Initiation of the ABCD3-I algorithm for expediated evaluation of transient ischemic attack patients in an emergency department.

BACKGROUND: The use of ABCD3-I score for Transient ischemic attack (TIA) evaluation has not been widely investigated in the ED. We aim to determine the performance and cost-effectiveness of an ABCD3-I based pathway for expedited evaluation of TIA patients in the ED. METHODS: We conducted a single-center, pre- and post-intervention study among ED patients with possible TIA. Accrual occurred for seven months before (Oct. 2016-April 2017) and after (Oct. 2017-April 2018) implementing the ABCD3-I algorithm with a five-month wash-in period (May-Sept. 2017). Total ED length of stay (LOS), admissions to the hospital, healthcare cost, and 90-day ED returns with subsequent stroke were analyzed and compared. RESULTS: Pre-implementation and post-implementation cohorts included 143 and 118 patients respectively. A total of 132 (92%) patients were admitted to the hospital in the pre-implementation cohort in comparison to 28 (24%) patients admitted in the post-implementation cohort (p < 0.001) with similar 90-day post-discharge stroke occurrence (2 in pre-implementation versus 1 in post-implementation groups, p > 0.05). The mean ABCD2 scores were 4.5 (1.4) in pre- and 4.1 (1.3) in post-implementation cohorts (p = 0.01). The mean ABCD3-I scores were 4.5 (1.8) in post-implementation cohorts. Total ED LOS was 310 min (201, 420) in pre- and 275 min (222, 342) in post-implementation cohorts (p > 0.05). Utilization of the ABCD3-I algorithm saved an average of over 40% of total healthcare cost per patient in the post-implementation cohort. CONCLUSIONS: The initiation of an ABCD3-I based pathway for TIA evaluation in the ED significantly decreased hospital admissions and cost with similar 90-day neurological outcomes.

Femur fractures should not be considered distracting injuries for cervical spine assessment.

INTRODUCTION: The National Emergency X-Radiography Utilization Study (NEXUS) clinical decision rule is extremely sensitive for clearance of cervical spine (C-spine) injury in blunt trauma patients with distracting injuries. OBJECTIVES: We sought to determine whether the NEXUS criteria would maintain sensitivity for blunt trauma patients when femur fractures were not considered a distracting injury and an absolute indication for diagnostic imaging. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed blunt trauma patients with at least 1 femur fracture who presented to our emergency department as trauma activations from 2009 to 2011 and underwent C-spine injury evaluation. Presence of C-spine injury requiring surgical intervention was evaluated. RESULTS: Of 566 trauma patients included, 77 (13.6%) were younger than 18 years. Cervical spine injury was diagnosed in 53 (9.4%) of 566. A total of 241 patients (42.6%) had positive NEXUS findings in addition to distracting injury; 51 (21.2%) of these had C-spine injuries. Of 325 patients (57.4%) with femur fractures who were otherwise NEXUS negative, only 2 (0.6%) had C-spine injuries (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.2%-2.2%); both were stable and required no operative intervention. Use of NEXUS criteria, excluding femur fracture as an indication for imaging, detected all significant injuries with a sensitivity for any C-spine injury of 96.2% (95% CI, 85.9%-99.3%) and negative predictive value of 99.4% (95% CI, 97.6%-99.9%). CONCLUSIONS: In our patient population, all significant C-spine injuries were identified by NEXUS criteria without considering the femur fracture a distracting injury and indication for computed tomographic imaging. Reconsidering femur fracture in this context may decrease radiation exposure and health care expenditure with little risk of missed diagnoses.

Standardized Reporting System Use During Handoffs Reduces Patient Length of Stay in the Emergency Department.

BACKGROUND: Emergency department (ED) shift handoffs are potential sources of delay in care. We aimed to determine the impact that using standardized reporting tool and process may have on throughput metrics for patients undergoing a transition of care at shift change. METHODS: We performed a prospective, pre- and post-intervention quality improvement study from September 1 to November 30, 2015. A handoff procedure intervention, including a mandatory workshop and personnel training on a standard reporting system template, was implemented. The primary endpoint was patient length of stay (LOS). A comparative analysis of differences between patient LOS and various handoff communication methods were assessed pre- and post-intervention. Communication methods were entered a multivariable logistic regression model independently as risk factors for patient LOS. RESULTS: The final analysis included 1,006 patients, with 327 comprising the pre-intervention and 679 comprising the post-intervention populations. Bedside rounding occurred 45% of the time without a standard reporting during pre-intervention and increased to 85% of the time with the use of a standard reporting system in the post-intervention period (P < 0.001). Provider time (provider-initiated care to patient care completed) in the pre-intervention period averaged 297 min, but decreased to 265 min in the post-intervention period (P < 0.001). After adjusting for other communication methods, the use of a standard reporting system during handoff was associated with shortened ED LOS (OR = 0.60, 95% CI 0.40 - 0.90, P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Standard reporting system use during emergency physician handoffs at shift change improves ED throughput efficiency and is associated with shorter ED LOS.