Jesse Pines

Patient-centered medical homes are primary care practices that focus on coordinating acute and preventive care. Such practices can obtain patient-centered medical home recognition from the National Committee for Quality Assurance. We compare growth rates for emergency department (ED) use and costs of ED visits and hospitalizations (all-cause and ambulatory-care-sensitive conditions) between patient-centered medical homes recognized in 2009 or 2010 and practices without recognition.

In recent years, point-of-care (POC) testing has gained popularity in emergency departments (EDs) to facilitate rapid laboratory test results [1], [2], [3] and [4]. Despite increasing popularity, few studies have addressed POC use early in ED care, specifically around ED triage. Availability of laboratory testing may help risk-stratify patients by providing additional information early in ED care. In a prospective study, triage POC testing changed patient management in 14% of cases, Emergency… Show more

In recent years, point-of-care (POC) testing has gained popularity in emergency departments (EDs) to facilitate rapid laboratory test results [1], [2], [3] and [4]. Despite increasing popularity, few studies have addressed POC use early in ED care, specifically around ED triage. Availability of laboratory testing may help risk-stratify patients by providing additional information early in ED care. In a prospective study, triage POC testing changed patient management in 14% of cases, Emergency Severity Index (ESI) triage level in 15%, and 56% found POC testing to be helpful in the triage process [5]. In addition, POC may hasten ED care through early ordering of symptom appropriate diagnostic tests—a process called rapid posttriage assessment [6] and [7]. Show less

performance measures are increasingly important to guide meaningful quality improvement efforts and value-based reimbursement. populations included in most current hospital performance measures are defined by recorded diagnoses using international classification of diseases, ninth revision codes in administrative claims data. although the diagnosis-centric approach allows the assessment of disease-specific quality, it fails to measure one of the primary functions of emergency department (ed)… Show more

performance measures are increasingly important to guide meaningful quality improvement efforts and value-based reimbursement. populations included in most current hospital performance measures are defined by recorded diagnoses using international classification of diseases, ninth revision codes in administrative claims data. although the diagnosis-centric approach allows the assessment of disease-specific quality, it fails to measure one of the primary functions of emergency department (ed) care, which involves diagnosing, risk stratifying, and treating patients' potentially life-threatening conditions according to symptoms (ie, chief complaints). in this article, we propose chief complaint-based quality measures as a means to enhance the evaluation of quality and value in emergency care. we discuss the potential benefits of chief complaint-based measures, describe opportunities to mitigate challenges, propose an example measure set, and present several recommendations to advance this paradigm in ed-based performance measurement. Show less

Hospital-based emergency departments (EDs), given their high cost and major role in allocating care resources, are at the center of the debate about how to maximize value in delivering health care in the United States. To operate effectively and create value, EDs must be flexible, having the ability to rapidly adapt to the highly variable needs of patients. The concept of flexibility has not been well described in the ED literature. We introduce the concept, outline its potential benefits, and… Show more

Hospital-based emergency departments (EDs), given their high cost and major role in allocating care resources, are at the center of the debate about how to maximize value in delivering health care in the United States. To operate effectively and create value, EDs must be flexible, having the ability to rapidly adapt to the highly variable needs of patients. The concept of flexibility has not been well described in the ED literature. We introduce the concept, outline its potential benefits, and provide some illustrative examples to facilitate incorporating flexibility into ED management. We draw on operations research and organizational theory to identify and describe 5 forms of flexibility: physical, human resource, volume, behavioral, and conceptual. Each form of flexibility may be useful individually or in combination with other forms in improving ED performance and enhancing value. We also offer suggestions for measuring operational flexibility in the ED. A better understanding of operational flexibility and its application to the ED may help us move away from reactive approaches of managing variable demand to a more systematic approach. We also address the tension between cost and flexibility and outline how “partial flexibility” may help resolve some challenges. Applying concepts of flexibility from other disciplines may help clinicians and administrators think differently about their workflow and provide new insights into managing issues of cost, flow, and quality in the ED. Show less

To evaluate the impact of initiatives created by the pharmaceutical industry and the Food and Drug Administration to limit the use of over-the-counter (OTC) cough and cold medications (CCMs) in young children in emergency departments (EDs) and ambulatory clinics.

Study Objective:
Acute upper gastrointestinal (GI) hemorrhage is a common presentation in hospital-based emergency departments (EDs). A novel diagnostic approach is to use video capsule endoscopy to directly visualize the upper GI tract and identify bleeding. Our objective was to evaluate and compare the relative costs and benefits of video capsule endoscopy compared to other strategies in low- to moderate-risk ED patients with acute upper GI hemorrhage.

METHODS:
We constructed a… Show more

Study Objective:
Acute upper gastrointestinal (GI) hemorrhage is a common presentation in hospital-based emergency departments (EDs). A novel diagnostic approach is to use video capsule endoscopy to directly visualize the upper GI tract and identify bleeding. Our objective was to evaluate and compare the relative costs and benefits of video capsule endoscopy compared to other strategies in low- to moderate-risk ED patients with acute upper GI hemorrhage.

METHODS:
We constructed a model using standard decision analysis software to examine the cost-effectiveness of 4 available strategies for a base-case patient who presents to the ED with either mild- or moderate-risk scenarios (by Glasgow-Blatchford Score) for requiring invasive hemostatic intervention (ie, endoscopic, surgical, etc) The 4 available diagnostic strategies were (1) direct imaging with video capsule endoscopy performed in the ED; (2) risk stratification using the Glasgow-Blatchford score; (3) nasogastric tube placement; and, finally, (4) an admit-all strategy.

RESULTS:
In the low-risk scenario, video capsule endoscopy was the preferred strategy (cost $5691, 14.69 quality-adjusted life years [QALYs]) and was more cost-effective than the remaining strategies including nasogastric tube strategy (cost $8159, 14.69 QALYs), risk stratification strategy (cost $10,695, 14.69 QALYs), and admit-all strategy (cost $22,766, 14.68 QALYs). In the moderate-risk scenario, video capsule endoscopy continued to be the preferred strategy (cost $9190, 14.56 QALYs) compared to nasogastric tube (cost $9487, 14.58 QALYs, incremental cost-effectiveness ratio $15,891) and more cost effective than admit-all strategy (cost, $22,584, 14.54 QALYs.)

CONCLUSION:
Video capsule endoscopy may be cost-effective for low- and moderate-risk patients presenting to the ED with acute upper GI hemorrhage. Show less

Poster presented by Dr. Abualenain at the Society for Academic Emergency Medicine (SAEM) 2013 Annual Meeting in Atlanta, Georgia, May 14-18, 2013.

There were more than 19 million hospitalizations in 2008 from hospital-based emergency departments (EDs), representing nearly 50% of all U.S. admissions. Factors related to variation in hospital-level ED admission rates are unknown. Generalized linear models were used to assess patient-, hospital-, and community-level factors associated with ED admission rates across a sample of U.S. hospitals using Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project data. In 1,376 EDs, the mean ED admission rate, when… Show more

There were more than 19 million hospitalizations in 2008 from hospital-based emergency departments (EDs), representing nearly 50% of all U.S. admissions. Factors related to variation in hospital-level ED admission rates are unknown. Generalized linear models were used to assess patient-, hospital-, and community-level factors associated with ED admission rates across a sample of U.S. hospitals using Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project data. In 1,376 EDs, the mean ED admission rate, when defined as direct admissions and also transfers from one ED to another hospital, was 17.5% and varied from 9.8% to 25.8% at the 10th and 90th percentiles. Higher proportions of Medicare and uninsured patients, more inpatient beds, lower ED
volumes, for-profit ownership, trauma center status, and higher hospital occupancy rates were associated with higher ED admission rates. Also, hospitals in counties with fewer primary care physicians per capita and higher county-level ED admission rates had higher ED admission rates. Show less

This book for emergency physicians and physicians training in emergency medicine provides evidence-based information on what diagnostic tests to ask for and when and how to use particular decision rules. The new edition builds on the success of the current book by modifying the presentation of the evidence, increasing the coverage, and updating the current information throughout.

Increasing healthcare costs have created an emphasis on improving value, defined as how invested time, money, and resources improve health. The role of emergency departments (EDs) within value-driven health systems is still undetermined. Often questioned is the value of an ED visit for conditions that could be reasonably treated elsewhere such as office-based, urgent, and retail clinics. This paper presents a conceptual approach to assess the value of these low-acuity visits. It adapts an… Show more

Increasing healthcare costs have created an emphasis on improving value, defined as how invested time, money, and resources improve health. The role of emergency departments (EDs) within value-driven health systems is still undetermined. Often questioned is the value of an ED visit for conditions that could be reasonably treated elsewhere such as office-based, urgent, and retail clinics. This paper presents a conceptual approach to assess the value of these low-acuity visits. It adapts an existing analytic model to highlight specific factors that impact key stakeholders’ (patients, insurers, and society) assessments of the value of ED-based care compared with care in alternative settings. These factors are presented in 3 equations, 1 for each stakeholder, emphasizing how tangible and intangible benefits of care weigh against direct and indirect costs and how each perspective influences value. Aligning value among groups could allow stakeholders to influence each other and could guide rational change in the delivery of acute medical care for low-acuity conditions. Show less

Over the past decade, emergency departments (ED) have encountered major challenges due to increased crowding and a greater public focus on quality measurement and quality improvement. Responding to these challenges, many EDs have worked to improve their processes and develop new and innovative models of care delivery. Urgent Matters has contributed to ED quality and patient flow improvement by working with hospitals throughout the United States. Recognizing that EDs across the country are… Show more

Over the past decade, emergency departments (ED) have encountered major challenges due to increased crowding and a greater public focus on quality measurement and quality improvement. Responding to these challenges, many EDs have worked to improve their processes and develop new and innovative models of care delivery. Urgent Matters has contributed to ED quality and patient flow improvement by working with hospitals throughout the United States. Recognizing that EDs across the country are struggling with many of the same issues, Urgent Matters—a program funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF)—has sought to identify, develop, and disseminate innovative approaches, interventions, and models to improve ED flow and quality. Using a variety of techniques, such as learning networks (collaboratives), national conferences, e-newsletters, webinars, best practices toolkits, and social media, Urgent Matters has served as a thought leader and innovator in ED quality improvement initiatives. Show less

A comprehensive review of the current peer-reviewed literature on the clinical and operational effects related to ED Crowding including the evidence for and against common interventions.

Emergency department (ED) crowding has been identified as a major public health problem in the United States by the Institute of Medicine. ED crowding not only is associated with poorer patient outcomes, but it also contributes to lost demand for ED services when patients leave without being seen and hospitals must go on ambulance diversion. However, somewhat paradoxically, ED crowding may financially benefit hospitals. This is because ED crowding allows hospitals to maximize occupancy with… Show more

Emergency department (ED) crowding has been identified as a major public health problem in the United States by the Institute of Medicine. ED crowding not only is associated with poorer patient outcomes, but it also contributes to lost demand for ED services when patients leave without being seen and hospitals must go on ambulance diversion. However, somewhat paradoxically, ED crowding may financially benefit hospitals. This is because ED crowding allows hospitals to maximize occupancy with well-insured, elective patients while patients wait in the ED. In this article, the authors propose a more holistic model of hospital flow and revenue that contradicts this notion and offer suggestions for improvements in ED and hospital management that may not only reduce crowding and improve quality, but also increase hospital revenues. Also proposed is that increased efficiency and quality in U.S. hospitals will require changes in systematic microeconomic and macroeconomic incentives that drive the delivery of health services in the United States. Finally, the authors address several questions to propose mutually beneficial solutions to ED crowding that include the realignment of hospital incentives, changing culture to promote flow, and several ED-based strategies to improve ED efficiency. Show less

Ann Emerg Med. 2010 Feb;55(2):171-80. Epub 2009 Oct 2.

Patient handoffs at shift change are a ubiquitous and potentially hazardous process in emergency care. As crowding and lengthy evaluations become the standard for an increasing proportion of emergency departments (EDs), the number of patients handed off will likely increase. It is critical now more than ever before to ensure that handoffs supply valid and useful shared understandings between providers at transitions of care. The… Show more

Ann Emerg Med. 2010 Feb;55(2):171-80. Epub 2009 Oct 2.

Patient handoffs at shift change are a ubiquitous and potentially hazardous process in emergency care. As crowding and lengthy evaluations become the standard for an increasing proportion of emergency departments (EDs), the number of patients handed off will likely increase. It is critical now more than ever before to ensure that handoffs supply valid and useful shared understandings between providers at transitions of care. The purpose of this article is to provide the most up-to-date evidence and collective thinking about the process and safety of handoffs between physicians in the ED. It offers perspectives from other disciplines, provides a conceptual framework for handoffs, and categorizes models of existing practices. Legal and risk management issues are also addressed. A proposal for the development of handoff quality measures is outlined. Practical strategies are suggested to improve ED handoffs. Finally, a research agenda is proposed to provide a roadmap to future work that may increase knowledge in this area. Show less

PURPOSES: To assess attitudes and practices of documentation and coding education
for emergency medicine residents (EMRs).
METHODS: Questions regarding documentation teaching methods were formulated into
online surveys for program directors (PDs) and EMRs.
RESULTS: Fifty-three of 104 PDs and 446 of 576 EMRs who received the survey
completed it. Although 93% of EMRs and 63% of PDs believe proper chart
documentation is an important skill, only 18% of EMRs and 25% of PDs… Show more

PURPOSES: To assess attitudes and practices of documentation and coding education
for emergency medicine residents (EMRs).
METHODS: Questions regarding documentation teaching methods were formulated into
online surveys for program directors (PDs) and EMRs.
RESULTS: Fifty-three of 104 PDs and 446 of 576 EMRs who received the survey
completed it. Although 93% of EMRs and 63% of PDs believe proper chart
documentation is an important skill, only 18% of EMRs and 25% of PDs believe
their program's teaching was adequate. Eleven percent of EMRs reported that they
were comfortable with their knowledge of documentation. EMRs who received formal
lectures and feedback reported higher comfort levels with their knowledge of
documentation (3.3 ± 1.1 vs. 4.5 ± 1.4, p < 0.05) than those who did not receive
formal lectures and feedback.
CONCLUSIONS: Although most physicians who were surveyed agreed that documentation
and coding is a vital skill, many EMRs and PDs report inadequate instruction.
Resident education may benefit from broader implementation of formal lectures and
formal feedback on documentation and coding skills.

PMCID: PMC2906976
PMID: 20847855
Cal J Emerg Med. 2004 Jan;5(1):3-8
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