Addressing financial toxicity in cancer treatment-An opportunity for the 340B drug pricing program.

Cancer treatment has become increasingly expensive, partially due to the use of specialty drugs. The costs of these drugs are often passed down to patients, who may face the consequences of paying for more than they can afford, leading to financial toxicity. The 340B drug pricing program is a health care policy that may provide an opportunity to mitigate the financial consequences of cancer care. The 340B program requires manufacturers to sell outpatient drugs at a discount to hospitals caring for a significant number of socioeconomically disadvantaged individuals. The program intended for hospitals to use savings from discounted purchases to expand their safety net to vulnerable patients. Some studies have shown that participating hospitals do this by offering more charity and discounted care, whereas others have demonstrated that hospitals fail to sufficiently expand their safety net. A potential flaw of the program is the lack of guidance from governing bodies on how hospitals should use savings from discounted purchases. There has been growing discussion among stakeholders to reform the 340B program given the mixed findings of its effectiveness. With the rising costs of specialty drugs and associated prevalence of financial toxicity in patients with cancer, there is an opportunity to address these issues through reform that improves the program. Directing hospitals to offer specific safety net opportunities, such as passing along discounted drug prices to vulnerable populations, could help the growing number of patients who are financially burdened by medications at the core of the 340B program.

The effect of mailed outreach on FIT completion among patients aged 45-50 in a safety net healthcare system.

PURPOSE: Colorectal cancer screening is recommended starting at age 45, but there has been little research on strategies to promote screening in patients younger than 50. METHODS: An outreach program quasi-randomly assigned patients aged 45-50 without recent fecal immunochemical test (FIT), colonoscopy or contraindications to screening to two intervention arms: electronic outreach with email and text (electronic outreach only) versus electronic outreach plus mailed outreach with FIT, an instructional letter and a prepaid return envelope (mailed + electronic outreach). In response to known disparities in screening uptake, all Black patients were assigned to receive mailed + electronic outreach. RESULTS: Among patients quasi-randomly assigned to an intervention (non-Black patients), the 180-day FIT completion rate was 18.8% in the electronic outreach only group (n = 1,318) and 25.0% in the mailed + electronic outreach group (n = 1,364) (difference 6.2% [95% CI 3.0, 9.4]). FIT completion was 16.6% among Black patients (n = 469), 8.4% (95% CI 4.1, 12.6) lower than among non-Black patients also assigned to mailed + electronic outreach. CONCLUSION: Among patients aged 45-50, mailed + electronic outreach had a greater effect on FIT completion than electronic outreach alone. Crossover between intervention groups likely lead to an underestimation of the effect of mailed outreach.

Defining the Need for Services for Patients at High Risk of Breast Cancer at a Safety-Net Hospital: An Approach to Narrowing the Disparities Gap.

BACKGROUND: The National Accreditation Program for Breast Cancer (NAPBC) standards were recently revised to promote breast cancer (BC) risk assessment and subsequent referral for high-risk services. This project sought to estimate the proportion of patients at high risk for BC in the authors' safety-net hospital system, gauge patient interest in high-risk services, and define resources for program development. METHODS: Women presenting for breast imaging during 2 weeks in 2023 were surveyed. Thirty-five patients with a history or diagnosis of BC were excluded. The Tyrer-Cuzick (TC) model version 8 was used to calculate BC risk. High/intermediate risk was defined as a 10-year risk of 5% or more, a lifetime risk of 15% or more, or both. The criteria for genetic counseling and testing referral were based on National Comprehensive Cancer Network guidelines. RESULTS: A total of 257 patients had a TC risk assessment showing 14.8% (n = 38) with a 10-year BC risk of 5% or more (consideration of endocrine therapy), 6.2% (n = 16) with a lifetime BC risk of 20% or more (qualifying for annual screening MRI), and 10.5% (n = 27) with a lifetime BC risk of 15% or more (consideration of high-risk screening). The criteria for genetic counseling/testing were met by 61 (23.7%) of the 257 patients. Overall, 31.5% (n = 81) qualified for high/intermediate-risk screening, risk reduction, and/or genetic assessment/testing, 92.8% of whom were interested in referrals for additional information and care. CONCLUSIONS: In the authors' community, almost one third of patients undergoing breast imaging qualify for BC high-risk assessment and services. The majority of the patients expressed interest in pursuing such services. These data will be used in financial planning and resource allocation to develop a high-risk program at the authors' institution in line with NAPBC guidelines. They are hopeful that these efforts will improve oncologic outcomes and survival from BC in their community.

Association of Race, Ethnicity, Language, and Insurance with Time to Treatment Initiation Among Women with Breast Cancer at an Urban, Academic, Safety-Net Hospital.

INTRODUCTION: Initial treatment for nonmetastatic breast cancer is resection or neoadjuvant systemic therapy, depending on tumor biology and patient factors. Delays in treatment have been shown to impact survival and quality of life. Little has been published on the performance of safety-net hospitals in delivering timely care for all patients. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective study of patients with invasive ductal or lobular breast cancer, diagnosed and treated between 2009 and 2019 at an academic, safety-net hospital. Time to treatment initiation was calculated for all patients. Consistent with a recently published Committee on Cancer timeliness metric, a treatment delay was defined as time from tissue diagnosis to treatment of greater than 60 days. RESULTS: A total of 799 eligible women with stage 1-3 breast cancer met study criteria. Median age was 60 years, 55.7% were non-white, 35.5% were non-English-speaking, 18.9% were Hispanic, and 49.4% were Medicaid/uninsured. Median time to treatment was 41 days (IQR 27-56 days), while 81.1% of patients initiated treatment within 60 days. The frequency of treatment delays did not vary by race, ethnicity, insurance, or language. Diagnosis year was inversely associated with the occurrence of a treatment delay (OR: 0.944, 95% CI 0.893-0.997, p value: 0.039). CONCLUSION: At our institution, race, ethnicity, insurance, and language were not associated with treatment delay. Additional research is needed to determine how our safety-net hospital delivered timely care to all patients with breast cancer, as reducing delays in care may be one mechanism by which health systems can mitigate disparities in the treatment of breast cancer.

Association of race and ethnicity with initial surgical hemodialysis access type in a safety net system.

OBJECTIVES: Prior studies have found lower arteriovenous fistula (AVF) creation rates in Black and Hispanic patients. Whether this is due to health care disparities or other differences is unclear. Our objective was to evaluate the racial/ethnic differences in initial surgical access type within a high-volume, safety net system with predominantly Black and Hispanic populations. METHODS: A retrospective review of initial hemodialysis (HD) access in consecutive cases between 2014 and 2019 was conducted from all five safety net hospitals in a health care system that primarily treats underserved patients. Patient data collected included race, ethnicity, sex, comorbidities, and initial arteriovenous (AV) access type (AV fistula [AVF] vs AV graft [AVG]). The rates of cephalic vein-based AVF (CAVF; radiocephalic, brachiocephalic) were compared with basilic and brachial vein AVF (BAVF), because the latter are performed as two stages. Bivariate and multivariate logistic regression models were adjusted for demographic and clinical variables to evaluate the relationship between race/ethnicity, surgical access type, and comorbid conditions. RESULTS: We included 1334 patients (74% Hispanic, 9% Black, 7% Asian, 2% White, 8% other) who underwent first-time surgical HD access creation. The majority were male (818 [63%]). Medical comorbidities were equal among groups, except for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and stroke, which were higher in Black patients (P < .005 and P = .005, respectively). Overall, 1303 patients (98%) underwent AVF creation and 31 AVG creation (2%), with no difference between race/ethnicity in AVF vs AVG creation. Of the AVF cohort, 991 (76%) had a CAVF and 312 (24%) had a BAVF. Males were more likely than females to get a CAVF (65% vs 35%; P = .002). CONCLUSIONS: Within our safety net health system, where most patients are under-represented minorities, nearly all patients undergoing HD access had an AVF as their initial surgery with no difference in race/ethnicity. AVF type received differed by race, with Black patients twice as likely to undergo BAVF, which required two stages. Further studies are needed to identify the reasons for these differences.

Factors Associated with Smoking Cessation and the Receipt of Cessation Services in a Public, Safety-Net Primary Care System.

BACKGROUND: Prevalence of smoking is high among patients receiving care in safety-net settings, and there is a need to better understand patient factors associated with smoking cessation and receipt of cessation services. OBJECTIVE: To identify patient factors associated with smoking cessation attempts and receipt of cessation counseling and pharmacotherapy in a large safety-net health system. DESIGN: We conducted a retrospective cohort analysis using EHR data in a safety-net system in San Francisco, CA. PARTICIPANTS: We included 7384 adult current smokers who had at least three unique primary care encounters with documented smoking status between August 2019 and April 2022. MAIN MEASURES: We assessed four outcomes using multivariate generalized estimating equation models: (1) any cessation attempt, indicating a transition in smoking status from "current smoker" to "former smoker"; (2) sustained cessation, defined as transition in smoking status from current smoker to former smokers for two or more consecutive visits; (3) receipt of smoking cessation counseling from healthcare providers; and (4) receipt of pharmacotherapy. KEY RESULTS: Of 7384 current adult smokers, 17.6% had made any cessation attempt, and of those 66.5% had sustained cessation. Most patients (81.1%) received counseling and 41.8% received pharmacotherapy. Factors associated with lower odds of any cessation attempt included being aged 45-64, non-Hispanic black, and experiencing homelessness. The factor associated with lower odds of sustained cessation was being male. Factors associated with lower odds of receiving counseling were being insured by Medicaid or being uninsured. Factors associated with lower odds of receiving pharmacotherapy included speaking languages other than English, being male, and identifying as racial and ethnic minorities. CONCLUSIONS: Health system interventions could close the gap in access to smoking cessation services for unhoused and racial/ethnic minority patients in safety-net settings, thereby increasing cessation among these populations.

Disparities in Care for Low-Income Patients with Cirrhosis: Implementing an Innovative Outpatient Clinic for Refractory Ascites in a Safety Net Hospital.

BACKGROUND: Disparities in life-saving interventions for low-income patients with cirrhosis necessitate innovative models of care. AIM: To implement a novel generalist-led FLuid ASPiration (FLASP) clinic to reduce emergency department (ED) care for refractory ascites. SETTING: A large safety net hospital in Los Angeles. PARTICIPANTS: MediCal patients with paracentesis in the ED from 6/1/2020 to 1/31/2021 or in FLASP clinic or the ED from 3/1/2021 to 4/30/2022. PROGRAM DESCRIPTION: According to RE-AIM, adoption obtained administrative endorsement and oriented ED staff. Reach engaged ED staff and eligible patients with timely access to FLASP. Implementation trained FLASP clinicians in safer, guideline-based paracentesis, facilitated timely access, and offered patient education and support. PROGRAM EVALUATION: After FLASP clinic opened, significantly fewer ED visits were made by patients discharged after paracentesis [rate ratio (RR) of 0.33 (95% CI 0.28, 0.40, p < 0.0001)] but not if subsequently hospitalized (RR = 0.88, 95% CI 0.70, 1.11). Among 2685 paracenteses in 225 FLASP patients, complications were infrequent: 39 (1.5%) spontaneous bacterial peritonitis, 265 (9.9%) acute kidney injury, and 2 (< 0.001%) hypotension. FLASP patients rated satisfaction highly on a Likert-type question. DISCUSSION: Patients with refractory ascites in large safety net hospitals may benefit from an outpatient procedure clinic instead of ED care.

Assessing the Impact of the 340B Drug Pricing Program: A Scoping Review of the Empirical, Peer-Reviewed Literature.

Policy Points The 340B Drug Pricing Program accounts for roughly 1 out of every 100 dollars spent in the $4.3 trillion US health care industry. Decisions affecting the program will have wide-ranging consequences throughout the US safety net. Our scoping review provides a roadmap of the questions being asked about the 340B program and an initial synthesis of the answers. The highest-quality evidence indicates that nonprofit, disproportionate share hospitals may be using the 340B program in margin-motivated ways, with inconsistent evidence for increased safety net engagement; however, this finding is not consistent across other hospital types and public health clinics, which face different incentive structures and reporting requirements. CONTEXT: Despite remarkable growth and relevance of the 340B Drug Pricing Program to current health care practice and policy debate, academic literature examining 340B has lagged. The objectives of this scoping review were to summarize i) common research questions published about 340B, ii) what is empirically known about 340B and its implications, and iii) remaining knowledge gaps, all organized in a way that is informative to practitioners, researchers, and decision makers. METHODS: We conducted a scoping review of the peer-reviewed, empirical 340B literature (database inception to March 2023). We categorized studies by suitability of their design for internal validity, type of covered entity studied, and motivation-by-scope category. FINDINGS: The final yield included 44 peer-reviewed, empirical studies published between 2003 and 2023. We identified 15 frequently asked research questions in the literature, across 6 categories of inquiry-motivation (margin or mission) and scope (external, covered entity, and care delivery interface). Literature with greatest internal validity leaned toward evidence of margin-motivated behavior at the external environment and covered entity levels, with inconsistent findings supporting mission-motivated behavior at these levels; this was particularly the case among participating disproportionate share hospitals (DSHs). However, included case studies were unanimous in demonstrating positive effects of the 340B program for carrying out a provider's safety net mission. CONCLUSIONS: In our scoping review of the 340B program, the highest-quality evidence indicates nonprofit, DSHs may be using the 340B program in margin-motivated ways, with inconsistent evidence for increased safety net engagement; however, this finding is not consistent across other hospital types and public health clinics, which face different incentive structures and reporting requirements. Future studies should examine heterogeneity by covered entity types (i.e., hospitals vs. public health clinics), characteristics, and time period of 340B enrollment. Our findings provide additional context to current health policy discussion regarding the 340B program.

Percutaneous mechanical thrombectomy in acute pulmonary embolism: Outcomes from a safety-net hospital.

BACKGROUND: Our study aims to present clinical outcomes of mechanical thrombectomy (MT) in a safety-net hospital. METHODS: This is a retrospective study of intermediate or high-risk pulmonary embolism (PE) patients who underwent MT between October 2020 and May 2023. The primary outcome was 30-day mortality. RESULTS: Among 61 patients (mean age 57.6 years, 47% women, 57% Black) analyzed, 12 (19.7%) were classified as high-risk PE, and 49 (80.3%) were intermediate-risk PE. Of these patients, 62.3% had Medicaid or were uninsured, 50.8% lived in a high poverty zip code. The prevalence of normotensive shock in intermediate-risk PE patients was 62%. Immediate hemodynamic improvements included 7.4 mmHg mean drop in mean pulmonary artery pressure (-21.7%, p < 0.001) and 93% had normalization of their cardiac index postprocedure. Thirty-day mortality for the entire cohort was 5% (3 patients) and 0% when restricted to the intermediate-risk group. All 3 patients who died at 30 days presented with cardiac arrest. There were no differences in short-term mortality based on race, insurance type, citizenship status, or socioeconomic status. All-cause mortality at most recent follow up was 13.1% (mean follow up time of 13.4 ± 8.5 months). CONCLUSION: We extend the findings from prior studies that MT demonstrates a favorable safety profile with immediate improvement in hemodynamics and a low 30-day mortality in patients with acute PE, holding true even with relatively higher risk and more vulnerable population within a safety-net hospital.

Risk Factors for Suboptimal Colon Cancer Diagnosis and Management at a Safety-Net Hospital System.

INTRODUCTION: Colon cancer (CC) is the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the United States. Quality measures have been introduced by the American Gastroenterological Association and Commission on Cancer for optimal management of CC. In this study, we sought to identify factors that may hinder the timely diagnosis and treatment of CC at a safety-net hospital system. METHODS: Retrospective chart review was performed for patients aged ≥18 y diagnosed with CC from 2018 to 2021. Primary outcomes were time from positive fecal immunochemical test to colonoscopy, time from diagnosis to surgery, and time from diagnosis to adjuvant chemotherapy. Secondary end points were demographic characteristics associated with suboptimal outcomes in any of the above measures. RESULTS: One hundred ninety patients were diagnosed with nonmetastatic CC. The majority were Hispanic and non-English-speaking. 74.1% of patients with a positive fecal immunochemical test received a colonoscopy within 180 d. 59.6% of nonemergent cases received surgery within 60 d of diagnosis. 77% of those eligible received adjuvant chemotherapy within 120 d of diagnosis. No clinically significant demographic factor was associated with delay in colonoscopy, surgery, or adjuvant chemotherapy. Most frequent cause of delay in surgery (38.0%) was optimization of comorbidities. Most frequent cause of delay in adjuvant chemotherapy (71.4%) was delay in surgery itself. CONCLUSIONS: No clinically significant demographic factor was associated with experiencing delays in diagnostic colonoscopy, surgery, or adjuvant chemotherapy.

Safety-Net Hospital Status Is Associated With Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting Outcomes at an Urban Academic Medical Center.

INTRODUCTION: Socioeconomic disparities impact outcomes after cardiac surgery. At our institution, cardiac surgery cases from the safety-net, county funded hospital (CH), which primarily provides care for underserved patients, are performed at the affiliated university hospital. We aimed to investigate the association of socioeconomic factors and CH referral status with outcomes after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). METHODS: The institutional Adult Cardiac Surgery database was queried for perioperative and demographic data from patients who underwent isolated CABG between January 2014 and June 2020. The primary outcome was major adverse cardiovascular event (MACE), a composite of postoperative myocardial infarction, stroke, or death. Secondary outcomes included individual complications. Chi-square, Wilcoxon rank-sum, and logistic regression analyses were used to compare differences between CH and non-CH cohorts. RESULTS: We included 836 patients with 472 (56.5%) from CH. Compared to the non-CH cohort, CH patients were younger, more likely to be Hispanic, non-English speaking, and be completely uninsured or require state-specific financial assistance. CH patients were more likely to have a history of tobacco and drug use, liver disease, diabetes, prior myocardial infarction, and greater degrees of left main coronary and left anterior descending artery stenosis. CH cases were less likely to be elective. The incidence of MACE was significantly higher in the CH cohort (16.3% versus 8.2%, P = 0.001). There were no significant differences in 30-d mortality, home discharge, prolonged mechanical ventilation, bleeding, sepsis, pneumonia, new dialysis requirement, cardiac arrest, or multiorgan system failure between cohorts. CH patients were more likely to develop renal failure and less likely to develop atrial fibrillation. On multivariable analysis, CH status (odds ratio 2.39, 95% confidence interval 1.25-4.55, P = 0.008) was independently associated with MACE. CONCLUSIONS: CH patients undergoing CABG presented with greater comorbidity burden, more frequently required nonelective surgery, and are at significantly higher risk of postoperative MACE.

Assessing breast cancer-related lymphedema screening and treatment gaps in a safety-net hospital.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: We evaluated the unmet breast cancer-related lymphedema (BCRL) treatment and education needs at New England's largest safety-net hospital serving a diverse population by assessing prevalence, risk factors, and treatment. METHODS: This was a retrospective cohort study examining breast cancer surgery patients from September 2016 to September 2021. The primary outcome was BCRL diagnosis. Secondary outcomes included BCRL risk factors, and physical and occupational therapy (PT/OT) referral frequency and completion. RESULTS: Of 639 patients, 17% of patients had documented BCRL, which was significantly associated with axillary lymph node dissection (ALND). There were no racial, insurance, breast radiation, or BMI category differences between patients with and without a BCRL diagnosis. Of those with BCRL, 58% received a PT/OT referral, and 56% completed their referral. There were no racial, insurance, or BMI category differences between those who received a PT/OT referral and those who did not. CONCLUSION: In our high-risk population, rates of documented BCRL were higher than expected, approaching rates of ALND, despite the majority undergoing sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB). PT/OT referral and completion rates were low, concerning for an unmet BCRL treatment and education need. No disparities in care delivery were seen, but a program that addresses treatment gaps and ensures accessible and patient-centered BCRL care is urgently needed.

Impact of safety-net hospital burden on achievement of textbook oncologic outcomes following resection in for stage I-IV colorectal cancer.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Textbook oncologic outcome (TOO) is a benchmark for high-quality surgical cancer care but has not been studied at safety-net hospitals (SNH). The study sought to understand how SNH burden affects TOO achievement in colorectal cancer. METHODS: The National Cancer Database was queried for colorectal cancer patients who underwent resection for stage I-III plus stage IV with liver-only metastases (2010-2019). TOO was defined as R0 resection, AJCC-compliant lymphadenectomy (>12 nodes), no prolonged LOS, no 30-day mortality/readmission, and receipt of stage-appropriate adjuvant chemotherapy. RESULTS: Of 487,195 patients, 66.7% achieved TOO. Lower achievement was explained by adequate lymphadenectomy (87.3%), non-prolonged LOS (76.3%), and receipt of adjuvant chemotherapy in stage III (60.3%) and IV (54.1%). Treatment at high burden hospitals (HBH, >10% Medicaid/uninsured) was a predictor of non-TOO (Stage I/II: OR 0.83, III: OR 0.86, IV: OR 0.83; all p < 0.001). Achieving TOO was associated with decreased mortality (Stage I/II: HR 0.49, III: HR 0.48, IV: HR 0.57; all p < 0.001), and HBH treatment was a predictor of mortality (Stage I/II: HR 1.09, III: HR 1.05, IV: HR 1.07; all p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Treatment at higher SNH burden hospitals was associated with less frequent TOO achievement and increased mortality. Quality improvement targets include receipt of adjuvant chemotherapy and avoidance of prolonged LOS.

Small Independent Primary Care Practices Serving Socially Vulnerable Urban Populations.

PURPOSE: This mixed methods study sought to describe the extent to which family physicians in urban communities serve socially vulnerable patients and to better understand their practices, their challenges, and the structural supports that could facilitate their patient care. METHODS: We conducted a quantitative analysis of questionnaire data from 100% of US physicians recertifying for family medicine from 2017 to 2020. We conducted qualitative analysis of in-depth interviews with 22 physician owners of urban, small, independent practices who reported that the majority of their patients were socially vulnerable. RESULTS: In 2020, in urban areas across the United States, 19.3% of family physicians served in independent practices with 1 to 5 clinicians, down from 22.6% in 2017. Nearly one-half of these physicians reported that >10% of their patients were socially vulnerable. Interviews with 22 physicians who reported that the majority of their patients were socially vulnerable revealed 5 themes: (1) substantial time spent addressing access issues and social determinants of health, (2) minimal support from health care entities, such as independent practice associations and health plans, and insufficient connection to community-based organizations, (3) myriad financial challenges, (4) serious concerns about the future, and (5) deep personal commitment to serving socially vulnerable patients in independent practice. CONCLUSIONS: Small independent practices serving vulnerable patients in urban communities are surviving because deeply committed physicians are making personal sacrifices. Health equity-focused policies could decrease the burden on these physicians and bolster independent practices so that socially vulnerable patients continue to have options when seeking primary care.

Joint effects of Medicaid eligibility and fees on recession-linked declines in healthcare access and health status.

Whether Medicaid can function as a safety net to offset health risks created by health insurance coverage losses due to job loss is conditional on (1) the eligibility guidelines shaping the pathway for households to access the program for temporary relief, and (2) Medicaid reimbursement policies affecting the value of the program for both the newly and previously enrolled. We find states with more expansive eligibility guidelines lowered the healthcare access and health risk of coverage loss associated with rising unemployment during the 2007-2009 Great Recession. Rises in cost-related barriers to care associated with unemployment were smallest in states with expansive eligibility guidelines and higher Medicaid-to-Medicare fee ratios. Similarly, states whose Medicaid programs had expansive eligibility guidelines and higher fees saw the smallest recession-linked declines in self-reported good health. Medicaid can work to stabilize access to health care during periods of joblessness. Our findings yield important insights into the alignment of at least two Medicaid policies (i.e., eligibility and payment) shaping Medicaid's viability as a safety net.

Transitioning from the Emergency Department to a General Internist Outpatient Clinic for Paracentesis: A Qualitative Inquiry.

BACKGROUND: Repeated paracentesis for ascites can place significant demands on the emergency department (ED). A new general internist-led outpatient procedure clinic to alleviate this demand required ED staff and patients to accept this transition of care. AIM: This qualitative study evaluates barriers and facilitators to implementing the FLuid ASPiration (FLASP) clinic in a safety net hospital. METHODS: The FLASP clinic opened during the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2021. From February to April 2022, semi-structured interviews were conducted with: 10 ED physicians and nurses; 5 FLASP clinic patients; and 4 patients receiving paracentesis in the ED. Interviews were recorded, transcribed, and analyzed using a Grounded Theory approach for themes categorized by Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) domains including: attitudes/knowledge; social norms; and logistics. RESULTS: Thematic analysis found that ED staff appreciated reduced demand for paracentesis, but barriers included: lack of knowledge; concerns about unstable patients and patient expectations (norms); and scheduling logistics. FLASP clinic patients had only favorable themes: belief in clinic safety; positive relationship with staff; and clinic efficiency. Patients using the ED for paracentesis expressed only concerns: possible need for testing or hospitalization; care usually in the ED; and unclear clinic scheduling. CONCLUSION: This study reveals challenges to transitioning sites of care for paracentesis including the need for greater ED staff education and standardizing methods to triage patients to appropriate site of care. Greater support and education of ED patients about the benefits of an outpatient procedure clinic may also reduce ED burden for paracentesis.

Laparoscopic common bile duct exploration is an effective, safe, and less-costly method of treating choledocholithiasis.

BACKGROUND: Advancements in laparoscopic techniques led to the adoption of laparoscopic common bile duct exploration (LCBDE) as an alternative to endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) for management of choledocholithiasis (CD). The goal of this study was to describe the initial experience at a safety net hospital with acute care surgeons performing LCBDE for suspected CD. We hypothesized LCBDE would reduce length of stay and hospital costs compared to laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) and ERCP performed in the same hospital admission. METHODS: This was a retrospective case-control study from 2019 to 2023 comparing LCBDE to LC/ERCP among patients diagnosed with CD. Statistical analyses were performed using Mann-Whitney U tests for continuous variables and Chi-square tests for categorical variables. Data reported as median [interquartile range] or research subjects with condition (percentage). RESULTS: A total of 110 LCBDE were performed, while 121 subjects underwent LC and ERCP. Patients in the LCBDE group were more likely to be female with a total of 87 female subjects (77.6%) compared to 76 male subjects (62.8%) (95% CI 1.14-3.74). Initial WBC was lower in the LCBDE group at 8.4 [6.9-11.8] compared to the LC/ERCP group at 10.9 [7.9-13.5] (p = 0.0013). Remaining demographics and lab values were similar between the two groups. Patients who underwent LCBDE had a significantly shorter length of stay at 2 days [1-3] compared to those in the LC/ERCP group at 4 days [3-6] (p < 0.001). Hospital charges for the LCBDE group were $46,685 [$38,687-$56,703] compared to $60,537 [$47,527-$71,739] for the LC/ERCP group (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: LCBDE is associated with significantly lower hospital costs and shorter length of stay with similar post-operative complication and 30-day readmission rates. Our results show that LCBDE is safe and should be considered as a first-line approach in the management of CD.

A collaboration team to build social service partnerships within a safety-net health system.

BACKGROUND: To facilitate safety-net healthcare system partnerships with community social service providers, the Los Angeles County Department of Health Services (LAC DHS) created a new collaboration team to spur cross-agency social and medical referral networks and engage communities affected by health disparities as part of a Sect. 1115 Medicaid waiver in Los Angeles County entitled Whole Person Care-Los Angeles (WPC-LA). METHODS: This observational research reviews three years of collaboration team implementation (2018-2020) through Medicaid-reportable engagement reports, a collaboration team qualitative survey on challenges, facilitators, and recommendations for community engagement. Member reflections for survey findings were conducted with the collaboration team and LAC DHS WPC-LA leadership. RESULTS: Collaboration team Medicaid engagement reports (n = 144) reported > 2,700 events, reaching > 70,000 individuals through cross-agency and community-partnered meetings. The collaboration team survey (n = 9) and member reflection sessions portrayed engagement processes through outreach, service assessments, and facilitation of service partnerships. The collaboration team facilitated community engagement processes through countywide workgroups on justice-system diversion and African American infant and maternal health. Recommendations for future safety net health system engagement processes included assessing health system readiness for community engagement and identifying strategies to build mutually beneficial social service partnerships. CONCLUSIONS: A dedicated collaboration team allowed for bi-directional knowledge exchange between county services, populations with lived experience, and social services, identifying service gaps and recommendations. Engagement with communities affected by health disparities resulted in health system policy recommendations and changes.

Assessment of Covid-19 vaccine confidence among healthcare personnel in the safety-net sector in the United States and Puerto Rico.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to assess COVID-19 vaccine confidence among healthcare personnel in the safety net sector of the United States and Puerto Rico. This study aimed to examine the extent to which increased knowledge and positive attitudes toward COVID-19 vaccine safety and efficacy were associated with healthcare workers' COVID-19 vaccination status and their recommendation of the vaccine to all patients. METHODS: Online survey data were collected from health care workers working in Free and Charitable Clinics across the United States and Federally Qualified Health Centers in Puerto Rico. The survey consisted of 62 questions covering various demographic measures and constructs related to healthcare workers' vaccination status, beliefs, and recommendations for COVID-19 vaccination. Statistical analyses, including multivariate analysis, were conducted to identify the factors associated with the COVID-19 vaccine status and recommendations among healthcare personnel. RESULTS: Among the 2273 respondents, 93% reported being vaccinated against COVID-19. The analysis revealed that respondents who believed that COVID-19 vaccines were efficacious and safe were three times more likely to be vaccinated and twice as likely to recommend them to all their patients. Respondents who believed they had received adequate information about COVID-19 vaccination were 10 times more likely to be vaccinated and four times more likely to recommend it to all their patients. CONCLUSIONS: The study results indicate that healthcare workers' confidence in COVID-19 vaccines is closely tied to their level of knowledge, positive beliefs, and attitudes about vaccine safety and efficacy. The study emphasizes the significance of healthcare workers feeling well informed and confident in their knowledge to recommend the vaccine to their patients. These findings have important implications for the development of strategies to boost COVID-19 vaccine confidence among healthcare workers and increase vaccine uptake among patients.

The Role of Preoperative Antibiotics in Surgical Site Infection (SSI) Rate after Class I/Clean Gynaecologic Surgery at an Academic Safety Net Hospital.

OBJECTIVES: Examine whether preoperative antibiotics in class I/clean abdominal gynaecologic surgery decrease the incidence of surgical site infections (SSI). METHODS: Retrospective cohort study at academic safety net hospital of patients undergoing class I laparoscopic or open gynaecologic surgery between November 2013 and September 2017. Performance improvement initiative to administer preoperative antibiotics to all surgical patients starting July 2016. RESULTS: In total, 510 patients were included: 283 in the antibiotic group and 227 in the no-antibiotic group. PRIMARY OUTCOME: incidence of SSI. Baseline characteristics were similar between groups once balanced by propensity score method. In unweighted analysis, incidence of SSI decreased from 9.3% (21/227) in the no-antibiotics group to 4.9% (14/283) in antibiotics group, but this was not statistically significant (odds ratio (OR) 0.51 CI 0.25-1.03, P = 0.0598). Following of inverse probability of treatment weighting adjustments in weighted analysis, incidence of SSI was found to be significantly lower in patients who received antibiotics compared to patients who did not receive antibiotics across entry types (4.6% vs. 9.8%, OR 0.45; CI 0.22-0.90, P = 0.023). Weighted analysis demonstrated in the exploratory laparotomy group patients who received antibiotics had a lower incidence of SSI compared to patients who did not receive antibiotics (5.1% vs. 18.7%, OR 0.23; CI 0.08-0.68, P = 0.008). In the laparoscopy group, there was no difference between groups (4.4% vs. 5.4%, OR 0.81; CI 0.3-2.16, P = 0.675). CONCLUSIONS: There is limited literature on SSI prevention/preoperative antibiotic use in class I gynaecologic surgeries. This study demonstrates antibiotics in class I procedures decrease SSI rates, specifically in open procedures. There was a lack of demonstrated benefit in laparoscopy.