bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Protected Clinical Indication of Peripheral Intravenous Lines: Successful Implementation
Authors: DeVries Michelle , Valentine Mary , Mancos Patricia
Published: June 2016

Background: A large, urban community hospital developed an insertion bundle to support the safe implementation of a policy of extended dwell time (clinical indication) for inpatient peripheral intravenous lines (PIVs).

Methods: Internal evaluation of practices through direct observations as well as evidence-based guidelines and historic data on PIV-related bloodstream infections helped drive the bundle elements. A surveillance plan was in place to continue measurement of these outcomes during the postimplementation period.

Results: At 12 months following implementation, the organization documented a 37% reduction (P = .03) in primary bacteremias (combining PIV and central line-associated bloodstream [CLABSI] infections) and a 19% percent reduction in PIV bloodstream infections. CLABSI rates were also reviewed, as 20% of CLABSI were noted to also have peripheral access present during the year prior to implementation. CLABSI standardized infection ratios for the publicly reported intensive care units decreased from 1.3 to 0.32 (P = .02). In addition, intravenous line start kit use decreased 48% during the year following bundle implementation.

Conclusions: Careful planning and development of an education bundle and an insertion bundle in a community hospital setting allowed for longer dwell times and a trend of decreased bloodstream infections.
Summary of Evidence-Based Practices for Bloodstream Infection Prevention Across the Health Care Continuum of Care for Vascular Access Clinicians: Addressing the 3 Common Sources of Health Care-Associated Infection Transmission
Authors: Garrett J. Hudson
Published: June 2016

Infection prevention and control is a core element of patient safety and in the reduction of central line-associated bloodstream infections. These deadly infections can cause a mortality rate of approximately 12%–25% in inpatient populations. Bloodstream infections can in many cases be prevented through the adoption of evidence-based standards from organizations such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Association for Vascular Access. Vascular access professionals play a critical role in infection prevention in patient care by practicing frequent hand hygiene, maintaining a clean and sanitary clinical environment of care, and performing proper skin antisepsis before the insertion of a vascular access catheter. Each of these interventions contributes to the overall goal of eliminating central line-associated bloodstream infections in these very vulnerable patients.
Detection of sequential activation of left atrium and coronary sinus musculature in the general population
Authors: Ota Masaki , Kaneko Yoshiaki , Nakajima Tadashi , Irie Tadanobu , Iijima Takafumi , Saito Akihiro , Kurabayashi Masahiko
Published: June 2016

Background

The direction of impulse propagation across the coronary sinus (CS) musculature (CSM) is an important piece of the mechanistic puzzle underlying atrial tachyarrhythmias. We hypothesized that in the general population, the sequence of left atrial (LA) to CSM electrograms recorded in the CS reflects the direction of impulse propagation over the CSM.

Methods

We studied 19 patients with atrioventricular (AV) reentrant tachycardia (RT) utilizing a left‐sided accessory pathway (AP) and 21 patients with typical counterclockwise atrial flutter (AFL). Conduction through the CSM during AVRT and AFL is from the left atrial (LA) to the right atrial (RA) and from the RA to LA direction, respectively. CS recordings of retrograde conduction over the AP and of AFL were analyzed in search of far‐field, LA potentials.

Results

Among 19 patients with AP, LA potentials were visible in 7 (37%), all in an LA → CSM activation sequence, while among the 21 patients with AFL, LA potentials were visible in 14 (67%), all in a CSM‐LA activation sequence (P<0.0001). The prevalence of LA potentials was similar between both study groups (P=0.1119), and the overall prevalence was 53%.

Conclusions

Far‐field LA potentials are often recorded in the CS during sequential LA and CSM activation in the general population. The timing of LA potentials in CS recordings reflected the direction of conduction across the CSM.
LO076: Remote ischemic conditioning to reduce reperfusion injury during acute STEMI: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: McLeod S.L. , Iansavitchene A. , Cheskes S.
Published: June 2016

Introduction: Remote ischemic conditioning (RIC) is a non-invasive therapeutic strategy that uses brief cycles of inflation and deflation of a blood pressure cuff to reduce ischemia-reperfusion injury during acute ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). The primary objective of this systematic review was to determine if RIC initiated prior to catheterization increases myocardial salvage index, defined as the proportion of area at risk of the left ventricle salvaged by treatment following emergent percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for STEMI. Secondary outcomes included infarct size and major adverse cardiovascular events. Methods: Electronic searches of PubMed, Ovid MEDLINE, EMBASE and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials were conducted and reference lists were hand-searched. Randomized controlled trials comparing PCI with and without RIC for patients with STEMI published in English were included. Two reviewers independently screened abstracts, assessed quality of the studies, and extracted data. Data were pooled using random-effects models and reported as risk ratios (RR) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Results: Nine RCTs were included with a combined total of 999 patients (RIC+PCI = 534, PCI = 465). The myocardial salvage index was higher in the RIC+PCI group at 3 and 30 days; mean difference 0.09 (95% CI: 0.04, 0.15) and 0.12 (95% CI: 0.03, 0.21), respectively. Infarct size was reduced in the RIC+PCI group at 3 and 30 days; mean difference -3.82 (95% CI: -8.15, 0.51) and -4.00 (95% CI: -7.07, -0.93), respectively. There was no statistical difference with respect to death and re-infarction, however there was a reduction in heart failure with RIC+PCI at 6 months; RR: 0.43 (95% CI: 0.19, 0.99). Conclusion: RIC is emerging as a promising adjunctive treatment to PCI for the prevention of reperfusion injury in STEMI patients. Ongoing, multicenter clinical trials will help elucidate the effect of RIC on clinical outcomes such a hospitalization, heart failure and mortality.
LO083: Outcomes and resource utilization among syncope patients transported by emergency medical services
Authors: Yau L. , Mukarram M.A. , Kim S. , Arcot K. , Thavorn K. , Taljaard M. , Sivilotti M. , Rowe B.H. , Thiruganasambandamoorthy V.
Published: June 2016

Introduction: Syncope accounts for 1% of all annual emergency department (ED) visits in Canada with only 10.3% suffering serious adverse event (SAE) within 30-days. However, 66% are transported to ED by Emergency Medical Services (EMS). Our objectives were to assess 30 day SAE among syncope patients transported by Emergency medical services (EMS), assess the need to develop an EMS clinical decision aid, and estimate anticipated health care savings by diverting patients from the ED to alternative care pathways. Methods: We conducted a prospective cohort study at four tertiary care EDs from Feb 2012 to Feb 2013. We included patients ≥16 years of age with syncope and who arrived to the ED via EMS. We collected patient demographics, medical history, 30 day SAE, EMS time points (call received, EMS arrival on scene, EMS departure from scene, time of transfer of care in the ED), critical EMS interventions, and ED length of stay. We assessed for the occurrence of any SAE (death, arrhythmia, other cardiac and non-cardiac conditions) within 30 days of ED disposition. We used descriptive analysis, unpaired two-tailed t-test and chi-square test. Ethics approval was obtained at all study sites. Results: Of 1,475 ED patients with syncope during the study period, 992 (67.3%) arrived by EMS. Mean times (SD) for EMS arrival to the scene, patient assessment at the scene and transfer of patient from scene to the ED were 10.1 (6.4), 18.9 (8.3), and 14.6 (11.5) minutes respectively. Only two patients had critical interventions enroute (pacing and defibrillation). Overall 138 (13.9%) patients suffered a SAE; 32 (3.2%) detected by EMS, 58 (5.8%) detected during ED evaluation, 48 (4.8%) after ED disposition. The average ED length of stay was 5.9(4.2) hours. Based on average of cost from two sites, we estimated that total cost of transporting syncope patients from the scene to the ED to be $4 million in Canada. The total cost of ED care for syncope patients transported by EMS in Canada was calculated at $21.5 million. Conclusion: A substantial proportion of patients arriving to the ED via EMS suffer no SAE within 30 days. Correspondingly, our results suggest a need for an EMS clinical decision aid to divert low-risk syncope patients to alternative care pathways such as family physicians or rapid access clinics. If developed and implemented, this tool can potentially reduce EMS burden, ED crowding, and reduce healthcare costs.
LO085: Canadian in-hospital mortality for patients with emergency-sensitive conditions
Authors: Berthelot S. , Lang E. , Quan H. , Stelfox H.
Published: June 2016

Introduction: The emergency department (ED) hospital standardized mortality ratio (ED-HSMR) measures risk-adjusted mortality for patients admitted to hospital with conditions for which ED care may improve outcomes (emergency-sensitive conditions). This study aimed to describe in-hospital mortality across Canadian provinces using the ED-HSMR. Methods: Data were extracted from hospital discharge databases from April 2009 to March 2012. The ED-HSMR was calculated as the ratio of observed deaths among patients with emergency-sensitive conditions in a hospital during a year (2010-11 or 2011-12) to the expected deaths for the same patients during the reference year (2009-10), multiplied by 100. The expected deaths were estimated using predictive models fitted from the reference year for different hospital peer-groups (teaching, large, medium and small hospitals) adjusted for comorbidities, age, diagnosis, and hospital length of stay. Thirty-seven validated emergency-sensitive conditions were included (e.g., stroke, sepsis, shock). Aggregated provincial ED-HSMR values were derived from patient-level probabilities of death. A HSMR above or below 100 respectively means that more or fewer deaths than expected occurred in hospital within a province. Results: During the study period, 1,335,379 patients were admitted to 629 hospitals across 11 provinces and territories with an emergency-sensitive condition as the most responsible diagnosis, of which 8.9% died. More in-hospital deaths (95% confidence interval) than expected were respectively observed for the years 2010-11 and 2011-12 in Newfoundland [124.3 (116.3-132.6) & 117.6 (110.1-125.5)] and Nova Scotia [116.4 (110.7-122.5) & 108.7 (103.0-114.5)], while mortality was as expected in Prince Edward Island and Manitoba, and less than expected in other provinces and territories [Territories 67.3 (48.3-91.3) & 73.2 (55.0-95.5); New Brunswick 87.7 (82.5-93.1) & 90.4 (85.2-95.8); British Columbia 92.0 (89.6-94.4) & 87.1 (84.9-89.3); Saskatchewan 92.3 (87.1-97.4) & 90.8 (86.2-95.6); Ontario 94.0 (92.6-95.4) & 88.0 (86.6-89.3); Alberta 94.1 (91.1-97.2) & 91.0 (88.2-93.9); Québec 95.7 (93.8-97.6) & N/A]. Conclusion: Our study revealed important variation in risk-adjusted mortality for patients admitted to hospital with emergency-sensitive conditions among Canadian provinces. The results should trigger more in-depth evaluations to identify the causes for these regional variations.
LO086: The utility of an inpatient diagnosis-derived Charlson Comorbidity Index to create an emergency department workload model
Authors: Grafstein E. , Innes G. , Scheuermeyer F.X. , Sharma D. , Siddoo A. , Tan W. , Stenstrom R.
Published: June 2016

Introduction: A previous Canadian emergency department (ED) model determined predictors of increased workload using a manual chart review to elucidate comorbidities. We designed an electronic algorithm to capture all comorbidities based on the Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI) for a 5 year period preceding the ED visit from the regional inpatient database. Our objective was to identify predictors correlating with physician time require to treat patients and thus develop a multivariable model to predict physician workload. Methods: From May to September 2015, two research assistants (RAs) shadowed a random sample of physicians from the six urban EDs in a single health region. They documented time spent performing clinical and non-clinical functions for patient visits. A linkage with the previously validated regional ED database was used to obtain triage acuity, age, gender, mode of arrival, and CCI scores. Multiple linear regression was used to describe the associations between predictor variables and total physician time per patient visit as well as time spent on history and physical exam and to derive an equation for physician workload. RA inter-rater reliability was assessed on 107 MD-patient interactions. Results: Over the 4-month period, 873 patient encounters were documented. Data from 599 completed encounters were included in the model. The median age was 49.4 (SD 22.8) and 52.2% were female. Overall, 16.0% were admitted to hospital, 64.9% of patients were CTAS 1-3, 19.6% of patients arrived by ambulance, and 15.5% of patients had a CCI score of ≥ 1. The mean time spent on history and physical was 7.0 minutes (SD 4.73) and mean total time was 19.4 minutes (SD 11.6). Using a linear regression model with total time as the dependent and EMS arrival, CTAS, and age as the independent variables, having any CCI score is a significant predictor of total time (p = 0.03). with a difference of 2.9 minutes between CCI positive versus negative patients. Higher acuity was the most significant factor associated with time spent with a mean difference of 4.4 minutes per CTAS category. The intraclass correlation coefficient value was 0.99 (95% CI 0.97-1.00) indicating excellent reliability. Conclusion: The electronically derived CCI does have value in the development of a physician workload model and can replace the use of manual chart review to define patient comorbidities.
LO087: Emergency department patients’ connection to primary care providers: reasons for lack of connection
Authors: Krebs L. , Kirkland S.W. , Crick K. , Villa-Roel C. , Davidson A. , Voaklander B. , Holroyd B. , Cross E. , Nikel T. , Chetram R. , Couperthwaite S. , Cummings G. , Voaklander D. , Rowe B.H.
Published: June 2016

Introduction: Some non-urgent/low-acuity Emergency Department (ED) presentations are considered convenience visits and potentially avoidable with improved access to primary care services. This study surveyed patients who presented to the ED and explored their self-reported reasons and barriers for not being connected to a primary care provider (PCP). Methods: Patients aged 17 years and older were randomly selected from electronic registration records at three urban EDs in Edmonton, Alberta (AB), Canada. Following initial triage, stabilization, and verbal informed consent, patients completed a 47-item questionnaire. Data from the survey were cross-referenced to a minimal patient dataset consisting of ED and demographic information. The questionnaire collected information on patient characteristics, their connection to a PCP, and patients' reasons for not having a PCP. Results: Of the 2144 eligible patients, 1408 (65.7%) surveys were returned and 1402 (65.4%) were completed. The majority of patients (74.4%) presenting to the ED reported having a family physician; however, the ‘closeness’ of the connection to their family physician varied greatly among ED patients with the most recent family physician visit ranging from 1 hour before ED presentation to 45 years prior. Approximately 25% of low acuity ED patients reported no connection with a family physician. Reasons for a lack of PCP connection included: prior physician retired, left, or died (19.8%), they had never tried to find one (19.2%), they had recently moved to Alberta (18.0%), and they were unable to find one (16.5%). Conclusion: A surprisingly high proportion of ED patients (25.6%) have no identified PCP. Patients had a variety of reasons for not having a family physician. These need to be understood and addressed in order for primary care access to successfully contribute to diverting non-urgent, low acuity presentations from the ED.
LO092: The educational impact of a formalized RUSH (Rapid Ultrasound in Shock) protocol in emergency medicine residency ultrasound training
Authors: Hrymak C. , Weldon E. , Pham C.
Published: June 2016

Introduction: Point of care ultrasound for assessment of undifferentiated hypotension and shock is part of the clinical scope of Emergency Physicians in Canada. The RUSH Exam outlines a systematic approach to these patients. A RUSH Exam educational model using didactic and hands on practice was developed and implemented for Emergency Medicine (EM) residents. This study evaluated the effectiveness of the module in a simulated setting on the following endpoints: improvement in image acquisition, interpretation, speed, and subjective comfort level, among EM residents with basic ultrasound training. Methods: Approval was received from the institutional health research ethics board for this before and after simulation study. Residents in the -EM Program or CCFP-EM Program from July 2014 to July 2015 were eligible to consent. Participants were excluded if they were unable to complete all portions. All residents were educated to the same level of introductory ultrasound training based on the curriculum in place at our institution. The 8-hour intervention included RUSH didactic and hands on small group sessions. Testing before and after the intervention was performed with the SonoSim Livescan training platform. Two evaluators scored each resident on the accuracy of image acquisition, image interpretation, and time to scan completion. A before and after survey assessed resident comfort level with performing ultrasound on an emergency patient in shock, and basing decisions on ultrasound findings. Statistical analysis was performed using McNemar’s test for image acquisition and interpretation, a paired T test for time, and the Bahpkar test for the questionnaire. Results: 16 EM residents including 11 senior residents and 5 junior residents were enrolled. Improvement was achieved in the categories of IVC image acquisition and interpretation, as well as interpretation for B-lines, lung sliding, cardiac apical and parasternal long axis, and DVT (p<0.05). Subjective comfort level of performing ultrasound in shock and basing decisions on the findings was increased (p<0.0001). Among junior residents, there was an increased speed of image acquisition. Conclusion: With the introduction of the RUSH Exam educational module, EM residents showed improved image acquisition, image interpretation, speed, and comfort level when using ultrasound in critically ill patients.
LO094: Mass casualty incident training for rural Canadian municipalities: a mobile education unit initiative
Authors: Besserer F. , Hogan M. , Oliver T. , Froh J.
Published: June 2016

Introduction / Innovation Concept: The Shock Trauma Air Rescue Society (STARS®) is a charitable, non-profit organization that is dedicated to providing a safe, rapid, highly specialized emergency medical transport system for the critically ill and injured. The STARS® Mobile Education Unit (MEU) is comprised of a high fidelity simulation suite that mimics a hospital emergency room, installed in a specially equipped motorhome (SEM) that can wirelessly operate a high fidelity human mannequin. The MEU provides an excellent opportunity to combine continuing medical education for resuscitation and MCI management. At present, no formal MCI education process exists in Saskatchewan. Curriculum, Tool, or Material: The Saskatchewan STARS® MEU delivers a phased MCI education initiative to rural and regional centers within the province. The educational initiative is sub-divided into three stages: 1. pre-exercise knowledge translation using a flipped classroom approach, 2. on-site tabletop exercise (TTX) and, 3. high-fidelity simulation session with a review of MCI management principles . Sites perform a Hazard Vulnerability Analysis (HVA) following stage 2 and the highest identified site-specific risks are utilized during the development of the simulated scenarios for stage 3. During stage 2, participants also complete a pre and post-exercise survey. The survey evaluates the educational component, the tabletop exercise component and the perceived pre and post tabletop exercise competencies for the management of MCI. In the pilot project, two regional sites completed the tabletop exercise. The pre-exercise survey evaluated perceived MCI and disaster preparedness for the region. Only 8% and 25% of participants at each site respectively, reported that their disaster plan had been trialed in tabletop, full exercise or real activation within the past three years. Participants strongly agreed that the tabletop exercise was a valuable experience (86% and 88% respectively). More robust data will become available as the initiative transitions out of the pilot stage to formal operations. Conclusion: A formal MCI training program implemented through the STARS® MEU for rural Saskatchewan municipalities enables participants and their organizations to both review and enhance their current emergency management plans. This initiative will aim to establish a foundation for future collaboration at the provincial and national level for rural MCI training and preparedness.
LO103: Trauma Resuscitation Using in-situ Simulation Team Training (TRUST): using risk-informed simulation for team performance and human factors evaluation
Authors: Gray A. , Hicks C. , White K. , McGowan M. , Chow R. , Campbell D. , Petrosoniak A.
Published: June 2016

Introduction / Innovation Concept: Trauma resuscitation requires a multidisciplinary team to perform at a high level within a dynamic, high-stakes environment. The unpredictable nature of trauma care increases the possibility for errors, often from underlying latent safety threats (LSTs). In-situ simulation (ISS) is a point-of-care training strategy that occurs within the patient care environment involving the actual healthcare team and provides a novel approach to team training and LST identification. Using ISS, critical events can be recreated providing an opportunity to explore and learn from past challenges. We developed and piloted a risk-informed, multidisciplinary ISS trauma training program to assess teamwork performance and identify LSTs within the trauma care environment. Methods: A comprehensive process was initiated to gain support from all stakeholders within the trauma program. Simulation cases were derived from a review of adverse events and unexpected deaths. Human factors experts aided with the integration of system- and process-related elements into the case design. ISS sessions involved all trauma team members. Debriefing after each session facilitated a team-based discussion and an opportunity for reflective practice and video recording was used for teamwork evaluation and process mapping. Curriculum, Tool, or Material: We conducted monthly, unannounced, multidisciplinary, high-fidelity ISS scenarios at a Canadian Level 1 trauma centre. The trauma team was activated by the usual notification process and care provided in the same manner as an actual trauma patient. A semi-structured debriefing followed each session with a focus on team performance and LST identification. Teamwork was measured using a previously validated tool, the Clinical Teamwork Scale. Findings were used to inform discussion at multidisciplinary trauma rounds as part of an iterative process of evaluation and implementation. Conclusion: This multidisciplinary ISS trauma training program offers a novel approach to team performance evaluation and LST identification. Using risk-informed scenarios combined with human factors analysis we are able identify knowledge and technical skill proficiency gaps, LSTs and integrate formative team assessment. An iterative process beginning with ISS followed by multidisciplinary rounds provides a robust framework for system-based changes to improve team performance and overall patient care.
LO104: A collaborative approach to developing and delivering a multi-modal quality improvement and patient safety curriculum for emergency medicine residents
Authors: Cheng A.H. , Chartier L.B. , Hawes S. , Vaillancourt S. , McGowan M. , Dainty K.
Published: June 2016

Introduction / Innovation Concept: The 2015 CanMEDS framework requires all Canadian residency programs to increase their focus on Quality Improvement and Patient Safety (QIPS). A survey of the FRCP Emergency Medicine Residency Program Directors in Canada (63% response rate, 8/13) found that 75% (6/8) of programs have QIPS curricula with 84% (5/6) in the form of didactic lectures and 67% (4/6) as resident participation in a local project. Lectures alone do not expose learners to the practicality of conducting a QIPS project, and local resident projects often do not expose learners to the complexities of organization-wide QI initiatives. Furthermore, QI initiatives require working in interdisciplinary teams. We therefore hypothesize that an effective QIPS curriculum will require multiple education methods delivered using a multi-disciplinary lens. Methods: A collaborative longitudinal QIPS curriculum for emergency medicine residents at the University of Toronto (UT) was developed using multiple educational methods by physicians and non-medical QI specialists. The curriculum addresses three levels of QIPS training: Knowledge (lectures in PGY1 and 2), practical skills at the local clinical microsystem level (QI project in PGY3), and practical skills at the organization level (problem solving using the case method in PGY5). Curriculum, Tool, or Material: The lectures are taught by physicians involved in local and organization-wide QI projects and by those in senior management. The PGY3 residents enrol in a co-learning curriculum developed by the Department of Medicine, where residents and faculty conduct a local QI project together. The PGY5 teaching cases were created with management consultants using material from a real hospital QIPS initiative. PGY5s are taught using the case method that places the learner in the role of the organization’s manager who discusses the issues in class and proposes actions. Residents learn about the practicality of their recommendations by discussion with the management consultants, who disclose the case outcomes and review the lessons learned. Conclusion: A longitudinal QIPS curriculum for emergency medicine residents at UT was developed collaboratively. Multiple teaching methods address all three levels of QIPS training. This curriculum represents a novel use of the case method to instruct QIPS project leadership and management outside of the business school setting. Discussions with management consultants provide a different perspective of the real-life challenges of conducting QIPS initiatives.
MP003: AP or IP? Introduction of a new assessment of performance tool for point of care ultrasound
Authors: Atkinson P.R. , Lewis D. , Fraser J.
Published: June 2016

Introduction: Organizations including CAEP, CEUS, the International Federation for Emergency Medicine (IFEM) and the Canadian Association of Radiologists have all called for defined competency assessments for point of care ultrasound (PoCUS). Definitions of core indications vary. The requirement for ongoing assessment of performance and skills maintenance is often overlooked. We describe the introduction an IFEM approved Assessment of Practice (AP) tool across a PoCUS training program and for continued assessment. Methods: We completed a cross sectional survey and cohort study including the entire body of emergency medicine physicians at a tertiary hospital. Over a 3 year period, all practitioners were assessed for CAEP position statement defined core applications at baseline and again after 2 years using a published PoCUS AP tool. We describe the tool, its application and the performance assessment findings. Emergency physicians (EP) underwent AP following formal training including an approved course and a logbook documenting a variable number of scans. Results: 23 EPs completed training and underwent AP initially, with all 23 EPs completing further assessment within 3 years. Assessment of practice was completed for 1. Focused Diagnostic Ultrasound Assessment for AAA, eFAST, cardiac, early pregnancy; and 2. Focused Procedural Ultrasound Guidance for venous catheterization. All EPs demonstrated initial and continuing competency in these PoCUS modalities. Conclusion: The IFEM PoCUS curriculum promotes ongoing local assessment of performance. We successfully implemented this competency based approach and demonstrated feasibility, flexibility and utility in a Canadian emergency medicine program.
MP008: Quick to be seen; quick to come back: does first visit CTAS-category predict admission for unplanned returns?
Authors: Lewis D. , Atkinson P.R. , Fraser J. , Howlett M.
Published: June 2016

Introduction: The percentage of unplanned return visits (URV) to the Emergency Department (ED) within 48 or 72 hours of discharge that result in an admission to hospital has been recommended as the top Canadian ED patient safety quality indicator. International data exists although inconsistences exist in the way URV are defined and measured. To our knowledge there are no published Canadian data on the percentage of ED URV admissions. This study examines our own URV data and in particular the correlation between URV admission rates and first visit Canadian Triage Acuity Scale (CTAS) category. Methods: A retrospective analysis of 12-month’s data (January - December 2015) was completed for URV to the ED of a 445 bed regional tertiary care adult and pediatric teaching hospital with 57,000 annual attendances. URV was defined as any patient registering within 72 hours of an earlier visit that had resulted in a discharge from ED. Planned return visits were excluded. The data was analysed for an overall URV percentage, UV percentage by first visit CTAS category, overall percentage of URV admitted and URV admission percentage by first visit CTAS category. Pearson R correlation and Fishers Exact Test were used to test the relationship. Results: During the 12-month period there were 57,025 registrations of which 46,793 patients were discharged. There were 3566 URV (7.62% of those discharged); the number of URV admitted was 532 (1.14 % of those discharged). The return rate/admission rates by CTAS category were: CTAS 1: 6.74%/1.55%; CTAS 2: 7.86%/1.92%; CTAS 3: 8.54%/1.35%; CTAS 4: 5.99%/0.40%; CTAS 5: 5.55%/0.27%. The RR of admission on return for discharged CTAS groups 1 and 2, compared with CTAS 3, 4 and 5 was 1.90 (95 CI 1.57 to 2.30; p<0.0001). Rate of admission on return was negatively correlated with initial CTAS level (Pearson r = -0.89 (95 CI -0.99 to -0.03); R2=0.79; F=11.25; p=0.04). Conclusion: We have demonstrated a relationship between first visit CTAS category and the unplanned return admission rate. If admission is taken as a marker of illness severity, then the likelihood of an inappropriate discharge is inversely proportional to first visit CTAS score. While this makes sense intuitively, our data confirms this relationship in a Canadian tertiary care hospital and supports the reporting of ED URV admission data by first visit triage category as an important quality indicator.
MP020: Do real-time Twitter metrics correlate with traditional emergency medicine post-conference speaker evaluations?
Authors: Yiu S.H. , Dewhirst S. , Lee C. , Jalaili A. , Frank J.R.
Published: June 2016

Introduction: Traditional post-conference speaker evaluations are inconsistently completed; meanwhile, real time social media tools such as Twitter are increasingly used in conferences. We sought to determine whether a correlation exists between traditional conference evaluation for a speaker and the number of real-time tweets it generated using data from a CAEP conference. Methods: This study utilized a retrospective design. The hashtag #CAEP14 was prospectively registered with Symplur, an online Twitter management tool, so that all tweets related to CAEP conference 2014 were stored. A tweet was associated with a session if it mentioned the speaker name, or if the tweet content and timing closely matched that of the session in the schedule. A tweet classification system was developed to differentiate original tweets from retweets, and quotes from comments generating further discussion. Two authors assessed and coded the first 200 tweets together to ensure a uniform approach to coding, and then independently coded the remaining tweets. Discrepancies were resolved by consensus. One author reviewed post-conference speaker evaluation, and abstracted the value corresponding to the question “The speaker was an effective communicator”. We present descriptive statistics and correlation analyses. Results: A total of 3,804 tweets were collected, with 2,218 (58.3%) associated with a session. Forty-eight (48%) (131 out of 274) of sessions receiving at least one tweet, with a mean of 11.7 tweets per session (95% CI of 0 to 57.5). In comparison, only 31% (85 out of 274) of sessions received a formal post conference speaker evaluation (p<0.005). For sessions that received at least one traditional post-conference evaluation, there was no significant correlation between the number of tweets and evaluation scores (R=0.087). This can be attributed to the fact that there was minimal variation between evaluation scores (median = 3.6 out of 5, IQR of 3.4 to 3.7). Conclusion: There was no correlation between the number of real-time tweets and traditional post-conference speaker evaluation. However, many sessions which received no formal speaker evaluation generated tweets, and the number of tweets was highly variable between sessions. Thus, Twitter metrics might be useful for conference organizers to supplement formal speaker evaluations.
MP023: Reasons for referral and hospitalization among emergency department patients with syncope
Authors: Cook O. , Mukarram M.A. , Rahman M. , Kim S. , Arcot K. , Thavorn K. , Taljaard M. , Sivilotti M. , Rowe B.H. , Thiruganasambandamoorthy V.
Published: June 2016

Introduction: Syncope can be caused by serious life-threatening conditions not obvious during the initial ED assessment leading to wide variations in management. We aimed to identify the reasons for consultations and hospitalizations, outcomes, and the potential cost savings if an outpatient cardiac monitoring strategy were developed. Methods: We conducted a prospective cohort study of adult syncope patients at 5 academic EDs over 41 months. We collected baseline characteristics, reasons for consultation and hospitalization, hospital length of stay and average total inpatient cost. Adjudicated 30-day serious adverse events (SAEs) included death, myocardial infarction, arrhythmia, structural heart disease, pulmonary embolism, significant hemorrhage and procedural intervention. We used descriptive statistics with 95% CI. Results: Of the 4,064 patients enrolled (mean age 53.1 years, 55.9% female), 3,255 (80.1%) were discharged from the ED, 209 (5.2%) had a SAE identified in the ED, 600 (14.8%) with no SAE were referred for consultation in the ED and 299 (7.4%) were hospitalized: 55.5% of referrals and 55.2% of hospitalizations were for suspected cardiac syncope (46.5% admitted for cardiac monitoring of whom 71.2% had no cause identified). SAE among groups were 9.7% in total; 2.5% discharged by ED physician; 3.4% discharged by consultant from ED; 21.7% as inpatient and 4.8% following discharge from hospital. The mean hospital length of stay for cardiac syncope was 6.7 (95%CI 5.8, 7.7) days with total estimated costs of $7,925 per patient (95% CI: 7434, 8417). Conclusion: Suspected cardiac syncope, particularly arrhythmia, was the major reason for ED referral and hospitalization. The majority of patients hospitalized for cardiac monitoring had no identified cause. An important number of patients suffered SAE, particularly arrhythmias outside the hospital. These findings highlight the need to develop a robust syncope prediction tool and a remote cardiac monitoring strategy to improve patient safety while saving substantial health care resources.
P006: A qualitative study of the language of satisfaction for children in the emergency department
Authors: Ali S. , McGrath T. , Dow N. , Aziz S. , Pilarski M. , Drendel A.L.
Published: June 2016

Introduction: Measures of satisfaction are essential to understanding patient experience, and pain management. Currently, there are no validated tools to quantify children’s satisfaction. To develop such a tool, we must first understand which words children use to communicate satisfaction. Our objectives were to (A) to identify the words commonly used by children of different ages to communicate satisfaction, in general, and in the context of pain management, and (B) to determine if this vocabulary is similar to that used by their caregiver. Methods: A qualitative study of 105 children-parent pairs, aged 3-16 years, who were evaluated at a pediatric emergency department (PED) from July-November 2014 was conducted. Children were interviewed using a semi-structured format of ten open-ended questions. They were asked to describe their feelings when 1) they received something they wanted/needed, 2) their expectations were met or not met in the ED, and 3) their pain was or was not relieved. A written survey was also completed by the caregiver. Interviews were transcribed and grounded theory was employed for data coding and analysis. Results: 105 child interviews were completed (n=53 female, mean age 9.91 SD 3.71, age range 4-16). 105 caregiver surveys were completed (n=80 female). “Good”, “better,” and “happy” were most commonly used by all children (n=99) to express satisfaction with pain management (27%, 21% and 22%, respectively), with PED care (31%, 14% and 33%) and in general (13%, 5% and 49%). Children (n=99) used the words “sad”, “bad,” and “not good” to communicate dissatisfaction with pain management (21%, 7% and 11% respectively), and with PED care (21%, 13% and 12%, respectively). Only 55% of children understood the meaning of the word ‘satisfaction’. Children used words that were similar to their caregiver 14% of the time. Conclusion: The word “satisfaction” should not be used to communicate with children in the emergency department, as many lack understanding of the term. The vocabulary that children use to describe satisfaction does not largely vary with context and involves simpler words than their parents. Caregiver vocabulary should not be used as a surrogate for pediatric patients. This study will inform the development of a validated tool to measure children’s satisfaction with pain management.
P025: Optimizing practice for learning emergency department transthoracic echocardiography using an ultrasound simulator
Authors: Cho D.D. , Chenkin J.
Published: June 2016

Introduction: Emergency department (ED) transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) is an important application of emergency department bedside ultrasound. Given limited curricular hours and economic constraints, training using ultrasound simulators represents an attractive alternative to using live-human models. Despite increased uptake of ultrasound simulator technology, educators lack evidence informing how best to use this technology. Three educational paradigms will be explored in this study: self-guided theory (learners are able to determine when they have had “enough practice”), desirable difficulties (manipulating practice conditions to create more durable and flexible learning), and the challenge point framework (avoiding cognitive overload). The question we seek to answer is: in novice medical trainees, which practice condition leads to improved learning in a test of retention when assessing the ability to generate and interpret a parasternal long axis (PLAX) and apical four-chamber view (A4CH) of the heart? Methods: Ultrasound-novices will be recruited from rotators in the ED. Participants will be allocated to one of three groups based on a 2x2 orthogonal design: Group A (variable difficulty × self-determined practice); Group B (variable difficulty × fixed practice); Group C (static difficulty × fixed practice). A standardized didactic lecture will be presented to each participant. Practice conditions with respect to difficulty level (easy, medium, hard) and structure of practice (learner-determined or fixed practice) will vary according to assigned groups. All groups will receive standardized feedback. The ability to identify anatomy and pathology will be assessed. At the conclusion of practice, a post-practice skills assessment and survey will be administered. Two to three weeks later, participants will be retested using three case scenarios. Screenshots of the participant-determined “best image” and video of the performance will be taken to be evaluated by two blinded (to group allocation) reviewers. Results: We have currently enrolled 14 participants. We aim to complete enrollment by April 2016. Conclusion: We anticipate that our study will provide evidence to inform the best use of ultrasound simulators for teaching TTE in the ED. It will also provide insight into the ability of three educational theories to predict best learning using a novel educational intervention.
P031: Assessing differences between high- and low-performing resuscitation team leaders using gaze-tracking technology
Authors: Dashi G. , McGraw N. , Szulewski A. , Egan R. , Hall A. , Dagnone D. , Howes D.
Published: June 2016

Introduction: Crisis decision-making is an important responsibility of the resuscitation team leader but a difficult process to study. The purpose of this study was to evaluate visual and behavioural differences between team leaders with different objective performance scores using gaze-tracking technology. Methods: Twenty-eight emergency medicine residents in different stages of training completed four simulated resuscitation scenarios. Participants wore gaze-tracking glasses during each station. An outside expert blinded to participant training level assessed performances using a validated assessment tool for simulation scenarios. Several visual endpoints were measured, including time, frequency, order, and latency to observation of task-relevant and task-redundant items. Non-visual endpoints included behaviours such as summarizing, verbalizing concerns, and calling for definitive treatments, among others. Results: Preliminary findings suggest significant differences between high and low performers. High performers check vitals signs faster, and look at patients and vital signs more often than low performers. Low-performing leaders display a more fixed gaze when starting a scenario. Lastly, high performers summarize, verbalize concerns, predict and prepare for future steps, and call for definitive treatment more often than low performers. Conclusion: There are significant differences between high and low-performing resuscitation team leaders in terms of their visual and behavioural patterns. These differences identify potential focus points for competency evaluations, and may direct educational interventions that could facilitate more efficient development of expertise. The potential to study crisis decision-making behaviours and performances using the methods and metrics identified, both in simulated and real-world settings, is substantial.
P037: The impact of fever on corrected QT interval in a general emergency department population
Authors: Drew D. , Baranchuk A. , Brison R.J.
Published: June 2016

Introduction: Fever is one of the most common reasons for presentation to the emergency department (ED). Interestingly, a number of small studies suggest that fever may function as a modulator of the QT interval in healthy individuals and an arrhythmogenic trigger in patients with occult congenital QT abnormalities. The objective of this study was to explore whether presence of fever adversely affects the QT interval, and whether medications known to prolong this interval affect any association found. Methods: We performed a retrospective, single center study identifying patients (age > 18 years) presenting to the ED with fever (temperature > 38.0 °C) between January 1st, 2012 and December 31st, 2013 via electronic chart review. The subset for analysis were those who had an ECG both at time of fever and while afebrile (within 30 days of initial ECG). Temperature measurement was within 30 minutes of ECG. Actively paced patients were excluded. Univariate and multiple regression analysis were used to determine risk factors for QT derangement in patients with fever. Results: 2018 febrile visits occurred during the reviewed period, 181 of these patients went on to be included in the study. 54.1% of study subjects were female, and the average age was 68.9 years old. The etiology of fever was predominately infectious (69.6%), with community acquired pneumonia being the most frequent cause (24.3%). We found the median corrected QT interval to be significantly shorter in febrile as compared to afebrile patients [QTc = 388.7ms, (371.5-407.5) vs 406.7, (386.7-434.4); p < 0.001]. This difference was observed in both sexes. Males were found to be more likely to experience medication induced QTc prolongation [OR 5.35, 95% CI = 1.46 - 19.68; P < 0.05]. Two instances of Torsades de pointes were identified in our study, both occurring in males on QT prolonging medications. Conclusion: In an ED patient population, fever generally shortens the QT interval independent of sex. Prolongation of the QT interval during fever should thus increase clinical suspicion of congenital or acquired QT disorders. Additionally, males appear to be more susceptible to medication-induced derangements in the QT interval and may require more vigilant monitoring when treated with multiple QT prolonging medications.