A low-fidelity simulation curriculum addresses needs identified by faculty and improves the comfort level of senior internal medicine resident physicians with inhospital resuscitation.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to describe the essential elements of in hospital resuscitation knowledge and skills for senior internal medicine resident physicians and to evaluate a low-fidelity simulation course that incorporates these elements. DESIGN: In part 1, attending physicians were electronically surveyed using a modified Dillman method. A broad list of knowledge skills sets was gathered from recent resuscitation guidelines. In part 2, a 2-day, low-fidelity simulation, case-based curriculum was designed based on the results of part 1. Course participants were surveyed 1 month before and 1 month after the course. SETTING: Four academic teaching hospitals. PARTICIPANTS: Attending physicians in cardiology, critical care, and internal medicine responded to the needs assessment survey. A convenience sample of internal medicine residents responded to the surveys before and after the course. MEASUREMENTS: Respondents ranked items on a 6-point Likert scale for all surveys. Responses were collated using descriptive statistics. This study met the requirements of the Research Ethics Board. MAIN RESULTS: In part 1, the response rate was 75% (n = 93), with the majority (52%) of respondents being internal medicine attending physicians. The top five knowledge sets were cardiac rhythm assessment, discussion of code status, delivery of bad news, management of wide complex tachycardia, and management of bradycardia. The top five skills were defibrillation, airway assessment, bag-mask ventilation, central venous access, and cardioversion. In part 2, the response rate was 93% (n = 27) before and 85% (n = 23) after course. Only 28% of residents felt prepared to lead resuscitations before the course. After the course, 45% of participants reporting using the knowledge and skills during a resuscitation. Significant changes in median confidence scores before to after the course occurred in important domains. CONCLUSIONS: The results of the needs assessment should be used to tailor resuscitation education for residents. An educational need exists for resident physicians. This low-fidelity simulation course improves self-reported confidence in resuscitation knowledge and skills.

How does fast track affect quality of care in the emergency department?

STUDY OBJECTIVES: Use of fast track has been shown to improve the emergency department flow of less urgent patients. It has been speculated, however, that this could negatively affect the care of urgent patients. The objective of this study was to determine whether a dedicated fast track for less urgent patients [Canadian Triage and Acuity scale category 4/5 (CTAS 4/5)] affected (1) the time to assessment for urgent patients (CTAS 3), (2) the length of stay for less urgent patients (CTAS 4 and 5), and (3) the left-without-being-seen rate. METHODS: In June 2003, fast track was opened in our emergency department from 13:00 to 19:00 h. A before-after intervention comparison analysis was completed for 1 week in Aug 2002 and the same week in Aug 2003. Data collected included (1) time to assessment of CTAS 3 patients, (2) the length of stay for CTAS 4/5 patients, and (3) percentage of patients who left without being seen. RESULTS: A total of 368 patients were reviewed for 2002 and 380 patients were reviewed for 2003. Median time to assessment of CTAS 3 patients presenting from 13:00 to 19:00 h was reduced from 66 min (Interquartile range: 40, 94 min) in 2002 to 60 min (IQR: 38, 108 min) after fast track was open in 2003 (P = 0.95). Median length of stay of CTAS 4 and 5 patients was reduced from 170 min (IQR: 111, 256 min) to 110 min (IQR: 69, 185 min) (P < 0.001). The overall left-without-being-seen rate decreased from 5% (20/368) to 2% (9/380). CONCLUSION: A dedicated fast track for CTAS 4/5 patients can reduce the length of stay and the left-without-being-seen rate with no impact on CTAS 3 patients seen in the main emergency department.

Discordant creatine kinase and cardiac troponin T in the workup of acute coronary syndrome.

A 55-year-old man presented to the emergency department (ED) following 2 episodes of typical cardiac chest pain and nonspecific electrocardiogram findings. His serial cardiac marker assays revealed an elevated total creatine kinase (CK) and 2 negative cardiac troponin levels. Because of a high clinical suspicion of acute coronary syndrome, a total creatine kinase MB mass was obtained and found to be elevated. Subsequent cardiac angiography demonstrated a significantly flow-limiting coronary artery lesion, and stenting was performed. This case demonstrates that simultaneous CK and troponin measurements may have utility in selected ED patients with chest pain. The interpretation of discordant CK and troponin levels is discussed.

The effect of triage-applied Ottawa Ankle Rules on the length of stay in a Canadian urgent care department: a randomized controlled trial.

OBJECTIVES: To determine whether triage nurses ordering ankle or foot radiographs according to the Ottawa Ankle Rules (OAR) before physician evaluation decreases the length of stay for patients visiting an urgent care department. METHODS: From July to September 2004, a randomized controlled trial of consecutive adult patients with ankle or foot twisting injuries who arrived at an urgent care department was conducted. Patients were included if their age was 18 years or older and their injury had occurred within seven days. They were excluded if there were neurovascular deficits, limb deformities, open fractures, or nonisolated ankle or foot injuries. Patients were randomly allocated to a roentgenogram-ordering clinical pathway (intervention) or to standard departmental care (control). Those assigned to the intervention group had triage nurses applying the OAR, and those with positive OAR were sent for roentgenograms before physician evaluation. Physicians were blinded to negative OAR nurse assessments. Investigators were blinded to group allocation. The primary outcome was the total mean length of stay (TLOS). The secondary outcomes were patient satisfaction (five-point ordinal scale) and the proportion willing to return to the site for future care. Two-independent sample t-test was used to analyze the TLOS. The Kruskal-Wallis test was used to analyze satisfaction ratings differences between groups. Fisher's exact test was used to analyze the willing-to-return outcome. This study had 80% power to detect an effect size of 25 minutes. RESULTS: Two hundred thirty-two patients were eligible; 130 patients gave consent and were enrolled. Three patients were then excluded, three were lost to follow-up, and one left without being seen. The intervention and control groups had mean TLOS of 73.0 minutes and 79.7 minutes, respectively. There was a statistically nonsignificant time difference of -6.7 minutes (95% CI = -20.9 to 7.4) between groups. There were no differences in patient satisfaction ratings (p-value = 0.343) or WOR (3.8%; 95% CI = -3.3% to 11.0%). CONCLUSIONS: The use of OAR and the ordering of roentgenograms by triage nurses before physician evaluation for twisting ankle or foot injuries does not decrease the length of stay in an urgent care department.

Predictive validity of the triage risk screening tool for elderly patients in a Canadian emergency department.

PURPOSE: We sought to externally evaluate the predictive validity of the Triage Risk Screening Tool (TRST) for elderly patients in a Canadian setting. METHODS: A prospective, observational cohort study of a convenience sample of patients more than 64 years old was assessed using the TRST before discharge. The composite outcome of any emergency department (ED) revisit, hospital admission, or long-term care placement at 30 and 120 days was measured. Likelihood ratios (LRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated. MAIN FINDINGS: Of 218 patients screened, 120 patients were enrolled. At 30 and 120 days, the positive LRs were 1.4 (95% CI, 0.9-2.0) and 1.4 (95% CI, 1.0-1.9), respectively. The negative LRs were 0.7 (95% CI, 0.4-1.3) and 0.7 (95% CI, 0.4-1.0), respectively. CONCLUSION: The TRST cannot be used as a single diagnostic test to predict whether Canadian ED elders will have an ED revisit, hospital admission, or long-term care placement at 30 or 120 days.