Supporting rural families during interhospital patient transfers for critical illness events: An exploration of an acceptable communication process.

Critically ill patients in rural areas at times require an interhospital transfer from their local hospital to an urban tertiary care centre for advanced critical care services not available locally. Family members have described this transfer window as a communication blackout and one of the most stressful times of their relative's critical illness event. OBJECTIVE: To explore what communication process would be most acceptable between family members and transfer team members (consisting of critical care nurses, paramedics, and physicians) during interhospital transfers of critically ill patients. RESEARCH METHODOLOGY: Using a qualitative descriptive approach of critical thematic analysis, data were collected in September and November 2022, from focus groups of five family members and four transfer team members who experienced this phenomenon. SETTING: Rural Canada where speciality services such as interventional cardiology and neurosurgery are unavailable, and a tertiary care hospital is more than 160 km away. FINDINGS: Within themes of unequal power relations and status-based hierarchies, family members described how communication during interhospital transfers supports connection and coping, challenges experienced in accessing information, an overwhelming unknown, and practical challenges of the transfer. Transfer team members described a context of power relations and status-based hierarchies in which themes of transfer team burden, role confusion or connection, protection and management of family members, and complexities of information sharing during interhospital transfers were identified. CONCLUSION: In critical illness, communication linkages are created between healthcare providers and family members but are broken during an interhospital transfer resulting in increased stress for family members. Acceptable communication elements described by transfer team members and family members may maintain these linkages during the transfer window. IMPLICATIONS FOR CLINICAL PRACTICE: These findings provide the foundation for critical care nurses and their professional colleagues to take family care to the next level with an explicit communication strategy during interhospital transfers.

Estudio sobre las características de la información sanitaria en las conducciones entre centros penitenciario / Study of the characteristics of medical information in transfers between prisons

Introducción: La movilidad de la población penitenciaria precisa que la información transmitida en los traslados entre centros garantice una óptima continuidad asistencial. Objetivo: Valorar la calidad de la transmisión de información sanitaria cuando los internos son trasladados en conducción entre centros penitenciarios de todo el territorio español. Material y método: Estudio observacional, descriptivo y transversal, consistente en la revisión de historias clínicas de los internos que transitaron por el Centro Penitenciario (CP) Madrid III en un periodo de tres meses. Todas las variables medidas fueron cualitativas, expresadas en frecuencias absolutas y relativas. Resultados: Durante ese tiempo, 1.168 internos transitaron por el CP Madrid III. Solo 21 procedían de centros penitenciarios de Cataluña, País Vasco o Navarra, cuya historia clínica es diferente a la del resto del Estado, y solo el 57,14% aportaban algún tipo de información sanitaria. Del resto de internos, el 70,79% aportaba algún tipo de información: el 63,90% del total tenía medicación prescrita y el 5% metadona. De aquellos que tenían medicación, el 89,10% la tenían prescrita en la prescripción electrónica, siendo correcta en el 98% de los casos. Respecto a la metadona, solo el 75,44% lo tenía prescrito electrónicamente, siendo correcta en todos los casos. La fecha de la última dosis administrada solo se indicó en el 72,40% de los tratamientos. Discusión: Solo el 34,70% de las historias presentaban una calidad óptima en cuanto a la información transmitida, siendo en el 2,50% de los casos la información recibida deficiente. El uso de herramientas informáticas facilita la transmisión de la información, reduce la carga de trabajo y mejora la seguridad del paciente.(AU)

Introduction: The mobility of the prison population creates a need for information transmitted in transfers between centers that can guarantee optimal care continuity. Objective: To assess the quality of transmission of health information when inmates are transferred between prisons in Spain. Material and method: Observational, descriptive and cross-sectional study, consisting of a review of medical records of inmates who passed through Madrid III Prison in a three-month period. All measured variables were qualitative, and were expressed in absolute and relative frequencies. Results: 1,168 inmates passed through Madrid III Prison in this period. Only 21 came from prisons in Catalonia, the Basque Country or Navarre, where their medical records are different from those in the rest of Spain, and only 57.14% provided some type of health information. Of the remaining inmates, 70.79% provided some type of information: 63.90% of the total had prescriptions for medication and 5% were prescribed with methadone. Of those taking medication, 89.10% were prescribed it in electronic prescriptions, which were correct in 98% of the cases. For methadone, only 75.44% had electronic prescriptions,which were correct in all cases. The date of the last dose administered was only indicated in 72.40% of the treatments. Discussion: Only 34.70% of the records presented optimal quality in terms of the information transmitted, and in 2.50% of the cases the information received was deficient. The use of computerized tools facilitates the transmission of information, reduces the workload and improves patient safety.(AU)

Efficacy of transfer form implementation for adult burn patients between institutions to the Israeli National Burn Center.

Burns are serious injuries associated with significant morbidity and mortality. In Israel, burn patients are often transferred between facilities. However, unstructured and non-standardized transfer processes can compromise the quality of patient care and outcomes. In this retrospective study, we assessed the impact of implementing a transfer form for burn management, comparing two populations: those transferred before and after the transfer form implementation. This study included 47 adult patients; 21 were transferred before and 26 after implementing the transfer form. We observed a statistically significant improvement in reporting rates of crucial information obtained by Emergency Room clinicians and inpatient management indicators. Introducing a standardized transfer form for burn patients resulted in improved communication and enhanced primary management, transfer processes, and emergency room preparation. The burns transfer form facilitated accurate and comprehensive information exchange between clinicians, potentially improving patient outcomes. These findings highlight the importance of structured transfer processes in burn patient care and emphasize the benefits of implementing a transfer form to streamline communication and optimize burn management during transfers to specialized burn centers.

Areas of consensus on unwarranted and warranted transfers between nursing homes and emergency care facilities in Norway: a Delphi study.

BACKGROUND: Transferring residents from nursing homes (NHs) to emergency care facilities (ECFs) is often questioned as many are terminally ill and have access to onsite care. While some NH to ECF transfers have merit, avoiding other transfers may benefit residents and reduce healthcare system costs and provider burden. Despite many years of research in this area, differentiating warranted (i.e., appropriate) from unwarranted NH to ECF transfers remains challenging. In this article, we report consensus on warranted and unwarranted NH to ECF transfers scenarios. METHODS: A Delphi study was used to identify consensus regarding warranted and unwarranted NH to ECF transfers. Delphi participants included nurses (RNs) and medical doctors (MDs) from NHs, out-of-hours primary care clinics (OOHs), and hospital-based emergency departments. A list of 12 scenarios and 11 medical conditions was generated from the existing literature on causes and medical conditions leading to transfers, and pilot tested and refined prior to conducting the study. Three Delphi rounds were conducted, and data were analyzed using descriptive and comparative statistics. RESULTS: Seventy-nine experts consented to participate, of whom 56 (71%) completed all three Delphi rounds. Participants reached high or very high consensus on when to not transfer residents, except for scenarios regarding delirium, where only moderate consensus was attained. Conversely, except when pain relieving surgery was required, participants reached low agreement on scenarios depicting warranted NH to ECF transfers. Consensus opinions differ significantly between health professionals, participant gender, and rurality, for seven of the 23 transfer scenarios and medical conditions. CONCLUSIONS: Transfers from nursing homes to emergency care facilities can be defined as warranted, discretionary, and unwarranted. These categories are based on the areas of consensus found in this Delphi study and are intended to operationalize the terms warranted and unwarranted transfers between nursing homes and emergency care facilities.

Clinical characteristics and outcomes of obstetric patients transferred directly to intensive care units.

BACKGROUND: Medical complications in peripartum patients are uncommon. Often, these patients are transferred to tertiary care centers, but their conditions and outcomes are not well understood. Our study examined peripartum patients transferred to an intensive care unit (ICU) at an academic quaternary center. METHODS: We reviewed charts of adult, non-trauma, interhospital transfer (IHT) peripartum patients sent to an academic quaternary ICU between January 2017 and December 2021. We conducted a descriptive analysis and used multivariable ordinal regression to examine associations of demographic and clinical factors with ICU length of stay (LOS) and hospital length of stay (HLOS). RESULTS: Of 1,794 IHT peripartum patients, 60 (3.2%) were directly transferred to an ICU. The average was 32 years, with a median Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) score of 3 (1-4.25) and Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation (APACHE) II score of 8 (7-12). Respiratory failure was most common (32%), followed by postpartum hemorrhage (15%) and sepsis (14%). Intubation was required for 24 (41%), and 4 (7%) needed extracorporeal membrane oxygenation. Only 1 (1.7%) died, while 45 (76.3%) were discharged. Median ICU LOS and HLOS were 5 days (212) and 8 days (5-17). High SOFA score was linked to longer HLOS, as was APACHE II. CONCLUSIONS: Transfers of critically ill peripartum patients between hospitals were rare but involved severe medical conditions. Despite this, their outcomes were generally positive. Larger studies are needed to confirm our findings.

Nurses engaging with referral letters and discharge summaries: A qualitative study.

AIMS: To investigate the ways that nurses engage with referral letters and discharge summaries, and the qualities of these documents they find valuable for safe and effective practice. DESIGN: This study comprised a qualitative, case-study design within a constructivist paradigm using convenience sampling. METHODS: Interviews were conducted with nurses to investigate their practices relating to referral letters and discharge summaries. Data collection also involved nurses' examination and evaluation of a diverse range of 10 referral letters and discharge summaries from medical records at two Australian hospitals through focus-group sessions. The data were transcribed and analysed inductively. RESULTS: In all, 67 nurses participated in interviews or focus groups. Nurses indicated they used referral letters and discharge summaries to inform their work when caring for patients at different times throughout their hospitalisation. These documents assisted them with verbal handovers, to enable them to educate patients about their condition and treatment and to provide a high standard of care. The qualities of referral letters and discharge summaries that they most valued were language and communication, an awareness of audience and clinical knowledge, as well as balancing conciseness with comprehensiveness of information. CONCLUSION: Nurses relied on referral letters and discharge summaries to ensure safe and effective patient care. They used these documents to enhance their verbal handovers, contribute to patient care and to educate the patient about their condition and treatment. They identified several qualities of these documents that assisted them in maintaining patient safety including clarity and conciseness of information. IMPLICATIONS FOR THE PROFESSION AND PATIENT CARE: It is important that referral letters and discharge summaries are written clearly, concisely and comprehensively because nurses use them as key sources of evidence in planning and delivering care, and in communicating with other health professionals in relaying goals of care and implementing treatment plans. IMPACT: Nurses reported that they regularly used referral letters and discharge summaries as valuable sources of evidence throughout their patients' hospitalisation. The qualities of these documents which they most valued were language and communication styles, awareness of audience and clinical knowledge, as well as balancing conciseness with comprehensiveness of information. This research has important impact on the patient experience in relation to encouraging effective referral letter and discharge summary writing. REPORTING METHOD: We have adhered to the relevant EQUATOR guidelines through the SRQR reporting method. PATIENT OR PUBLIC CONTRIBUTION: No patient or public contribution.

Navigating Transitions in Oncology Care: From Emergency Department to Outpatient Clinic.

OBJECTIVE: This quality improvement project was a collaborative effort with Penn Medicine's emergency department (ED) and oncology nurse navigators (ONNs). The goal of the project was to streamline patient transitions from the ED to the outpatient oncology clinic by developing a standardized referral process. The main objectives were to simplify and automate the referral process using the electronic medical record, improve multidisciplinary communication across the care continuum, ensure timely follow-up, and address barriers to oncology care. METHODS: The ED providers placed a consult to ONNs. The ONNs reached out to the patient within 48 hours of the consult. They maintained a database of patient referrals and collected information such as patient demographics, reason for referral, insurance, and patient outcomes. RESULTS: The ED providers referred 204 patients to the ONNs from April 2022 to September 2023. The development of a standardized referral process from the ED to the outpatient oncology clinic proved successful. Of the patients referred, the ONNs facilitated 98 cancer diagnoses and 80 of those patients are receiving oncology care at Penn Medicine. The median time to the patient's first appointments was seven days, diagnosis was 15 days, and treatment initiation occurred within 32 days. CONCLUSION: The project team achieved their goal of facilitating timely access to oncology care, ensuring continuity, and addressing patient-specific barriers. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING PRACTICE: This quality improvement initiative highlights the ONNs' role in enhancing access and equity in cancer care delivery. The success of the project underscores the ONN's expertise and leadership in addressing healthcare disparities in oncology care. Collaboratively, the teams created a new referral workflow improving care transitions from the ED to the outpatient oncology clinic. The project sets a precedent for optimizing patient care transitions, demonstrating the positive impact of ONNs as key members of the multidisciplinary healthcare team.

Decision-making about changing medications across transitions of care: Opportunities for enhanced patient and family engagement.

BACKGROUND: Older patients often have complex medication regimens, which change as they move across transitions of care. Engagement of older patients and families in making medication decisions across transitions of care is important for safe and high-quality medication management. AIMS: To explore decision-making between health professionals, older patients and families about medication changes across transitions of care, and to examine how patient and family engagement is enacted in the process of decision-making in relation to these medication changes. METHODS: A focused ethnographic design was undertaken with semi-structured interviews, observations, and reflective focus groups or interviews. Reflexive thematic analysis was conducted on transcribed data. The study was undertaken at a public teaching acute care hospital and a public teaching community hospital in Australia. RESULTS: In all, 182 older patients, 44 family members and 94 health professionals participated. Four themes were conceptualised from the data: different customs and routines, medication challenges, health professional interactions, and patient and family involvement. Environments had differences in their customs and routines, which increased the potential for medication delays or the substitution of unintended medications. Medication challenges included health professionals assuming that patients and families did not need information about regularly prescribed medications. Patients and families were informed about new medications after health professionals had already made decisions to prescribe these medications. Health professionals tended to work in disciplinary silos, and they had views about their role in interacting with patients and families. Patients and families were expected to take the initiative to participate in decision-making about medication changes. CONCLUSIONS: Patient movements across transitions of care can create complex and chaotic medication management situations, which lacks transparency, especially for older patients and their families. A greater focus on pre-emptive and planned discussions about medication changes will contribute to improving patient and family involvement in medication decision-making.

Palliative Care Utilization and Hospital Transfers in Veterans Treated in Telecritical Care-Supported Intensive Care Units Versus Non-Telecritical Care Intensive Care Units.

Background: Although telecritical care (TCC) implementation is associated with reduced mortality and interhospital transfer rates, its impact on goal-concordant care delivery in critical illness is unknown. We hypothesized that implementation of TCC across the Veterans' Health Administration system resulted in increased palliative care consultation and goals of care evaluation, yielding reduced transfer rates. Methods: We included veterans admitted to intensive care units between 2008 and 2022. We compared palliative care consultation and transfer rates before and after TCC implementation with rates in facilities that never implemented TCC. We used generalized linear mixed multivariable models to assess the associations between TCC initiation, palliative care consultation, and transfer and subsequently used mediation analysis to evaluate potential causality in this relationship. Results: Overall, 1,020,901 veterans met inclusion criteria. Demographic characteristics of patients were largely comparable across groups, although TCC facilities served more rural veterans. Palliative care consultation rates increased substantially in both ever-TCC and never-TCC hospitals during the study period (2.3%-4.3%, and 1.6%-4.7%, p < 0.01). Admissions post-TCC implementation were associated with an increased likelihood of palliative care consultation (odds ratio [OR] 1.08, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.01-1.15). TCC implementation was also associated with a reduction in transfer rates (OR 0.90, 95% CI 0.84-0.95). Mediation analysis did not demonstrate a causal relationship between TCC implementation, palliative care consultation, and reductions in interhospital transfer rate. Conclusions: TCC is associated with increased palliative care engagement, while TCC and palliative care engagement are both independently related to reduced transfers.

Intervention for a correct medication list and medication use in older adults: a non-randomised feasibility study among inpatients and residents during care transitions.

BACKGROUND: Medication discrepancies in care transitions and medication non-adherence are problematic. Few interventions consider the entire process, from the hospital to the patient's medication use at home. AIM: In preparation for randomised controlled trials (RCTs), this study aimed (1) to investigate the feasibility of recruitment and retention of patients, and data collection to reduce medication discrepancies at discharge and improve medication adherence, and (2) to explore the outcomes of the interventions. METHOD: Participants were recruited from a hospital and a residential area. Hospital patients participated in a pharmacist-led intervention to establish a correct medication list upon discharge and a follow-up interview two weeks post-discharge. All participants received a person-centred adherence intervention for three to six months. Discrepancies in the medication lists, the Beliefs about Medicines Questionnaire (BMQ-S), and the Medication Adherence Report Scale (MARS-5) were assessed. RESULTS: Of 87 asked to participate, 35 were included, and 12 completed the study. Identifying discrepancies, discussing discrepancies with physicians, and performing follow-up interviews were possible. Conducting the adherence intervention was also possible using individual health plans for medication use. Among the seven hospital patients, 24 discrepancies were found. Discharging physicians agreed that all discrepancies were errors, but only ten were corrected in the discharge information. Ten participants decreased their total BMQ-S concern scores, and seven increased their total MARS-5 scores. CONCLUSION: Based on this study, conducting the two RCTs separately may increase the inclusion rate. Data collection was feasible. Both interventions were feasible in many aspects but need to be optimised in upcoming RCTs.

The Role of Integrated Air Transport System in Managing Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Rupture Patients.

OBJECTIVE: Ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysms (rAAAs) are highly morbid emergencies. Not all hospitals are equipped to repair them, and an air ambulance network may aid in regionalising speciality care to quaternary referral centres. The association of travel distance by air ambulance on rAAA mortality in patients transferred emergently for repair was examined. METHODS: A retrospective review of institutional data. Adults with rAAA (2002 - 2019) transferred from an outside hospital (OSH) to a single quaternary referral centre for repair via air ambulance were identified. Patients who arrived via ground transport or post-repair at OSH for continued critical care were excluded. Patients were divided into "near" and "far" groups based on the 75th percentile of straight line travel distance (> 72 miles) between hospitals. The primary outcome was 30 day mortality. Multivariate logistic regression was used to assess the association of distance with mortality after adjusting for age, sex, race, cardiovascular comorbidities, and repair type. RESULTS: A total of 290 patients with rAAA were transported a median distance of 40.4 miles (interquartile range 25.5, 72.7) with 215 (74.1%) near and 75 (25.9%) far patients. Both near and far groups had similar ages, sex, and race. There was no difference in pre-operative loss of consciousness, intubation, or cardiac arrest between groups. Endovascular aneurysm repair utilisation and intra-operative aortic occlusion balloon usage were also similar. Both observed (26.8% vs. 23.9%, p = .61) and adjusted odd ratio (0.70, 95% confidence interval 0.36 - 1.39, p = .32) 30 day mortality did not differ significantly between near and far groups. CONCLUSION: Increasing distance travelled during transfer by air ambulance was not associated with worse outcomes in patients with rAAA. The findings support the regionalisation of rAAA repair to large quaternary centres via an integrated and robust air ambulance network.

Unit-to-unit transfer due to shortage of intensive care beds in Sweden 2015-2019 was associated with a lower risk of death but a longer intensive care stay compared to no transfer: a registry study.

BACKGROUND: Intensive care unit-to-unit transfer due to temporary shortage of beds is increasing in Sweden. Transportation induces practical hazards, and the change of health care provider may prolong the length of stay in intensive care. We previously showed that the risk of death at 90 days did not differ between patients transferred due to a shortage of beds and non-transferred patients with a similar burden of illness in a tertiary intensive care unit. The aim of this study was to widen the analysis to a nation-wide cohort of critically ill patients transferred to another intensive care unit in Sweden due to shortage of intensive care beds. METHODS: Retrospective comparison between capacity transferred and non-transferred patients, based on data from the Swedish Intensive Care Registry during a 5-year period before the COVID-19 pandemic. Patients with insufficient data entries or a recurring capacity transfer within 90 days were excluded. To assess the association between capacity transfer and death as well as intensive care stay within 90 days after ICU admission, logistic regression models with step-wise adjustment for SAPS3 score, primary ICD-10 ICU diagnosis and the number of days in the intensive care unit before transfer were applied. RESULTS: From 161,140 eligible intensive care admissions, 2912 capacity transfers were compared to 135,641 discharges or deaths in the intensive care unit. Ninety days after ICU admission, 28% of transferred and 21% of non-transferred patients were deceased. In the fully adjusted model, capacity transfer was associated with a lower risk of death within 90 days than no transfer; OR (95% CI) 0.71 (0.65-0.69) and the number of days spent in intensive care was longer: 12.4 [95% CI 12.2-12.5] vs 3.3 [3.3-3.3]. CONCLUSIONS: Intensive care unit-to-unit transfer due to shortage of bed capacity as compared to no transfer during a 5-year period preceding the COVID-19 pandemic in Sweden was associated with lower risk of death within 90 days but with longer stay in intensive care.

Neurological Improvement by One-Thirds Is Associated With Early Recanalization in Stroke With Large Vessel Occlusion.

BACKGROUND: A proportion of large vessel occlusion strokes demonstrate early recanalization, obviating the initial intention to proceed to endovascular thrombectomy. Neurological improvement is a possible surrogate marker for reperfusion. We aimed to determine the optimal threshold of neurological improvement, as defined by the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS), which best associates with early recanalization. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed consecutive patients with large vessel occlusion transferred from primary stroke centers to a tertiary comprehensive stroke center in Melbourne, Australia, for possible endovascular thrombectomy from January 2018 to December 2022. Absolute and percentage changes in NIHSS between transfer, as well as other definitions of neurological improvement, were compared using receiver operating characteristic curve analysis for association with recanalization as defined by the absence of occlusion in the internal carotid artery, middle cerebral artery (M1 or M2 segments), or basilar artery on repeat vascular imaging. RESULTS: Six hundred and fifty-four transferred patients with large vessel occlusion were included in the analysis: mean age was 68.8±14.0 years, 301 (46.0%) were women, and 338 (52%) received intravenous thrombolytics. The proportion of extracranial internal carotid artery, intracranial internal carotid artery, M1, proximal M2, and basilar artery occlusion was 18.8%, 13.6%, 48.3%, 15.0%, and 4.3%, respectively, on initial computed tomography angiogram. Median NIHSSprimary stroke center and NIHSScomprehensive stroke center scores were 15 (interquartile range, 9-18) and 13 (interquartile range, 8-19), respectively. Early recanalization occurred in 82 (13%) patients. NIHSS reduction of ≥33% was the best tradeoff between sensitivity (64%) and specificity (83%) for identifying recanalization. NIHSS reduction of ≥33% had the highest discriminative ability to predict recanalization (area under the curve, 0.735) in comparison with other definitions of neurological improvement. CONCLUSIONS: One-third neurological improvement between the primary hospital and tertiary center was the best predictor of early recanalization.

Adjustments of Ventilator Parameters during Operating Room-to-ICU Transition and 28-Day Mortality.

Rationale: Lung-protective mechanical ventilation strategies have been proven beneficial in the operating room (OR) and the ICU. However, differential practices in ventilator management persist, often resulting in adjustments of ventilator parameters when transitioning patients from the OR to the ICU. Objectives: To characterize patterns of ventilator adjustments during the transition of mechanically ventilated surgical patients from the OR to the ICU and assess their impact on 28-day mortality. Methods: Hospital registry study including patients undergoing general anesthesia with continued, controlled mechanical ventilation in the ICU between 2008 and 2022. Ventilator parameters were assessed 1 hour before and 6 hours after the transition. Measurements and Main Results: Of 2,103 patients, 212 (10.1%) died within 28 days. Upon OR-to-ICU transition, VT and driving pressure decreased (-1.1 ml/kg predicted body weight [IQR, -2.0 to -0.2]; P < 0.001; and -4.3 cm H2O [-8.2 to -1.2]; P < 0.001). Concomitantly, respiratory rates increased (+5.0 breaths/min [2.0 to 7.5]; P < 0.001), resulting overall in slightly higher mechanical power (MP) in the ICU (+0.7 J/min [-1.9 to 3.0]; P < 0.001). In adjusted analysis, increases in MP were associated with a higher 28-day mortality rate (adjusted odds ratio, 1.10; 95% confidence interval, 1.06-1.14; P < 0.001; adjusted risk difference, 0.7%; 95% confidence interval, 0.4-1.0, both per 1 J/min). Conclusion: During transition of mechanically ventilated patients from the OR to the ICU, ventilator adjustments resulting in higher MP were associated with a greater risk of 28-day mortality.

The Association Between Inter-Hospital Transfers and the Prognosis of Pediatric Injury in the Emergency Department.

BACKGROUND: Inter-hospital transfers of severely injured patients are inevitable due to limited resources. We investigated the association between inter-hospital transfer and the prognosis of pediatric injury using the Korean multi-institutional injury registry. METHODS: This retrospective observational study was conducted from January 2013 to December 2017; data for hospitalized subjects aged < 18 years were extracted from the Emergency Department-based Injury in Depth Surveillance database, in which 22 hospitals are participating as of 2022. The survival rates of the direct transfer group and the inter-hospital transfer group were compared, and risk factors affecting 30-day mortality and 72- hour mortality were analyzed. RESULTS: The total number of study subjects was 18,518, and the transfer rate between hospitals was 14.5%. The overall mortality rate was 2.3% (n = 422), the 72-hour mortality was 1.7% (n = 315) and the 30-day mortality rate was 2.2% (n = 407). The Kaplan-Meier survival curve revealed a lower survival rate in the inter-hospital transfer group than in the direct visit group (log-rank, P < 0.001). Cox proportional hazards regression analysis showed that inter-hospital transfer group had a higher 30-day mortality rate and 72-hour mortality (hazard ratio [HR], 1.681; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.232-2.294 and HR, 1.951; 95% CI, 1.299-2.930) than direct visit group when adjusting for age, sex, injury severity, and head injury. CONCLUSION: Among the pediatric injured patients requiring hospitalization, inter-hospital transfer in the emergency department was associated with the 30-day mortality rate and 72-hour mortality rate in Korea.

Transition Readiness Assessment Questionnaire: Skill gaps and psychosocial predictors of transition readiness among adolescents and young adults with chronic medical conditions.

BACKGROUND: Transferring from paediatric to adult care can be challenging. Adolescents and young adults (AYAs) with chronic health conditions need to develop a specific set of skills to ensure lifelong medical follow-up due to the chronicity of their condition. The Transition Readiness Assessment Questionnaire-French version (TRAQ-FR) is a 19-item questionnaire measuring such skills. The aims of the study were to (1) describe participant characteristics and (2) identify constructs related to, and predictors of, having learned domain-specific transition readiness skills. METHODS: Participants included 216 AYAs aged 14-20 years (M = 15.93; SD = 1.35; 54.1% male) recruited from five outpatient clinics in a Canadian tertiary hospital. AYAs completed the TRAQ-FR, the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory 4.0 (PedsQL) and a sociodemographic questionnaire. Descriptive, bivariate and binary logistic regression analyses were conducted. RESULTS: Overall, participants reported significantly higher scores on the Talking with Providers, Managing Daily Activities and Managing Medications subscales than on the Appointment Keeping and Tracking Health Issues subscales (F[41075] = 168.970, p < .001). At the item level, median scores (on a 5-point Likert scale) suggest that AYAs had begun practising five of the 19 skills (median scores ≥4; 'Yes, I have started doing this'), while a median score of 1 ('No, I don't know how') was found for one item ('Do you get financial help with school or work?'). At the subscale level, TRAQ-FR skills and skill gaps were related to AYAs' age, sex and PedsQL scores (ps < .05). CONCLUSION: Older and female AYAs were more likely to have begun practising specific TRAQ-FR subscale skills. Better psychosocial functioning was also related to having learned specific transition readiness skills. AYAs show several gaps in transition readiness. Targeted intervention in transition readiness skill development could take into account AYAs' age, sex and psychosocial functioning for a successful transfer to adult care.

Dissecting patterns and predictors of interhospital transfers for patients with brain metastasis.

OBJECTIVE: Interhospital transfers in the acute setting may contribute to high cost, patient inconvenience, and delayed treatment. The authors sought to understand patterns and predictors in the transfer of brain metastasis patients after emergency department (ED) encounter. METHODS: The authors analyzed 3037 patients with brain metastasis who presented to the ED in Massachusetts and were included in the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project State Inpatient Database and State Emergency Department Database in 2018 and 2019. RESULTS: The authors found that 6.9% of brain metastasis patients who presented to the ED were transferred to another facility, either directly or indirectly after admission. The sending EDs were more likely to be nonteaching hospitals without neurosurgery and radiation oncology services (p < 0.01). Transferred patients were more likely to present with neurological symptoms compared to those admitted or discharged (p < 0.01). Among those transferred, approximately 30% did not undergo a significant procedure after transfer and approximately 10% were discharged within 3 days, in addition to not undergoing significant interventions. In total, 74% of transferred patients were sent to a facility significantly farther (> 3 miles) than the nearest facility with neurosurgery and radiation oncology services. Further distance transfers were not associated with improvements in 30-day readmission rate (OR [95% CI] 0.64 [0.30-1.34] for 15-30 miles; OR [95% CI] 0.73 [0.37-1.46] for > 30 miles), 90-day readmission rate (OR [95% CI] 0.50 [0.18-1.28] for 15-30 miles; OR [95% CI] 0.53 [0.18-1.51] for > 30 miles), and length of stay (OR [95% CI] 1.21 days [0.94-1.29] for both 15-30 miles and > 30 miles) compared to close-distance transfers. CONCLUSIONS: The authors identified a notable proportion of transfers without subsequent significant intervention or appreciable medical management. This may reflect ED physician discomfort with the neurological symptoms of brain metastasis. Many patients were also transferred to hospitals distant from their point of origin and demonstrated no differences in readmission rates and length of stay.

Development of a complex intervention to prevent delirium in older hospitalized patients by optimizing discharge and transfer processes and involving caregivers: A multi-method study.

BACKGROUND: Delirium is a common yet challenging condition in older hospitalized patients, associated with various adverse outcomes. Environmental factors, such as room changes, may contribute to the development or severity of delirium. Most previous research has focused on preventing and reducing this condition by addressing risk factors and facilitating reorientation during hospital stay. OBJECTIVE: We aimed to systematically develop a complex intervention to prevent delirium in older hospitalized patients by optimizing discharge and transfer processes and involving caregivers during and after these procedures. The intervention combines stakeholder and expert opinions, evidence, and theory. This article provides guidance and inspiration to research groups in developing complex interventions according to the recommendations in the Medical Research Council framework for complex interventions. DESIGN AND METHODS: A stepwise multi-method study was conducted. The preparation phase included analysis of the context and current practice via focus groups. Based on these results, an expert workshop was organized, followed by a Delphi survey. Finally, the intervention was modeled and a program theory was developed, including a logic model. RESULTS: A complex intervention was developed in an iterative process, involving healthcare professionals, delirium experts, researchers, as well as caregiver and patient representatives. The key intervention component is an 8-point-program, which provides caregivers with recommendations for preventing delirium during the transition phase and in the post-discharge period. Information materials (flyers, handbook, videos, posters, defined "Dos and Don'ts", discharge checklist), training for healthcare professionals, and status analyses are used as implementation strategies. In addition, roles were established for gatekeepers to act as leaders, and champions to serve as knowledge multipliers and trainers for the multi-professional team in the hospitals. CONCLUSIONS: This study serves as an example of how to develop a complex intervention. In an additional step, the intervention and implementation strategies will be investigated for feasibility and acceptability in a pilot study with an accompanying process evaluation. TWEETABLE ABSTRACT: Delirium prevention can benefit from optimizing discharge and transfer processes and involving caregivers of older patients in these procedures. STUDY REGISTRATION: DRKS00017828, German Register of Clinical Studies, date of registration 17.09.2019.

Repercussions of moving patients on the context of practice: perspectives of the nursing team / Repercusiones de la movilización de pacientes sobre el contexto de práctica: perspectivas del equipo de enfermería / Repercussões da movimentação de pacientes sobre o contexto de prática: perspectivas da equipe de enfermagem

Objective: to examine the nursing team's view of the repercussions of moving patients (admissions, transfers and discharges) on the organization of work and the delivery of care. Method: this is a qualitative study using the focus group technique, conducted with 23 professionals - 12 nurses, eight nurse technicians and three nurse assistants working in three inpatient units at a teaching hospital in the countryside of Sao Paulo. Four meetings took place between November 2021 and March 2022. The reports were analyzed thematically using MAXQDA software. Results: two thematic categories emerged: the influence of structural factors and work organization on the intra-hospital moving of patients; it demands time, generates work overload and interferes with the delivery of care. Conclusion: the volume of moving patient associated with unforeseen demands, care complexity and insufficient staff and resources have a negative impact on the delivery of care, with clinical risks and work overload. The findings make it possible to improve the regulation of patients entering and leaving the units, work organization and care management, avoiding clinical risks, delays, omissions and work overload.

Objetivo: examinar la perspectiva del equipo de enfermería sobre las repercusiones del movimiento de pacientes (admisiones, traslados y altas) en la organización del trabajo y en la prestación de cuidados. Método: estudio cualitativo utilizando la técnica de grupo focal llevado a cabo con 23 profesionales, incluyendo 12 enfermeros, ocho técnicos y tres auxiliares de enfermería de tres unidades de internación de un hospital universitario del interior de São Paulo. Se realizaron cuatro encuentros entre noviembre de 2021 y marzo de 2022. Los relatos fueron analizados en la modalidad temática con la ayuda del software MAXQDA. Resultados: surgieron dos categorías temáticas: la influencia de factores estructurales y de la organización del trabajo en el movimiento intrahospitalario de pacientes; y, el movimiento de pacientes demanda tiempo, genera sobrecarga de trabajo e interfiere en la prestación de cuidados. Conclusión: el volumen de movimientos de pacientes asociado a demandas imprevistas, complejidad asistencial e insuficiencia de personal y de recursos repercute negativamente en la prestación del cuidado con riesgos clínicos y sobrecarga laboral. Los hallazgos permiten mejorar la regulación de las entradas y salidas de pacientes en las unidades, la organización del trabajo y la gestión del cuidado, evitando riesgos clínicos, retrasos, omisiones y sobrecarga laboral.

Objetivo: examinar o olhar da equipe de enfermagem quanto às repercussões da movimentação de pacientes (admissões, transferências e altas) na organização do trabalho e na entrega do cuidado. Método: estudo qualitativo utilizando técnica de grupo focal conduzido junto a vinte e três profissionais sendo doze enfermeiros, oito técnicos e três auxiliares de enfermagem lotados em três unidades de internação de um hospital de ensino do interior de São Paulo. Ocorreram quatro encontros, entre novembro de 2021 e março de 2022. Os relatos foram analisados na modalidade temática com o auxílio do software MAXQDA. Resultados: emergiram duas categorias temáticas: a influência de fatores estruturais e da organização do trabalho na movimentação intra-hospitalar de pacientes; e a movimentação de pacientes demanda tempo, gera sobrecarga de trabalho e interfere na entrega do cuidado. Conclusão: o volume de movimentações de pacientes associado às demandas imprevistas, complexidade assistencial e insuficiência de pessoal e de recursos repercutem negativamente na entrega do cuidar com riscos clínicos e sobrecarga laboral. Os achados possibilitam aprimorar a regulação das entradas e saídas de pacientes nas unidades, organização do trabalho e gestão do cuidado evitando-se riscos clínicos, atrasos, omissões e sobrecarga laboral.

Transição de cuidado de pacientes internados por COVID-19 e sua relação com as características clínicas / Transición de cuidado de pacientes internados por COVID-19 y su relación con las características clínicas / Care transition for patients admitted to hospital due to COVID-19 and its relationship with clinical characteristics

Resumo Objetivo Analisar a transição do cuidado (TC), e sua relação com as características clínicas de pacientes internados por COVID-19. Métodos Estudo transversal, realizado em um hospital geral, com 165 pacientes hospitalizados em decorrência da COVID-19 e que receberam alta para o domicílio. Participaram aqueles que estiveram internados por pelo menos 24hs, maiores de 18 anos, com acesso telefônico após a alta. Excluídos aqueles que receberam alta por transferência, que evoluíram a óbito ou aqueles sem condições cognitivas. Dados coletados entre março a julho de 2021, por meio de questionário sociodemográfico e clínico, bem como o Care Transitions Measure-15. Aplicou-se análise estatística descritiva e inferencial. Resultados A média geral do Care Transitions Measure-15 foi considerada satisfatória (71,8±7,45). O fator Preferências Asseguradas obteve maior média (80,5± 9,84) e o fator Plano de Cuidados a menor (57,5± 11,4). Foram encontradas diferenças estatísticas significativas quando se associou os fatores do CTM-15 com as variáveis clínicas tempo de doença crônica (p<0,03), presença de artefato clínico (p<0,040), uso de medicação contínua (p<0,029) e a reinternação teve diferença significativa nos fatores Preparação para o Autogerenciamento (p<0,045), Preferências Asseguradas (p<0,027) e Plano de Cuidados (p<0,032). Conclusão Os pacientes hospitalizados por COVID-19 avaliaram a TC geral como satisfatória e as variáveis clínicas tempo de doença crônica, artefato clínico, medicação contínua e reinternação interferiram na TC desses pacientes.

Resumen Objetivo Analizar la transición del cuidado (TC) y su relación con las características clínicas de pacientes internados por COVID-19. Métodos Estudio transversal, realizado en un hospital general, con 165 pacientes hospitalizados como consecuencia de COVID-19, que fueron dados de alta para volver a su domicilio. Participaron aquellas personas que estuvieron internadas por lo menos 24 horas, mayores de 18 años, con acceso telefónico después del alta. Se excluyeron aquellas que fueron dadas de alta por transferencia, que fallecieron o que no tenían condiciones cognitivas. Los datos fueron recopilados entre marzo y julio de 2021, mediante cuestionario sociodemográfico y clínico, así como también el Care Transitions Measure-15. Se aplicó análisis estadístico descriptivo e inferencial. Resultados El promedio general del Care Transitions Measure-15 fue considerado satisfactorio (71,8±7,45). El factor Preferencias Aseguradas obtuvo el mayor promedio (80,5± 9,84) y el factor Plan de Cuidados, el menor (57,5± 11,4). Se encontraron diferencias estadísticas significativas cuando se asociaron los factores del CTM-15 con las variables clínicas tiempo de enfermedad crónica (p<0,03), presencia de artefacto clínico (p<0,040), uso de medicación continua (p<0,029). La reinternación tuvo una diferencia significativa en los factores Preparación para la Autogestión (p<0,045), Preferencias Aseguradas (p<0,027) y Plan de Cuidados (p<0,032). Conclusión Los pacientes hospitalizados por COVID-19 evaluaron la TC general como satisfactoria. Las variables clínicas tiempo de enfermedad crónica, artefacto clínico, medicación continua y reinternación interfirieron en la TC de estos pacientes.

Abstract Objective To analyze care transition (CT) and its relationship with the clinical characteristics of patients admitted to hospital due to COVID-19. Methods This is a cross-sectional study, carried out in a general hospital, with 165 patients admitted to hospital due to COVID-19 and who were discharged home. Participants were those who had been admitted to hospital for at least 24 hours, over 18 years of age, with telephone access after discharge. Those who were discharged by transfer, who died or those without cognitive conditions were excluded. Data collected between March and July 2021, using a sociodemographic and clinical questionnaire as well as Care Transitions Measure-15. Descriptive and inferential statistical analysis was applied. Results The overall mean of Care Transitions Measure-15 was considered satisfactory (71.8±7.45). The Important preferences factor obtained the highest mean (80.5± 9.84) and the Care Plan factor the lowest (57.5± 11.4). Significant statistical differences were found when the CTM-15 factors were associated with the clinical variables: duration of chronic disease (p<0.03); presence of clinical artifact (p<0.040); use of continuous medication (p<0.029). Readmission had a significant difference in the factors Health management preparation (p<0.045), Important preferences (p<0.027) and Care plan (p<0.032). Conclusion Patients admitted to hospital due to COVID-19 assessed the general CT as satisfactory and the clinical variables, length of chronic illness, clinical artifact, continuous medication and readmission interfered in the CT of these patients.