The Impact of Disparities in Social Determinants of Health on Hospitalization Rates for Patients with COVID-19 in Michigan (USA).

IMPORTANCE: The COVID-19 pandemic continues to impact the health-care system in the United States and has brought further light on health disparities within it. However, only a few studies have examined hospitalization risk with regard to social determinants of health. OBJECTIVE: We aimed to identify how health disparities affect hospitalization rates among patients with COVID-19. DESIGN: This observational study included all individuals diagnosed with COVID-19 from February 25, 2020 to December 31, 2020. Uni- and multivariate analyses were utilized to evaluate associations between demographic data and inpatient versus outpatient status for patients with COVID-19. SETTING: Multicenter (8 hospitals), largest size health system in Southeast Michigan, a region highly impacted by the pandemic. PARTICIPANTS: All outpatients and inpatients with a positive RT-PCR for SARS-CoV-2 on nasopharyngeal swab were included. Exclusion criteria included missing demographic data or status as a non-permanent Michigan resident. EXPOSURE: Patients who met inclusion and exclusion criteria were divided in 2 groups: outpatients and inpatients. MAIN OUTCOME AND MEASURES: We described the comparative demographics and known disparities associated with hospitalization status. RESULTS: Of 30,292 individuals who tested positive for SARS-CoV-2, 34.01% were admitted to the hospital. White or Caucasian race was most prevalent (57.49%), and 23.35% were African-American. The most common ethnicity was non-Hispanic or Latino (70.48%). English was the primary language for the majority of patients (91.60%). Private insurance holders made up 71.11% of the sample. Within the hospitalized patients, lower socioeconomic status, African-American race and Hispanic and Latino ethnicity, non-English speaking status, and Medicare and Medicaid were more likely to be admitted to the hospital. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: Several health disparities were associated with greater rates of hospitalization due to COVID-19. Addressing these inequalities from an individual to system level may improve health-care outcomes for those with health disparities and COVID-19.

Impact of Electronic Medical Record Alerts on Emergency Physician Workflow and Medical Management.

BACKGROUND: Electronic medical record (EMR) alerts are automated messages that notify the physician of important information. However, little is known about how EMR alerts affect the workflow and decision-making of emergency physicians (EPs). STUDY OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to quantify the number of EMR alerts EPs receive, the time required to resolve alerts, the types of alerts EPs receive, and the impact of alerts on patient management. METHODS: We performed a prospective observational study at a tertiary care ED with 130,000 visits annually. Research assistants observed EPs on shift from May to December 2018. They recorded the number of EMR alerts received, time spent addressing the alerts, the types of alerts received, and queried the EP to determine if the alert impacted patient management. RESULTS: Seven residents and six attending physicians were observed on a total of 17 shifts and 153 patient encounters; 78% (119) of patient encounters involved alerts. These 119 patients triggered 530 EMR alerts. EPs spent a mean of 7.06 s addressing each alert and addressed 3.46 alerts per total patient seen. In total, EPs spent approximately 24 s per patient resolving alerts. Only 12 alerts (2.26%) changed clinical management. CONCLUSION: EPs frequently receive EMR alerts, however, most alerts were not perceived to impact patient care. These alerts contribute to the high volume of interruptions EPs must contend with in the clinical environment of the ED.

Mondor's Disease: A Rare Cause of Chest Pain in the Emergency Department.

Thrombophlebitis of a subcutaneous vein, known as Mondor's disease, is a rare cause of chest pain and can mimic several more life-threatening diseases. Mondor's disease can be caused by trauma, or hypercoagulable states; however, in many cases the etiology is unknown. Mondor's disease is usually self-limited and can be managed conservatively. In this case report, we highlight a 52-year-old male patient who presented to our emergency department with chest pain caused by Mondor's disease mimicking a pulmonary embolism. Although a rare and benign diagnosis, Mondor's disease should be part of the differential diagnosis of chest pain and can be made on the basis of a thorough history and physical examination alone. Recognition of Mondor's disease could reduce costs and risks of further testing for patients presenting with chest pain.