Formal Consultation Research Articles

Real-world quality analysis of palliative care utilization in patients with brain metastases at three academic institutes.

12080 Background: Brain metastases (BMETs) are a devastating complication of cancer, occurring in up to 30-50% of patients with advanced solid tumors. Median survival after diagnosis of BMETs can be limited, with 3-6 months survival for patients with poorer performance status (Updated Recursive Partition analysis [U-RPA] classification class 2b and 3). Early integration of palliative care (PC) can improve a patient’s quality of life. Per guidelines, patients with advanced cancer should be referred to an interdisciplinary team, including PC, early in the disease. We aimed to assess the utilization and impact of PC in patients with BMETs at three academic centers. Methods: We obtained data from the electronic medical record (EMR) of all patients diagnosed with BMETS at the University of Virginia, the Medical College of Wisconsin, and the University of Vermont between 1 January 2017 and 31 December 2019. Inclusion criteria were age 18+ years, diagnosis of BMETs secondary to a solid tumor malignancy (excluding leptomeningeal metastases), and >3 months of follow-up treatment. Patients were included if considered at high risk for mortality, which was defined as KPS <70 (U-RPA Class 3) or KPS 70-80 and age > 65 (U-RPA Class 2b). Chi-squared and Fisher’s exact tests compared survival, hospice referral, emergency visits, readmissions, and advance directives (AD) on the file between the PC and non-PC groups. Results: In total, of the 309 patients that were assessed, 220 patients were class 2b, and 89 were class 3 per U-RPA classification. The mean age was 66 in both groups, and 167 (54%) were seen by PC. The median survival for patients seen by PC was 7.8 months compared to 8.3 months (p 0.056). There was no statistically significant difference in survival between the two groups. 80% of patients in the group seen by PC enrolled with hospice care compared to 58% in the non-PC group (p 0.0002). 80% of patients had an AD on file in the group seen by PC compared to 56% in the non-PC group (p <0.0001). In terms of ED visits or re-hospitalization, there was a trend for more ED visits/readmissions in the group seen by PC compared to the non-PC group (p 0.057). Conclusions: In this real-world quality analysis, we found that there is under-utilization of formal PC consultation in patients with BMETs. There was no difference in survival between groups, indicating PC is not synonymous with end-of-life or hospice care. PC was associated with more patients completing ADs and more patients using hospice. Health systems and policy initiatives promoting palliative care utilization earlier in the disease course may support patient values and preferences at the end of life. [Table: see text]

Comprehensive molecular pathology review service to reduce barriers to precision oncology in rural eastern North Carolina.

11129 Background: ECU Health system serves a rural 29-county region where cancer mortality rates exceed those of the state’s remaining 71 counties combined. Insufficient tissue and lack of local infrastructure contribute to suboptimal precision oncology care. We aimed to enhance the clinical utility of send-out molecular tests for patients with solid cancers through a quality improvement (QI) initiative. Methods: We used the EPIDEM model of QI to explore, promote, and implement a molecular review service, which includes intervening on send-out molecular orders that would otherwise have been insufficient for the requested molecular pathology test. The interventions include combining blocks, sending alternative specimens, and/or modifying testing strategy. We documented cases in a molecular send-out database and electronic health records, evaluated the service's impact, and modified it to include an orderable molecular consultation. Results: In 2023, We reviewed 699 send-out comprehensive genomic tests on solid tumors (173 cytology, 192 resections, 332 biopsies), including 582 (83.3%) advanced cancers. In total, there were 576 sufficient reports. Actions taken on 185 orders (26.5% of reviewed cases) led to 156 reported results. Of these, 70 showed clinically significant findings, and 31 patients received targeted therapy because of those interventions. In March 2023, we initiated a formal consultation service with in-depth review. From 3/3/2023-1/29/2024, we performed 50 pre-test (e.g., specimen to use, testing strategy, tumor origin testing) and 60 post-test (e.g., result interpretation, treatment based on molecular data) consultations; 10 patients received both pre and post-test support. The molecular pathologist tended to initiate post-test, while clinicians preferentially initiated pre-test consultations (p<.01). Clinician-initiated consultations were more frequent in community practices (p <.01). Conclusions: Even without the resources for in-house testing, our molecular review service provides essential pre- and post-analytic support by successfully rescuing cases that would have otherwise been insufficient molecular tests and by providing comprehensive consultative support. The positive impact and reception among community oncologists suggest that our strategy holds potential to alleviate barriers to precision oncology in underserved areas. [Table: see text]

Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia in alcoholics.

Alcoholism associates with increased Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia incidence and mortality. The objective was to compare disease progression, treatment and prognosis of Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia in alcoholics versus non-alcoholics. The study design was a multicenter retrospective analysis of methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia with 90-day follow-up. Patients were stratified as alcoholics or non-alcoholics based on electronic health record data. Altogether 617 Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia patients were included of which 83 (13%) were alcoholics. Alcoholics, versus non-alcoholics, were younger, typically male and more commonly had community-acquired Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia. No differences in McCabe´s classification of underlying conditions was observed. Higher illness severity at blood culture sampling, including severe sepsis (25% vs. 7%) and intensive care unit admission (39% vs. 17%), was seen in alcoholics versus non-alcoholics. Clinical management, including infectious disease specialist (IDS) consultations and radiology, were provided equally. Alcoholics, versus non-alcoholics, had more pneumonia (49% vs. 35%) and fewer cases of endocarditis (7% vs. 16%). Mortality in alcoholics versus non-alcoholics was significantly higher at 14, 28 and 90 days (14% vs. 7%, 24% vs. 11% and 31% vs. 17%), respectively. Considering all prognostic parameters, male sex (OR 0.19, p = 0.021) and formal IDS consultation (OR 0.19, p = 0.029) were independent predictors of reduced mortality, whereas ultimately or rapidly fatal comorbidity in McCabe´s classification (OR 12.34, p < 0.001) was an independent predictor of mortality in alcoholics. Alcoholism deteriorates Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia prognosis, and our results suggests that this is predominantly through illness severity at bacteremia onset. Three quarters of Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia patients we studied had identified deep infection foci, and of them alcoholics had significantly less endocarditis but nearly half of them had pneumonia.

THE ISSUES OF SCOPE AND LEGAL STATUS IN WTO – IMF CONSULTATIONS

In designing the international economic governance system after the Second World War, trade and finance, due to the close connection between them, were addressed as parts of a whole. A predictable and stable international monetary system was recognized as prerequisite for healthy and sustainable trade. However, these two issues were regulated under different institutional structures, by envisaging close cooperation and coordination. The International Monetary Fund (IMF), designed to be responsible for international finance and monetary issues, was established in 1944. The International Trade Organization (ITO) was designed to address international trade, while the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT), with a limited scope, was temporarily put into implementation in January 1, 1948 to provide rapid tariff reductions until the ratification of ITO Charter. The ITO became still-born as it was not approved by national parliaments, especially the USA, and international trade continued to be regulated by the GATT. The GATT, with its unique organizational structure that gradually developed, continued its existence until the establishment of the World Trade Organization (WTO) in 1995 and hosted international trade negotiations. WTO, with more advanced legal and institutional structure, took over the functions of the GATT. Formal consultation procedures have constituted an important part of the cooperation between the GATT/WTO and the IMF in the context of the management of international trade and monetary/financial system. These procedures differ from traditional cooperation activities between international organizations and have a special character. It is regulated in a binding language as an obligation for the relevant WTO bodies to apply for consultations with the IMF on certain issues and to comply with the inputs received from the IMF. There are some points open to interpretation regarding the scope of the consultations and the binding and functional status of IMF inputs in the WTO. This study discusses the issues of scope and legal status.

Standardized Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility Consultation for Pediatric and Adolescent Oncology Patients.

Purpose: To investigate the role of formal reproductive endocrinology and infertility (REI) consultation in fertility preservation counseling in a pediatric/adolescent oncology patient population. Methods: Retrospective chart review was performed at an academic adult hospital from 2021 to 2022. Pre- and postpubertal patients admitted to the pediatric/adolescent oncology service with cancer diagnoses and imminent gonadotoxic chemotherapy plans were included. Baseline characteristics were collected, including patient age, sex, race, language, insurance, and cancer diagnosis. Primary outcomes were formal REI consultation and fertility preservation election. Results: Nineteen of 58 eligible patients received a formal REI consultation. Patients were more likely to elect fertility preservation if they received a consult. Females were more likely to receive a consult than males and more likely to elect fertility preservation. Patients of age ≥16 years were more likely to receive consultation than younger patients. However, all patients of age <16 years who received a consult elected fertility preservation. There was no difference in consultation based on race, language, or insurance. Thirteen of 19 patients who received an REI consultation elected fertility preservation. Ten of 11 female elections were ovarian suppression, an unproven method of fertility preservation. The two male elections were semen cryopreservation. Conclusion: Underutilization of formal REI consults and a relative lack of proven fertility preservation elections may shed light on a need for increased fertility preservation awareness among young oncology patients and the providers who care for them. A streamlined process that automates formal REI consultation for all eligible patients may maximize the potential for comprehensive counseling and improve patient participation in fertility preservation.

Relation of poverty with treatment-seeking behavior and antibiotic misuse among UTI patients in Pakistan.

The current study aimed to assess the relation between multi-dimension poverty, treatment-seeking behavior, and antibiotic misuse among urinary tract infection (UTI) patients. A cross-sectional approach was utilized to recruit patients who had a history of UTI in the previous month from two provinces of Pakistan. The treatment-seeking behavior and antibiotic misuse data were collected on a self-developed questionnaire, whereas the poverty data were collected on a modified multi-dimension poverty index (MPI). Descriptive statistics were applied to summarize the data. The logistic regression analysis was carried out to assess the association of multi-dimension poverty with patient treatment-seeking behavior and antibiotic misuse. A total of 461 participants who had UTI symptoms in the previous month were recruited. Most of the participants in the severely deprived stage treated the UTI (p < 0.001); however, there was a high proportion of the participants who consulted with friends and family for UTI treatment (p < 0.001). The patients with deprivation status (deprived and severely deprived) were less associated with formal consultation. The poorer subgroups were less likely to practice antibiotic course completion. The current study highlighted that poverty plays an important role in antibiotic misuse. Poorer subgroups were associated with informal consultations and the incompletion of the antibiotic course. Further studies are needed to explore the potential role of poverty in treatment-seeking behavior and antibiotic misuse.

Sustaining essential health services inLao PDR inthe context ofdonor transition andCOVID-19.

Lao People's Democratic Republic (Lao PDR) aims at graduating from least developed country status by 2026 and must increase the level of domestic financing for health. This paper examines how the government has prepared for the decline of external assistance and how donors have applied their transition approaches. Adapting a World Health Organization (WHO) framework, reflections and lessons were generated based on literature review, informal and formal consultations and focus group discussions with the Lao PDR government and development partners including budget impact discussion. The government has taken three approaches to transition from external to domestic funding: mobilizing domestic resources, increasing efficiency across programs and prioritization with a focus on strengthening primary health care (PHC). The government has increased gradually domestic government health expenditures as a share of the government expenditure from 2.6% in 2013 to 4.9% in 2019. The Ministry of Health has made efforts to design and roll out integrated service delivery of maternal, newborn, child, and adolescent health services, immunization and nutrition; integrated 13 information systems of key health programs into one single District Health Information Software 2; and prioritized PHC, which has led to shifting donors towards supporting PHC. Donors have revisited their aid policies designed to improve sustainability and ownership of the government. However, the government faces challenges in improving cross-programmatic efficiency at the operational level and in further increasing the health budget due to the economic crisis aggravated during Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Working to implement donor transition strategies under the current economic situation and country challenges, calls into question the criteria used to evaluate transition. This criterion needs to include more appropriate indicators other than gross national income per capita, which does not reflect a country's readiness and capacity of the health system. There should be a more country-tailored strategy and support for considering the context and system-wide readiness during donor transition.

Formal Ethics Consultation in Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation Patients: A Single-Center Retrospective Cohort of a Quaternary Pediatric Hospital.

To examine characteristics associated with formal ethics consultation (EC) referral in pediatric extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) cases, and document ethical issues presented. Retrospective cohort study using mixed methods. Single-center quaternary pediatric hospital. Patients supported on ECMO (January 2012 to December 2021). We compared clinical variables among ECMO patients according to the presence of EC. We defined optimal cutoffs for EC based on run duration, ICU length of stay (LOS), and sum of procedures or complications. To identify independent explanatory variables for EC, we used a forward stepwise selection multivariable logistic regression model. EC records were thematically characterized into ethical issues. Of 601 ECMO patients and 225 patients with EC in 10 years, 27 ECMO patients received EC (4.5% of ECMO patients, 12% of all ECs). On univariate analysis, use of EC vs. not was associated with multiple ECMO runs, more complications/procedures, longer ICU LOS and ECMO duration, cardiac admissions, decannulation outcome, and higher mortality. Cutoffs for EC were ICU LOS >52 days, run duration >160 hours, and >6 complications/procedures. Independent associations with EC included these three cutoffs and older age. The model showed good discrimination (area under the curve 0.88 [0.83, 0.93]) and fit. The most common primary ethical issues were related to end-of-life, ECMO discontinuation, and treatment decision-making. Moral distress was cited in 22 of 27 cases (82%). EC was used in 4.5% of our pediatric ECMO cases, with most ethical issues related to end-of-life care or ECMO discontinuation. Older age, longer ICU LOS, prolonged runs, and multiple procedures/complications were associated with greater odds for EC requests. These data highlight our single-center experience of ECMO-associated ethical dilemmas. Historical referral patterns may guide a supported decision-making framework. Future work will need to include quality improvement projects for timely EC, with evaluation of impacts on relevant endpoints.

Limitations of GPT-4 as a geriatrician in geri-oncology case conference: A case series.

Generative pre-trained transformer 4 (GPT-4) is an artificial intelligence (AI) system with a chat interface. The number of studies testing GPT-4 in clinical applications has been increasing. We hypothesized that GPT-4 would be able to suggest management strategies for medical issues in elderly oncology patients, similar to those provided by geriatricians. We compared the responses of GPT-4 to those of a geriatrician for four oncological patients. After these case conferences, none of the patients required admission for medical consultation. In three out of four scenarios, GPT-4 was able to offer a multidisciplinary approach in the first prompt. In all three scenarios, GPT-4 identified medication-related side effects and suggested appropriate medications in the first prompt. However, GPT-4 was unable to suggest initial dosages of medications to be used in the first prompt and was unable to suggest a more humanistic and non-pharmacological approach to anorexia, even with a follow-up prompt. In conclusion, GPT-4 may be used as a screening tool to provide potential rudimentary directions for management, which can then be reviewed by medical professionals before considering a formal consultation for more tailored and refined opinions from specialists.

Distinguishing the Variances in Patient Care between Hematologists and Hospitalists for Individuals with Sickle Cell Disease Hospitalized Due to Vaso-Occlusive Crisis

Introduction: Sickle cell disease (SCD) is a chronic condition characterized by multiple vaso-occlusive complications. Patients often experience recurrent, severe pain that can be disabling and necessitate opioid treatment. Hospitalization for vaso-occlusive crisis (VOC) is a common occurrence for individuals with SCD. In recent times, the care of hospitalized SCD patients has increasingly shifted from adult hematology specialists to hospitalists. At our institution, we are yet to make this transition, with hospitalists rarely taking over the care of inpatients with SCD. Initially, recommendations to the hospitalist service were provided through informal opinions or formal consultations when requested. Hospitalists have demonstrated efficient inpatient management; however, some may have knowledge gaps and biases that can influence their interactions with SCD patients. To gain a better understanding of the differences in care practices between hematologists and hospitalists and to identify potential areas for improvement in the care of SCD patients, we conducted a formal comparison of their approaches. Methods: We performed a single-institution, retrospective review of patients with SCD hospitalized for VOC between January 1, 2014, and September 31, 2022. Results: Table 1 portrays the significant results. Conclusion: We observed significant distinctions in the care provided by hematologists and hospitalists to patients admitted for VOC in SCD. Hematologists tended to transfer fewer patients to the intensive care unit compared to hospitalists. On the other hand, hospitalists more frequently sought consultations from the pain service than hematologists. Interestingly, patients under the care of hematologists received longer hours of patient-controlled analgesia for pain management. Additionally, patients managed by hematologists exhibited higher hemoglobin levels at the time of discharge when compared to those treated by hospitalists. Notably, only 39.8% of patients had a formal hematology consult requested during their hospital stay, indicating a potential need for better collaboration between hematologists and hospitalists. This study emphasizes the importance of enhancing cooperation between these two specialties to elevate the quality of care for patients hospitalized with VOC.

Recurrent Hypoglycemia Following Asparaginase Therapy for Pediatric Lymphoid Malignancies

Background: Asparaginase (ASP) is critical in acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) and lymphoma (LLy) therapy. Hyperglycemia following ASP is described, but hypoglycemia is rarely reported. We previously reported on the risk factors, prevalence, duration, severity, recurrence, and outcomes of children at Texas Children's Hospital (TCH) developing ASP-induced hypoglycemia (defined as blood glucose [BG] &amp;lt;70mg/dL). Out of 723 ALL or LLy patients, there was a 7.6% prevalence of ASP-induced hypoglycemia in pediatric patients with ALL (n=50) or LLy (n=5), and occurred with both pegylated and Erwinia formulations of ASP. Given the median hypoglycemia duration was 11 days in our cohort and 76% of our cohort experience recurrent hypoglycemia with subsequent ASP doses, we here report the management details of these patients to provide guidance for other providers. Design/Method: Descriptive analysis of cohort of children with ASP-induced hypoglycemia at TCH between 6/1/2017 and 6/30/2022. Following identification of diagnosis and frequency of hypoglycemia events, we reviewed EMR to collect information on treatments utilized including evaluation with a registered dietician (RD), dietary changes recommended during hypoglycemia, and utilization of cornstarch supplementation, continuous feedings or use of continuous glucose monitor (CGM). Hypoglycemia severity was determined based on lowest recorded BG (Stages 1-2) and need for hospitalization or seizures (Stage 3). Results: 26% of patients had Stage 1 hypoglycemia (n=14), 47%% had Stage 2 hypoglycemia (n=26), and 25% had Stage 3 hypoglycemia (n=15) (Figure 1). Treatment to prevent symptomatic/severe hypoglycemia included: 1) dietary change (53%, n=29), 2) cornstarch (29%, n=16), and 3) continuous enteral feedings (13%, n=7). Dietary change included education on complex carbohydrates and a consistent carbohydrate diet. Cornstarch dosing was determined in consultation with endocrinology, and typically doses were provided prior to periods of prolonged fasting (e.g., overnight, NPO). Enteral feedings were administered through daytime bolus feedings and continuous overnight feedings, with the goal of a consistent carbohydrate infusion and maintaining BG levels &amp;gt;70 mg/dL. Five patients (9%) required all 3 interventions. Dietary education and subsequent follow up was completed by an RD in 54% of patients (n=30), and among patients with multiple recurrences, 67% had RD involvement (n=37). Nine patients in our cohort (16%) used CGM to closely monitor adequacy of carbohydrate intake. The primary team evaluated home BG logs weekly. Despite frequent treatment or nutritional management, only 39 (69%) of individuals had formal endocrine consultation, most commonly those with Stage 3 hypoglycemia (13 of 14; 93%). Patients with Stage 3 hypoglycemia tended to be younger (median age 2.8 years), tended to require the most intensive therapy (47% Vs 38% Vs 15% requiring medical therapy for Stages 3 ,2, and 1), and were more often to require nutritional counseling (79% Vs 46% Vs 42%). Only one patient had ASP held due primarily to hypoglycemia (Stage 3 hypoglycemia), while another patient had it held primarily for ASP-induced pancreatitis but had Stage 1 hypoglycemia. The overall survival of our cohort was 80% (85% if excluding patients receiving ASP for relapsed disease), with 3.5 years' median follow up. Conclusion: ASP-induced hypoglycemia is a fairly common, recurrent, and possibly severe potential side effect in children receiving treatment for ALL or LLy. Reassuringly, patients completed treatment without worsened survival. However, some patients required intensive therapy throughout the duration of ASP treatments and required multi-modal therapy and intensive monitoring (Figure 2). Our systematic approach was effective at reducing severe events and hospitalizations, without compromising survival after therapy completion. We recommend other centers consider close monitoring and developing treatment algorithms to detect and manage ASP-induced hypoglycemia.

Informal consultations: a case report of a young doctor as a patient

Introduction: Informal consultations are medical acts characterized by the individual's self-referral to a doctor, without clinical record or adequate follow-up. Despite controversy, this practice is an integral part of medical culture. This case report highlights the importance of understanding the consequences of informal consultations and the desirability of a preventive attitude towards one’s own health. Case description: A 28-year-old female health professional requests an informal consultation due to low-back pain after two months of evolution where a tentative diagnosis and treatment plan were brainstormed. Symptom aggravation led her to a formal ortho-traumatology consultation, whereupon she was definitively diagnosed with a herniated lumbar disc, and a treatment plan was discussed and implemented, with good outcomes. Commentary: This case reveals the complexity of clinical communication and psychosocial context involving informal consultations. Healthcare professionals are particularly susceptible to belittling signs and symptoms, using informal consultations to tackle the clinical situation quickly and be able to work, but without really addressing the underlying problem.

H - 71 Development and Implementation of a Neuropsychology Program for Spanish-Speaking Patients at Cleveland Clinic Nevada.

There is a significant need for culturally-informed neuropsychology services for patients from underrepresented communities, particularly those with limited English proficiency. Given the finite number of bilingual neuropsychologists, working with interpreters and bilingual psychometrists is important for increasing access to equitable care, though many neuropsychologists lack training in these approaches. We present a model for the development and implementation of a neuropsychology program for Spanish-speaking patients in an outpatient academic medical setting. To develop our service, we first identified the primary patient population to be served and common referral questions. We then consulted with national and international experts to identify best practices for establishing a new clinical service line for Spanish-speaking patients, which included a survey of available Spanish-language tests and normative data, resources for interpretation, and case consultation. After consulting with colleagues at Cleveland Clinic Ohio and UCLA, we established a formal consultation agreement with a multilingual neuropsychologist with expertise in program development. Consultation focused on best practices for working with interpreters and Hispanic patients, selection of tests and normative sources, and ongoing clinical case consultation. The new service was initiated in March 2023 and includes conducting clinical interviews with virtual interpreters and testing by a bilingual psychometrist. Comprehensive assessments are currently being provided for Spanish-speaking patients, and trainees also receive experience and supervision with these cases. Developing clinical neuropsychology services for culturally- and linguistically-diverse patients is critically needed. In addition to addressing barriers to care, ensuring high-quality evaluations through prospective consultation with dedicated experts is important for program development.

Multiple chemical sensitivity scoping review protocol: overview of research and MCS construct

IntroductionMultiple chemical sensitivity (MCS) has been characterised by reported adverse responses to environmental exposures of common chemical agents (eg, perfumes, paint, cleaning products and other inhaled or ingested agents) in...

Communication Challenges in Social Board Games

Background Discussion-based communication scenarios are present in many aspects of life. These can range from conversations with friends in a social setting to formal consultation processes and focus groups used by industry and government. However, reliance on speech does not easily permit the fair and equitable involvement of people who face communication-based accessibility challenges. Aim This work aimed to understand the communication challenges present within social board games, how these challenges arise, and participants’ perceptions of the difficulties these challenges may cause. Method We conducted four social gameplay sessions to understand what parts of discussion may cause communication challenges and what techniques are commonplace in overcoming these. Results Our results highlight how group facilitation and conversation pacing are essential in promoting accessibility within discussion-type situations. Our analysis identified four themes that focused on speech and delivery, access strategies, viewing and position, balance of power, and awareness of others. Conclusions Communication within board game scenarios is a complex area that creates several intersectional accessibility challenges. These challenges can impact how group communication is facilitated, how pacing and delivery relate to overall group understanding, and how an awareness of accessibility is critical in developing inclusive environments.

Handshake stewardship on adult acute-care surgical services

Background: Handshake stewardship is a variation of prospective audit and feedback that entails the individual review of patient charts by a physician–pharmacist collaborative team followed by in-person feedback to primary teams to communicate recommendations regarding optimal antibiotic use. Handshake stewardship has been shown to have durable effects in reducing antimicrobial use in children’s hospitals, but data regarding this intervention in adult hospitals are scarce. In particular, no data are available regarding the impact of this type of stewardship intervention on adult surgical units. We examined the effect of a handshake stewardship intervention at a large academic medical center on adult trauma and acute- and critical-care surgery (ACCS) units. Methods: The antimicrobial stewardship program (ASP) at Barnes-Jewish Hospital launched a handshake stewardship intervention targeting surgical floor teams in January 2022. These teams included the ACCS teams and a number of other surgical services. The intervention consisted of once weekly reviews and in-person rounds with the surgical floor teams along with the establishment of a 7 day per week “hotline” in which the surgical teams could contact an ID physician or pharmacist with questions regarding antibiotic use. Patients with formal ID consultations were not reviewed. Recommendations were tracked including the type, the antibiotic targeted, and recommendation acceptance or rejection. Descriptive statistics were performed to analyze these results. At the end of 12 months, antibiotic use in the floors covered by the ACCS teams were pulled from the NHSN AU module to perform an interrupted time-series analysis 12 months before and after the intervention. Results: Overall, 3,127 charts were reviewed during the intervention period and 637 recommendations were made to all the surgical teams. Opportunities for antibiotic use optimization were identified in ~20% of antibiotic orders. The overall recommendation acceptance rate was 71%. In the ACCS units, 272 interventions were recommended, with an acceptance rate of 67%. The most frequent recommendations were for antibiotic discontinuation (37%), antibiotic de-escalation (17%), shortening duration (12%), and broadening coverage (12%). Antibiotic usage trends (Fig. 1) on the ACCS floors, which were showing a nonsignificant increasing trend (P = .70) before and after the intervention, now show a nonsignificant decreasing trend (P = .20). Conclusions: There are numerous opportunities for antibiotic optimization on adult surgical floors. Although handshake stewardship is a labor-intensive intervention, preliminary findings after 1 year show that, on ACCS units, there may be a trend toward a sustained impact.Disclosures: None

Utility of eConsults for COVID-19 vaccine-related concerns in Ontario: a cross-sectional analysis

BackgroundThe Champlain BASE™ and Ontario eConsult services are virtual platforms that serve to facilitate contact between primary care providers and specialists across Ontario, relaying patient-specific questions to relevant specialists via a secure web-based platform. Despite ample evidence regarding the general effectiveness of these platforms, their utility as it pertains to clinical concerns regarding COVID-19 vaccines has not yet been explored.MethodsWe performed a cross-sectional descriptive analysis of COVID-19 vaccine related eConsults on Ontario patients completed by five allergy specialists between February and October of 2021. 4318 COVID-19 vaccine-related eConsults were completed in total during this time; with 1857 completed by the five allergists participating in this analysis. Question types/content were categorized using a taxonomy developed through consensus on a weighted monthly sample of 499 total cases. Data regarding whether external resources were required to answer each eConsult, impact on primary care provider referral decisions, and allergy consultant response times were collected. A 2-question survey was completed by primary care providers following eConsultation and results were collected.Results41.08% of eConsults received involved safety concerns regarding COVID-19 vaccine administration in the setting of prior allergic disease and another 36.1% involved a potential reaction the first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine. 72.1% of eConsults were answered by specialist without needing external resources, and only 9.8% of all eConsults received resulted in a recommendation for formal in-person referral to Clinical Immunology & Allergy specialist or another subspecialty. Average time to complete eConsult was 16.4 min, and 79.7% of PCP eConsult queries which would have traditionally resulted in formal consultation were resolved based on advice provided in the eConsult without need for in-person assessment.ConclusionsOur study demonstrates the utility of the eConsult service as it pertains to COVID-19 vaccine-related concerns. The eConsult platform proved an effective tool in diverting the need for in-person assessment by an Allergist or other medical specialty. This is significant given the large volume of eConsults completed by Allergists, and demonstrates the impact of an effective electronic delivery of care model during a time of strained resources and public health efforts directed at mass vaccination.

Physical therapy consultation in the emergency department for older adults with falls: A qualitative study.

Little is known about current practices in consulting physical therapy (PT) in the emergency department (ED) for older adults with falls, a practice that can reduce fall-related ED revisits. This qualitative study aimed to understand perspectives of ED staff about ED PT consultation for older adults with falls and fall-related complaints, specifically regarding perceived value and associated challenges and strategies. We performed focus groups and key informant interviews with emergency physicians, advanced practice clinicians, nurses, physical therapists, occupational therapists, and technicians who perform ED geriatric screenings. We used rapid qualitative analysis to identify common themes related to decisions to consult PT from the ED, perceived value of PT, and common challenges and strategies in ED PT consultation. Twenty-five participants in 4 focus groups and 3 interviews represented 22 distinct institutions with ED PT consultation available for older adults with falls. About two thirds of EDs represented relied on clinician gestalt to request PT consultation (n=15, 68%), whereas one third used formal consultation pathways (n=7, 32%). Participants valued physical therapists' expertise, time, and facilitation of hospital throughput by developing safe discharge plans and contact with patients to improve outpatient follow-up. Common challenges included limited ED PT staffing and space for PT evaluations; strategies to promote ED PT consultation included advocating for leadership buy-in and using ED observation units to monitor patients and avoid admission until PT consultation was available. ED PT consultation for older adults with falls may benefit patients, ED staff, and hospital throughput. Uncertainty remains over whether geriatric screening-triggered consultation versus emergency clinician gestalt successfully identifies patients likeliest to benefit from ED PT evaluation. Leadership buy-in, designated consultation space, and formalized consultation pathways are strategies to address current challenges in ED PT consultation.

A152 ASSESSING THE USE OF A VALIDATED LYNCH SCREENING QUESTIONNAIRE IN THE OUTPATIENT SETTING AND SUBSEQUENT CHANGES IN PATIENT MANAGEMENT

Abstract Background Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the second most common cause of cancer related deaths in Canada. Approximately 1 in 13 males and 1 in 18 females will develop colorectal cancer in their lifetimes. As many as 10% of CRC may be associated with an inherited syndrome. Lynch Syndrome (LS) is the most common cause of inherited CRC, estimated to account for 3-4% of all CRC cases. . A study by Kastrinos et al. found that a simple, 3 item survey, identified 77% of individuals with known LS. Implementation of this questionnaire at a gastroenterology office may help identify patients at risk for LS. Purpose To assess whether implementation of a validated questionnaire to screen for LS is feasible in an outpatient gastroenterology clinic, and if these results would change patient management by gastroenterologists. Method Included in this study were all patients 18 years or older, who had been referred to one of the gastroenterologists at Pacific Gastroenterology Associates in Vancouver, British Columbia. Exclusion criteria included those patients less than 18 years of age, and patients previously seen by the HCP. Each subject was asked the following three questions: (1) Do you have a first-degree relative with CRC or LS-related cancer diagnosed before age 50? (2) Have you had CRC or polyps diagnosed before age 50? (3) Do you have ≥3 relatives with CRC?. Answering yes to any question was considered a positive screen. Gastroenterologists were initially blinded to the content of the questionnaire and results. After completion of the questionnaire and formal gastroenterology consultation, the patients who screened positive for an increased risk of LS had their results unblinded to their primary gastroenterologist. Gastroenterologists were then asked if the survey results changed their management. Result(s) A total of 655 patients were screened, with 33 (5.0%) screening positive for question 1, 71 (10.8%) screening positive for question 2, and 17 (2.6%) screening positive for question 3. In total, 106 (15.9%) of individuals surveyed screened positive indicating higher risk for hereditary colorectal cancer. Subsequent reassessment by gastroenterologists of patients screening positive with the LS questionnaire (n=51) yielded no change to 47 patients (92%), screening with colonoscopy not originally planned for 1 patient (2%), re-consultation for further risk assessment for 2 patients (4%) and 1 referral to the Hereditary Cancer Program (2%). Conclusion(s) Utilization of a simple 3-question survey as part of regular patient intake in a gastroenterology office resulted in an increased number of individuals being identified as being high risk for Lynch syndrome, with a subsequent increase in endoscopic screening not otherwise planned, further assessment for colon cancer risk, and an increased referral to the Hereditary Cancer Program. Please acknowledge all funding agencies by checking the applicable boxes below None Disclosure of Interest None Declared

Why and where?-Delay in Tuberculosis care cascade: A cross-sectional assessment in two Indian states, Jharkhand, Gujarat.

Tuberculosis (TB) is the second leading cause of death due to infectious diseases globally, and delay in the TB care cascade is reported as one of the major challenges in achieving the goals of the TB control programs. The main aim of this study was to investigate the delay and responsible factors for the delay in the various phases of care cascade among TB patients in two Indian states, Jharkhand and Gujarat. This cross-sectional study was conducted among 990 TB patients from the selected tuberculosis units (TUs) of two states. This study adopted a mixed-method approach for the data collection. The study targeted a diverse profile of TB patients, such as drug-sensitive TB (DSTB), drug resistance TB (DRTB), pediatric TB, and extra-pulmonary TB. It included both public and private sector patients. The study findings suggested that about 41% of pulmonary and 51% of extra-pulmonary patients reported total delay. Delay in initial formal consultation is most common, followed by a delay in diagnosis and treatment initiation in pulmonary patients. While in extra-pulmonary patients, delay in treatment initiation is most common, followed by the diagnosis and first formal consultation. DR-TB patients are more prone to total delay and delay in the treatment initiation among pulmonary patients. Addiction, co-morbidity and awareness regarding monetary benefits available for TB patients contribute significantly to the total delay among pulmonary TB patients. There were system-side factors like inadequacy in active case findings, poor infrastructure, improper adverse drug reaction management and follow-up, resulting in delays in the TB care cascade in different phases. Thus, the multi-disciplinary strategies covering the gambit of both system and demand side attributes are recommended to minimize the delays in the TB care cascade.