Potentially avoidable interfacility transfers following reduced emergency department volumes due to COVID-19 "Safer-at-Home" orders.
Am J Emerg Med
; 61: 68-73, 2022 11.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-36057211
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVES:
We sought to assess if a state-wide lockdown implemented due to COVID-19 was associated with increased odds of being a potentially avoidable transfer (PAT).METHODS:
We conducted a retrospective observational analysis using hospital administrative data of interfacility ED-to-ED transfers to a single, quaternary care adult ED after "Safer at Home" orders were issued March 23rd, 2020 in [Blinded for submission]. Using the PAT classification to identify transfers rapidly discharged from the ED or hospital and may not require in-person care, we used a multivariable logistic regression model to examine the association of the lockdown order with odds of a transfer being a PAT. We compared the period January 1, 2018 to March 23, 2020 with March 24, 2020 to September 30, 2020, adjusting for seasonality, patient, and situational factors.RESULTS:
There were 20,978 ED-to-ED transfers from during this period that were eligible and 4806 (23%) that met PAT criteria. While the first month post-lockdown saw a decrease in PATs (28%), this was not sustained. In the multivariable model there was a significant seasonal effect; May through September had the highest number of transfers as well as PATs. After adjusting for seasonality, the lockdown was not associated with PATs (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 0.99, 95% CI 0.2, 5.2) and PATs decreased over time.CONCLUSIONS:
We did not find an effect of the COVID-19 lockdown on PATs though there was a considerable seasonal effect and an overall downward trend in PATs over time.Palavras-chave
Texto completo:
1
Base de dados:
MEDLINE
Assunto principal:
Transferência de Pacientes
/
COVID-19
Tipo de estudo:
Observational_studies
/
Prognostic_studies
Limite:
Adult
/
Humans
Idioma:
En
Ano de publicação:
2022
Tipo de documento:
Article