Patient Factors Associated With Prolonged Length of Stay After Traumatic Brain Injury.

Background For traumatic brain injury (TBI) survivors, recovery can lead to significant time spent in the inpatient/rehabilitation settings. Hospital length of stay (LOS) after TBI is a crucial metric of resource utilization and treatment costs. Risk factors for prolonged LOS (PLOS) after TBI require further characterization. Methodology We conducted a retrospective analysis of patients with diagnosed TBI at an urban trauma center. PLOS was defined as the 95th percentile of the LOS of the cohort. Patients with and without PLOS were compared using clinical/injury factors. Analyses included descriptive statistics, non-parametric analyses, and multivariable logistic regression for PLOS status. Results The threshold for PLOS was >24 days. In the cohort of 1,343 patients, 77 had PLOS. PLOS was significantly associated with longer mean intensive care unit (ICU) stays (16.4 vs. 1.5 days), higher mean injury severity scores (18.6 vs. 13.8), lower mean Glasgow coma scale scores (11.3 vs. 13.7) and greater mean complication burden (0.7 vs. 0.1). PLOS patients were more likely to have moderate/severe TBI, Medicaid insurance, and were less likely to be discharged home. In the regression model, PLOS was associated with ICU stay, inpatient disposition, ventilator use, unplanned intubation, and inpatient alcohol withdrawal. Conclusions TBI patients with PLOS were more likely to have severe injuries, in-hospital complications, and Medicaid insurance. PLOS was predicted by ICU stay, intubation, alcohol withdrawal, and disposition to inpatient/post-acute care facilities. Efforts to reduce in-hospital complications and expedite discharge may reduce LOS and accompanying costs. Further validation of these results is needed from larger multicenter studies.

Stage B Heart Failure Is Ubiquitous in Emergency Patients with Asymptomatic Hypertension.

Introduction: Hypertension is the leading risk factor for morbidity and mortality throughout the world and is pervasive in United States emergency departments (ED). This study documents the point prevalence of subclinical heart disease in emergency patients with asymptomatic hypertension. Method: This was a prospective observational study of ED patients with asymptomatic hypertension conducted at two urban academic EDs that belong to an eight-hospital healthcare organization in New York. Adult (≥18 years of age) English- or Spanish-speaking patients who had an initial blood pressure (BP) ≥160/100 millimeters of mercury (mmHg) and second BP ≥140/90 mm Hg, and pending discharge, were invited to participate in the study. We excluded patients with congestive heart failure, renal insufficiency, and atrial fibrillation, or who were pregnant, a prisoner, cognitively unable to provide informed consent, or experiencing symptoms of hypertension. We assessed echocardiographic evidence of subclinical heart disease (left ventricular hypertrophy, and diastolic and systolic dysfunction). Results: A total of 53 patients were included in the study; a majority were young (mean 49.5 years old, [SD 14-52]), self-identified as Black or Other (n = 39; 73.5%), and female (n = 30; 56.6%). Mean initial blood pressure was 172/100 mm Hg, and 24 patients (45.3%) self-reported a history of hypertension. Fifty patients completed an echocardiogram. All (100%) had evidence of subclinical heart disease, with 41 (77.4%) displaying left ventricular hypertrophy and 31 (58.5%) diastolic dysfunction. There was a significant relationship between diastolic dysfunction and female gender [x2 (1, n = 53) = 3.98; P = 0.046]; Black or other race [x2 (3, n = 53) = 9.138; P = 0.03] and Hispanic or other ethnicity [x2 (2, n = 53) = 8.03; P = 0.02]. Less than one third of patients demonstrated systolic dysfunction on echocardiogram, and this was more likely to occur in patients with diabetes mellitus [x2 (1, n = 51) = 4.84; P = 0.02]. Conclusion: There is a high probability that Black, Hispanic, and female patients with asymptomatic hypertension are on the continuum for developing overt heart failure. Emergency clinicians should provide individualized care that considers their unique health needs, cultural backgrounds, and social determinants of health.

Pandemic phase-related racial and ethnic disparities in COVID-19 positivity and outcomes among patients presenting to emergency departments during the first two pandemic waves in the USA.

BACKGROUND: In many countries including the USA, the UK and Canada, the impact of COVID-19 on people of colour has been disproportionately high but examination of disparities in patients presenting to ED has been limited. We assessed racial and ethnic differences in COVID-19 positivity and outcomes in patients presenting to EDs in the USA, and the effect of the phase of the pandemic on these outcomes. METHODS: This is a retrospective cohort study of adult patients tested for COVID-19 during, or 14 days prior to, the index ED visit in 2020. Data were obtained from the National Registry of Suspected COVID-19 in Emergency Care network which has data from 155 EDs across 27 US states. Hierarchical models were used to account for clustering by hospital. The outcomes included COVID-19 diagnosis, hospitalisation at index visit, subsequent hospitalisation within 30 days and 30-day mortality. We further stratified the analysis by time period (early phase: March-June 2020; late phase: July-September 2020). RESULTS: Of the 26 111 adult patients, 38% were non-Hispanic White (NHW), 29% Black, 20% Hispanic/Latino, 3% Asian and 10% all others; half were female. The median age was 56 years (IQR 40-69), and 53% were diagnosed with COVID-19; of those, 59% were hospitalised at index visit. Of those discharged from ED, 47% had a subsequent hospitalisation in 30 days. Hispanic/Latino patients had twice (adjusted OR (aOR) 2.3; 95% CI 1.8 to 3.0) the odds of COVID-19 diagnosis than NHW patients, after adjusting for age, sex and comorbidities. Black, Asian and other minority groups also had higher odds of being diagnosed (compared with NHW patients). On stratification, this association was observed in both phases for Hispanic/Latino patients. Hispanic/Latino patients had lower odds of hospitalisation at index visit, but when stratified, this effect was only observed in early phase. Subsequent hospitalisation was more likely in Asian patients (aOR 3.1; 95% CI 1.1 to 8.7) in comparison with NHW patients. Subsequent ED visit was more likely in Blacks and Hispanic/Latino patients in late phase. CONCLUSION: We found significant differences in ED outcomes that are not explained by comorbidity burden. The gap decreased but persisted during the later phase in 2020.

A National Assessment of EMS Performance at the Response and Agency Level.

BACKGROUND: In 2019, the National EMS Quality Alliance (NEMSQA) established a suite of 11 evidence-based EMS quality measures, yet little is known regarding EMS performance on a national level. Our objective was to describe EMS performance at a response and agency level using the National EMS Information System (NEMSIS) dataset. METHODS: The 2019 NEMSIS research dataset of all EMS 9-1-1 responses in the United States was utilized to calculate 10 of 11 NEMSQA quality measures. Measure criteria and pseudocode was implemented to calculate the proportion meeting measure criteria and 95% confidence intervals across all encounters and for each anonymized agency. We omitted Pediatrics-03b because the NEMSIS national dataset does not report patient weight. Agency level analysis was subsequently stratified by call volume and urbanicity. RESULTS: Records from 9,679 agencies responding to 26,502,968 9-1-1 events were analyzed. Run-level average performance ranged from 12% for Safety-01 (encounter documented as initial response without the use of lights and siren to 82% for Pediatrics-02 (documented respiratory assessment in pediatric patients with respiratory distress) At the agency level, significant variation in measure performance existed by agency size and by urbanicity. At the individual agency performance analysis, Trauma-04 (trauma patients transported to trauma center) had the lowest agency-level performance with 47% of agencies reporting 0% of eligible runs with documented transport to a trauma center. CONCLUSION: There is a wide range of performance in key EMS quality measures across the United States that demonstrate a need to identify strategies to improve quality and equity of care in the prehospital environment, system performance and data collection.

A Decade in Review: Trends in Female Authorship in Peer-Reviewed Toxicology Journals.

BACKGROUND: Gender diversity in both emergency medicine and medical toxicology has grown over the last decade. However, disparities in promotion, awards, and speakership still exist. No studies have examined gender disparities in authorship in medical toxicology journals. RESEARCH QUESTIONS: Does the proportion of female first authors and female senior authors in medical toxicology publications increase over time? What factors predict female authorship in the first author or last author positions in two major medical toxicology journals? METHODS: We performed a retrospective review of all non-abstract publications in two medical toxicology journals, Clinical Toxicology and Journal of Medical Toxicology, between 2011 and 2020. We collected author names, number of authors, publication type, and publication year. Author names were used to identify author gender using Gender-API integrative tool. Data on the percentages of female medical toxicology fellows and medical toxicologists was provided by the American Board of Emergency Medicine (ABEM). RESULTS: A total of 2212 publications were reviewed and 2171 (97.9%) were included in the dataset. Overall, 31.7% of first authors were identified as female and 67.0% were identified as male by the Gender-API tool. There were 46.8% male-male author dyads, 24.2% female-male author dyads, 12.1% male-female author dyads, and 5.7% female-female author dyads. Predictors of female first authorship included research and case report articles, and percentage of ABEM female toxicologists. Predictors of female senior authorship included number of authors and percentage of ABEM female toxicologists. The proportion of female authorship in both categories increased over the study period. CONCLUSIONS: The frequency of female authorship in the first author position has grown over the last decade and is associated with increasing female representation in medical toxicology and specific manuscript subtypes, specifically research manuscripts.

A New Teaching Tool for Peer Review of Charting and Care in the Emergency Department.

Poor documentation, incomplete medical decision-making, missing progress notes, and inappropriate care play a major role in medical malpractice cases. We introduced a new quality improvement (QI) process focused on evaluating and improving documentation and clinical care. We hypothesized that a modified, simplified QI scoring rubric would demonstrate inter-rater reliability among attending physicians and provide a useful new standardized tool for both QI departmental review and peer review. We modified a previously developed rubric template that demonstrated high inter-rater reliability for a more streamlined, simpler, and more generalized application. We developed a new system using three discrete templated sections with choices limited to five options. Eight experienced attending physicians evaluated the same 10 charts using our scoring rubrics. Consistency among raters was assessed using the Shrout-Fleiss relative: fixed set mean kappa scores. Our statistical analysis found excellent consistency among our experienced raters for both the documentation (κ = 0.91) and clinical care (κ = 0.84) scoring tools. We conclude that a modified, simplified QI scoring rubric demonstrates inter-rater reliability among experienced attending physicians. We believe this tool can be used as a standardized tool for a departmental review process by experienced quality leaders as well as by faculty to provide peer review while improving their own charting prowess. We further used this tool for peer review by having the attending staff participate in reviewing a specified number of charts using our modified template with explicit criteria so they could provide feedback as well, while gaining a better understanding of the elements of a "good" chart and of opportunities for improved care and resource utilization. By using this tool, we were able to provide more than 50 attendings summative feedback on their charting by a group of their peers that was both numerical and descriptive.

AiRDose: Developing and Validating an Augmented Reality Smartphone Application for Weight Estimation and Dosing in Children.

OBJECTIVES: Inaccurate weight estimation is a contributing factor to medical error in pediatric emergencies, especially in the prehospital setting. Current American Heart Association guidelines recommend the use of length-based weight estimation tools such as the Broselow tape. We developed the AiRDose smartphone application that uses augmented reality to provide length-based weight estimates, as well as medication dosing, defibrillation energy, and equipment sizing recommendations; AiRDose was programmed to use Broselow conversions to obtain these estimates. The primary objective was to compare the length estimated by AiRDose with the actual length obtained by the standard tape measure. The secondary objectives were to compare the estimated weights and critical medication doses from AiRDose with current established methods. METHODS: In this prospective validation study, lengths and estimated weights were obtained for children presenting to 2 emergency departments using AiRDose, Broselow, and a standard tape measure; actual weight was recorded from the patient chart. Using the AiRDose estimated weights, hypothetical doses of epinephrine and lorazepam were calculated and compared with doses recommended via Broselow and to actual weight-based doses. Spearman rank correlation coefficients were calculated. We defined an acceptable difference of 20% between AiRDose and standard measurements as clinically relevant. RESULTS: Five hundred forty-nine children (mean age, 4.8 years; standard deviation [SD], 2.9 years) were recruited. There were 99.6% of AiRDose lengths within a 20% difference of tape-measure lengths. There was a significant correlation between AiRDose and tape-measure length measurements (r = 0.989, P < 0.0001), and between AiRDose and Broselow weights (r = 0.983, P < 0.0001) and AiRDose and actual weights (r = 0.886, P < 0.0001). AiRDose lorazepam and epinephrine doses correlated significantly with Broselow lorazepam (r = 0.963, P < 0.0001) and epinephrine (r = 0.966, P < 0.0001) doses. CONCLUSIONS: Anthropometric estimates and medication dose recommendations provided by AiRDose strongly correlate with established techniques. Further study will establish the feasibility of using AiRDose to accurately obtain weight estimates and medication doses for pediatric patients in the prehospital setting.

Emergency Department Utilization Patterns in Patients with Opioid-Related Emergency Department Visits.

Opioid-related Emergency Department (ED) visits have surged over the past decade. There is limited data on ED utilization patterns of patients with opioid use disorder (OUD). An improved understanding of utilization may underscore missed opportunities for screening, intervention and referral.This was a retrospective 2:1 matched case-control study conducted at a single urban ED. Cases were patients with an opioid-related index ED visit from June 1, 2017 to May 31, 2018. Controls were patients with a non-opioid related index ED visit from June 1, 2018 to May 31, 2019. The primary outcome was the association between the number of ED visits in the 24-month period surrounding the index visit (12 months prior and 12 months following) and having an opioid-related index ED visit.There were a total of 224 cases. One or more visits preceding (OR: 1.63, 95% CI: 1.17, 2.26) and following the index visit (OR: 2.69, 95% CI: 1.91, 3.78) was significantly associated with case status. Following adjustment, a higher number of visits preceding (aOR: 1.24, 95% CI: 1.08, 1.43) and following the index visit (aOR: 1.39, 95% CI: 1.23, 1.57) remained significantly associated with case status.Patients with an opioid-related index ED visit had significantly higher rates of ED utilization 12 months before and after the index visit when compared to a matched control population. These findings suggest that there are significant opportunities for ED intervention and referral to treatment both prior to and following an opioid-related ED visit in this patient population.

Effects of Sleep, Exercise, and Leadership Support on Resilience in Frontline Healthcare Workers During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the direct and interacting effects of personal and systemic factors that contribute to psychological distress among frontline healthcare workers (FHCWs) during the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS: Data were collected using a hospital-wide, cross-sectional survey. A multivariable binary logistic regression and relative importance analysis was conducted to identify factors associated with screening positive for C19-distress. RESULTS: A total of 1005 (39.0%, 95%CI - 37.1-40.9%) out of 2579 FHCWs met the prespecified cutoff values for significant symptoms of C19-distress. Fewer sleep hours and lower perceptions of leadership support explained the majority of variance (19.4% relative variance explained [RVE]) in C19-distress, followed by team camaraderie (6.4% RVE), physical exercise (4.9% RVE), and engagement in hobbies (3.2% RVE). CONCLUSION: These results underscore the importance of restorative behaviors as potential targets to help decrease distress and promote resilience in FHCWs.

Validation of a screening tool for labor and sex trafficking among emergency department patients.

OBJECTIVE: Patients with labor and sex trafficking experiences seek healthcare while and after being trafficked. Their trafficking experiences are often unrecognized by clinicians who lack a validated tool to systematically screen for trafficking. We aimed to derive and validate a brief, comprehensive trafficking screening tool for use in healthcare settings. METHODS: Patients were randomly selected to participate in this prospective study based on time of arrival. Data collectors administered 5 dichotomous index questions and a reference standard trafficking assessment tool that requires 30 to 60 minutes to administer. Data collection was from June 2016 to January 2021. Data from patients in 5 New York City (NYC) emergency departments (EDs) were used for tool psychometric derivation, and data from patients in a Fort Worth ED were used for external validation. Clinically stable ED adults (aged ≥18 years) were eligible to participate. Candidate questions were selected from the Trafficking Victim Identification Tool (TVIT). The study outcome measurement was a determination of a participant having a lifetime experience of labor and/or sex trafficking based on the interpretation of the reference standard interview, the TVIT. RESULTS: Overall, 4127 ED patients were enrolled. In the derivation group, the reference standard identified 36 (1.1%) as positive for a labor and/or sex trafficking experience. In the validation group, 12 (1.4%) were positive by the reference standard. Rapid Appraisal for Trafficking (RAFT) is a new 4-item trafficking screening tool: in the derivation group, RAFT was 89% sensitive (95% confidence interval [CI], 79%-99%) and 74% specific (95% CI, 73%-76%) and in the external validation group, RAFT was 100% sensitive (95% CI, 100%-100%) and 61% specific (95% CI, 56%-65%). CONCLUSIONS: The rapid, 4-item RAFT screening tool demonstrated good sensitivity compared with the existing, resource-intensive reference standard tool. RAFT may enhance the detection of human trafficking in EDs. Additional multicenter studies and research on RAFT's implementation are needed.

System Level Informatics to Improve Triage Practices for Sickle Cell Disease Vaso-Occlusive Crisis: A Cluster Randomized Controlled Trial.

BACKGROUND: National Heart Lung and Blood Institute guidelines for the treatment of vaso-occlusive crisis among people with sickle cell disease in the emergency department recommend assigning an emergency severity index of 2 at triage. However, patients with sickle cell disease often do not receive guideline-concordant care at triage. To address this gap, a decision support tool was developed, in the form of a text banner on the triage page in the electronic health record system, visible to triage nurses. METHODS: A prospective quality improvement initiative was designed where the emergency severity index clinical decision support tool was deployed to a stratified random sample of emergency department triage nurses to receive the banner (n = 24) or not to receive the banner (n = 27), reminding them to assign the patient to emergency severity index category 2. The acceptability of the emergency severity index clinical decision support tool was evaluated with the Ottawa Acceptability of Decision Rules Instrument. Descriptive and bivariate (chi-square test) statistics were used to characterize the study's primary outcome, proportion of visits assigned an emergency severity index of 2 or higher. A generalized linear mixed model with clustering at the level of the triage nurse was performed to test the association between the banner intervention and triage practices. RESULTS: A total of 384 ED visits were included for analysis. Before study initiation, the percentage of sickle cell disease patients' visits with the proper emergency severity index assignment at triage was 37.04%. After initiation, the proportion of sickle cell disease patients' visits with an emergency severity index of 2 or higher triaged by nurses in the intervention group was markedly higher in the intervention group than in the control group (64.95% vs 35.05%; χ2 = 8.79, P ≤ .003). Accounting for clustering by nurse, the odds ratio for proper triage emergency severity index assignment was 3.22 (95% confidence interval 1.17-8.85; P ≤ .02) for the intervention versus control. Surveyed triage nurses reported the emergency severity index clinical decision support tool to be moderately acceptable (nurses' mean Ottawa Acceptability of Decision Rules Instrument scores ranged from 4.13 to 4.90 on the 6-point scale; n = 11). There were no differences in ED experience outcomes including time to first analgesic or length of stay between the control and intervention groups. CONCLUSION: Substantial improvements in triage guideline concordance were achieved and sustained without direct nursing education.

Impact of a focused trauma course on retention of provider skills, knowledge and confidence at a regional hospital in the Dominican Republic.

INTRODUCTION: Road traffic accidents are a public health epidemic, causing significant morbidity and mortality in low- and middle-income countries. The Dominican Republic (DR) ranks among the highest road traffic fatality rates in the world. There is no formalized trauma curriculum in the DR. A short trauma course was implemented at a San Pedro de Macoris, DR hospital with pre-, post- and retention evaluation of the knowledge, skills and confidence of the providers. METHODS: A 4-day trauma course was developed for medical students and residents. On days 1 and 4, providers completed pre- and post-training assessments consisting of a 40-question written exam, 1 simulation case and a trauma confidence questionnaire. Simulation cases were evaluated using a critical actions checklist and a non-technical skills scale (TNOTECHS). Assessments were repeated in 2 months to evaluate for knowledge, skill and confidence retention. A repeated measures ANOVA model was used to evaluate pre-, post- and retention training differences in the written exam, non-technical skills and critical actions scores. Confidence scores were assessed using a cumulative logistic regression model. RESULTS: A total of 65 people participated (36 medical students, 22 EM and 7 family medicine residents). Of the 65 participants, 39, 22 and 21 participants had complete scores for pre-post, pre-retention and post-retention comparisons respectively. Mean test scores for the written exam were 37.2, 63.5 and 52.2 for pre, post and retention results respectively. Comparisons between pre and post as well as pre and retention showed statistically significant differences (p=0.0001). Mean TNOTECHS total scores were 15.8, 21.3 and 20.8 for pre-, post- and retention results respectively with a significant difference found between pre- and post- training and pre- and retention training (p <0.05). Simulation mean checklist scores were 57.7%, 67.8% and 74.1% for pre-, post- and retention training respectively with a significant difference established between pre- and retention scores (p<0.05). Provider opinion that their ED patients received best care possible and patients' needs were identified and addressed showed statistically significant increases. CONCLUSION: A short trauma course can improve trauma specific knowledge, skills and confidence with significant retention at two months. A longitudinal trauma curriculum may bolster retention.

Association of a Geriatric Emergency Department Innovation Program With Cost Outcomes Among Medicare Beneficiaries.

Importance: There has been a significant increase in the implementation and dissemination of geriatric emergency department (GED) programs. Understanding the costs associated with patient care would yield insight into the direct financial value for patients, hospitals, health systems, and payers. Objective: To evaluate the association of GED programs with Medicare costs per beneficiary. Design, Setting, and Participants: This cross-sectional study included data on Medicare fee-for-service beneficiaries at 2 hospitals implementing Geriatric Emergency Department Innovations in Care Through Workforce, Informatics, and Structural Enhancement (GEDI WISE) (Mount Sinai Medical Center [MSMC] and Northwestern Memorial Hospital [NMH]) from January 1, 2013, to November 30, 2016. Analyses were conducted and refined from August 28, 2018, to November 20, 2020, using entropy balance to account for observed differences between the treatment and comparison groups. Interventions: Treatment included consultation with a transitional care nurse (TCN) or a social worker (SW) trained for the GEDI WISE program at a beneficiary's first ED visit (index ED visit). The comparison group included beneficiaries who were never seen by either a TCN or an SW during the study period. Main Outcomes and Measures: The main outcome evaluated was prorated total Medicare payer expenditures per beneficiary over 30 and 60 days after the index ED visit encounter. Results: Of the total 24 839 unique Medicare beneficiaries, 4041 were seen across the 2 EDs; 1947 (17.4%) at MSMC and 2094 (15.4%) at the NMH received treatment from either a GED TCN and/or a GED SW. The mean (SD) age of beneficiaries at MSMC was 78.8 (8.5) years and at NMH was 76.4 (7.7) years. Most patients at both hospitals were female (6821 [60.8%] at MSMC and 8023 [58.9%] at NMH) and White (7729 [68.9%] at MSMC and 9984 [73.3%] at NMH). Treatment was associated with statistically significant mean savings per beneficiary of $2436 (95% CI, $1760-$3111; P < .001) at one ED and $2905 (95% CI, $2378-$3431; P < .001) at the other ED in the 30 days after the index ED visit. The association between treatment and mean cumulative savings at 60 days after the index ED visit per beneficiary was also significant: $1200 (95% CI, $231-$2169; P = .02) at one ED and $3202 (95% CI, $2452-$3951; P < .001) at the other ED. Conclusions and Relevance: Among Medicare fee-for-service beneficiaries, receipt of ED-based geriatric treatment by a TCN and/or an SW was associated with lower Medicare expenditures. These estimated cost savings may be used when calculating or considering the bundled value and potential reimbursement per patient for GED care programs.

Antidotal Sodium Bicarbonate Therapy: Delayed QTc Prolongation and Cardiovascular Events.

BACKGROUND: Sodium bicarbonate therapy (SBT) is currently indicated for the management of a variety of acute drug poisonings. However, SBT effects on serum potassium concentrations may lead to delayed QTc prolongation (DQTP), and subsequent risk of adverse cardiovascular events (ACVE), including death. Emergency department (ED)-based studies evaluating associations between SBT and ACVE are limited; thus, we aimed to investigate the association between antidotal SBT, ECG changes, and ACVE. METHODS: This was a secondary data analysis of a consecutive cohort of ED patients with acute drug overdose over 3 years. Demographic and clinical data as well as SBT bolus dosage and infusion duration were collected, and outcomes were compared with an unmatched consecutive cohort of patients with potential indications for SBT but who did not receive SBT. The primary outcome was the occurrence of ACVE, and secondary outcomes were delayed QTc (Bazett) prolongation (DQTP), and death. Propensity score and multivariable adjusted analyses were conducted to evaluate associations between adverse outcomes and SBT administration. Planned subgroup analysis was performed for salicylates, wide QRS (> 100 ms), and acidosis (pH < 7.2). RESULTS: Out of 2365 patients screened, 369 patients had potential indications for SBT, of whom 31 (8.4%) actually received SBT. In adjusted analyses, SBT was found to be a significant predictor of ACVE (aOR 9.35, CI 3.6-24.1), DQTP (aOR 126.7, CI 9.8-1646.2), and death (aOR 11.9, CI 2.4-58.9). Using a propensity score model, SBT administration was associated with ACVE (OR 5.07, CI 1.8-14.0). Associations between SBT and ACVE were maintained in subgroup analyses of specific indications for sodium channel blockade (OR 21.03, CI 7.16-61.77) and metabolic acidosis (OR: 6.42, 95% CI: 1.20, 34.19). CONCLUSION: In ED patients with acute drug overdose and potential indications for SBT, administration of SBT as part of routine clinical care was an independent, dose-dependent, predictor of ACVE, DQTP, and death. This study was not designed to determine whether the SBT or acute overdose itself was causative of ACVE; however, these data suggest that poisoned patients receiving antidotal SBT require close cardiovascular monitoring.

Nontargeted Hepatitis C Screening in an Urban Emergency Department in New York City.

BACKGROUND: Previously the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommended targeted hepatitis C virus (HCV) screening for adults born between 1945 and 1965 and individuals with HCV risk factors. In April 2020, the CDC updated their recommendations to now include all individuals 18 years of age and older in settings with HCV prevalence > 0.1%. Few emergency departments (EDs) currently employ this nontargeted screening approach. OBJECTIVES: We examined how a shift from targeted to nontargeted screening might affect HCV case identification. We hypothesized that nontargeted screening could improve HCV case identification in our ED. METHODS: Retrospective review of prospectively collected nontargeted screening data from June 6, 2018 to June 5, 2019 in a large urban academic ED. Patients 18 years of age and older, triaged to the adult or pediatric ED and able to provide consent for HCV testing, were eligible for study inclusion. RESULTS: There were 83,864 ED visits and 40,282 unique patients deemed eligible for HCV testing. Testing occurred in 10,630 (26.4%) patients, of which 638 (6%) had positive HCV antibody (Ab+) tests and 214 (2%) had a positive viral load (VL+). Birth cohort-targeted screening would have identified 48% of the patients with Ab+ tests and 47% of those who were VL+. Risk-based targeted screening would increase the number of Ab+ patients to 67% and VL+ to 72%. CONCLUSIONS: Nontargeted ED-based HCV screening can identify a large number of patients with HCV infection. A shift from targeted to nontargeted screening may result in fewer missed infections but requires further study.

Retrospective Cohort Study of Rates of Return Emergency Department Visits Among Patients Transported Home by Ambulance.

BACKGROUND: Emergency Medical Services (EMS) is an important resource that interacts with our most vulnerable patients during transport home after hospital discharge. EMS providers may be appropriately situated to support the transition of care to the home environment. OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to determine whether patients transported home by ambulance experience higher rates of return emergency department (ED) visits and readmission compared with similar patients transported home by other means. METHODS: This was a retrospective cohort study conducted at a U.S. tertiary care academic hospital. Patients aged 65 years and over transported home via ambulance after hospital discharge between January and March 2012 were included. Rates of 72-h and 30-day ED revisits and 30-day hospital readmissions were calculated. Odds ratios were calculated and revisit rates between groups were compared. RESULTS: There were 207 patients aged 65 and over transported home by ambulance. Matched controls were found for 162 patients. Compared with the matched controls, the exposed group experienced a statistically significant higher rate of 30-day ED returns (18.519% vs. 10.494%; odds ratio [OR] 1.939; p = 0.043). The exposed group also experienced a higher rate of 72-h ED returns (2.469% vs. 0.617%; OR 4.076) and 30-day readmissions (12.346% vs. 6.173%; OR 2.141), though results did not reach statistical significance. CONCLUSION: The study findings suggest that transport home via ambulance after hospital discharge could be predictive of a high risk of recidivism independent of established readmission risk factors. Programs that expand the role of EMS to include post-transport interventions may warrant further exploration.

Prevalence of Intracranial Injury in Adult Patients With Blunt Head Trauma With and Without Anticoagulant or Antiplatelet Use.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: We determine the prevalence of significant intracranial injury among adults with blunt head trauma who are receiving preinjury anticoagulant or antiplatelet medications. METHODS: This was a multicenter, prospective, observational study conducted from December 2007 to December 2015. Patients were enrolled in 3 emergency departments (EDs) in the United States. Adults with blunt head trauma who underwent neuroimaging in the ED were included. Use of preinjury aspirin, clopidogrel, and warfarin was recorded. Data on direct oral anticoagulants were not specifically recorded. The primary outcome was prevalence of significant intracranial injury on neuroimaging. The secondary outcome was receipt of neurosurgical intervention. RESULTS: Among 9,070 patients enrolled in this study, the median age was 53.8 years (interquartile range 34.7 to 74.3 years) and 60.7% were men. A total of 1,323 patients (14.6%) were receiving antiplatelet medications or warfarin, including 635 receiving aspirin alone, 109 clopidogrel alone, and 406 warfarin alone. Compared with that of patients without any coagulopathy, the relative risk of significant intracranial injury was 1.29 (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.88 to 1.87) for patients receiving aspirin alone, 0.75 (95% CI 0.24 to 2.30) for those receiving clopidogrel alone, and 1.88 (95% CI 1.28 to 2.75) for those receiving warfarin alone. The relative risk of significant intracranial injury was 2.88 (95% CI 1.53 to 5.42) for patients receiving aspirin and clopidogrel in combination. CONCLUSION: Patients receiving preinjury warfarin or a combination of aspirin and clopidogrel were at increased risk for significant intracranial injury, but not those receiving aspirin alone. Clinicians should have a low threshold for neuroimaging when evaluating patients receiving warfarin or a combination of aspirin and clopidogrel.

PROMIS Physical Function 10-Item Short Form for Older Adults in an Emergency Setting.

BACKGROUND: Functional status in older adults predicts hospital use and mortality, and offers insight into independence and quality of life. The Patient-Reported Outcome Measurement Information System (PROMIS) was developed to improve and standardize patient-reported outcomes measurements. The PROMIS Physical Function (PROMIS PF) 10-Item Short Form was not created specifically for older adults. By comparing PROMIS with the Katz Index of Activities of Daily Living (Katz), we evaluated PROMIS for measurement of physical function versus general function in an older adult population seen in the ED. METHODS: A prospective, convenience sample of ED patients 65 years and older (from January 1, 2015 to June 30, 2015) completed Katz and PROMIS PF. Both were compared for scoring distributions and conventional scoring thresholds for severity of impairment (eg, minimal, moderate, severe). We assessed convergence through Spearman correlations, equivalents of conventional thresholds and ranges of physical function, and item-response frequencies. RESULTS: A total of 357 completed both function surveys. PROMIS PF and Katz have a modest positive correlation (r = .50, p < .01). Mean PROMIS PF scores within Katz scoring ranges for minimal (43, SD = 10), moderate (32, SD = 7), and severe (24, SD = 7) impairment fell within respective PROMIS PF scoring ranges (severe = 14-29, moderate = 30-39, mild = 40-45), indicating convergence. PROMIS identified impairment in 3× as many patients as did Katz, as PROMIS assesses vigorous physical function (eg, running, heavy lifting) not queried by Katz. However, PROMIS does not assess select activities of daily living (ADLs; eg, feeding, continence) important for assessment of function in older adults. CONCLUSIONS: There is a modest correlation between PROMIS and Katz. PROMIS may better assess physical function than Katz, but is not an adequate replacement for assessment of general functional status in older adults.

Noninvasive Ventilation for Critically Ill Subjects With Acute Respiratory Failure in the Emergency Department.

BACKGROUND: We aimed to investigate the association between noninvasive ventilation (NIV) initiated in the emergency department and patient outcomes for those requiring invasive mechanical ventilation so that we could understand the effect of extended NIV use (ie, > 4 h) prior to invasive mechanical ventilation on patient outcomes. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective single-center cohort study at an academic tertiary care hospital center. All emergency department patients with acute respiratory failure requiring invasive mechanical ventilation and admission to the ICU within 48 h of initial presentation over a 24-month period were included. RESULTS: Subject characteristics, ventilator parameters, and clinical course were captured via electronic query, respiratory billing data, and standardized chart abstraction. A total of 431 subjects with acute respiratory failure requiring invasive mechanical ventilation within 48 h of arrival were identified, of whom 115 (26.7%) were exposed to NIV prior to invasive mechanical ventilation, with a median duration of 4 h (interquartile range 1.9-9.3). Based on a multivariable model controlling for covariates, any NIV exposure prior to invasive mechanical ventilation was not associated with an increased odds of persistent organ dysfunction or death. However, in the subset of subjects exposed to NIV, extended NIV use (ie, > 4 h) prior to invasive mechanical ventilation was associated with increased odds of persistent organ dysfunction or death (odds ratio 4.11, 95% CI 1.51-11.19). Extended NIV use was also associated with increased odds of in-hospital mortality (odds ratio 4.02, 95% CI 1.51-10.74). CONCLUSIONS: Although any exposure to NIV prior to invasive mechanical ventilation did not appear to affect morbidity and mortality, extended NIV use prior to invasive mechanical ventilation was associated with worse patient outcomes, suggesting a need for additional study to better understand the ramifications of duration of NIV use prior to failure on outcomes. Given this early timeframe for intervention, future studies should be collaborations between the emergency department and ICU.