Impact of a Multidisciplinary Treatment Pathway for Atrial Fibrillation in the Emergency Department on Hospital Admissions and Length of Stay: Results of a Multi-Center Study.

Background Variability in the management of atrial fibrillation (AF) in the emergency department (ED) leads to avoidable hospital admissions and prolonged length of stay (LOS). In a retrospective single-center study, a multidisciplinary AF treatment pathway was associated with a reduced hospital admission rate and reduced LOS. To assess the applicability of the AF pathway across institutions, we conducted a 2-center study. Methods and Results We performed a prospective, 2-stage study at 2 tertiary care hospitals. During the first stage, AF patients in the ED received routine care. During the second stage, AF patients received care according to the AF pathway. The primary study outcome was hospital admission rate. Secondary outcomes included ED LOS and inpatient LOS. We enrolled 104 consecutive patients in each stage. Patients treated using the AF pathway were admitted to the hospital less frequently than patients who received routine care (15% versus 55%; P<0.001). For admitted patients, average hospital LOS was shorter in the AF pathway cohort than in the routine care cohort (64 versus 105 hours, respectively; P=0.01). There was no significant difference in the average ED LOS between AF pathway and routine care cohorts (14 versus 12 hours, respectively; P=0.32). Conclusions In this prospective 2-stage, 2-center study, utilization of a multidisciplinary AF treatment pathway resulted in a 3.7-fold reduction in admission rate and a 1.6-fold reduction in average hospital LOS for admitted patients. Utilization of the AF pathway was not associated with a significant change in ED LOS.

Multicenter Implementation of a Novel Management Protocol Increases the Outpatient Treatment of Pulmonary Embolism and Deep Vein Thrombosis.

OBJECTIVE: The objective was to determine whether a protocol combining risk stratification, treatment with the direct-acting oral anticoagulant rivaroxaban, and defined follow-up is associated with a greater proportion of patients with venous thromboembolism (VTE) treated as outpatients, without hospital admission. METHODS: We performed a multicenter study of patients diagnosed with VTE (pulmonary embolism [PE] or deep vein thrombosis [DVT]) in two urban EDs, 18 months before and 18 months after implementation of an outpatient VTE treatment protocol. Patients with radiographically confirmed acute VTE were eligible. Our primary outcome was the proportion of VTE patients discharged from the ED or observation unit (i.e., without hospital admission). We performed subgroup analyses according to hospital, DVT and PE, and low-risk PE. We also assessed 7- and 30-day mortality, major bleeding, and returns to the ED. We compared proportions using chi-square and Fisher's exact tests. RESULTS: We enrolled 2,212 patients, 1,081 (49%) before protocol and 1,131 (51%) after protocol. Mean age (59 years vs. 60 years), female sex (49% vs. 49%), other demographics, comorbid illness, and PE risk stratification were similar before and after. After protocol, more VTE (35% from 26%, p < 0.001), PE (18% from 12%, p = 0.002), low-risk PE (28% from 18%, p < 0.001), and DVT (60% from 49%, p = 0.002) patients were treated as outpatients. Mortality, bleeding, and returns to ED were rare and did not increase after protocol. CONCLUSIONS: A treatment protocol combining risk-stratification, rivaroxaban treatment and defined follow-up is associated with an increase in PE and DVT patients treated as outpatients, with no increase in adverse outcomes.

Association between rivaroxaban use and length of hospital stay, treatment costs and early outcomes in patients with pulmonary embolism: a systematic review of real-world studies.

BACKGROUND: In the EINSTEIN-Pulmonary Embolism (PE) trial, subjects randomized to rivaroxaban versus enoxaparin bridging to vitamin K antagonist (VKA) therapy experienced a reduced index hospital length of stay (LOS). We sought to conduct a systematic review of real-world studies comparing LOS, costs and early outcomes among patients treated with rivaroxaban or parenterally bridged VKA in routine practice. METHODS: We searched Medline and Scopus from 1 January 2011 to 30 November 2016 to identify observational studies comparing acute PE patients anticoagulated with rivaroxaban or parenterally bridged VKA and reporting data on index hospital LOS, costs and/or early post-PE outcomes. Studies not using appropriate methods for minimizing confounding bias or not published in English were excluded. RESULTS: Five studies met inclusion criteria. Rivaroxaban use was associated with decreased index hospital LOS (range: 1.36-1.70 days) and treatment costs (range: $1818-$2688) during an index stay compared to parenterally bridged warfarin. No differences in early readmission for recurrent thrombosis were noted between anticoagulation strategies. Readmission for major bleeding was rare in both cohorts. Similar reductions in LOS (range: 0.23-4.3 days) and costs (range: $251-$7094) were observed with rivaroxaban in studies restricted to patients deemed low risk for early complications by clinical gestalt or by a clinical- or claims-based risk stratification tool. CONCLUSIONS: Regardless of patient predicted risk of post-PE complications, real-world studies suggest that rivaroxaban is associated with a reduced hospital LOS and costs versus parenterally bridged warfarin, without increasing readmission.

Shortened hospital length of stay and lower costs associated with rivaroxaban in patients with pulmonary embolism managed as observation status.

BACKGROUND: Unlike rivaroxaban, treatment of patients with pulmonary embolism (PE) with warfarin requires parenteral bridging and coagulation monitoring that may prolong length-of-stay (LOS) and increase hospital costs. AIMS: The aim of this study was to compare LOS, hospital costs and readmissions in PE patients managed through observation stays treated with rivaroxaban or parenterally bridged warfarin. METHODS: Premier Hospital claims data from November 2012 to March 2015 were used to identify patients with a primary diagnosis code for PE managed through an observation stay and with ≥1 claim for a PE-related diagnostic test on day 0-2. Rivaroxaban users, allowing ≤2 days of prior parenteral therapy, were 1:1 propensity-score matched to patients receiving parenterally bridged warfarin. LOS, the proportion of encounters lasting >2 midnights, total hospital costs of the index visit and risk of readmission for venous thromboembolism (VTE) or major bleeding during the same month or 2 months subsequent to the index event were compared between matched cohorts using multivariable regression. RESULTS: A total of 312 rivaroxaban users were matched to 312 patients receiving parenterally bridged warfarin. Rivaroxaban was associated with an average of 0.27-day shorter LOS, a 52% decreased odds of an encounter lasting >2 midnights and a $403 mean reduction in costs vs parenterally bridged warfarin (P≤.002 for all). The readmission rate for VTE during the same or subsequent 2 months following the index PE was similar between cohorts (P=.75). No patient in either cohort was readmitted for major bleeding. CONCLUSION: Rivaroxaban was associated with shortened LOS and lowered cost vs parenterally bridged warfarin in PE observation stay patients, without increases in the short-term rate of complications or readmission.

Emergency Department Management of Patients With Febrile Neutropenia: Guideline Concordant or Overly Aggressive?

OBJECTIVES: The Infectious Diseases Society of America and the American Society of Clinical Oncology recommend risk stratification of patients with febrile neutropenia (FN) and discharge with oral antibiotics for low-risk patients. We studied guideline concordance and clinical outcomes of FN management in our emergency department (ED). METHODS: Our urban, tertiary care teaching hospital provides all emergency and inpatient services to a large comprehensive cancer center. We performed a structured chart review of all FN patients seen in our ED from January 2010 to December 2014. Using electronic medical records, we identified all visits by patients with fever and an absolute neutrophil count of <1000 cells/mm3 and then included only patients without a clear source of infection. Following national guidelines, we classified patients as low or high risk and assessed guideline concordance in disposition and parenteral versus oral antibiotic therapy by risk category as our main outcome measure. RESULTS: Of 173 qualifying visits, we classified 44 (25%) as low risk and 129 (75%) as high risk. Management was guideline concordant in 121 (70%, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 63% to 77%). Management was guideline discordant in 43 (98%, 95% CI = 88% to 100%) of low-risk patients versus 9 (7%, 95% CI = 3% to 13%) of high-risk patients (relative risk [RR] = 14, 95% CI = 7.5 to 26). Of 52 guideline-discordant cases, 36 (83%, 95% CI = 72% to 93%) involved low-risk cases with treatment that was more aggressive than recommended. CONCLUSIONS: Guideline concordance was low among low-risk patients, with management tending to be more aggressive than recommended. Unless data emerge that undermine the guidelines, we believe that many of these hospitalizations and parenteral antibiotic regimens can be avoided, decreasing the risks associated with hospitalization, while improving antibiotic stewardship and patient comfort.

Healthcare costs associated with rivaroxaban or warfarin use for the treatment of venous thromboembolism.

INTRODUCTION: Rivaroxaban has been shown to have similar efficacy but less major bleeding than warfarin in randomized trials of patients experiencing venous thromboembolism (VTE). This report sought to assess healthcare costs up to 12-months following an index VTE in patients prescribed either rivaroxaban or warfarin. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study analyzed claims from the MarketScan Commercial Claims and Encounters Database from November 2011-July 2015. It selected adults newly-diagnosed with VTE (deep vein thrombosis [DVT] or pulmonary embolism [PE]) if they had an outpatient prescription claim for rivaroxaban or warfarin within 7-days of the index event. Warfarin users were 2:1 propensity-score matched to rivaroxaban users and followed until the end of insurance coverage, end of data availability or 12-months of follow-up. Total per patient healthcare costs, including inpatient, outpatient, and overall pharmacy costs, were compared using a multivariable generalized linear model. RESULTS: In total, 10,929 rivaroxaban patients were matched to 21,858 warfarin patients. Mean follow-up for rivaroxaban and warfarin patients was 317- and 321-days for those experiencing an index DVT, and 313- and 318-days for those with PE. Mean overall treatment costs per patient were lower for rivaroxaban vs warfarin users (-$1,116, p = .0016). This cost difference was driven by lower inpatient (-$622) and outpatient (-$1,156) treatment costs, and the higher pharmacy costs ($661) were, therefore, fully offset. Results were similar when analysis was restricted to DVT patients. No significant difference in total costs was observed in patients experiencing an index PE. LIMITATIONS: Claims databases are subject to inaccuracies and missing data. Prescription claims may not fully reflect actual medication utilization. Despite propensity-score matching and regression, residual confounding cannot be excluded. CONCLUSIONS: Rivaroxaban was associated with significantly lower total per patient VTE treatment costs, despite higher pharmacy costs. These savings are the result of decreased inpatient and outpatient healthcare utilization costs associated with rivaroxaban.

Critical pathways for post-emergency outpatient diagnosis and treatment: tools to improve the value of emergency care.

The decision to admit a patient to the hospital after an emergency department (ED) visit is expensive, frequently not evidence-based, and variable. Outpatient critical pathways are a promising approach to reduce hospital admission after emergency care. Critical pathways exist to risk stratify patients for potentially serious diagnoses (e.g., acute myocardial infarction [AMI]) or evaluate response to therapy (e.g., community-acquired pneumonia) within a short time period (i.e., less than 36 hours), to determine if further hospital-based acute care is needed. Yet, such pathways are variably used while many patients are admitted for conditions for which they could be treated as outpatients. In this article, the authors propose a model of post-ED critical pathways, describe their role in emergency care, list common diagnoses that are amenable to critical pathways in the outpatient setting, and propose a research agenda to address barriers and solutions to increase the use of outpatient critical pathways. If emergency providers are to routinely conduct rapid evaluations in outpatient or observation settings, they must have several conditions at their disposal: 1) evidence-based tools to accurately risk stratify patients for protocolized care, 2) systems of care that reliably facilitate workup in the outpatient setting, and 3) a medical environment conducive to noninpatient pathways, with aligned risks and incentives among patients, providers, and payers. Increased use of critical pathways after emergency care is a potential way to improve the value of emergency care.