Bellolio, Fernanda

Abstract Objectives There is limited knowledge on how providers and patients in the emergency department (ED) use electronic health records (EHRs) to facilitate the diagnostic process. While EHRs can support diagnostic decision-making, EHR features that are not user-centered may increase the likelihood of diagnostic error. We aimed to identify how EHRs facilitate or impede the diagnostic process in the ED and to identify opportunities to reduce diagnostic errors and improve care quality. Materials and Methods We conducted semistructured interviews with 10 physicians, 15 nurses, and 8 patients across 4 EDs. Data were analyzed using a hybrid thematic analysis approach, which blends deductive (ie, using multiple conceptual frameworks) and inductive coding strategies. A team of 4 coders performed coding. Results We identified 4 themes, 3 at the care team level and 1 at the patient level. At the care team level, the benefits of the EHR in the diagnostic process included (1) customizing features to facilitate diagnostic workup and (2) aiding in communication. However, (3) EHR-driven protocols were found to potentially burden the care process and reliance on asynchronous communication could impede team dynamics. At the patient-level, we found that (4) patient portals facilitated meaningful patient engagement through timely delivery of results. Discussion While EHRs can improve the diagnostic process, they can also impair communication and increase workload. Electronic health record design should leverage provider-created tools to improve usability and enhance diagnostic safety. Conclusions Our findings have important implications for health information technology design and policy. Further work should assess optimal ways to release patient results via the EHR portal.

ImportanceThere is a clear benefit to body armor against firearms; however, it remains unclear how these vests may influence day-to-day patient encounters when worn by emergency medical services (EMS).ObjectiveTo determine the association of ballistic vests worn by EMS clinicians with workplace violence (WPV) and disparities in care among racial and/or ethnic minority patients.Design, Setting, and ParticipantsProspective cohort study of a volunteer-based sample of EMS clinicians at a large, multistate EMS agency encompassing 15 ground sites across the Midwest from April 1, 2023, to March 31, 2024. Data were analyzed from May to June 2024.ExposureExternal ballistic armor being used by a group of self-selected clinicians on every run.Main Outcomes and MeasuresPrevalence and characteristics associated with WPV and with declines of treatment and/or transport compared between crews with 1 or more vested vs no vested members.ResultsA total of 156 of 415 staff (37.6%) opted in to wear the vests, including 77 male participants (49.4%). Prevalence of WPV was higher for vested crews (1.11 vs 0.85 cases per 100 runs; adjusted risk ratio [aRR], 1.28; 95% CI, 1.10 to 1.50; P = .001) and was due to higher rates of verbal abuse. The presence of 1 or more vested crew members increased the likelihood of all patients declining EMS treatment and/or transport; however, effect size was highest among patients with an unknown race and/or ethnicity (2234 [21.1%] vs 2134 [16.5%] patients; aRR, 1.19; 95% CI, 1.10 to 1.27; P < .001), followed by racial and/or ethnic minority patients (708 [16.7%] vs 399 [13.8%] patients; aRR, 1.18; 95% CI, 1.05 to 1.33; P = .01). Analyses of individual minority groups revealed a significant increase only in Black or African American patients declining treatment and/or transport by vested crews (461 [17.6%] vs 223 [13.7%] patients; RR, 1.28; 95% CI, 1.10 to 1.49; P = .002).Conclusions and RelevanceIn this cohort study, vested crews experienced increased prevalence of WPV compared with nonvested crews. Use of vests increased the frequency of all patients declining EMS treatment and/or transport. Among minority groups, there was a significant increase in Black or African American patients declining treatment and/or transport. Agencies should consider benefits and unintended consequences of EMS clinicians wearing body armor.

Importance The emergency department (ED) offers an opportunity to initiate palliative care for older adults with serious, life-limiting illness. Objective To assess the effect of a multicomponent intervention to initiate palliative care in the ED on hospital admission, subsequent health care use, and survival in older adults with serious, life-limiting illness. Design, Setting, and Participants Cluster randomized, stepped-wedge, clinical trial including patients aged 66 years or older who visited 1 of 29 EDs across the US between May 1, 2018, and December 31, 2022, had 12 months of prior Medicare enrollment, and a Gagne comorbidity score greater than 6, representing a risk of short-term mortality greater than 30%. Nursing home patients were excluded. Intervention A multicomponent intervention (the Primary Palliative Care for Emergency Medicine intervention) included (1) evidence-based multidisciplinary education; (2) simulation-based workshops on serious illness communication; (3) clinical decision support; and (4) audit and feedback for ED clinical staff. Main Outcome and Measures The primary outcome was hospital admission. The secondary outcomes included subsequent health care use and survival at 6 months. Results There were 98 922 initial ED visits during the study period (median age, 77 years [IQR, 71-84 years]; 50% were female; 13% were Black and 78% were White; and the median Gagne comorbidity score was 8 [IQR, 7-10]). The rate of hospital admission was 64.4% during the preintervention period vs 61.3% during the postintervention period (absolute difference, −3.1% [95% CI, −3.7% to −2.5%]; adjusted odds ratio [OR], 1.03 [95% CI, 0.93 to 1.14]). There was no difference in the secondary outcomes before vs after the intervention. The rate of admission to an intensive care unit was 7.8% during the preintervention period vs 6.7% during the postintervention period (adjusted OR, 0.98 [95% CI, 0.83 to 1.15]). The rate of at least 1 revisit to the ED was 34.2% during the preintervention period vs 32.2% during the postintervention period (adjusted OR, 1.00 [95% CI, 0.91 to 1.09]). The rate of hospice use was 17.7% during the preintervention period vs 17.2% during the postintervention period (adjusted OR, 1.04 [95% CI, 0.93 to 1.16]). The rate of home health use was 42.0% during the preintervention period vs 38.1% during the postintervention period (adjusted OR, 1.01 [95% CI, 0.92 to 1.10]). The rate of at least 1 hospital readmission was 41.0% during the preintervention period vs 36.6% during the postintervention period (adjusted OR, 1.01 [95% CI, 0.92 to 1.10]). The rate of death was 28.1% during the preintervention period vs 28.7% during the postintervention period (adjusted OR, 1.07 [95% CI, 0.98 to 1.18]). Conclusions and Relevance This multicomponent intervention to initiate palliative care in the ED did not have an effect on hospital admission, subsequent health care use, or short-term mortality in older adults with serious, life-limiting illness. Trial Registration ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03424109

Objective Extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation (ECPR) utilizes veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA-ECMO) in cardiac arrest patients to reduce the risk of mortality and multiorgan dysfunction from systemic hypoperfusion. We aimed to compare clinical outcomes of patients receiving ECPR versus conventional cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CCPR) for refractory cardiac arrest. Data Sources This was a systematic review and meta-analysis. A librarian searched the main databases, Ovid MEDLINE (including epub ahead of print, in-process & other non-indexed citations), Ovid EMBASE and Ovid Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials from inception through July 2024. Study Selection We included randomized controlled trials and observational studies that compared the outcomes of ECPR to CCPR in cardiac arrest patients. Primary outcomes were neurological sequelae and survival. Data Extraction We followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Two reviewers independently screened articles, extracted data on selected articles and performed risk of bias assessments using ROBINS-I for non-randomized controlled trials and the revised Cochrane risk of bias tool for randomized controlled trials with disagreements settled by a third independent reviewer. Data Synthesis Out of 3458 studies identified and screened, 28 studies including 304,360 cardiac arrest patients met eligibility criteria and were included. Survival at hospital discharge was 20% for ECPR versus 3.3% for CCPR (OR 0.48 [CI 0.27, 0.84]). Favorable neurological outcome at hospital discharge was 11.8% for ECPR versus 1.9% for CCPR (OR 0.41 [CI 0.17, 1.01]). Complications from bleeding were ten times higher in the ECPR group (35.3% vs 3.7%; OR 0.08 [0.03, 0.24]). Conclusions ECPR appeared to be superior to CCPR for improved neurological outcome and survival in cardiac arrest patients, although bleeding was increased. There was large heterogeneity in the included studies and outcomes reported. Future prospective studies may improve the identification of subgroups of patients that will benefit most from ECPR. Systematic review and meta-analysis registration: PROSPERO - CRD42023394128.

AbstractObjectiveTransgender and gender‐diverse (TGD) individuals have a gender identity or expression that differs from the sex assigned to them at birth. They are an underserved population who experience health care inequities. Our primary objective was to identify if there are treatment differences between TGD and cisgender lesbian/gay/bisexual/queer (LGBQ) or heterosexual individuals presenting with abdominal pain to the emergency department (ED).MethodsRetrospective observational cohort study of patients ≥12 years of age presenting to 21 EDs within a health care system with a chief complaint of abdominal pain between 2018 and 2022. TGD patients were matched 1:1:1:1 to cisgender LGBQ women and men and cisgender heterosexual women and men, respectively. Propensity score matching covariates included age, ED site, mental health history, and gastrointestinal history. The primary outcome was pain assessment within 60 min of arrival. The secondary outcome was analgesics administered in the ED.ResultsWe identified 300 TGD patients, of whom 300 TGD patients were successfully matched for a total cohort of 1300 patients. The median (IQR) age was 25 (20–32) years and most patients were treated in a community ED (58.2%). There was no difference between groups in pain assessment within 60 min of arrival (59.0% TGD vs. 63.2% non TGD, p = 0.19). There were no differences in the number of times pain was assessed (median [IQR] 2 [1–3] vs. 2 [1–4], p = 0.31) or the severity of pain between groups (5.5 [4–7] vs. 6 [4–7], p = 0.11). TGD patients were more likely to receive nonsteroidal anti‐inflammatory drugs (32.0% vs. 24.9%, p = 0.015) and less likely to receive opioids than non‐TGD patients (24.7% vs. 36.9%, p = <0.001). TGD and nonbinary patients, along with LGBQ cisgender women (24.7%) and heterosexual cisgender women (34%), were less likely to receive opioids than LGBQ cisgender men (54%) and heterosexual cisgender men (42.3%, p < 0.01).ConclusionThere was no difference in frequency of pain assessment, regardless of gender identity or sexual orientation. More cisgender men, compared to TGD and cisgender women, received opioids for their pain.