Explaining Variability in Electronic Health Record Effort in Primary Care Ambulatory Encounters.

BACKGROUND: Electronic health record (EHR) user interface event logs are fast providing another perspective on the value and efficiency EHR technology brings to health care. Analysis of these detailed usage data has demonstrated their potential to identify EHR and clinical process design factors related to user efficiency, satisfaction, and burnout. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to analyze the event log data across 26 different health systems to determine the variability of use of a single vendor's EHR based on four event log metrics, at the individual, practice group, and health system levels. METHODS: We obtained de-identified event log data recorded from June 1, 2018, to May 31, 2019, from 26 health systems' primary care physicians. We estimated the variability in total Active EHR Time, Documentation Time, Chart Review Time, and Ordering Time across health systems, practice groups, and individual physicians. RESULTS: In total, 5,444 physicians (Family Medicine: 3,042 and Internal Medicine: 2,422) provided care in a total of 2,285 different practices nested in 26 health systems. Health systems explain 1.29, 3.55, 3.45, and 3.30% of the total variability in Active Time, Documentation Time, Chart Review Time, and Ordering Time, respectively. Practice-level variability was estimated to be 7.96, 13.52, 8.39, and 5.57%, respectively, and individual physicians explained the largest proportion of the variability for those same outcomes 17.09, 27.49, 17.51, and 19.75%, respectively. CONCLUSION: The most variable physician EHR usage patterns occurs at the individual physician level and decreases as you move up to the practice and health system levels. This suggests that interventions to improve individual users' EHR usage efficiency may have the most potential impact compared with those directed at health system or practice levels.

External validation of GO-FAR 2 calculator for outcomes after in-hospital cardiac arrest with comparison to GO-FAR and trial of expanded applications.

Aim: Externally validate the GO-FAR 2 tool for predicting survival with good neurologic function after in-hospital cardiac arrest with comparison to the original GO-FAR tool. Additionally, we collected qualitative descriptors and performed exploratory analyses with various levels of neurologic function and discharge destination. Methods: Retrospective chart review of all patients who underwent in-hospital resuscitation after cardiac arrest during the calendar years 2016-2019 in our institution (n = 397). GO-FAR and GO-FAR 2 scores were calculated based on information available in the medical record at the time of hospital admission. Cerebral performance category (CPC) scores at the time of admission and discharge were assessed by chart review. Results: The GO-FAR 2 score accurately predicted outcomes in our study population with a c-statistic of 0.625. The original GO-FAR score also had accurate calibration with a stronger c-statistic of 0.726. The GO-FAR score had decreased predictive value for lesser levels of neurologic function (c-statistic 0.56 for alive at discharge) and discharge destination (0.69). Descriptors of functional status by CPC score were collected. Conclusion: Our findings support the validity of the GO-FAR and GO-FAR 2 tools as published, but the c-statistics suggest modest predictive discrimination. We include functional descriptors of CPC outcomes to aid clinicians in using these tools. We propose that information about expected outcomes could be valuable in shared decision-making conversations.

Perforated appendicitis: The solution to pollution is not dilution.

BACKGROUND: Surgical dogma states that the "solution to pollution is dilution." We hypothesized that withholding irrigation during pediatric Single Incision Laparoscopic Surgery (SILS) appendectomies for perforated appendicitis would decrease postoperative abscess rate. METHODS: From May 2011 to 5/2015, during SILS appendectomies, saline irrigation and suctioning was performed. From June 2015 to 8/2021, only suctioning was performed. The operations and peri-operative management were otherwise identical. We retrospectively reviewed 46 patients in the Irrigation (I) Group and 91 patients in the Non-Irrigation (NI) Group. RESULTS: Abscess rate decreased from 19.6% in Group I to 9.9% in Group NI, but this did not reach statistical significance (p = 0.12). Operative duration was significantly longer in patients who developed postoperative abscesses in Group NI (odds ratio 1.67, p = 0.002) and overall (odds ratio 1.45, p = 0.0002). CONCLUSIONS: Withholding irrigation during SILS appendectomies trended toward a decreased postoperative abscess rate. Increased operative times were associated with postoperative abscess formation.

Reoperation following urgent and emergent colectomy in the State of Michigan.

BACKGROUND: Reoperation is associated with unfavorable outcomes and increased healthcare utilization. This study seeks to investigate the incidence and factors related to reoperation in patients undergoing urgent/emergent colectomies. METHODS: The Michigan Surgical Quality Collaborative (MSQC) database was used to identify patients undergoing urgent/emergent colectomies. Outcomes and risk factors of patients who underwent reoperation within 30 days were compared to those who did not. RESULTS: 16,004 patients undergoing urgent/emergent colon resection were identified. Reoperation occurred in 12.4% and was associated with increased 30-day mortality (16.7% vs. 9.6%, p < .0001), median hospital length of stay (17 vs. 10 days, p < .0001), readmission rate (21.0% vs. 12.1%, p < .001), and discharge to a location other than home (62.3% vs. 36.8%, p < .0001). Reoperation rate was highest for vascular-related indications (23.5%), and was associated with several clinical factors (male gender, low albumin, ASA classification, and presence of pre-operative sepsis, dialysis or ventilator dependence) CONCLUSIONS: Reoperation following urgent/emergent colectomy occurs frequently. Additional study into strategies to reduce reoperations in this population is warranted.

Retrospective Comparison of Prehospital Sustained Return of Spontaneous Circulation (ROSC) Rates Within a Single Basic Life Support Jurisdiction Using Manual vs Lund University Cardiac Assist System (LUCAS-2) Mechanical Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation.

Objective Several studies have examined the impact of mechanical cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) devices among multi-jurisdictional emergency medical services (EMS) systems; however, the variability across such systems can inject bias and confounding variables. We focused our investigation on the effect of introducing the Lund University Cardiac Assist System 2 (LUCAS-2) into a single basic life support (BLS) fire department first response jurisdiction served by a single private advanced life support (ALS) agency, hypothesizing that the implementation of the device would increase prehospital return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) rates as compared with manual CPR.  Methods A retrospective observational analysis of adult non-traumatic prehospital cardiac arrest ALS agency records was conducted. Descriptive statistics were computed, and logistic regression was used to assess the impact of CPR method, response time, age, gender, CPR initiator, witnessed status, automated external defibrillator (AED) initiator, and presence of an initial shockable rhythm on ROSC rates. A Chi-square analysis was used to compare ROSC rates among compression modalities both before and after the implementation of LUCAS-2 on July 1, 2011.  Results From an initial dataset of 857 cardiac arrest records, only 264 (74 pre-LUCAS period, 190 LUCAS-2 period) met inclusion criteria for the primary objective. The ROSC rates were 29.7% (22/74) and 29.5% (56/190), respectively, for manual-only and LUCAS-assisted CPR (p=0.9673). Logistic regression revealed a significant association between ROSC and two of the independent variables: arrest witnessed (OR 3.104; 95% CI 1.896-5.081; p<0.0001) and initial rhythm shockable (OR 2.785; 95% CI 1.492-5.199; p<0.0013).  Conclusions Analyses support the null hypothesis that there is no difference in prehospital ROSC rates among adult non-traumatic cardiac arrest patients when comparing mechanical-assisted and manual-only CPR. These results are consistent with other larger multi-jurisdictional mechanical CPR studies. Systems with limited personnel might consider augmenting their resuscitations with a mechanical CPR device, although cost and system design should be factored into the decision. Secondary analysis of independent variables suggests that prehospital cardiac arrest patients with a witnessed arrest or an initial rhythm that is shockable have a higher likelihood of attaining ROSC. The power of our primary objective was limited by the sample size. Additionally, we were not able to adequately assess the quality of CPR among the two comparison groups with a lack of consistent end-tidal carbon dioxide (EtCO2) data. .

Skewing of the antibody repertoire in cerebrospinal fluid B cells from healthy controls and patients with schizophrenia.

Autoantibodies play a role in the etiology of some neuropsychiatric disorders. To address the possibility that B cells and their antibodies may be involved in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia, we examined B cells in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and peripheral blood (PB) of 4 schizophrenic patients (SP) and 4 healthy control (HC) volunteers by analyzing immunoglobulin VH gene usage. All CSF samples contained measurable levels of B cells. We found for both SP and HC, CSF B cells represented a select subset of, and were not the same as, B cells in PB. Moreover, we found statistically significant differences in antibodies generated by CSF B cells in SP compared to CSF B cells in HC. Although binding characteristics of CSF SP-associated B cell antibodies is unknown, the study number is small, and pathophysiology has not been established, these results suggest the value of focusing further study on the distinctly separate population of CSF B cells in SP.

Modulation of microbiome diversity and cytokine expression is influenced in a sex-dependent manner during aging.

The microbiome and immune system have a unique interplay, which influences homeostasis within the organism. Both the microbiome and immune system play important roles in health and diseases of the aged including development of cancer, autoimmune disorders, and susceptibility to infection. Various groups have demonstrated divergent changes in the gut microbiota during aging, yet the compounding factor of biological sex within the context of aging remains incompletely understood, and little is known about the effect of housing location in the composition of gut microbiota in the context of both sex and age. To better understand the roles of sex, aging, and location in influencing the gut microbiome, we obtained normal healthy BALB/cByJ mice from a single source and aged male and female mice in two different geographical locations. The 16S rRNA was analyzed from fecal samples of these mice and cytokine levels were measured from serum.16S rRNA microbiome analysis indicated that both age and sex play a role in microbiome composition, whereas location plays a lesser role in the diversity present. Interestingly, microbiome changes occurred with alterations in serum expression of several different cytokines including IL-10 and IL-6, which were also both differentially regulated in context to sex and aging. We found both IL-10 and IL-6 play a role in the constitutive expression of pSTAT-3 in CD5+ B-1 cells, which are known to regulate the microbiome. Additionally, significant correlations were found between cytokine expression and significantly abundant microbes. Based on these results, we conclude aging mice undergo sex-associated alterations in the gut microbiome and have a distinct cytokine profile. Further, there is significant interplay between B-1 cells and the microbiome which is influenced by aging in a sex-dependent manner. Together, these results illustrate the complex interrelationship among sex, aging, immunity, housing location, and the gut microbiome.

Comparison of Four Methods of Paramedic Continuing Education in the Management of Pediatric Emergencies.

Introduction: Finite resources limit the amount of time EMS agencies can dedicate to continuing education in pediatric emergencies. EMS instructors need effective, efficient, and affordable educational strategies for these high-risk, low frequency events.Objective: To compare the effectiveness of four training methods in management of pediatric emergencies for paramedics.Methods: A validated, performance-based, simulated clinical assessment module was used to provide a baseline measurement of paramedics' resuscitation skills during three simulated pediatric emergencies. Educational modules were developed that targeted deficiencies identified by the baseline assessment, including advanced pediatric life support skills, airway management, use of the Broselow-Luten Tape®, pediatric drug dose calculations and drug delivery, seizure management, and trauma assessment. Paramedics from five EMS agencies in Michigan were randomized to four education intervention groups. The control group used an existing, online, continuing education course. Three experimental groups were exposed to the same content during five, one-hour sessions conducted over 2.5 years. Instruction was delivered using high-fidelity, simulated case-based training, low-fidelity simulation training, or lecture with procedural skills lab, based on group assignment. After the training, all groups were tested within 4-6 months using methods identical to baseline testing.Results: One hundred forty-seven subjects completed the study. There were no differences in baseline skill levels among the four groups. Only the low fidelity simulation training group demonstrated improvement of combined scenario scores (p = 0.0008). Scores for targeted skills improved in one scenario in the high-fidelity group, two in the low-fidelity group, one in the lecture/lab group, and none in the control group.Conclusions: Although improvements in those skills included in the training were found in three groups, two hours of training in pediatric emergencies per year was insufficient to produce a substantial improvement overall. Expensive, high-fidelity simulators were not necessary for teaching pediatric resuscitation skills to paramedics; instructive scenarios using low-fidelity manikins and debriefings appear to be adequate. The content delivered by an online refresher course did not provide any improvement in performance as measured by simulated, case-based assessments.

Assessment of Agreement Between Human Ratings and Lexicon-Based Sentiment Ratings of Open-Ended Responses on a Behavioral Rating Scale.

To date, there is a paucity of research conducting natural language processing (NLP) on the open-ended responses of behavior rating scales. Using three NLP lexicons for sentiment analysis of the open-ended responses of the Behavior Assessment System for Children-Third Edition, the researchers discovered a moderately positive correlation between the human composite rating and the sentiment score using each of the lexicons for strengths comments and a slightly positive correlation for the concerns comments made by guardians and teachers. In addition, the researchers found that as the word count increased for open-ended responses regarding the child's strengths, there was a greater positive sentiment rating. Conversely, as word count increased for open-ended responses regarding child concerns, the human raters scored comments more negatively. The authors offer a proof-of-concept to use NLP-based sentiment analysis of open-ended comments to complement other data for clinical decision making.

The Impact of Pop-Up Clinical Electronic Health Record Decision Tools on Ordering Pulmonary Embolism Studies in the Emergency Department.

BACKGROUND: Emergency physicians make time-sensitive care decisions for life threatening diagnoses and utilize evidence-based decision rules and testing with high sensitivity to ensure that critical diagnoses are not missed. Current literature suggests that there is over testing for pulmonary embolism in the emergency department. OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to determine whether the addition of a pop-up notification of the Modified Wells Criteria into the workflow would impact the number of total orders for computed tomography pulmonary angiography (CTPA) or the diagnostic yield of those studies. METHODS: This study was a retrospective observational study comparing CTPA utilization rates and diagnostic yield among physicians at a single academic emergency department in the 1 year prior and 1 year post implementation of an active electronic health recored (EHR) pop-up of Modified Well's scoring when ordering a CTPA. RESULTS: CTPA utilization rates were statistically equivalent, p <0.0001 within a 0.5% equivalence margin, during the pre and post intervention years. The observed difference was 0.1% (95% CI -0.02%, 0.21%). Despite proving equivalence in the rates of CTPA studies ordered, the diagnostic yield, however, was significantly different (p = 0.001), 32.35% in the pre-intervention year compared to 41.60% in the post-intervention year. CONCLUSION: There are many barriers to the implementation of successful EHR alerts. These findings support and validate previous studies that have shown a higher diagnostic yield of CT angiography for pulmonary embolism after implementation of active alerts integrated into the EHR with ordering studies. These tools are effective quality improvement initiatives, and their use should be encouraged.

National trends and outcomes of genetically inherited non-alcoholic chronic liver disease in the USA: estimates from the National Inpatient Sample (NIS) database.

BACKGROUND: Medical literature on the prevalence of genetic liver disease is lacking. In this study, we investigated the in-hospital healthcare and economic burden from genetic causes of non-alcoholic chronic liver disease (NACLD) and non-alcoholic liver cirrhosis (NALC) in the USA. METHODS: Data were abstracted from the National Inpatient Sample database between 2002 and 2014 using ICD9 codes for patients discharged with NACLD and NALC secondary to genetic diseases including alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency (A1ATd), cystic fibrosis (CF), Wilson disease (WD), hereditary hemochromatosis (HHC), glycogen storage disease, and disorders of aromatic amino-acid metabolism (DAAAM). RESULTS: Throughout the study period, there were 19,332 discharges for NACLD associated with the six genetic diseases including 14,368 for NALC. There were $1.09 billion in hospital charges, 790 in-hospital deaths, and 955 liver transplants performed. Overall, A1ATd was associated with 8,983 (62.52%) hospitalizations for NALC followed by WD, CF, and HHC. The highest in-hospital mortality was seen with HHC. The greatest frequency of liver transplants was seen with DAAAM. CONCLUSION: The number of hospitalizations for genetic liver diseases continues to increase. With increased funding and directed research efforts, we can aim to improve medical treatments and the quality of life for patients at risk for liver deterioration.

Gender perception bias of operative autonomy evaluations among residents and faculty in general surgery training.

BACKGROUND: Resident operative autonomy (ROA) is critical and a shared responsibility of both faculty and residents during training. We hypothesize that there is a perception of gender bias in residents' performance as evaluated by faculty and residents. METHOD: Over a period of five academic years, between July 2014 and June 2019, ROA was evaluated using the Zwisch score. Reciprocal evaluations were completed by faculty and residents. RESULTS: 39 surgeons (30 males, 9 females) and 42 residents (25 males, 15 females) completed 2360 evaluations (1180 by faculty, and a matched number by residents). PGY level was significantly associated with granting a higher level of autonomy. Gender of residents didn't affect the level of granted autonomy as evaluated by faculty. However, on self-evaluations, female residents rated their degree of autonomy lower than that of their male counterparts. CONCLUSION: Gender did not influence the perception of autonomy granted as evaluated by faculty. However, on self-evaluations, female residents reported a lower degree of autonomy received.

Using Simulation in Training Pediatric Residents on Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome Scoring: An Experimental Study.

BACKGROUND: Neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS) is characterized by significant physiological and behavioral signs involving multiple-organ systems in neonates following a prenatal exposure to opioids and other nonopioid drugs. Neonatal abstinence syndrome can result in serious morbidity, and even death, if unrecognized and untreated. The purpose of this study was to develop a simulation model of a standard video training of the Finnegan Neonatal Abstinence Scoring System (FNAS) and investigate the perceptions of comfort and competency of pediatric residents undergoing video or simulation training. METHODS: Thirty-one pediatric and medicine-pediatric residents participated in this single-blinded randomized intervention study. The experimental group completed demonstrated simulation while the control group received the traditional video instruction. Both groups completed FNAS scoring on a case of a neonate with NAS. The FNAS scores of residents were compared with the scores of 2 expert raters. Pre- and posttraining and preference surveys were obtained from all participants. RESULTS: Both experimental and control groups scored the FNAS scenario similarly and were also similar to the expert raters. Both groups also reported comparable levels of comfort and competency after the training, though first-year residents reported greater improvement than upper-level residents. The FNAS scores from expert raters were identical for the simulation and video scenarios. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: Although this study showed that a simulation training module can be used as a standardized teaching method to administer the FNAS, it can be cost-prohibitive and daunting to produce. Nursing professionals need to be aware of medical education training around FNAS due to the interdisciplinary nature of care for neonates with NAS. Institutions should consider implementing a diversity of practices and models with an interdisciplinary approach to training assessment of the neonate with NAS. IMPLICATIONS FOR RESEARCH: A more hands-on, less cost-prohibitive simulation training needs to be developed to teach FNAS administration with a broader range of professionals including interdisciplinary teams of nursing and medical professionals.

Awareness of genetic testing for children with autism spectrum disorder among caregivers in an autism support group.

Recent discoveries have improved our understanding of the complex genetic mechanisms underlying autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Despite current guidelines, genetic testing for children with ASD is largely underutilized. This has been attributed to a lack of public awareness regarding genetic testing. The role that autism support groups play in this awareness has not been previously described. A web-based survey was developed and distributed through a community support group to assess the awareness and utilization of genetic testing among caregivers for children with ASD. A total of 138 caregivers responded in total. Only 53.6% were aware that genetic testing exists for ASD. Genetic testing was completed in 17.4% of respondents. Rates of awareness were similar across demographic factors including race, family income, education level, and urban, suburban, or rural residence. This supports low awareness as a key factor in the underutilization of genetic testing for ASD, even among members in an organized autism support group. Targeting public awareness through these organizations may be a promising approach for improving the utilization of genetic testing in ASD.

Hospitalizations for tuberculous peritonitis in the United States: Results from the national inpatient sample database from 2002 to 2014.

Background: Tuberculosis (TB) is an uncommon disease in the Western hemisphere that can present with peritoneal involvement, as tuberculous peritonitis(TBP) causing abdominal pain and fever. The healthcare and economic burden of TBP in the United States remains unknown. Methods: The National Inpatient Sample database was utilized to investigate TBP hospitalizations from 2002 to 2014. Economic expenditures, patient and hospital demographics, and associations of certain comorbidities with TBP were analyzed. Results: A total of 5878 hospitalizations for TBP occurred over the 12-year duration, with $420 million in-hospital charges. The median patient age was 45 years (interquartile range: 31.1-61.7), with the majority being Hispanic (27.15%). Hospitalizations occurred primarily in the Western (31.3%) and Southern (31.7%) United States. Patient comorbidities and the respective odds ratio associated with TBP included HIV (33.56), continuous peritoneal dialysis (10.49), malnutrition (7.38), liver cirrhosis (6.87), and liver cirrhosis sequelae (6.91). Nearly 6.37% of TBP hospitalizations also had active pulmonary TB. Conclusion: Although TBP is uncommon in the United States, it should be considered in patients presenting with abdominal pain and fever and a history of HIV, continuous peritoneal dialysis, malnutrition, liver cirrhosis, or liver cirrhosis sequelae.

Pyomyositis in the United States 2002-2014.

OBJECTIVES: Primary pyomyositis is a bacterial infection of skeletal muscle first recognized in tropical regions of the world but needing characterization in temperate climates. METHODS: This population-based study used the Healthcare Utilization Project/Nationwide Inpatient Sample database to characterize the trends of pyomyositis admissions in the United States from 2002-2014 using ICD-9 diagnostic codes. RESULTS: We found a concerning more than three-fold increase in the incident pyomyositis admissions over our study period. The median length of stay was over twice as long compared to other hospitalized patients. Patients with pyomyositis were younger and more likely to be male and Black. There were more cases in the West and South compared to Midwest and Northeast. Age-adjusted odds ratios revealed significant association of pyomyositis with HIV, types 1 and 2 diabetes mellitus, hematologic malignancy, organ transplant, malnutrition, chronic kidney disease, obesity, and rheumatoid arthritis. The most commonly identified bacterial diagnosis was Staphylococcus aureus. Pseudomonas species were the most commonly identified gram-negative bacteria. CONCLUSION: This nationwide review of pyomyositis in the United States suggests a concerning increase in incidence and provides information on the trends, demographics, risk factors, and causative organisms for pyomyositis in the United States.

Synchronization of the Normal Human Peripheral Immune System: A Comprehensive Circadian Systems Immunology Analysis.

In this study, we sought to fill an important gap in fundamental immunology research by conducting a comprehensive systems immunology analysis of daily variation in the normal human peripheral immune system. Although variation due to circadian rhythmicity was not a significant source of variation in daily B-cell levels or any CD4+ functional subset, it accounted for more than 25% of CD4+ regulatory T-cell variation and over 50% of CD8+ central memory variation. Circadian rhythmicity demonstrated phase alignment within functional phenotypes. In addition, we observed that previously-described mechanistic relationships can also appear in the peripheral system as phase shifting in rhythmic patterns. We identified a set of immune factors which are ubiquitously correlated with other factors and further analysis also identified a tightly-correlated "core" set whose relational structure persisted after analytically removing circadian-related variation. This core set consisted of CD8+ and its subpopulations and the NK population. In sum, the peripheral immune system can be conceptualized as a dynamic, interconnected wave-field repeating its pattern on a daily basis. Our data provide a comprehensive inventory of synchronization and correlation within this wave-field and we encourage use of our data to discover unknown mechanistic relationships which can then be tested in the laboratory.

Virtual Reality Use for Symptom Management in Palliative Care: A Pilot Study to Assess User Perceptions.

In the past two decades, virtual reality (VR) technology has found use in a variety of clinical settings including pain management, physical medicine and rehabilitation, psychiatry, and neurology. However, little is known about the utility of VR in the palliative care setting. Moreover, previous investigations have not explored user perceptions of the VR experience in this population. Understanding user perceptions of the VR intervention will be critical for the development and delivery of effective VR therapies. To examine the utility of VR for palliative care patients, a pilot study of VR use was conducted with 12 adult patients diagnosed with life-limiting illness who were residents at a free-standing hospice facility. The intervention consisted of a one-time 30-minute VR experience. User perceptions were assessed through both quantitative and qualitative means, including participant responses to open-ended questions after the VR intervention. Acute changes in symptom burden were assessed using the revised Edmonton Symptom Assessment Scale. Participants found the VR experience to be both enjoyable and useful, and the intervention was well-tolerated overall. This study provides support for VR as a promising new therapeutic modality for patients undergoing palliative care.

Going vertical: triage flags improve extraction times for priority patients.

OBJECTIVE: The number of mass casualty incidents (MCIs) has been steadily increasing. High-priority MCI patient outcomes are highly dependent on rapid identification, treatment, and transport. Although there are several methods used to mark patients for rapid extraction, most current methods utilize low-profile tags, with no gold standard. This study examines if the use of a vertical cue, a triage flag, to identify high priority MCI patients results in faster extraction times than those with a wrist triage tag alone. METHODS: A prospective randomized crossover study was conducted with medical students trained in basic disaster life support, who completed 2 extraction simulations. Two fields were each arranged with 32 randomly placed, pretriaged manikins (10 red, 17 yellow, 5 black). The manikins were marked with either triage tags alone or with triage tags and flags. The total time elapsed for participants to report all high-priority manikin triage tag numbers was recorded. RESULTS: Eighty-two participants completed both simulations. The average completion time for the "tags-only" simulation was 94.5 seconds (±16.4 seconds) compared to 70.7 seconds (±13.2 seconds) for the flags and tags simulation. This corresponds to an average decrease of 23.8 seconds (P < 0.0001), or a 25.2% reduction in time. CONCLUSION: Using a vertical cue decreased the time required to identify high-priority patients. This suggests that a rapidly deployable and visually apparent triage marker may allow faster identification and extraction of patients across a field of victims with varying injury severities than a flat horizontal triage tag, thereby potentially improving patient outcomes.