can increase the odds of developing a fever by 32.94%, tachypnea by 79.5%, and hypertension by 134%, respectively. Compared to estimates generated by a naïve regression approach, our IV estimates tend to be higher, suggesting the existence of a bias from providers prioritizing more critical patients.

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Abstract 16125: Impact of COVID-19 on Echocardiography Volume at a Large Academic Medical Center

Circulation ◽

10.1161/circ.142.suppl_3.16125 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 142 (Suppl_3) ◽

Author(s):

Merilyn S Varghese ◽

Jordan B Strom ◽

Sarah Fostello ◽

Warren J Manning

Keyword(s):

Patient Outcomes ◽

Hospital Admissions ◽

Medical Center ◽

Academic Medical Center ◽

Academic Medical ◽

Hospital Systems ◽

The Impact ◽

At Home

Introduction: COVID-19 has significantly impacted hospital systems worldwide. The impact of statewide stay-at-home mandates on echocardiography volumes is unclear. Methods: We queried our institutional echocardiography database from 6/1/2018 to 6/13/2020 to examine rates of transthoracic (TTE), stress (SE), and transesophageal echocardiograms (TEE) prior to and following the COVID-19 Massachusetts stay-at-home order on March 15, 2020. Results: Among 36,377 total studies performed during the study period, mean weekly study volume dropped from 332 + 3 TTEs/week, 30 + 1 SEs/week, and 21 + 1 TEEs/week prior to the stay-at-home order (6/1/2018-3/15/2020) to 158 + 13 TTEs/week, 8 + 2 SEs/week, and 8 + 1 TEEs/week after (% change, -52%, -73%, and -62% respectively, all p < 0.001 when comparing volume prior to March 15 versus after). Weekly TTEs correlated strongly with hospital admissions throughout the study period (r = 0.93, 95% CI 0.89-0.95, p < 0.001) ( Figure ). Outpatient TTEs declined more than inpatient TTEs (% change, -74% vs. -39%, p <0.001). As of 3 weeks following the cessation of the stay-at-home order, TTE, SE, and TEE weekly volumes have increased to 73%, 66%, and 81% of pre-pandemic levels, respectively. Conclusions: Echocardiography volumes fell precipitously following the Massachusetts stay-at-home order, strongly paralleling declines in overall hospitalizations. Outpatient TTEs declined more than inpatient TTEs. Despite lifting of the order, echocardiography volumes remain substantially below pre-pandemic levels. The impact of the decreased use of echocardiographic services on patient outcomes remains to be determined.

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Hardwiring diagnostic stewardship using electronic ordering restrictions for gastrointestinal pathogen testing

Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology ◽

10.1017/ice.2019.78 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 40 (6) ◽

pp. 668-673 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Jasmine R. Marcelin ◽

Charlotte Brewer ◽

Micah Beachy ◽

Elizabeth Lyden ◽

Tammy Winterboer ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Best Practice ◽

Medical Center ◽

Academic Medical Center ◽

Cost Savings ◽

Poisson Model ◽

Panel Testing ◽

Period 2 ◽

Gastrointestinal Pathogen ◽

Pathogen Testing ◽

The Impact

AbstractObjective:To evaluate the impact of a hard stop in the electronic health record (EHR) on inappropriate gastrointestinal pathogen panel testing (GIPP).Design:We used a quasi-experimental study to evaluate testing before and after the implementation of an EHR alert to stop inappropriate GIPP ordering.Setting:Midwest academic medical center.Participants:Hospitalized patients with diarrhea for which GIPP testing was ordered, between January 2016 through March 2017 (period 1) and April 2017 through June 2018 (period 2).Intervention:A hard stop in the EHR prevented clinicians from ordering a GIPP more than once per admission or in patients hospitalized for >72 hours.Results:During period 1, 1,587 GIPP tests were ordered over 212,212 patient days, at a rate of 7.48 per 1,000 patient days. In period 2, 1,165 GIPP tests were ordered over 222,343 patient days, at a rate of 5.24 per 1,000 patient days. The Poisson model estimated a 30% reduction in total GIPP ordering rates between the 2 periods (relative risk, 0.70; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.63–0.78; P < .001). The rate of inappropriate tests ordered decreased from 21.5% to 4.9% between the 2 periods (P < .001). The total savings calculated factoring only GIPP orders that triggered the hard stop was ∼$67,000, with potential savings of $168,000 when factoring silent best-practice alert data.Conclusions:A simple hard stop alert in the EHR resulted in significant reduction of inappropriate GIPP testing, which was associated with significant cost savings. Clinicians can practice diagnostic stewardship by avoiding ordering this test more than once per admission or in patients hospitalized >72 hours.

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