scholarly journals EP.FRI.271 The impact of Surgical Assessment Unit on emergency and ambulatory surgical care in a district general hospital

2021 ◽  
Vol 108 (Supplement_7) ◽  
Author(s):  
Aloka Suwanna Danwaththa Liyanage ◽  
Philip Apter ◽  
Gemma Causer ◽  
Krishnan Gokul ◽  
Paul Ainsworth
Keyword(s):  
Care Delivery ◽  
Surgical Care ◽  
District General Hospital ◽  
Direct Access ◽  
Post Discharge ◽  
Similar Time ◽  
Assessment Unit ◽  
Audit Period ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Aims There has been a paradigm shift in the delivery of emergency and ambulatory surgical care necessitated by paucity of beds, improved expedited diagnostics and delayed transit in Emergency departments. The objective of a surgical assessment unit (SAU) is to reduce the number of semi-urgent admissions, provide direct access to urgent surgical admissions bypassing the ED, expeditious assessment by senior clinicians and to reduce the number of OPD follow up. In our setting, the SAU came into existence on all 5 working days at 12-hour daily schedule and its impact was evaluated retrospectively.  Methods Prospectively maintained data base over a 2-month period was examined. Pre and post SAU figures were compared to judge any quantitative improvement in surgical services.  Results During the audit period of 2 months there were 156 emergency patients and 190 ward attenders for follow up care. Majority of these patients were assessed within 4 hours and discharged or ambulated. Numbers being admitted overnight purely to facilitate investigations showed a decrease of 44.6% post SAU establishment. There was a reduction in post discharge outpatients appointments when compared to a similar time period pre SAU (14% difference).   Conclusion The SAU, although initially conceived and designed purely to cope with increased admissions and to minimise breaching of emergency department targets, has shown quantitative and qualitative improvement in emergency and ambulatory surgical care delivery. 

scholarly journals Impact of pharmacist-conducted anticoagulation patient education and telephone follow-up on transitions of care: a randomized controlled trial

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Lamis R. Karaoui ◽  
Elsy Ramia ◽  
Hanine Mansour ◽  
Nisrine Haddad ◽  
Nibal Chamoun
Keyword(s):  
Tertiary Care ◽  
Intervention Group ◽  
Bleeding Event ◽  
Transitions Of Care ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Published Data ◽  
Post Discharge ◽  
Readmission Rates ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Background There is limited published data in Lebanon evaluating the impact of supplemental education for anticoagulants use, especially DOACs, on clinical outcomes such as bleeding. The study aims to assess the impact of pharmacist-conducted anticoagulation education and follow-up on bleeding and readmission rates. Methods This study was a randomized, non-blinded interventional study conducted between August 2017 and July 2019 in a tertiary care teaching Lebanese hospital. Participants were inpatients ≥18 years discharged on an oral anticoagulant for treatment. Block randomization was used. The control group received the standard nursing counseling while the intervention group additionally received pharmacy counseling. Phone call follow-ups were done on day 3 and 30 post-discharge. Primary outcomes included readmission rates and any bleeding event at day 3 and 30 post-discharge. Secondary outcomes included documented elements of education in the medical records and reported mortality upon day 30 post-discharge. Results Two hundred patients were recruited in the study (100 patients in each study arm) with a mean age of 73.9 years. In the pharmacist-counseled group, more patients contacted their physician within 3 days (14% versus 4%; p = 0.010), received explicit elements of education (p < 0.001) and documentation in the chart was better (p < 0.05). In the standard of care group, patients were more aware of their next physician appointment date (52% versus 31%, p < 0.001). No difference in bleeding rates at day 3 and 30 post-discharge was observed between the groups. Conclusions Although pharmacist-conducted anticoagulation education did not appear to reduce bleeding or readmission rates at day 30, pharmacist education significantly increased patient communication with their providers in the early days post-discharge. Trial registration Lebanon Clinical Trial Registry LBCTR2020033424. Retrospectively registered. Date of registration: 06/03/2020.

scholarly journals 811. Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Surgical Volume and Surgical Site Infections (SSI) in a Large Network of Community Hospitals

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S499-S499
Author(s):  
Erin Gettler ◽  
Jessica Seidelman ◽  
Becky A Smith ◽  
Deverick J Anderson
Keyword(s):  
Infection Prevention ◽  
Care Delivery ◽  
Operative Procedure ◽  
Surgical Care ◽  
Coronary Bypass ◽  
Surgical Site Infections ◽  
Large Network ◽  
Community Hospitals ◽  
Outbreak Management ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Background The COVID-19 pandemic significantly impacted hospitalizations and healthcare utilization. Diversion of infection prevention resources toward COVID-19 mitigation limited routine infection prevention activities such as rounding, observations, and education in all areas, including the peri-operative space. There were also changes in surgical care delivery. The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on SSI rates has not been well described, especially in community hospitals. Methods We performed a retrospective cohort study analyzing prospectively collected data on SSIs from 45 community hospitals in the southeastern United States from 1/2018 to 12/2020. We included the 14 most commonly performed operative procedure categories, as defined by the National Healthcare Safety Network. Coronary bypass grafting was included a priori due to its clinical significance. Only facilities enrolled in the network for the full three-year period were included. We defined the pre-pandemic time period from 1/1/18 to 2/29/20 and the pandemic period from 3/1/20 to 12/31/20. We compared monthly and quarterly median procedure totals and SSI prevalence rates (PR) between the pre-pandemic and pandemic periods using Poisson regression. Results Pre-pandemic median monthly procedure volume was 384 (IQR 192-999) and the pre-pandemic SSI PR per 100 cases was 0.98 (IQR 0.90-1.04). There was a transient decline in surgical cases beginning in March 2020, reaching a nadir of 185 cases in April, followed by a return to pre-pandemic volume by June (figure 1). Overall and procedure-specific SSI PRs were not significantly different in the COVID-19 period relative to the pre-pandemic period (total PR per 100 cases 0.96 and 0.97, respectively, figure 2). However, when stratified by quarter and year, there was a trend toward increased SSI PR in the second quarter of 2020 with a PRR of 1.15 (95% CI 0.96-1.39, table 1). Conclusion The decline in surgical procedures early in the pandemic was short-lived in our community hospital network. Although there was no overall change in the SSI PR during the study period, there was a trend toward increased SSIs in the early phase of the pandemic (figure 3). This trend could be related to deferred elective cases or to a shift in infection prevention efforts to outbreak management. Disclosures All Authors: No reported disclosures

Abstract 19771: Persistent Thrombocytopenia after Myocardial Infarction is Associated with Increased Short- and Long-Term Mortality

Circulation ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 130 (suppl_2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Anirudh Kumar ◽  
Salim Virani ◽  
Scott Bassett ◽  
Mahboob Alam ◽  
Ravi Hira ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Myocardial Infarction ◽  
Bleeding Complications ◽  
Group Differences ◽  
Long Term Outcomes ◽  
Post Discharge ◽  
Short And Long Term ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Long Term Mortality

Background: Thrombocytopenia (TCP) occurs commonly in patients hospitalized with acute myocardial infarction (AMI). It is unclear whether persistent TCP after discharge among AMI survivors is associated with worse outcomes. Methods: We examined the impact of persistent post-discharge TCP on outcomes in a registry of consecutive AMI patients hospitalized between January 2004 and December 2007. In-hospital (IH) TCP was defined by a nadir platelet count < 150 x 109/L. Resolved TCP was defined as IH TCP which resolved within 3 months after discharge while persistent TCP was defined as IH TCP which did not resolve within 3 months. Results: Of 842 patients hospitalized for a first AMI, we examined data on 617 hospital survivors who had follow-up within 3 months of discharge and documented long-term outcomes. Of those, 474 (76.8%) patients did not experience IH TCP while 42 (6.8%) and 101 (16.4%) had persistent and resolved TCP, respectively (Table). Patients with persistent TCP were older, had worse comorbidities, and were more likely to have TCP at baseline and discharge. There were no inter-group differences in infarct size, major bleeding complications, revascularization, or ejection fraction at discharge. Mortality following discharge was higher at all time-points among AMI patients with persistent TCP compared to patients with resolved or without IH TCP (Figure). Patients with resolved TCP had comparable mortality to those without IH TCP. Conclusion: Persistent TCP within 3 months after hospital discharge for AMI is associated with significantly increased short- and long-term mortality compared to patients with recovered TCP or without IH TCP.

THE IMPACT OF AN EPILEPSY-CARE BUNDLE ON THE MANAGEMENT OF ACUTE SEIZURES IN A LARGE LONDON-BASED DISTRICT GENERAL HOSPITAL

2015 ◽  
Vol 86 (11) ◽  
pp. e4.107-e4
Author(s):  
Aravindhan Baheerathan ◽  
Kohilan Gananandan ◽  
Orlando Swayne
Keyword(s):  
District General Hospital ◽  
Business Case ◽  
Medical Emergency ◽  
Initial Assessment ◽  
Care Bundle ◽  
Staff Turnover ◽  
Acute Seizures ◽  
Neuro Imaging ◽  
The Impact

IntroductionSeizures account for 2–3% of presentations to the Accident & Emergency department. The National Audit of Seizure management in Hospitals (NASH) has demonstrated significant variances with regards to initial assessment and subsequent management. Standardised management protocols are crucial in optimising the care of this commonly encountered medical emergency.MethodsThe care of 30 patients admitted with seizures over a 1–month period was retrospectively reviewed. Following this a trust-wide seizure bundle was implemented and another 30 patients were reviewed. Data collection specifically assessed: ▸ Demographics of patients admitted, ▸ Immediate assessment & initial investigations, ▸ Consequent neuro-imaging & specialist investigations, ▸ Referral pathway.ResultsThe results showed poor uptake of the bundle and consequently management was broadly unchanged. The most significant results were:▸ 24% of cases did not have a senior review▸ 70% of cases were not discussed with neurology▸ 36% of cases did not have any follow up arrangedConclusionThe implementation of a seizure bundle can be challenging in the context of a unit that has a rapid staff turnover and is heavily staffed by locum physicians. Repeated staff education is required. This evidence is being used in a business case to employ an epilepsy nurse at Northwick Park. (Aravindhan Baheerathan and Kohilan Gananandan will both be presenting authors and contributed equally to this abstract).

Sources of variation in follow-up expenditure after radical cystectomy.

2014 ◽  
Vol 32 (4_suppl) ◽  
pp. 335-335
Author(s):  
Goutham Vemana ◽  
Joel Vetter ◽  
Ling Chen ◽  
Gurdarshan Singh Sandhu ◽  
Seth A. Strope
Keyword(s):  
Radical Cystectomy ◽  
Practice Patterns ◽  
Care Delivery ◽  
Total Variance ◽  
Office Visits ◽  
Recommended Care ◽  
Patient Level ◽  
Follow Up Care ◽  
The Impact

335 Background: Follow-up care after radical cystectomy is poorly defined with extensive variation in practice patterns. We sought to determine sources of these variations in care as well as examine the economic impact of standardization of care to guideline recommended care. Methods: Using linked SEER-Medicare data from 1992 to 2007, we determined follow-up care expenditures (time and geography standardized) for 24 months after surgery. Accounted costs included office visits, imaging studies, urine tests and blood work. A multilevel model was implemented to determine the impact of region, surgeon, and patient factors on care delivery. We then compared the actual expenditures on care in the Medicare system (interquartile range) to the expenditures if patients received care recommended by current clinical guidelines. Results: Expenditures over 24 months of follow-up were calculated per month and per patient. The mean and median monthly expenditures were $33 and $21 respectively (minimum $0, maximum $429, 25th to 75th percentile $9 to $43). The total variance of expenditure situated at the surgeon-level and SEER region-level was 9.9% and 4.0% respectively. After accounting for the region, the total variance of expenditure situated at the patient-level and surgeon-level was 14.95% and 7.81% respectively. The assessed cost of guideline follow-up recommendations varied from 0.78-9.05 times the calculated Medicare costs. The guideline recommended cost of follow-up was higher than actual Medicare expenditures in all but one category. Conclusions: While some regional and surgeon-level variations in care were found, most variation in expenditure on follow-up care was at the patient-level, largely based on comorbidity, node positivity, chemotherapy status, readmission rates, and final cancer stage. Standardization of care to current established guidelines would create larger expenditures for the Medicare system than current practice patterns.

Assessing disparities in engagement in a post-discharge virtual visit follow-up program.

2020 ◽  
Vol 38 (29_suppl) ◽  
pp. 100-100
Author(s):  
Abdullateef Abdulkareem ◽  
Nathan Handley ◽  
Samantha Burdette ◽  
Adam Binder
Keyword(s):  
Socioeconomic Status ◽  
Language Proficiency ◽  
English Language ◽  
Urban Setting ◽  
Transitions Of Care ◽  
Area Deprivation ◽  
Patient Portal ◽  
Post Discharge ◽  
The Impact

100 Background: Transitions of care are a frequent focus of quality improvement initiatives. In attempt to improve upon the transitions of care for oncology patients, our institution implemented a post discharge virtual visit follow-up program. Previous studies have suggested that socioeconomic status impacts engagement in technology based interventions. Herein, we report the impact of socio-economic status based on area deprivation index (ADI) on engagement with the program. Methods: All patients admitted to the elective chemotherapy service were included. Retrospective analysis of characteristics of each participant was conducted. Data included eligibility (access to the internet, appropriate device, English language proficiency, ability to set up video visit and a patient portal account) for video visit, interest in participating, completion of the visit and any interventions performed during the visit. In addition, ADI was calculated for each individual. Patients were classified into quartiles based on ADI (quartiles increased with ADI). Chi squared testing was performed to assess whether socioeconomic status affected enrollment in video visits. Simple descriptive analysis was also performed. Results: One hundred seven unique patients were included for review. Of these, 33 (31%), 39 (36%), 16 (15%) and 19 (18%) were in quartile(Q) 1, 2, 3 and 4 respectively. Eligibility per quartile was 29 (88%), 34(87%), 13(81%), and 15(83%). ADI quartile did not significantly affect virtual visit eligibility (p = .50). A total of 91 patients (85%) were eligible for video visits; of these, 46 patients declined. Of the 46 patients that declined 9 (19%), 20 (43%), 8 (17%), and 9 (19%) were in Q1, Q2, Q3 and Q4 respectively. Fifteen patients cited technology issues as reasons for declining telehealth visits - 10 (67%) from Q1 and Q2 and 5 (33%) from Q3 and Q4. The vast majority cited lack of interest as reason for declining. Conclusions: ADI as a measure of socioeconomic status did not significantly affect eligibility for or enrollment in video visits. This may be explained by more ubiquitous access to internet services in a large urban setting. Current research is currently being conducted to understand patient barriers to engagement in virtual visits.

Post-Discharge Needs of Victims of Gun Violence in Chicago: A Qualitative Study

2016 ◽  
Vol 34 (1) ◽  
pp. 135-155 ◽  
Author(s):  
Desmond Patton ◽  
Aparna Sodhi ◽  
Steven Affinati ◽  
Jooyoung Lee ◽  
Marie Crandall
Keyword(s):  
Trauma Center ◽  
Police Department ◽  
Gun Violence ◽  
University Hospital ◽  
Post Discharge ◽  
Chicago Police Department ◽  
Rehabilitation Professionals ◽  
Chicago Police ◽  
The Impact

The purpose of this study was to understand the post-discharge needs of violently injured patients and their families to improve health outcomes and reduce the impact of gun violence. We recruited 10 patients from the trauma registry of a Midwestern university hospital with a Level 1 Trauma Center (L1TC). After obtaining the informed consent, semi-structured, face-to-face, in-depth interviews were conducted. Discussions focused on post-discharge needs and resources to facilitate the recovery and rehabilitation process, and aid in community reintegration. Interviews were audiotaped and transcribed verbatim. Transcripts were analyzed thematically in stages of open, axial, and selective coding methods. Seven main themes were identified at the hospital and community level. These included the following: (a) feeling stigmatized by hospital personnel, (b) patient–provider communication, (c) feeling discharged too soon, (d) issues in obtaining medicines, (e) challenges with Chicago Police Department, (f) transportation to trauma center for follow-up care, and (g) concerns with returning back to the community. Patients reported the need for mental health counseling for themselves and their family, more follow-up, and help with financial paperwork among others. For the victims of gun violence, there exists a chasm between injury and care, and an even wider one between care and rehabilitation. The findings can inform health care, social workers, and rehabilitation professionals in their efforts to better address the myriad of unmet needs pre- and post-discharge. For trauma centers, the identified needs provide a template for developing an individualized- and community-centered resource pathway to improve outcomes and reduce suffering for this particularly vulnerable subset of patients.

scholarly journals Use of Telemedicine for Chronic Liver Disease at a Single Care Center During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Prospective Observational Study (Preprint)

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maria Guarino ◽  
Valentina Cossiga ◽  
Andrea Fiorentino ◽  
Giuseppina Pontillo ◽  
Filomena Morisco
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Liver Disease ◽  
Observational Study ◽  
Chronic Liver Disease ◽  
Prospective Observational Study ◽  
Care Delivery ◽  
Care Center ◽  
Social Distancing ◽  
The Impact

BACKGROUND The COVID-19 outbreak has overwhelmed and altered health care systems worldwide, with a substantial impact on patients with chronic diseases. The response strategy has involved implementing measures like social distancing, and care delivery modalities like telemedicine have been promoted to reduce the risk of transmission. OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to analyze the benefits of using telemedicine services for patients with chronic liver disease (CLD) at a tertiary care center in Italy during the COVID-19–mandated lockdown. METHODS From March 9 to May 3, 2020, a prospective observational study was conducted in the Liver Unit of the University Hospital of Naples Federico II to evaluate the impact of (1) a fully implemented telemedicine program, partially restructured in response to COVID-19 to include video consultations; (2) extended hours of operation for helpline services; and (3) smart-working from home to facilitate follow-up visits for patients with CLD while adhering to social distancing regulations. RESULTS During the lockdown in Italy, almost 400 visits were conducted using telemedicine; only patients requiring urgent care were admitted to a non–COVID-19 ward of our hospital. Telemedicine services were implemented not only for follow-up visits but also to screen patients prior to hospital admission and to provide urgent evaluations during complications. Of the nearly 1700 patients with CLD who attended a follow-up visit at our Liver Unit, none contracted COVID-19, and there was no need to alter treatment schedules. CONCLUSIONS Telemedicine was a useful tool for following up patients with CLD and for reducing the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. This system of health care delivery was appreciated by patients since it gave them the opportunity to be in contact with physicians while respecting social distancing rules.

scholarly journals COVID-19 pandemic and uro-oncology follow-up: A “virtual” multidisciplinary team strategy and patients’ satisfaction assessment

2020 ◽  
Vol 92 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Francesca Ambrosini ◽  
Andrea Di Stasio ◽  
Guglielmo Mantica ◽  
Barbara Cavallone ◽  
Armando Serao
Keyword(s):  
Multidisciplinary Team ◽  
Care Delivery ◽  
Post Discharge ◽  
Face To Face ◽  
Patients Satisfaction ◽  
Containment Measures ◽  
Long Term Impact ◽  
Disease Diffusion

COVID-19 pandemic strongly modified the organizations of our clinical practice. Strict containment measures have been adopted to limit the disease diffusion. In particular, hospital face-to-face post discharge and follow up visits have been reduced. Although cancelling or deferring appointments seems to be a pragmatic approach, this solution may have a devasting long-term impact on health medical care and on patients. In this context, telemedicine and remote consultations may have the potential to provide healthcare minimizing virus exposure. In this paper we describe how Multidisciplinary team (MDT) reorganized genitourinary cancer care delivery at our Institute (AO SS Antonio e Biagio e Cesare Arrigo, Alessandria), taking advantage of telematic means. Furthermore, we present our preliminary results regarding patients’ satisfaction.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document