Emergency Department Visits Research Articles

Identifying prehospital trauma patients from ambulance patient care records; comparing two methods using linked data in New South Wales, Australia

BackgroundLinked datasets for trauma system monitoring should ideally follow patients from the prehospital scene to hospital admission and post-discharge. Having a well-defined cohort when using administrative datasets is essential because they must capture the representative population. Unlike hospital electronic health records (EHR), ambulance patient-care records lack access to sources beyond immediate clinical notes. Relying on a limited set of variables to define a study population might result in missed patient inclusion. We aimed to compare two methods of identifying prehospital trauma patients: one using only those documented under a trauma protocol and another incorporating additional data elements from ambulance patient care records. MethodsWe analyzed data from six routinely collected administrative datasets from 2015-2018, including ambulance patient-care records, aeromedical data, emergency department visits, hospitalizations, rehabilitation outcomes, and death records. Three prehospital trauma cohorts were created: an Extended-T-protocol cohort (patients transported under a trauma protocol and/or patients with prespecified criteria from structured data fields), T-protocol cohort (only patients documented as transported under a trauma protocol) and non-T-protocol (extended-T-protocol population not in the T-protocol cohort). Patient-encounter characteristics, mortality, clinical and post-hospital discharge outcomes were compared. A conservative p-value of 0.01 was considered significant ResultsOf 1 038 263 patient-encounters included in the extended-T-population 814 729 (78.5%) were transported, with 438 893 (53.9%) documented as a T-protocol patient. Half (49.6%) of the non-T-protocol sub-cohort had an International Classification of Disease 10th edition injury or external cause code, indicating 79644 missed patients when a T-protocol-only definition was used. The non-T-protocol sub-cohort also identified additional patients with intubation, prehospital blood transfusion and positive eFAST. A higher proportion of non-T protocol patients than T-protocol patients were admitted to the ICU (4.6% vs 3.6%), ventilated (1.8% vs 1.3%), received in-hospital transfusion (7.9 vs 6.8%) or died (1.8% vs 1.3%). Urgent trauma surgery was similar between groups (1.3% vs 1.4%). ConclusionThe extended-T-population definition identified 50% more admitted patients with an ICD-10-AM code consistent with an injury, including patients with severe trauma. Developing an EHR phenotype incorporating multiple data fields of ambulance-transported trauma patients for use with linked data may avoid missing these patients.

Overlapping otolaryngologic surgery: Safety and efficacy

BackgroundSurgical procedures scheduled staggered between two operating rooms increase efficiency by eliminating turnover time. However, the practice might increase the surgeon's fatigue. Overlapping surgery has been assumed to be safe because no critical portions of procedures are performed simultaneously in two rooms, but there is little evidence in the literature to support that assumption for otolaryngologic surgery, and there is no evidence comparing non-overlapping and overlapping surgical outcomes for a single surgeon with all confounding factors controlled. MethodsRetrospective cohort study that included a consecutive sample of adult subjects who underwent otolaryngologic laryngeal or otologic surgery between June 2013 and March 2016. All procedures were performed by the same surgical team and surgeon who had block time with 2-rooms every other week and 1-room on alternate weeks. The incidence of surgical complications was assessed in the perioperative period. Duration of surgery and time-in-room also were evaluated, as were surgical outcomes. ResultsA total of 496 surgeries were assigned to either overlapping-surgery (n = 346) or non-overlapping-surgery (n = 150) cohorts. Overlapping-surgery was a significant predictor for increased time-in-room on multivariate analysis but was not a significant predictor for surgery duration. Rate of complications, hospital readmission, emergency department visit, reoperation, mortality, and patient satisfaction did not differ significantly between cohorts. ConclusionsOverlapping surgery does not hinder patient safety or functional outcomes in patients undergoing otolaryngologic operations such as voice or ear surgery.

357 Postoperative Outcomes and Decreases in Pain Medication Utilization Following Nucleus Caudalis DREZ Lesioning for Painful Trigeminal Neuropathy: A Case Series

INTRODUCTION: Painful trigeminal neuropathy is characterized by treatment-resistant trigeminal pain. Nucleus Caudalis Dorsal Root Entry Zone lesioning (NC-DREZ) has been utilized to treat this condition, but changes in medication utilization has not been studied in this population. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed patients who underwent NC-DREZ at an academic medical center for the treatment of painful trigeminal neuropathy between March 2014 and December 2022, with a minimum 30-day follow-up. Postoperative complications, emergency department visits, readmissions, reoperations, changes in patients' subjective pain, and the longitudinal dosage of pain medications were collected as outcomes. The Fisher's exact and Kruskal-Wallis tests, with alpha set at 0.05, were used to compare the proportion and doses of medications used at each timepoint. RESULTS: Thirty-nine patients were included (mean age 55.7 years, 66.7% female) Prior interventions included trigeminal ablation (35.9%), microvascular decompression (59.0%), and stereotactic radiosurgery (41.0%).Twelve patients (30.8%) had postoperative complications, including five with transient ataxia and two with pseudomeningocele. Nine patients (23.1%) visited the ED after surgery, and 7 (17.9%) were readmitted. The rate of opioid use decreased from 56.4% at baseline to 32.3% six months following surgery (p = 0.03). Additionally, the use of carbamazepine, gabapentin, pregabalin, duloxetine, and amitriptyline decreased. One year after surgery, 11/26 patients (42.3%) reported sustained pain relief. CONCLUSIONS: In this case series of NC-DREZ patients, we demonstrated that postoperative complications and subjective pain outcomes were comparable to those previously reported in the literature. Importantly, we demonstrated a reduction in the use of opioids six months after surgery. This study's findings support the use of NC-DREZ as an alternative treatment for painful trigeminal neuropathy. Large scale prospective studies are needed to confirm these results.

Pharmacogenomics in Clinical Practice for Older People.

Older people are over-represented among individuals that experience adverse drug reactions (ADR) and adverse drug events (ADE). Furthermore, older people are over-represented among individuals that visit emergency departments and are hospitalized because of ADRs. Moreover, older people are overrepresented among those who suffer ADEs while hospitalized. Finally, older people are among those most likely to have an anaphylactic response to prescription medications. Therefore, older people are prime candidates for efforts aimed at optimizing pharmacotherapeutic outcomes. Pharmacogenomics is an approach of using genetic data to optimize pharmacotherapeutic outcomes. Over the last two decades, pharmacogenomics grew from research initiatives into the current environment of pharmacogenomics implementation. Specifically, implementing pharmacogenomics into clinical settings or within health care systems has proven beneficial in optimizing pharmacotherapeutic outcomes. Therefore, pharmacists focused on optimizing pharmacotherapeutic outcomes for older people should be aware of the approaches to and resources available for implementing pharmacogenomics. KEY WORDS: Drug labeling biomarkers, Genes, Older adults, Pharmacogenomics.

Time-Driven Activity-based Costing and Outcomes of Same-Day Discharge vs Inpatient Robotic Partial and Radical Nephrectomy

ObjectiveTo assess the outcomes, total healthcare utilization, and cost savings for same-day discharge versus inpatient robotic assisted partial nephrectomy (RAPN) and robotic assisted radical nephrectomy (RARN). MethodsWe compared 146 RAPNs and 65 RARNs consecutively performed as same-day discharge (RAPN=21, RARN=9) versus inpatient (RAPN=125, RARN=56) from April 2015 to May 2023 at two academic medical centers. We collected baseline demographics, perioperative characteristics, and 30-day complications. We applied the Time-Driven Activity-Based Costing (TDABC) analysis to compare total costs of RAPN and PARN throughout the cycle of care, including inpatient vs same-day discharge. ResultsBaseline demographics and comorbidities were similar between patients undergoing inpatient versus same-day discharge RAPN and RARN. One Clavien-Dindo grade II complication (3.3%) requiring re-admission due to wound infection for antibiotics occurred after same-day discharge RAPN; no complications occurred after same-day discharge RARN. Two unscheduled office or ED visits (6.7%) occurred after same-day discharge RAPN for surgical-site infection and urinary retention. Same-day discharge versus inpatient RAPN and RARN demonstrated a $3,091 (18%) and $4,003 (25%) overall cost reduction, respectively. ConclusionSame-day discharge RAPN and RARN result in cost savings of 18-25% without a difference in complications, and thereby improves value-based care for appropriately selected patients.

Impact of surgeon volume, experience, and training on outcomes after arthroscopic rotator cuff repair: a nationwide analysis of 1489 surgeons

BackgroundGiven the complexity of arthroscopic rotator cuff repair (ARCR) and increasing prevalence, there is a need for comprehensive, large-scale studies that investigate potential correlations between surgeon-specific factors and postoperative outcomes after ARCR. This study examines how surgeon-specific factors including case volume, career length, fellowship training, practice setting, and regional practice impact two-year reoperation rates, conversion to total shoulder arthroplasty (anatomic or reverse) (TSA), and 90-day post-ARCR hospitalization. MethodsThe PearlDiver Mariner Database was used to collect surgeon-specific variables and query patients who underwent ARCR from 2015 to 2018. Patient outcomes were tracked for two years, including reoperations, hospitalizations, and ICD-10 codes for revision rotator cuff repair (RCR) laterality. Hospitalizations were defined as any emergency department (ED) visit or hospital readmission within 90 days after primary ARCR. Surgeon-specific factors including surgeon case volume, career length, fellowship training, practice setting, and regional practice were analyzed in relation to postoperative outcomes using both univariate and multivariate logistic regression. Results94,150 patients underwent ARCR by 1,489 surgeons. On multivariate analysis, high volume surgeons demonstrated a higher risk for two-year total reoperation (OR = 1.06, 95% CI: 1.01-1.12, P = 0.03) and revision RCR (OR = 1.06, 95% CI: 1.01-1.12, P = 0.02) compared to low volume surgeons. Early-career surgeons showed higher rates of 90-day ED visits (mid-career surgeons: OR = 0.78, 95% CI: 0.73-0.83, P < 0.001; late-career surgeons: OR = 0.73, 95% CI: 0.68-0.78, P < 0.001) and hospital readmission (mid-career surgeons: OR = 0.74, 95% CI: 0.63-0.87, P < 0.001; late-career surgeons: OR = 0.73, 95% CI: 0.61-0.88, P = 0.006) compared to mid- and late-career surgeons. Sports Medicine and/or Shoulder and Elbow fellowship-trained surgeons demonstrated lower two-year reoperation risk (OR = 0.95, CI: 0.91-0.99, P = 0.04) and fewer 90-day ED visits (OR = 0.93, 95% CI = 0.88-0.98, P = 0.002). Academic surgeons experienced higher readmission rates compared to community surgeons (OR = 1.16, 95% CI = 1.01-1.34, P = 0.03). Surgeons practicing in the Northeast demonstrated lower two-year reoperation (OR = 0.88, 95% CI: 0.83-0.93, P < 0.001) and revision (OR = 0.88, 95% CI: 0.83-0.94, P < 0.001) rotator cuff repair risk, compared to surgeons in the Southern United States. ConclusionsHigh-volume surgeons exhibit higher two-year reoperation rates after ARCR compared to low-volume surgeons. Early-career surgeons demonstrate increased hospitalizations. Sports Medicine or Shoulder and Elbow Surgery fellowships correlate with reduced two-year reoperation rates and 90-day ED visits.

Alcohol Consumption and Illicit Drug Use: Associations With Fall, Fracture, and Acute Health Care Utilization Among People With HIV Infection.

Given alcohol and/or other drug (AOD) use occurs among people with HIV (PWH), we examined its association with falls and fall-related outcomes and whether frailty moderates the association. Northeastern US city. We analyzed an observational cohort of PWH with current or past AOD use. Alcohol measures were any past 14-day heavy use, average alcohol/day, and days with heavy use. Drug use measures were past 30-day illicit use of cocaine, opioids, and sedatives. Repeated cross-sectional associations were estimated with separate multivariable generalized estimating equation regression models for each fall-related outcome. Among PWH (n = 251; mean age 52 [SD = 10]), 35% reported heavy alcohol use, 24% cocaine, 16% illicit opioids, 13% illicit sedatives, and 35% any fall; 27% were frail. Heavy alcohol use was associated with a fall (AOR = 1.49, 95% CI: 1.08 to 2.07), multiple falls (AOR = 1.55 95% CI: 1.10 to 2.19), and fall/fracture-related emergency department visit or hospitalization (AOR = 1.81, 95% CI: 1.10 to 2.97). Higher average alcohol/day and more heavy drinking days were associated with multiple falls. Illicit sedative use was associated with a fall, multiple falls, and emergency department visit/hospitalization and opioid use with fracture. Frailty moderated the association of heavy alcohol use and a fall (AOR = 2.26, 95% CI: 1.28 to 4.01 in those frail) but not in those not frail. The effect of AOD use on falls and fall-related outcomes was most pronounced with alcohol, particularly among frail PWH. Heavy alcohol, illicit sedative, and illicit opioid use are high-priority targets for preventing falls and fall-related consequences for PWH.

Emergency physician resource utilization varies by years of experience.

One of the most pivotal decisions an emergency physician (EP) makes is whether to admit or discharge a patient. The emergency department (ED) work-up leading to this decision involves several resource-intensive tests. Previous studies have demonstrated significant differences in EP resource utilization, measured by lab tests, advanced imaging (magnetic resonance imaging [MRI], computed tomography [CT], ultrasound), consultations, and propensity to admit a patient. However, how an EP's years of experience may impact their resource utilization and propensity to admit patients has not been well characterized. This study seeks to better understand how EPs' years of experience, post-residency, relates to their use of advanced imaging and patient disposition. Ten years of ED visits were analyzed for this study from a single, academic tertiary care center in the urban Northeast United States. The primary outcomes were utilization of advanced imaging during the visit (CT, MRI, or formal ultrasound) and whether the patient was admitted. EP years of experience was categorized into 0-2years, 3-5years, 6-8years, 9-11years, and 12 or more years. Patient age, sex, Emergency Severity Index (ESI), and the attending EP's years of experience were collected. The relationship between EP years of experience and each outcome was assessed with a linear mixed model with a random effect for provider and patient age, sex, and ESI as covariates. A total of 460,937 visits seen by 65 EPs were included in the study. Over one-third (37.6%) of visits had an advanced imaging study ordered and nearly half (49.5%) resulted in admission. Compared to visits with EPs with 0-2years of experience, visits with EPs with 3-5 or 6-8years of experience had significantly lower odds of advanced imaging occurring. Visits seen by EPs with more than 2 years of experience had lower odds of admission than visits by EPs with 0-2years of experience. More junior EPs tend to order more advanced imaging studies and have a higher propensity to admit patients. This may be due to less comfort in decision-making without advanced imaging or a lower risk tolerance. Conversely, the additional clinical experience of the most senior EPs, with greater than 9years of experience,likely impacts their resource utilization patterns such that their use of advanced imaging does not significantly differ from the most junior EPs.

256 Comparative Analysis of Emergency Department Visits for Breast Injuries Pre- and Post-COVID

OBJECTIVES/GOALS: Studies show a decrease in injury-related emergency department (ED) visitsduring COVID.There is a gap in the literature regarding the effect of the pandemic on breast injury-related ED visits. We aim to compare these visits pre- and post-COVID, and whether this subset reflects the same trends seen in overall injury-related ED visits. METHODS/STUDY POPULATION: A retrospective study of breast injuries was conducted between 2018 and 2022, using the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System. Patients were categorized into pre-COVID and post-COVID groups, for visits occurring before and after January 20, 2020. A total of 1077 breast injuries were stratified into pre-COVID (n = 444) and post-COVID (n = 633) groups. Clinical data on patient demographics, diagnosis, disposition, location, and alcohol use were collected. RESULTS/ANTICIPATED RESULTS: Mean age was significantly different: pre-COVID mean age was 37.29; post-COVID’s was 40.40 (p = 0.0338). &gt;90% of patients were female (p = 0.4066). White patients accounted for 36.0% of pre-COVID visits and 47.2% of post-COVID; BIPOC patients were 32.88% and 31.75% respectively. There was significant difference between race and COVID groups (p = 0.0013). No significant differences were found when considering all diagnoses (p = 0.3841) or the top three diagnoses (other, contusions/abrasions, and burns/scald) (p = 0.6176). Incident location showed a weak evidence of association (α = 0.1), when including unrecorded data (p = 0.1365) and removing those entries (p = 0.0832). Alcohol use did not reveal a significant association (p = 0.2110). DISCUSSION/SIGNIFICANCE: There are more breast injuries reported post-COVID. No significant difference was identified in the types of injuries diagnosed, the location these injuries took place, and how these injuries were treated. However, the demographics (age, race) of patients seeking care were significantly different.

The shock index among children presenting to the emergency department: analysis of a nationally-representative sample

BackgroundThe Shock Index (SI) is emerging as a potentially useful measure among children with injury or with suspected sepsis. ObjectiveTo evaluate the distribution of the SI and evaluate its association with clinical outcomes among all children presenting to the emergency department (ED). MethodsWe analyzed a complex survey of nonfederal US ED encounters from 2016-2021. Among children, we evaluated the Pediatric Age-Adjusted Shock Index (SIPA), Pediatric SI (PSI), and the Temperature- and Age-Adjusted Shock Index (TAMSI). We evaluated the association of each criteria with disposition, acuity, medication administration, diagnoses and procedures. ResultsWe included a survey-weighted 81.5 million ED visits for children 4-16 years old and 117.2 million visits for children 1-12 years old. SI could be calculated for 78.6% of patients 4-16 years and 57.9% of patients 1-12 years old. An abnormal SI was present in 15.9%. 11.1%, and 31.7% when using the SIPA, PSI, and TAMSI, respectively. With all criteria, an elevated SI was associated with greater hospitalization. The SIPA and PSA were associated with triage acuity. All criteria were associated with medical interventions including provision of intravenous fluids and acquisition of blood cultures. ConclusionsAn elevated SI indicative of greater resource utilization needs among children in the ED. When using either criterion, an elevated SI was associated with clinically important outcomes. Further research is required to evaluate the distribution of the SI in children and to investigate its potential role within existing triage algorithms for children in the ED.

Perinatal Depression Associated With Increased Pediatric Emergency Department Use And Charges In The First Year Of Life.

In New Jersey, universal screening for perinatal depression at the time of delivery has resulted in a 95percent screening rate. The widespread availability of screening data allowed me to investigate the association between perinatal depression severity and infant emergency department (ED) use and charges in the first year of life. I used birth records linked to hospital discharge records for the period 2016-19. Compared with infants who had mothers with no symptoms, infants with mothers with mild or moderate/severe depressive symptoms had significantly higher overall and nonemergent ED use, but not significantly higher emergent ED use. The positive associations between depressive symptoms and ED charges were particularly striking for infants with Medicaid, which pays for a disproportionate share of pediatric ED care in the United States. This study contributes to the evidence base linking perinatal depression screening and pediatric ED use. Opportunities may exist within Medicaid to optimize screening and referrals for perinatal depression, with potential cost-saving benefits for reducing nonemergent pediatric ED visits.

A 6-year Retrospective Study on the Clinical Profile and Outcomes of Postrenal Transplant Patients in the Emergency Department

Abstract Background: Kidney transplantation is widely recognized as the primary treatment for those with end-stage renal disease. Our goal was to provide an overview of the clinical characteristics of postrenal transplant patients (commercial vs. noncommercial) seeking care in the emergency department (ED). Methodology: The study was conducted at a leading Omani ED from 2015 to 2021; this study included all postrenal transplant patients. Various variables were categorized, coded, and analyzed. Results: A total of 55 postrenal transplant patients were included in our study. Of these, 60.0% were male (n = 33). Among the participants, 14.5% (n = 8) had undergone noncommercial renal transplants, whereas the remaining 85.5% (n = 47) had undergone commercial renal transplants. Among noncommercial postrenal transplant patients, the most common reasons for ED visits were fever (5), gastrointestinal symptoms (4), and cardiac symptoms (3). They also presented with pain at the surgical site (2) and urological symptoms such as dysuria and hematuria (2). In contrast, the most frequent clinical presentations among commercial postrenal transplant patients were cardiac symptoms (13) and pain at the surgical site (13), followed by fever (12). Noncommercial renal transplant patients had a high discharge rate of 62.5% (5) and a low admission rate of 37.5% (3). On the other hand, commercial renal transplant patients necessitated a high admission rate of 59.6% (28) and a low discharge rate of 40.4% (19). Conclusion: The majority of patients had received commercial kidney transplants, and the most common complaints upon their presentation to the ED were cardiac symptoms and pain at the surgical site. Patients undergoing commercial transplants had higher rates of admission.

A Nationwide Analysis of the Impact of Socioeconomic Status on Complications and Health Care Utilizations After Total Knee Arthroplasty Using the Area Deprivation Index: Consideration of the Disadvantaged Patient

BackgroundSocioeconomic status has been demonstrated to be an important prognostic risk factor among patients undergoing total joint arthroplasty. We evaluated patients living near neighborhoods with higher socioeconomic risk undergoing total knee arthroplasty (TKA) and if they were associated with differences in the following: (1) medical complications; (2) emergency department (ED) utilizations; (3) readmissions; and (4) costs of care. MethodsA query of a national database from 2010 to 2020 was performed for primary TKAs. The Area Deprivation Index (ADI) is a weighted index comprised of 17 census-based markers of material deprivation and poverty. Higher numbers indicate a greater disadvantage. Patients undergoing TKA in zip codes associated with high ADI (90%+) were 1:1 propensity-matched to a comparison group by age, sex, and Elixhauser Comorbidity Index. This yielded 225,038 total patients, evenly matched between cohorts. Outcomes studied included complications, ED utilizations, readmission rates, and 90-day costs. Logistic regression models computed the odds ratios (OR) of ADI on the dependent variables. P values less than .003 were significant. ResultsHigh ADI led to higher rates and odds of any medical complications (11.7 versus 11.0%; OR: 1.05, P = .0006), respiratory failures (0.4 versus 0.3%; OR: 1.28, P = .001), and acute kidney injuries (1.7 versus 1.5%; OR: 1.15, P < .0001). Despite lower readmission rates (2.9 versus 3.5%), high ADI patients had greater 90-day ED visits (4.2 versus 4.0%; OR: 1.07, P = .0008). The 90-day expenditures ($15,066 versus $12,459; P < .0001) were higher in patients who have a high ADI. ConclusionsSocioeconomically disadvantaged patients have increased complications and ED utilizations. Neighborhood disadvantage may inform health care policy and improve postdischarge care. The socioeconomic status metrics, including ADI (which captures community effects), should be used to adequately risk-adjust or risk-stratify patients so that access to care for deprived regions and patients is not lost. Level of EvidenceIII.

Pediatric Maxillofacial Infections During COVID-19: What Have We Learned?

BackgroundThe COVID-19 pandemic significantly affected healthcare systems worldwide, and the field of dentistry is no exception. Odontogenic infections in pediatric patients pose unique challenges to treatment and diagnosis. PurposeThe purpose of this study was to evaluate the incidence, characteristics, and treatment of pediatric maxillofacial odontogenic infections during COVID-19 compared to pre-COVID-19. Study design, setting, and sampleThis retrospective cohort study included all pediatric patients (0-18 years) who visited the emergency department (ED) at Tzafon Medical Center, Israel, between March 2020 and February 2021 (COVID-19), or between March 2018 and February 2020 (Pre-COVID-19), and were diagnosed with maxillofacial odontogenic infections. Patients with missing demographic data and patients who did not complete the medical examination were excluded. Predictor/exposure/independent variableThe exposure variable was the date of presentation, categorized as COVID-19 or pre-COVID-19. Main outcome variable(s)The main outcome variables were the proportion of patients diagnosed with odontogenic infections, hospitalization rate, treatment methods, and length of hospital stay (LOS). CovariatesCovariates included patient demographics, involved dentition and associated spaces, and the administration of antibiotics before ED arrival. AnalysesFisher exact test and Pearson's chi-squared test were applied to assess differences in categorical variables. Wilcoxon rank-sum test was used for independent variables. A logistic regression model was used to predict outcome variables. P-values were two-tailed and statistical significance was defined as p<0.05. ResultsThe study sample comprised 471 patients: 357 (76%) in the pre-COVID-19 period and 114 (24%) during COVID-19. The relative-risk of visits to the ED out of total oral and maxillofacial ED visits was lower during COVID-19 (RR=0.65, p=0.0001). The hospitalization rate increased from 72% (257 patients) pre-COVID-19 to 86.8% (99 patients) during the COVID-19 period (p=0.001). LOS during Covid-19 was significantly shorter than pre-COVID-19 (p<0.001). ConclusionsThe findings of this study reveal a significant reduction in odontogenic infection incidents referred to the ED during the pandemic. This implies that many of these incidents can be successfully treated in community healthcare settings, without referral to the ED.

Prediction of high-risk emergency department revisits from a machine-learning algorithm: a proof-of-concept study.

High-risk emergency department (ED) revisit is considered an important quality indicator that may reflect an increase in complications and medical burden. However, because of its multidimensional and highly complex nature, this factor has not been comprehensively investigated. This study aimed to predict high-risk ED revisit with a machine-learning (ML) approach. This 3-year retrospective cohort study assessed adult patients between January 2019 and December 2021 from National Taiwan University Hospital Hsin-Chu Branch with high-risk ED revisit, defined as hospital or intensive care unit admission after ED return within 72 hours. A total of 150 features were preliminarily screened, and 79 were used in the prediction model. Deep learning, random forest, extreme gradient boosting (XGBoost) and stacked ensemble algorithm were used. The stacked ensemble model combined multiple ML models and performed model stacking as a meta-level algorithm. Confusion matrix, accuracy, sensitivity, specificity and area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC) were used to evaluate performance. Analysis was performed for 6282 eligible adult patients: 5025 (80.0%) in the training set and 1257 (20.0%) in the testing set. High-risk ED revisit occurred for 971 (19.3%) of training set patients vs 252 (20.1%) in the testing set. Leading predictors of high-risk ED revisit were age, systolic blood pressure and heart rate. The stacked ensemble model showed more favourable prediction performance (AUROC 0.82) than the other models: deep learning (0.69), random forest (0.78) and XGBoost (0.79). Also, the stacked ensemble model achieved favourable accuracy and specificity. The stacked ensemble algorithm exhibited better prediction performance in which the predictions were generated from different ML algorithms to optimally maximise the final set of results. Patients with older age and abnormal systolic blood pressure and heart rate at the index ED visit were vulnerable to high-risk ED revisit. Further studies should be conducted to externally validate the model.

Clinical and socioeconomic predictors of shunt malfunction in the pediatric emergency department.

The aim of this study was to delineate the clinical and socioeconomic variables associated with shunt revision in pediatric patients presenting to the emergency department (ED) with concerns of ventricular shunt malfunction. A retrospective analysis of pediatric ED consultations for shunt malfunction over a 1-year period was conducted, examining clinical symptoms, radiographic findings, and socioeconomic variables. Sensitivities, specificities, and positive and negative predictive values were calculated for each presenting symptom collected. Logistic regression models were used to estimate the odds ratios for shunt revision based on these variables, and multivariate analyses were used to adjust for potential confounders. Of the 271 ED visits from 137 patients, 19.2% resulted in shunt revision. Increased ventricle size on imaging (OR 11.38, p < 0.001), shunt site swelling (OR 9.04, p = 0.01), bradycardia (OR 7.08, p < 0.001), and lethargy (OR 5.77, p < 0.001) were significantly associated with shunt revision. Seizure-like activity was inversely related to revision needs (OR 0.24, p < 0.001). Patients with private or self-pay insurance were more likely to undergo revision compared with those with public insurance (p = 0.028). Multivariate analysis further confirmed the significant associations of increased ventricle size, lethargy, and bradycardia with shunt revision, while also revealing that seizure-like activity inversely affected the likelihood of revision. Patients with severe cognitive and language disabilities were more likely to be admitted to the hospital from the ED but were not more likely to undergo revision. Clinical signs such as increased ventricle size, shunt site swelling, bradycardia, and lethargy may be strong predictors of the need for shunt revision in pediatric patients presenting to the ED with concerns of shunt malfunction. Socioeconomic factors play a less clear role in predicting shunt revision and admission from the ED; however, the nature of their influence is unclear. These findings can help inform clinical decision-making and optimize resource utilization in the ED.

Socioeconomic Disparities in Online Patient Portal Utilization Among Total Knee Arthroplasty Recipients

BackgroundSince 2021, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services have mandated that patients have open access to their medical records. Many institutions use online portals, which allow patients to access their health information and communicate with care teams. Our research aimed to evaluate demographic patterns for online patient portal utilization in patients undergoing total knee arthroplasty (TKA). Further, we assessed if and how portal engagement contributes to perioperative outcomes. MethodsThis study retrospectively reviewed primary and elective TKA from 2017 to 2022 at a single academic institution. Patients were stratified into two groups based on their online portal status: activated (A) or not-activated (NA). Baseline characteristics and postoperative outcomes were collected from the electronic medical record and compared. ResultsIn total, 10,995 patients were included: 8,330 (75.8%) were A and 2,625 (24.2%) were NA. The NA group was significantly older (P < 0.001); more likely to be Black (P < 0.001), women (P < 0.001), single/divorced/widowed (P < 0.001), non-English speaking (P < 0.001), and Medicare or Medicaid insured (P < 0.001); from zip codes with median incomes below $50,000 (P < 0.001), and more likely to be American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) class III or IV (P < 0.001). Patient-reported outcome measure (PROM) completion rates were significantly lower in the NA group (15.3 versus 47.7%, P < 0.001). Lengths of stay (LOS) were significantly higher in the NA group (2.7 versus 2.1 days, P < 0.001). The NA group was significantly more likely to be discharged to skilled nursing facilities (P < 0.001). Comparable rates of 90-day emergency department visits, readmissions, as well as 90-day and two-year revisions, were observed across groups. ConclusionThere are significant disparities in online portal activation status based on patient demographics. Patients who have activated portals had significantly higher PROM completion rates, shorter LOS, and higher rates of home discharge. Further research should determine which other factors may affect patient portal utilization and inform interventions to improve portal utilization among minority populations.

563 Team Science to Assess Effectiveness and Impact in Public Healthcare Delivery System Contracting

OBJECTIVES/GOALS: Healthcare organizations and payers are moving from accountability to effectiveness frameworks. Static vendor contracts for full-scale implementation limit organizations' ability to evaluate impact before scale-up, or to iteratively improve. Our team science innovation employs science and learning methods as systems engage vendors. METHODS/STUDY POPULATION: Our team science innovation is a method to assess and model impact of interventions at scale in healthcare delivery systems. We are integrating expertise in learning processes of an academic medical center (UCLA CTSI) with the organizational knowledge and methodological expertise of the nation’s largest Medicaid managed care plan (LA Care Health Plan), which has over 2 million members. The LA Care Advanced Analytics Lab has unique capability in machine learning, while enables deep learning of variation. Our innovative product is a template to quickly mobilize evaluation and learning for a diverse population in a varied and distributed delivery system. The template design enables rapid learning for the full-scale policy implementation often imposed by government, and in the short timeframes involved. RESULTS/ANTICIPATED RESULTS: LA Care and the UCLA CTSI partnered to provide subject matter expertise and design effective pilots for interventions such as transitional care services, complex care management, and physician home visit strategies, accounting for confounding factors affecting the intervention and outcome. So far, collaborative modeling and design has produced a successful pilot of a physician home visit program intended to reduce avoidable emergency department visits. This pilot quickly revealed several major changes that would need to be incorporated for the contracted vendor to produce results if operated at scale, further informed by machine learning, in sufficient time to inform the contracting process. There are multiple evolving applications, including housing/homelessness. DISCUSSION/SIGNIFICANCE: Integrating the large data and analytics of a large healthcare organization with learning methods from the CTSI -- including learning from variation and designs for studying impact during scale-up -- fosters academic-community team science that could significantly improve the value of our largest delivery systems, public and commercial.

Intraoperative Surgeon-Administered Adductor Canal Block Is a Safe Alternative to Preoperative Anesthesiologist-Administered Adductor Canal Block in Primary Total Knee Arthroplasty

BackgroundThe shift toward outpatient total knee arthroplasties (TKAs) has led to a demand for effective perioperative pain control methods. A surgeon-performed “low” adductor canal block (“low-ACB”) technique, involving an intraoperative ACB, is gaining popularity due to its efficiency and early pain control potential. This study examined the transition from traditional preoperative anesthesiologist-performed ultrasound-guided adductor canal blocks (“high-ACB”) to low-ACB, evaluating pain control, morphine consumption, first physical therapy visit gait distance, hospital length-of-stay, and complications. MethodsThere were 2,620 patients at a single institution who underwent a primary total knee arthroplasty between January 1, 2019, and December 31, 2022, and received either a low-ACB or high-ACB. Cohorts included 1,248 patients and 1,372 patients in the low-ACB and high-ACB groups, respectively. Demographics and operative times were similar. Patient characteristics and outcomes such as morphine milligram equivalents (MMEs), Visual Analog Scale pain scores, gait distance (feet), length of stay (days), and postoperative complications (30-day readmission and 30-day emergency department visit) were collected. ResultsThe low-ACB cohort had higher pain scores over the first 24 hours (5.05 versus 4.86, P < .001) and higher MME at 6 hours (11.49 versus 8.99, P < .001), although this was not clinically significant. There was no difference in pain scores or MME at 12 or 24 hours (20.81 versus 22.07 and 44.67 versus 48.78, respectively). The low-ACB cohort showed longer gait distance at the first physical therapy visit (188.5 versus 165.1 feet, P < .001) and a shorter length of stay (0.88 versus 1.46 days, P < .01), but these were not clinically significant. There were no differences in 30-day complications. ConclusionsThe low-ACB offers effective pain relief and comparable early recovery without increasing operative time or the complication rate. Low-ACB is an effective, safe, and economical alternative to high-ACB. Level of EvidenceTherapeutic study, Level III (retrospective cohort study).

435 Use of Optic Nerve Sheath Diameter in Extraventricular Drain Weaning in Adults With Post-hemorrhagic Hydrocephalus

INTRODUCTION: Optic nerve sheath diameter (ONSD) can be used as a noninvasive measurement of intercranial pressure. Few studies have evaluated the value of ONSD in predicting the need for ventriculoperitoneal shunt (VPS) placement after development of post-hemorrhagic hydrocephalus (PHH) in adults. METHODS: Adult patients 18 years or older, admitted with intracranial hemorrhage and hydrocephalus requiring EVD placement were included in the study. Demographics were recorded. CT imaging of ONSD was measured (mm) upon initial ED visit before EVD placement (pre-EVD), immediately after successful EVD removal (post-EVD), and if applicable, after EVD removal but immediately before VPS placement. Change in ONSD was calculated and groups were stratified by EVD only patients and EVD+VPS patients. RESULTS: Imaging for 30 patients were successfully retrieved and analyzed for bilateral ONSD values at all timepoints. A statistically significant convergence to a normally distributed mean ONSD was found for both groups (EVD and EVD+VPS). Additionally, a statistically significant increase was found in ONSD between the EVD+VPS group compared to the EVD only group. The EVD only group showed a mean EVD placement time of only 14 days (2 weeks) with an average decrease in ONSD (-0.905mm) compared with the EVD+VPS group who had an increase in ONSD at 14-days (+1.089 mm). CONCLUSIONS: Patients with hydrocephalus due to intracranial hemorrhage who went on to require VPS developed an increase in ONSD despite EVD use while patients who were successfully weaned from the EVD developed a decrease in ONSD. ONSD may be a useful adjunct tool to aid in the process of EVD weaning in this patient population.