Emergency Medicine Commons^™

Acute Care Of Patients With Moderate Respiratory Distress: Recommendations From An American College Of Emergency Physicians Expert Panel., Christopher W Baugh, Jim F Neuenschwander, Jesslyn Lenox, Jennifer Hoh, Kara Ward, Sara Muramoto, John Casey, Antonio Anzueto, Hajirah Ishaq, Jared Mount, Peter M Deblieux

Ambulatory and Primary Care Articles

INTRODUCTION: Patients with respiratory distress are frequently encountered in the emergency department (ED). Efforts to assess, initiate treatments, and stabilize these patients require a systematic and rapid response. Emergency physicians need a comprehensive and efficient approach for evaluating, treating, and managing patients presenting to the ED with moderate respiratory distress.

METHODS: The American College of Emergency Physicians convened an expert panel of academic and community emergency physicians, critical care specialists, respiratory therapists, hospitalists, and pharmacists to develop and subsequently disseminate consensus recommendations regarding the diagnosis and treatment of patients with moderate respiratory distress presenting to the ED.

RESULTS: A digital …

Implementation Of An Opt-Out And Rapid Point-Of-Care Syphilis Testing Program For Pregnant Patients Presenting To The Emergency Department, Irene Stafford, Carrie Bakunas, Joe Haydamous, Ana Mosqueda, Jeffrey D Klausner, Leandro Mena, Sean C Blackwell

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: Adult and congenital syphilis rates are rising in the United States. The aim of this pre- and post-implementation study was to determine whether implementation of an opt-out laboratory-based and rapid syphilis point-of-care testing program in the emergency department (ED) improves the detection and treatment of syphilis during pregnancy in a high-prevalence region.

Methods: This pre- and post-implementation study was conducted at the University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston, TX. During the pre-implementation phase (November 1, 2023-February 29, 2024), pregnant patients presenting to the ED underwent laboratory-based syphilis testing using the reverse algorithm only when clinically indicated. In the …

Empathy Unmasked: Patient Perception Of Physician Empathy In An Oncologic Emergency Setting A Randomized Controlled Trial Comparing Personal Protective Equipment Wear Versus Unmasked Video Communication, Kathryn J Burk, John J Stroh, Kelly Larkin, Patrick Chaftari, Denise M Langabeer, Jazmin R Menendez, Jeanie F Woodruff, Jan Hargrave, Hongxu Zhu, James P Long, Sai-Ching J Yeung, Kumar Alagappan, Aiham Qdaisat

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: Amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, telemedicine emerged as an important option that supports and facilitates clinical practice, however, its usefulness in emergency settings that treat patients with cancer is unclear.

Objective: To evaluate patient perception of physician empathy in an emergency oncology setting, comparing video interaction to an in-person with personal protective equipment (PPE) approach.

Methods: In this single-center, prospective, cross-sectional, survey-based randomized controlled trial, patients were randomized 1:1 for the concluding conversation done in-person which included either interacting with physicians wearing PPE or video interaction with physicians without PPE (virtual). Patients' perceptions of the physicians' relational empathy were assessed …

Development And Implementation Of A Digital Quality Measure Of Emergency Cancer Diagnosis, Paarth Kapadia, Andrew J Zimolzak, Divvy K Upadhyay, Saritha Korukonda, Riyaa Murugaesh Rekha, Umair Mushtaq, Usman Mir, Daniel R Murphy, Alexis Offner, Gary A Abel, Georgios Lyratzopoulos, Luke T A Mounce, Hardeep Singh

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

PURPOSE: Missed and delayed cancer diagnoses are common, harmful, and often preventable. Automated measures of quality of cancer diagnosis are lacking but could identify gaps and guide interventions. We developed and implemented a digital quality measure (dQM) of cancer emergency presentation (EP) using electronic health record databases of two health systems and characterized the measure's association with missed opportunities for diagnosis (MODs) and mortality.

METHODS: On the basis of literature and expert input, we defined EP as a new cancer diagnosis within 30 days after emergency department or inpatient visit. We identified EPs for lung cancer and colorectal cancer (CRC) …

Gender And Emergency Physicians’ Experiences Of Leading Decision Making About Restraint Use: A Qualitative Study, Anita Chary, Beatrice Torres, Elise Brickhouse, Datonye Charles, Ynhi Thomas, Michelle Suh

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

No abstract provided.

Protocol For Improving Care By Faster Risk-Stratification Through Use Of High Sensitivity Point-Of-Care Troponin In Patients Presenting With Possible Acute Coronary Syndrome In The Emergency Department (Icare-Faster): A Stepped-Wedge Cluster Randomised Quality Improvement Initiative, John W Pickering, Gerard Devlin, Richard Body, Sally Aldous, Allan S Jaffe, Fred S Apple, Nicholas Mills, Richard W Troughton, Peter Kavsak, W Frank Peacock, Louise Cullen, Sarah J Lord, Christian Müller, Laura Joyce, Chris Frampton, Cameron James Lacey, Arthur M Richards, Suzanne Pitama, Martin Than

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Introduction: Clinical assessment in emergency departments (EDs) for possible acute myocardial infarction (AMI) requires at least one cardiac troponin (cTn) blood test. The turn-around time from blood draw to posting results in the clinical portal for central laboratory analysers is ~1-2 hours. New generation, high-sensitivity, point-of-care cardiac troponin I (POC-cTnI) assays use whole blood on a bedside (or near bedside) analyser that provides a rapid (8 min) result. This may expedite clinical decision-making and reduce length of stay. Our purpose is to determine if utilisation of a POC-cTnI testing reduces ED length of stay. We also aim to establish an …

Delays To Antibiotics In The Emergency Department And Risk Of Mortality In Children With Sepsis, Roni D Lane, Troy Richardson, Halden F Scott, Raina M Paul, Fran Balamuth, Matthew A Eisenberg, Ruth Riggs, W Charles Huskins, Christopher M Horvat, Grant E Keeney, Leslie A Hueschen, Justin M Lockwood, Vishal Gunnala, Bryan P Mckee, Nikhil Patankar, Venessa Lynn Pinto, Amanda M Sebring, Matthew P Sharron, Jennifer Treseler, Jennifer J Wilkes, Jennifer K Workman

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

IMPORTANCE: Pediatric consensus guidelines recommend antibiotic administration within 1 hour for septic shock and within 3 hours for sepsis without shock. Limited studies exist identifying a specific time past which delays in antibiotic administration are associated with worse outcomes.

OBJECTIVE: To determine a time point for antibiotic administration that is associated with increased risk of mortality among pediatric patients with sepsis.

DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: This retrospective cohort study used data from 51 US children's hospitals in the Improving Pediatric Sepsis Outcomes collaborative. Participants included patients aged 29 days to less than 18 years with sepsis recognized within 1 hour …

Stratification Of Risk For Emergent Intracranial Abnormalities In Children With Headaches: A Pediatric Emergency Care Applied Research Network (Pecarn) Study Protocol, Daniel S Tsze, Nathan Kuppermann, T Charles Casper, Bradley J Barney, Lawrence P Richer, Danica B Liberman, Pamela J Okada, Claudia R Morris, Sage R Myers, Jane K Soung, Rakesh D Mistry, Lynn Babcock, Sandra P Spencer, Michael D Johnson, Eileen J Klein, Kimberly S Quayle, Dale W Steele, Andrea T Cruz, Alexander J Rogers, Danny G Thomas, Jacqueline M Grupp-Phelan, Tiffani J Johnson, Peter S Dayan, Pediatric Emergency Care Applied Research Network (Pecarn)

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

INTRODUCTION: Headache is a common chief complaint of children presenting to emergency departments (EDs). Approximately 0.5%-1% will have emergent intracranial abnormalities (EIAs) such as brain tumours or strokes. However, more than one-third undergo emergent neuroimaging in the ED, resulting in a large number of children unnecessarily exposed to radiation. The overuse of neuroimaging in children with headaches in the ED is driven by clinician concern for life-threatening EIAs and lack of clarity regarding which clinical characteristics accurately identify children with EIAs. The study objective is to derive and internally validate a stratification model that accurately identifies the risk of EIA …

Diversity, Equity, And Inclusion: Considerations In The Geriatric Emergency Department Patient, Anita N Chary, Lauren Cameron-Comasco, Kalpana N Shankar, Margaret E Samuels-Kalow

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

This article introduces core topics in health equity scholarship and provides examples of how diversity, equity, and inclusion impact the aging population and emergency care of older adults. It offers strategies for promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion to both strengthen the patient-clinician therapeutic relationship and to address operations and systems that impact care of the geriatric emergency department patient.

Gericared: Feasibility Of A Pilot Program Of A Geriatric Personal Care Attendant Addressing Mentation, Mobility And Matters Most In An Emergency Department Observation Unit, Ilianna Santangelo, Anne Marie Thompson, Aileen Tubridy, Kendra Cull, Bridget Conly, Benjamin A. White, Maura Kennedy

Journal of Geriatric Emergency Medicine

The aging of the population has a significant impact on the health care system, as older adults have higher rates of emergency department (ED) visits and hospitalization, different care needs, and are at higher risk of iatrogenic harm in the hospital setting. In addition, there has recently been a rapid growth in ED observation units (EDOUs), to which older adults are frequently admitted. Recognizing the specific needs of older adults, our EDOU implemented an ‘Up by 10’ program which incorporates key components of delirium prevention programs. We took an iterative approach to the implementation of this program, resulting in a …

Leveraging The Electronic Health Record To Implement Emergency Department Delirium Screening, Anita N Chary, Elise Brickhouse, Beatrice Torres, Ilianna Santangelo, Christopher R Carpenter, Shan W Liu, Kyler M Godwin, Aanand D Naik, Hardeep Singh, Maura Kennedy

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to understand how emergency departments (EDs) use health information technology (HIT), and specifically the electronic health record (EHR), to support implementation of delirium screening.

METHODS: We conducted semi-structured interviews with 23 ED clinician-administrators, representing 20 EDs, about how they used HIT resources to implement delirium screening. Interviews focused on challenges participants experienced when implementing ED delirium screening and EHR-based strategies they used to overcome them. We coded interview transcripts using dimensions from the Singh and Sittig sociotechnical model, which addresses use of HIT in complex adaptive health care systems. Subsequently, we analyzed data …

Prediction Of Suicide Attempts And Suicide-Related Events Among Adolescents Seen In Emergency Departments, David A Brent, Lisa M Horowitz, Jacqueline Grupp-Phelan, Jeffrey A Bridge, Robert Gibbons, Lauren S Chernick, Margaret Rea, Mary F Cwik, Rohit P Shenoi, Joel A Fein, E Melinda Mahabee-Gittens, Shilpa J Patel, Rakesh D Mistry, Susan Duffy, Marlene D Melzer-Lange, Alexander Rogers, Daniel M Cohen, Allison Keller, Robert W Hickey, Kent Page, T Charles Casper, Cheryl A King, Pediatric Emergency Care Applied Research Network (Pecarn)

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

IMPORTANCE: Screening adolescents in emergency departments (EDs) for suicidal risk is a recommended strategy for suicide prevention. Comparing screening measures on predictive validity could guide ED clinicians in choosing a screening tool.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the Ask Suicide-Screening Questions (ASQ) instrument with the Computerized Adaptive Screen for Suicidal Youth (CASSY) instrument for the prediction of suicidal behavior among adolescents seen in EDs, across demographic and clinical strata.

DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: The Emergency Department Study for Teens at Risk for Suicide is a prospective, random-series, multicenter cohort study that recruited adolescents, oversampled for those with psychiatric symptoms, who presented to …

Multimethod Process Evaluation Of A Community Paramedic Delivered Care Transitions Intervention For Older Emergency Department Patients, Gwen Costa Jacobsohn, Apoorva P Maru, Rebecca K Green, Angela N Gifford, Matthew D Lukasik, Tikiri Bandara, Thomas V Caprio, Amy L Cochran, Jeremy T Cushman, Courtney M C Jones, Amy J H Kind, Michael Lohmeier, Manish N Shah

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

OBJECTIVE: We assessed fidelity of delivery and participant engagement in the implementation of a community paramedic coach-led Care Transitions Intervention (CTI) program adapted for use following emergency department (ED) visits.

METHODS: The adapted CTI for ED-to-home transitions was implemented at three university-affiliated hospitals in two cities from 2016 to 2019. Participants were aged ≥60 years old and discharged from the ED within 24 hours of arrival. In the current analysis, participants had to have received the CTI. Community paramedic coaches collected data on program delivery and participant characteristics at each transition contact via inventories and assessments. Participants provided commentary on …

Patient-Centered Outcomes Of An Emergency Department Social And Medical Resource Intervention, Rohit Gupta, Anthony Wang, Daniel Wang, Daniela Ortiz, Karen Kurian, Thiago Halmer, Michael S Jaung

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

INTRODUCTION: Few studies have examined the impact of emergency department (ED) social interventions on patient outcomes and revisits, especially in underserved populations. Our objective in this study was to characterize a volunteer initiative that provided community medical and social resources at ED discharge and its effect on ED revisit rates and adherence to follow-up appointments at a large, county hospital ED.

METHODS: We performed a cross-sectional analysis of ED patients who received medical and social resources and an educational intervention at discharge between September 2017-June 2018. Demographic information, the number of ED return visits, and outpatient follow-up appointment adherence within …

2021 Saem Consensus Conference Proceedings: Research Priorities For Developing Emergency Department Screening Tools For Social Risks And Needs, Jacqueline Furbacher, Callan Fockele, Ben Del Buono, Laura Janneck, Cooper March, Melanie Molina, Herbet C Duber, Kelly M Doran, Michelle P Lin, Richelle J Cooper, Payal Modi

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

INTRODUCTION: The Emergency Department (ED) acts as a safety net for our healthcare system. While studies have shown increased prevalence of social risks and needs among ED patients, there are many outstanding questions about the validity and use of social risks and needs screening tools in the ED setting.

METHODS: In this paper, we present research gaps and priorities pertaining to social risks and needs screening tools used in the ED, identified through a consensus approach informed by literature review and external expert feedback as part of the 2021 SAEM Consensus Conference -- From Bedside to Policy: Advancing Social Emergency …

Emergency Department Communication In Persons Living With Dementia And Care Partners: A Scoping Review, Christopher R Carpenter, Jesseca Leggett, Fernanda Bellolio, Marian Betz, Ryan M Carnahan, David Carr, Michelle Doering, Jennie Chin Hansen, Eric D Isaacs, Deborah Jobe, Kathleen Kelly, Nancy Morrow-Howell, Beth Prusaczyk, Bob Savage, Joe Suyama, Allan S Vann, Kristin L Rising, Ula Hwang, Manish N Shah

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

OBJECTIVES: To synthesize published research exploring emergency department (ED) communication strategies and decision-making with persons living with dementia (PLWD) and their care partners as the basis for a multistakeholder consensus conference to prioritize future research.

DESIGN: Systematic scoping review.

SETTINGS AND PARTICIPANTS: PLWD and their care partners in the ED setting.

METHODS: Informed by 2 Patient-Intervention-Comparison-Outcome (PICO) questions, we conducted systematic electronic searches of medical research databases for relevant publications following standardized methodological guidelines. The results were presented to interdisciplinary stakeholders, including dementia researchers, clinicians, PLWD, care partners, and advocacy organizations. The PICO questions included: How does communication differ for …

Detecting Cognitive Impairment And Dementia In The Emergency Department: A Scoping Review, Armin Nowroozpoor, Jeff Dussetschleger, William Perry, Mary Sano, Amy Aloysi, Michael Belleville, Alexandria Brackett, Jon Mark Hirshon, William Hung, Joan Michelle Moccia, Ugochi Ohuabunwa, Manish N Shah, Ula Hwang

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

OBJECTIVES: To identify research and practice gaps to establish future research priorities to advance the detection of cognitive impairment and dementia in the emergency department (ED).

DESIGN: Literature review and consensus-based rankings by a transdisciplinary, stakeholder task force of experts, persons living with dementia, and care partners.

SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS: Scoping reviews focused on adult ED patients.

METHODS: Two systematic scoping reviews of 7 medical research databases focusing on best tools and approaches for detecting cognitive impairment and dementia in the ED in terms of (1) most accurate and (2) most pragmatic to implement. The results were screened, reviewed, and …

Factors Associated With Parental Acceptance Of Covid-19 Vaccination: A Multicenter Pediatric Emergency Department Cross-Sectional Analysis, Brigitte M Baumann, Robert M Rodriguez, Amy M Delaroche, David Rayburn, Stephanie A Eucker, Nicole L Nadeau, Lisa A Drago, Danielle Cullen, Sarah Dennis Meskill, Suzanne Bialeck, Michael Gillman

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

STUDY OBJECTIVE: During the delta surge of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2021, we sought to identify characteristics and beliefs associated with COVID-19 vaccination acceptance in parents of pediatric emergency department (ED) patients.

METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional survey-based study of the parents of children aged 3 to 16 years presenting to 1 of 9 pediatric EDs from June to August 2021 to assess the parental acceptance of COVID-19 vaccines. Using multiple variable regression, we ascertained which factors were associated with parental and pediatric COVID-19 vaccination acceptance.

RESULTS: Of 1,491 parents approached, 1,298 (87%) participated, of whom 50% of the parents …

Impact Of Risk-Based Sexually Transmitted Infection Screening In The Emergency Department, Fahd A Ahmad, Kayleigh Fischer, Hongjie Gu, Thomas C Bailey, Donna B Jeffe, Christopher R Carpenter, Philip R O Payne

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

OBJECTIVES: Sexually transmitted infections (STIs), including chlamydia, gonorrhea, and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) pose a significant health burden in adolescents. Many adolescents receiving care in the emergency department (ED) are in need of testing, regardless of their chief complaint. Our objective was to determine whether an electronic, risk-based STI screening program in our ED was associated with an increase in STI testing among at-risk adolescents.

METHODS: We conducted a retrospective cohort analysis of patient outcomes in our pediatric ED after integrating an Audio-enhanced Computer-Assisted Self-Interview (ACASI) as standard of care. It obtained a focused sexual history and generated STI testing …

Challenges Created By The Covid-19 Pandemic: Pediatric Emergency Medicine And Disaster Management Perspectives, Thomas E Tanner, Nichole R Davis, Brent D Kaziny, Erin E Endom, Esther M Sampayo

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

OBJECTIVE: The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic has presented unique challenges to pediatric emergency medicine (PEM) departments. The purpose of this study was to identify these challenges and ascertain how centers overcame barriers in creating solutions to continue to provide high-quality care and keep their workforce safe during the early pandemic.

METHODS: This is a qualitative study based on semi-structured interviews with physicians in leadership positions who have disaster or emergency management experience. Participants were identified through purposive sampling. Interviews were recorded and transcribed electronically. Themes and codes were extracted from the transcripts by 2 independent coders. Constant comparison analysis was …

Promotion Of Covid-19 Va(X)Ccination In The Emergency Department-Procovaxed: Study Protocol For A Cluster Randomized Controlled Trial., Robert M Rodriguez, Kelli O'Laughlin, Stephanie A Eucker, Anna Marie Chang, Kristin L. Rising, Graham Nichol, Alena Pauley, Hemal Kanzaria, Alexzandra Gentsch, Cindy Li, Herbie Duber, Jonathan Butler, Vidya Eswaran, Dave Glidden

Department of Emergency Medicine Faculty Papers

Background: We conducted in-depth interviews to characterize reasons for COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy in emergency department (ED) patients and developed messaging platforms that may address their concerns. In this trial, we seek to determine whether provision of these COVID-19 vaccine messaging platforms in EDs will be associated with greater COVID-19 vaccine acceptance and uptake in unvaccinated ED patients.

Methods: This is a cluster-randomized controlled trial (RCT) evaluating our COVID-19 vaccine messaging platforms in seven hospital EDs (mix of academic, community, and safety-net EDs) in four US cities. Within each study site, we randomized 30 1-week periods to the intervention and 30 …

Emergency Department Antimicrobial Use In A Low-Resource Setting: Results From A Retrospective Observational Study At A Referral Hospital In Liberia, Sojung Yi, Anu Ramachandran, Lane Epps, Alex Mayah, Taylor W Burkholder, Michael Senyu Jaung, Ahson Haider, Paul Whesseh, John Shakpeh, Kayla Enriquez, Corey Bills

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

OBJECTIVE: Data on antimicrobial use in low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs) remain limited. In Liberia, the absence of local data impedes surveillance and may lead to suboptimal treatment, injudicious use and resistance against antimicrobials. This study aims to examine antimicrobial prescribing patterns for patients in the emergency department (ED) of a large Liberian public hospital. Secondarily, this prescribing was compared with WHO prescribing indicators.

DESIGN: Retrospective observational study.

SETTING: An adult ED of a large public hospital in Monrovia, Liberia.

PARTICIPANTS: A total of 1082 adult patients (>18 years of age) were recorded in the ED, from 1 January …

Multidisciplinary Care For Refractory Pediatric Functional Abdominal Pain Decreases Emergency And Inpatient Utilization, Andrew S Chu, Laura Torres, Grace Kao, Caroyl Gilbert, Evelyn Caro Monico, Bruno P Chumpitazi

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Children with refractory functional abdominal pain (FAP) experience functional disability and may utilize emergency department (ED) and/or inpatient services. Whether multidisciplinary programs which help care for children with refractory FAP affect acute healthcare utilization is unknown. A retrospective chart review of children initially evaluated by the outpatient Multidisciplinary Abdominal Pain Program (MAPP) from October 2016 to May 2019 was completed. Patient characteristics and number of ED visits and hospitalizations for abdominal pain in the year prior to versus year after MAPP evaluation were captured. Thirty-eight children (ages 9-17 years [median 13 years]) were included. The median number of ED visits/patient/year …

Validation Of An Electronic Trigger To Measure Missed Diagnosis Of Stroke In Emergency Departments, Viralkumar Vaghani, Li Wei, Umair Mushtaq, Dean F Sittig, Andrea Bradford, Hardeep Singh

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

OBJECTIVE: Diagnostic errors are major contributors to preventable patient harm. We validated the use of an electronic health record (EHR)-based trigger (e-trigger) to measure missed opportunities in stroke diagnosis in emergency departments (EDs).

METHODS: Using two frameworks, the Safer Dx Trigger Tools Framework and the Symptom-disease Pair Analysis of Diagnostic Error Framework, we applied a symptom-disease pair-based e-trigger to identify patients hospitalized for stroke who, in the preceding 30 days, were discharged from the ED with benign headache or dizziness diagnoses. The algorithm was applied to Veteran Affairs National Corporate Data Warehouse on patients seen between 1/1/2016 and 12/31/2017. Trained …

An Assessment Of The Social Determinants Of Health In An Urban Emergency Department, Edgardo Ordonez, Katherine Dowdell, Natasha M Navejar, Deepa Dongarwar, Aya Itani, Hamisu M Salihu

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

INTRODUCTION: Social determinants of health (SDOH) have significant impacts on patients who seek care in the emergency department (ED). We administered a social needs screening tool and needs assessment survey to assess SDOH and evaluate for trends in the population of patients visiting our ED.

METHODS: A survey was distributed via convenience sampling to adult ED patients to capture self-reported demographic information and data about social needs. We categorized the questions related to SDOH based on the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision, Clinical Modification coding format and created a composite variable called "SDOH Strata" based on the SDOH Index …

Goals-Of-Care Course For Emergency Physicians During The Covid-19 Pandemic., Mari Siegel, Erica Westlake

Department of Emergency Medicine Faculty Papers

BACKGROUND

COVID-19 increased the need for goals of care (GOC) discussions in the Emergency Department (ED). Many Emergency Physicians (EPs) report no formal training in holding GOC discussions. COVID-19 created unique teaching challenges given social distancing requirements.

METHODS

Eight teaching sessions were held using Zoom in March and April at an urban institution in the United States. Sessions were limited to 4-8 participants. They were comprised of a 30-minute lecture and 15 minutes of role-playing, in which providers read scripts to practice communication skills. The lecture introduced vocabulary and models to shape GOC discussions. Participants were invited to complete an …

Acute Hyperkalemia In The Emergency Department: A Summary From A Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes Conference, Gregor Lindner, Emmanuel A Burdmann, Catherine M Clase, Brenda R Hemmelgarn, Charles A Herzog, Jolanta Małyszko, Masahiko Nagahama, Roberto Pecoits-Filho, Zubaid Rafique, Patrick Rossignol, Adam J Singer

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Hyperkalemia is a common electrolyte disorder observed in the emergency department. It is often associated with underlying predisposing conditions, such as moderate or severe kidney disease, heart failure, diabetes mellitus, or significant tissue trauma. Additionally, medications, such as inhibitors of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system, potassium-sparing diuretics, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, succinylcholine, and digitalis, are associated with hyperkalemia. To this end, Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) convened a conference in 2018 to identify evidence and address controversies on potassium management in kidney disease. This review summarizes the deliberations and clinical guidance for the evaluation and management of acute hyperkalemia in this setting. …

Development Of The Uncertainty Communication Checklist: A Patient-Centered Approach To Patient Discharge From The Emergency Department, Kristin L. Rising, Rhea E. Powell, Kenzie A Cameron, David H Salzman, Dimitrios Papanagnou, Amanda Doty, Lori Latimer, Katherine Piserchia, William C Mcgaghie, Danielle M Mccarthy

Department of Emergency Medicine Faculty Papers

Clear communication with patients upon emergency department (ED) discharge is important for patient safety during the transition to outpatient care. Over one-third of patients are discharged from the ED with diagnostic uncertainty, yet there is no established approach for effective discharge communication in this scenario. From 2017 to 2019, the authors developed the Uncertainty Communication Checklist for use in simulation-based training and assessment of emergency physician communication skills when discharging patients with diagnostic uncertainty. This development process followed the established 12-step Checklist Development Checklist framework and integrated patient feedback into 6 of the 12 steps. Patient input was included as …

Myocardial Dysfunction After Out-Of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest: Predictors And Prognostic Implications., Yuan Yao, Nicholas James Johnson, Sarah Muirhead Perman, Vimal Ramjee, Anne Victoria Grossestreuer, David Foster Gaieski

Department of Emergency Medicine Faculty Papers

We aim to determine the incidence of early myocardial dysfunction after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest, risk factors associated with its development, and association with outcome. A retrospective chart review was performed among consecutive out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) patients who underwent echocardiography within 24 h of return of spontaneous circulation at three urban teaching hospitals. Our primary outcome is early myocardial dysfunction, defined as a left ventricular ejection fraction < 40% on initial echocardiogram. We also determine risk factors associated with myocardial dysfunction using multivariate analysis, and examine its association with survival and neurologic outcome. A total of 190 patients achieved ROSC and underwent echocardiography within 24 h. Of these, 83 (44%) patients had myocardial dysfunction. A total of 37 (45%) patients with myocardial dysfunction survived to discharge, 39% with intact neurologic status. History of congestive heart failure (OR 6.21; 95% CI 2.54-15.19), male gender (OR 2.27; 95% CI 1.08-4.78), witnessed arrest (OR 4.20; 95% CI 1.78-9.93), more than three doses of epinephrine (OR 6.10; 95% CI 1.12-33.14), more than four defibrillations (OR 4.7; 95% CI 1.35-16.43), longer duration of resuscitation (OR 1.06; 95% CI 1.01-1.10), and therapeutic hypothermia (OR 3.93; 95% CI 1.32-11.75) were associated with myocardial dysfunction. Cardiopulmonary resuscitation immediately initiated by healthcare personnel was associated with lower odds of myocardial dysfunction (OR 0.40; 95% CI 0.17-0.97). There was no association between early myocardial dysfunction and mortality or neurological outcome. Nearly half of OHCA patients have myocardial dysfunction. A number of clinical factors are associated with myocardial dysfunction, and may aid providers in anticipating which patients need early diagnostic evaluation and specific treatments. Early myocardial dysfunction is not associated with neurologically intact survival.

Validation Of An Icd Code For Accurately Identifying Emergency Department Patients Who Suffer An Out-Of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest., Shelby K. Shelton, Steve B. Chukwulebe, David F. Gaieski, Benjamin S. Abella, Brendan G. Carr, Sarah M. Perman

Department of Emergency Medicine Faculty Papers

AIM: International classification of disease (ICD-9) code 427.5 (cardiac arrest) is utilized to identify cohorts of patients who suffer out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA), though the use of ICD codes for this purpose has never been formally validated. We sought to validate the utility of ICD-9 code 427.5 by identifying patients admitted from the emergency department (ED) after OHCA.

METHODS: Adult visits to a single ED between January 2007 and July 2012 were retrospectively examined and a keyword search of the electronic medical record (EMR) was used to identify patients. Cardiac arrest was confirmed; and ICD-9 information and location of return …