Electronic Health Record Prompt to Improve Lung Cancer Screening in Primary Care.

INTRODUCTION: Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in the U.S. Combusted tobacco use, the primary risk factor, accounts for 90% of all lung cancers. Early detection of lung cancer improves survival, yet lung cancer screening rates are much lower than those of other cancer screening tests. Electronic health record (EHR) systems are an underutilized tool that could improve screening rates. METHODS: This study was conducted in the Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical Group, a university-affiliated network in New Brunswick, NJ. Two novel EHR workflow prompts were implemented on July 1, 2018. These prompts included fields to determine tobacco use and lung cancer screening eligibility and facilitated low-dose computed tomography ordering for eligible patients. The prompts were designed to improve tobacco use data entry, allowing for better lung cancer screening eligibility identification. Data were analyzed in 2022 retrospectively for the period July 1, 2017 to June 30, 2019. The analyses represented 48,704 total patient visits. RESULTS: The adjusted odds of patient record completeness to determine eligibility for low-dose computed tomography (AOR=1.19, 95% CI=1.15, 1.23), eligibility for low-dose computed tomography (AOR=1.59, 95% CI=1.38, 1.82), and whether low-dose computed tomography was ordered (AOR=1.04, 95% CI=1.01, 1.07) all significantly increased after the electronic medical record prompts were implemented. CONCLUSIONS: These findings show the utility and benefit of EHR prompts in primary care settings to increase identification for lung cancer screening eligibility as well as increased low-dose computed tomography ordering.

Use of Outpatient Opioids Prescribed From a Pediatric Acute Care Setting.

OBJECTIVES: Deaths due to prescription opioid overdoses are at record high levels. Limiting the amount of opioid prescribed has been suggested as a prevention strategy, but little is known about how much is needed to adequately treat acutely painful conditions for outpatients. The purpose of this study was to quantify the usage of opioids prescribed from the pediatric emergency departments of a Midwestern tertiary care children's hospital system. METHODS: This was a prospective descriptive study in which patients aged 0 to 17 years seen in 2 pediatric emergency departments who received a prescription for an outpatient opioid were enrolled. The main outcome was opioid doses used at home, which was obtained via phone follow-up. Additional information, including patient demographics, location, prescriber specialty, diagnosis, and opioid name and amount prescribed, was obtained via chart review. RESULTS: A total of 295 patients were enrolled, with 281 completing the study (95%). The median numbers of opioid doses prescribed and used were 12 and 2 doses, respectively, with 9 doses in excess. Patients with lower extremity fractures used more opioids than other diagnoses, with a median of 8 doses. The majority of families reported keeping extra doses at home. CONCLUSIONS: Prescribed opioid doses exceeded used doses by a factor of 6. Lower extremity fractures required more doses than other acutely painful conditions. We should consider limiting doses prescribed to decrease excess opioids available for misuse and abuse.

Intimate Partner Violence and the Pediatric Electronic Health Record: A Qualitative Study.

OBJECTIVES: To explore expert perspectives on risks associated with the pediatric electronic health record (EHR) for intimate partner violence (IPV) survivors and their children and to identify strategies that may mitigate these risks. METHODS: We conducted semistructured interviews with multidisciplinary pediatric IPV experts (nursing, physicians, social workers, hospital security, IPV advocates) recruited via snowball sampling. We coded interview transcripts using thematic analysis, then consolidated codes into themes. RESULTS: Twenty-eight participants completed interviews. Participants identified the primary source of risk as an abuser's potential access to a child's EHR by legal and illegal means. They noted that abuser's access to multiple pediatric EHR components (eg, online health portals, clinical notes, contact information) may result in escalated violence, stalking, and manipulation of IPV survivors. Suggested risk mitigation strategies included limited and coded documentation, limiting EHR access, and discussing documentation with the IPV survivor. Challenges to using these strategies included healthcare providers' usual practice of detailed documentation and that information documented may confer both risk and benefit concurrently. Reported potential benefits of the pediatric EHR for IPV survivors included ensuring continuity of care, decreasing need to repeatedly talk about trauma histories, and communication of safety plans. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest the pediatric EHR may confer both risks and benefits for IPV survivors and their children. Further work is needed to develop best practices to address IPV risks related to the pediatric EHR, to ensure consistent use of these practices, and to include these practices as standard functionalities of the pediatric EHR.

Intimate Partner Violence Educational Materials in the Acute Care Setting: Acceptability and Impact on Female Caregiver Attitudes Toward Screening.

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to determine acceptability of intimate partner violence (IPV) materials and effect of the materials on caregiver attitudes toward IPV screening. METHODS: We used an anonymous computerized survey to assess approval of IPV materials and screening, and willingness to disclose IPV in response to screening among mothers bringing a child to an urban pediatric emergency department or 2 suburban pediatric urgent care centers affiliated with a free-standing academic children's hospital. We compared responses between participants recruited before and after display of the IPV materials, as well as between subgroups, using χ2 tests. RESULTS: A total of 522 participated (predisplay, n = 261; postdisplay, n = 261). More subjects in the postdisplay group approved of display of IPV materials in pediatric emergency department/urgent care center restrooms (94% pre vs 98% post, P = 0.04) and examination rooms (94% pre vs 98% post, P = 0.01). We found no differences in acceptability of IPV screening between the pre and post groups (73% pre and post, P = 0.92). Willingness to disclose IPV in response to screening was higher in the postdisplay group for those with a personal IPV history (55% pre, 73% post; P = 0.02), African Americans (60% pre, 78% post; P = 0.02), and those with a high school degree or less education (66% pre, 77% post; P = 0.04). CONCLUSIONS: Intimate partner violence materials in this study were acceptable to most participants and did not negatively impact attitudes toward IPV screening or willingness to disclose IPV. Display of IPV materials should be considered as a component of IPV intervention.

Impact of a Clinical Pharmacy Specialist in an Emergency Department for Seniors.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: This study assesses outcomes associated with the implementation of an emergency department (ED) for seniors in which a clinical pharmacy specialist, with specialized geriatric training that included medication management training, is a key member of the ED care team. METHODS: This was a retrospective cohort analysis of patients aged 65 years or older who presented at an ED between November 1, 2012, and May 31, 2013. Three groups of seniors were assessed: treated by the clinical pharmacy specialist in the ED for seniors, treated in the ED for seniors but not by the clinical pharmacy specialist, and not treated in the ED for seniors. Outcomes included rates of an ED return visit, mortality and hospital admissions, and follow-up total health care costs. Multivariable regression modeling was used to adjust for any potential confounders in the associations between groups and outcomes. RESULTS: A total of 4,103 patients were included, with 872 (21%) treated in the ED for seniors and 342 (39%) of these treated by the clinical pharmacy specialist. Groups were well matched overall in patient characteristics. Patients who received medication review and management by the clinical pharmacy specialist did not experience a reduction in ED return visits, mortality, cost of follow-up care, or hospital admissions compared with the other groups. Of the patients treated by the clinical pharmacy specialist, 154 (45.0%) were identified as having at least 1 medication-related problem. CONCLUSION: Although at least 1 medication-related problem was identified in almost half of patients treated by the clinical pharmacy specialist in the ED for seniors, incorporation of a clinical pharmacy specialist into the ED staff did not improve clinical outcomes.

23 y/o female with dysphagia--Evaluation, intervention and resolution of symptoms in the Psychiatry consultation setting.

Dysphagia is a symptom shared by many medical and psychiatric conditions. A thorough Psychiatric evaluation could rule in a functional or psychological etiology. If a Psychological etiology is identified, a psychodynamic formulation could help the consultation psychiatrist clarify the origin of the symptom and provide a better explanation to the patient and medical team, resulting in improved care by prevention of unnecessary medical interventions, improvement of symptoms and individualization of the treatment.

Supporting the use of evidence in community nursing: a national strategic approach.

While there is an acceptance across all stakeholders that nursing practice should be informed by evidence, there is a substantial literature on the challenges this creates for nurses in the delivery of services. These challenges are accentuated for nurses in community settings, where accessible, up-to-date research evidence is more problematic because of the decentralised organisation and delivery of these services. Recognising this gap, and the consequent needs of its members, the Institute of Community Health Nursing (ICHN) in Ireland has commenced a national strategic development in this area. The purpose of the strategy is to actively support and facilitate public health and community nurses to provide services to individuals, families and communities that are based on the best available research evidence. This article provides a brief overview of the development and key components of the ICHN strategy.