Hospital Against Medical Advice Research Articles

Discharges Against Medical Advice in Pregnant Patients at a Canadian Tertiary Care Center: Does Lack of Access to Childcare Play a Role? [ID 2683591

INTRODUCTION: Discharges against medical advice (AMA) during pregnancy have been associated with poor maternal and fetal outcomes. Moreover, one of the documented reasons why female patients might leave the hospital AMA is lack of access to childcare. In recent years, lack of access to childcare has been identified as a potential risk factor for discharge AMA and maternal mortality at a tertiary care center in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. The goal of this chart review project is to study the characteristics of pregnant women who leave AMA from this center, and to determine what proportion of these discharges is due to difficulties securing childcare. METHODS: Ethics approval was obtained through the University of Alberta’s Health Research Ethics Board. All patients who were discharged AMA from the triage and antepartum units at the study site between May 28, 2021, and May 27, 2022, were identified. Patients were included in the chart review as long as they remained undelivered at the time of discharge. Reasons for admission and discharge AMA were extracted from each patient’s chart whenever available. Patients' age, gravidity, parity, and gestational age at the time of discharge were also collected. RESULTS: During the study period, approximately 9.3% of recorded discharges from the triage and antepartum units were for patients who left AMA. In total, we included 89 individual patient visits that ended with a discharge AMA. For these patients, the most frequent reason for admission was threatened preterm labor (including short cervix). Although the reason motivating discharges AMA was not documented in the majority of charts reviewed (49/89), lack of access to childcare was the most frequently documented reason provided by patients for leaving AMA (15/40). CONCLUSION: Improving access to childcare for pregnant patients who are admitted to the study site might help to decrease discharges AMA, and therefore help reduce perinatal complications.

A111 CHARACTERISTICS OF HOSPITALIZED PATIENTS WITH GASTROINTESTINAL DISEASE WHO LEAVE AGAINST MEDICAL ADVICE

Abstract Background Hospitalized inpatients who leave against medical advice (AMA) may have incomplete care, resulting in readmission and increased healthcare costs. Limited evidence exists in patients diagnosed with a primary gastrointestinal (GI) disease who leave AMA. Identifying patients with GI diagnoses who leave AMA may inform risk stratification to determine which patients are at risk of unplanned discharge. Aims Identify characteristics in patients diagnosed with GI diseases who leave AMA. Methods A retrospective evaluation was conducted using the National Inpatient Sample (NIS) from 2016 to 2020. The NIS provides national-level estimates of cost, quality, and outcomes from hospitalizations in the United States. We used International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision diagnostic coding to identify patients admitted with a primary GI problem. The proportion of patients who left AMA for each diagnosis was determined (Figure 1). A multivariable logistic regression was performed to determine factors associated with an AMA discharge, adjusting for age, sex, elective or weekend admission, primary payment method, race, hospital setting, geography, income, Elixhauser comorbidity index, alcohol and/or drug abuse and depression status. Results Between 2016 and 2020, 1.61% of patients with a GI primary problem left the hospital AMA. Characteristics associated with leaving AMA included: older age, female sex, non-white race, rural hospital admission, higher income and having comorbid conditions (Table 1). Patients with a history of alcohol abuse were more likely to leave AMA, while patients with a history of drug abuse were less likely to leave AMA. Conclusions Approximately 1 in 60 patients admitted with a primary GI problem leave hospital AMA and we identify both structural and patient-level factors associated with unplanned discharge. Table 1: Factors Associated With AMA Discharge For GI-related Diagnoses Funding Agencies None

Using a Harm Reduction Approach to Treat Inpatients With Substance Use Disorders.

This study investigated harm reduction (HR) strategies at our institution to decrease the number of patients with a substance use disorder (SUD) who left against medical advice (AMA). HR is a public health strategy used for adult substance use problems for whom abstinence is not feasible. An HR program was established at 1 institution to enhance the care of hospitalized patients with a SUD. Of the 1780 unique visits for patients with a diagnosis of SUD, 311 patients (17.5%) left our hospital AMA or eloped. The average length of stay for all patients evaluated by the HR team was 6.6 days compared with 4.0 days for those who left AMA. Patients with >1 hospital stay accounted for 22% of our population but represented 34% of the patients who left AMA. This study reports the approaches implemented to reduce the AMA rate of patients with a SUD and to promote patient-enhanced care.

Effect of leaving against medical advice on 30-day infective endocarditis readmissions

ABSTRACT Background The burden of against medical advice (AMA) discharges on the readmission rate of infective endocarditis (IE) patients has been largely ignored. Methods We used the National Readmissions Database, years 2016 to 2019, to identify IE patients and categorized them into those who left AMA (IE AMA) and those who were discharged to home or skilled nursing facility (SNF)/other facility (IE non-AMA). The primary outcome was 30-day all-cause readmissions difference per AMA status. Results Of 26,481 patients with IE who met the inclusion criteria, 4,310 (16.3%) left the hospital AMA. IE AMA patients were younger (mean years; 43.7 vs 34.2; p < 0.01) and had a higher prevalence of injection drug use (IDU) (89.4% vs 45.2%; p < 0.01) but fewer comorbidities compared to IE non-AMA. In adjusted analyses, IE AMA had higher hazards for 30-day readmissions compared to IE non-AMA [hazards ratio (HR): 3.1 (2.9–3.5); p < 0.01]. Conclusion IE AMA are at increased risk of 30-day readmissions and higher resource utilization at the time of readmission compared to IE non-AMA. Considering the high prevalence of IDU in IE AMA, the role of mental health to curb the burden of IE readmissions is an area of further research.

Understanding why patients with substance use disorders leave the hospital against medical advice: A qualitative study

Background Hospital discharges against medical advice (AMA) is associated with negative health outcomes and re-admissions. Patients with substance use disorders (SUD) are up to three times more likely to be discharged AMA as compared to those without SUD. Studies suggest that undertreated withdrawal and a perception of stigma may increase the risk, however, to date, there are no published qualitative studies exploring the specific reasons why patients with SUD leave prematurely. Methods: Semi-structured interviews with patients (n = 15) with SUD with documented AMA discharges from our hospital between 9/2017 and 9/2018. Maximum variation sampling was employed to display diversity across gender, race, age, and type of substance use disorder (alcohol vs opioids). Patients were interviewed until no new concepts emerged from additional interviews. Two coders separately coded all transcripts and reconciled code assignments. Results: Four core issues were identified as patients’ reasons for leaving the hospital prematurely: undertreated withdrawal and ongoing craving to use drugs, uncontrolled acute and chronic pain, stigma and discrimination by hospital staff about their SUD, and hospital restrictions, including not being allowed to intermittently leave the hospital floor. For patients with histories of criminal involvement, being hospitalized reminded them of being incarcerated. Conclusion: These findings shed light on the reasons patients with SUD are discharged from the hospital AMA, an event that is associated with increased thirty-day mortality and hospital re-admission. AMA discharges represent missed opportunities for the health care system to engage with patients struggling with a SUD. Our findings support the need for inpatient addiction treatment, particularly for management of withdrawal and co-occurring pain, and the need to address health care provider associated stigma surrounding addiction.

Hospital Initiated Injectable Opioid Agonist Therapy for the Treatment of Severe Opioid Use Disorder: A Case Series.

Across North America, there is an unprecedented opioid overdose epidemic. Approximately 15% of individuals with severe opioid use disorder (OUD) do not benefit from opioid agonist therapy (OAT) such as buprenorphine/naloxone or methadone and are considered treatment refractory. Of those who inject, injectable OAT (iOAT), with hydromorphone or diacetylmorphine, offered in community settings has demonstrated improved retention to treatment and decreased nonprescription opioid use. This case series seeks to describe iOAT initiation and titration in a hospital setting for treatment refractory individuals with OUD and examine impacts of iOAT on leaving hospital against medical advice (AMA). A retrospective chart review of 4 patients initiated on iOAT during hospitalization at St. Paul's Hospital in Vancouver, BC was completed between July 2017 to May 2018. Outcomes of interest included: (1) dose titration schedules of hydromorphone; and (2) reports of leaving hospital AMA; and (3) continuation of iOAT in community postdischarge. Of the 4 participants, 2 were female and the mean age was 42 years. Despite a history of AMA, all participants stayed until the recommended the discharge after iOAT initiation. The average total doses of intravenous hydromorphone used during titration were: day 1: 100 mg and days 2 to 3: 200 mg. All continued iOAT in the community and one participant was readmitted within 30 days postdischarge. This case series describes a novel approach to the management of treatment refractory individuals with severe OUD during hospitalization. Prescribing iOAT in acute care settings is feasible and may reduce rates of leaving hospital AMA.

The impact of an HIV/AIDS adult integrated health program on leaving hospital against medical advice among HIV-positive people who use illicit drugs.

Leaving hospital against medical advice (AMA) is a major source of avoidable morbidity, mortality and healthcare expenditure. The objective of this study was to assess the impact of an innovative HIV/AIDS adult integrated health program on leaving hospital AMA among HIV-positive people who use illicit drugs (PWUD). Using generalized estimating equations, we examined the relationship between being a participant of the Dr. Peter Centre (DPC), a specialty HIV/AIDS-focused adult integrated health program, and leaving hospital AMA among a cohort of HIV-positive PWUD patients. Between July 2005 and July 2011, 181 HIV-positive PWUD who experienced ≥1 hospitalization were recruited into the study. Of the 406 hospital admissions among these individuals, 73 (39.9%) participants left the hospital AMA. In a multivariable model adjusted for confounders, being a participant of the DPC was independently associated with lower odds of leaving hospital AMA (adjusted odds ratio = 0.42; 95% confidence interval: 0.19-0.89). Our findings suggest that the provision of a broad range of clinical, harm reduction and support services through an innovative HIV/AIDS-focused adult integrated health program operating in proximity to a hospital may curb the rate at which individuals leave hospital prematurely.

Discharge Against Medical Advice in Traumatic Brain Injury: Follow-Up and Readmission Rate.

Patients who leave hospital against medical advice (AMA) may be at risk of adverse health outcomes, medical complications, and readmission. In this study, we examined the characteristics of patients who left AMA after traumatic brain injury (TBI), their rates of follow-up visits, and readmission. We retrospectively studied 106 consecutive patients who left the tertiary trauma center AMA (1.8% of all admitted patients with a TBI). Preinjury health and social issues, mechanism of injury, computed tomography findings, and injury markers were collected. They were correlated to compliance with follow-up visits and unplanned emergency room (ER) visits and readmission rates. The most prevalent premorbid health or social-related issues were alcohol abuse (33%) and assault as a mechanism of trauma (33%). Only 15 (14.2%) subjects came to follow-up visit for their TBI. Sixteen (15.1%) of the 106 subjects had multiple readmissions and/or ER visits related to substance abuse. Seven (6.6%) had multiple readmissions or ER visits with psychiatric reasons. Those patients with multiple readmissions and ER visits showed in higher proportion preexisting neurological condition (p=0.027), homelessness (p=0.012), previous neurosurgery (p=0.014), preexisting encephalomalacia (p=0.011), and had a higher ISS score (p=0.014) than those who were not readmitted multiple times. The significantly increased risks of multiple follow-up visits and readmission among TBI patients who leave hospital AMA are related to a premorbid vulnerability and psychosocial issues. Clinicians should target AMA TBI patients with premorbid vulnerability for discharge transition interventions.

The role of patient-provider interactions: Using an accounts framework to explain hospital discharges against medical advice

The phenomenon of leaving the hospital against medical advice (AMA) despite being quite common and associated with significant deleterious health outcomes remains inadequately understood and addressed. Researchers have identified certain patient characteristics as predictors of AMA discharges, but the patients' reasons for these events have not been comprehensively explored. Moreover, because the medical authority model dominates this research area, providers' experiences of AMA discharges remain unstudied. We examined the AMA discharge from a patient-centered perspective by analyzing the content of notes providers generate to record such events. We analyzed providers' notes for all inpatients with a primary HIV diagnosis (N = 33) that, in 2012, left an urban hospital AMA. Applying the Scott and Lyman accounts framework, we identified that the notes constituted records of providers' and patients' excuses and justifications for failing to meet the expectations of a provider offering patient-centered care and a compliant patient receiving care. Alongside the patients' reasons for leaving AMA, the notes also revealed the providers' reasons for honoring or discrediting the patients' accounts. The style of the accounts and the professional status of the notes' authors enabled us to contextualize the production and sharing of AMA notes in the hospital hierarchy. Conceptualizing AMA notes as dyadic accounts elicited specific factors that challenge the patient-provider relationship, and generated insights on how to strengthen it, and thus decrease the rates of AMA discharges and their associated health effects.

Discharge against medical advice from a Tehran emergency department.

The purpose of this paper is to identify the main reasons for discharge against medical advice (DAMA) in the emergency department (ED) of a teaching hospital in Tehran, Iran. This cross-sectional study was conducted on all the patients who left the ED of a referral teaching hospital against medical advice (AMA) in 2008. A questionnaire was filled out for each patient to determine the reasons behind patient leaving AMA. In total, 12.8 percent of the patients left the hospital AMA. Dissatisfaction with being observed in the ED, having a feeling of recovery and hospital personnel encouraging patients to leave the hospital were the main reasons for leaving the hospital AMA. Like many other centers, the results showed that poor communication skill and work overload were the main contributing factors to DAMA. The center managed to improve patient satisfaction and thus lowered DAMA rates following this study. Considering the similarities reported in the reports and that of other studies, it could be concluded that policy makers in other centers can also benefit from the results to adopt effective approaches to reduce DAMA rate. To the knowledge no study has evaluated the rate and the reasons behind DAMA in the Iranian EDs.

Factors Associated with Leaving Hospital against Medical Advice among People Who Use Illicit Drugs in Vancouver, Canada.

BackgroundLeaving hospital against medical advice (AMA) is common among people who use illicit drugs (PWUD) and is associated with severe health-related harms and costs. However, little is known about the prevalence of and factors associated with leaving AMA among PWUD.MethodsData were collected through two Canadian prospective cohort studies involving PWUD between September 2005 and July 2011 and linked to a hospital admission/discharge database. Bivariable and multivariable generalized estimating equations were used to examine factors associated with leaving hospital AMA among PWUD who were hospitalized.ResultsAmong 488 participants who experienced at least one hospitalization, 212 (43.4%) left the hospital AMA at least once during the study period. In multivariable analyses, factors positively and significantly associated with leaving hospital AMA included: unstable employment (AOR = 1.92; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.22–3.03); recent incarceration (AOR = 1.63; 95%CI: 1.07–2.49); ≥ daily heroin injection (AOR = 1.49; 95%CI: 1.05–2.11); and younger age per year younger (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 1.04; 95%CI: 1.02–1.06).ConclusionsWe found a substantial proportion of PWUD in this setting left hospital AMA and that various markers of risk and vulnerability were associated with this phenomenon. Our findings highlight the need to address substance abuse issues early following hospital admission. These findings further suggest a need to develop novel interventions to minimize PWUD leaving hospital prematurely.

Patients in a private hospital in India leave the emergency department against medical advice for financial reasons

BackgroundSome reports indicate financial concerns as a factor affecting ED patients leaving the acute care setting against medical advice (AMA). In India, no person is supposed to be denied urgent care because of inability to pay. Since a large proportion of the Indian health care system is financed by out-of-pocket expenses, we investigate the role of financial constraints for ED patients at a private hospital in India in leaving AMA.MethodsA prospective ED-based cross-sectional survey of patients leaving AMA was conducted at a private hospital in India from 1 October 2010 to 31 December 2010. Descriptive statistics and the chi-square test were used to identify associations between financial factors and the decision to leave the hospital AMA.ResultsOverall, 55 (3.84%) ED patients left AMA, of which 46 (84%) reported leaving because of financial restrictions. Thirty-nine (71%) respondents indicated the medical bill would represent more that 25% of their annual income. Females (19/19) were more likely to leave AMA for financial reasons compared to males (27/36, p = 0.017). Among females who signed out AMA, the decision was never made by the female herself.ConclusionThe number of people leaving the ED AMA in a private Indian hospital is relatively high, with most leaving for financial reasons. In most cases, women did not decide to leave the ED AMA for themselves, whereas males did. This survey suggests that steps are needed to ensure that the inability to pay does not prevent emergent care from being provided.

A population-based analysis of leaving the hospital against medical advice: incidence and associated variables

BackgroundPrior studies of patients leaving hospital against medical advice (AMA) have been limited by not being population-based or assessing only one type of patient.MethodsWe used administrative data at the Manitoba Centre for Health Policy to evaluate all adult residents of Manitoba, Canada discharged alive from acute care hospitals between April 1, 1990 and February 28, 2009. We identified the rate of leaving AMA, and used multivariable logistic regression to identify socio-demographic and diagnostic variables associated with leaving AMA.ResultsOf 1 916 104 live hospital discharges, 21 417 (1.11%) ended with the patient leaving AMA. The cohort contained 610 187 individuals, of whom 12 588 (2.06%) left AMA once and another 2 986 (0.49%) left AMA more than once. The proportion of AMA discharges did not change over time. Alcohol and drug abuse was the diagnostic group with the highest proportion of AMA discharges, at 11.71%. Having left AMA previously had the strongest association with leaving AMA (odds ratio 170, 95% confidence interval 156–185). Leaving AMA was more common among men, those with lower average household incomes, histories of alcohol or drug abuse or HIV/AIDS. Major surgical procedures were associated with a much lower chance of leaving the hospital AMA.ConclusionsThe rate of leaving hospital AMA did not systematically change over time, but did vary based on patient and illness characteristics. Having left AMA in the past was highly predictive of subsequent AMA events.

Discharge against medical advice from emergency department: results from a tertiary care hospital in Tehran, Iran

Discharge against medical advice (AMA) depends on both patient population and hospital-related factors. No previous study has examined AMA discharges in Iran. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of AMA discharges and the associated factors in Iranian emergency department-admitted patients. In this prospective cross-sectional study, we studied 915 consecutive patients admitted to the emergency department of a major referral center in Iran. Patients were divided into two groups: those who left hospital AMA and those discharged with medical approval. Patients' characteristics in AMA and non-AMA groups along with reasons associated with AMA discharges were examined. Of 880 patients included, 178 (20.2%) were discharged AMA. Male sex, younger age, and a history of drug or alcohol abuse were not associated with AMA discharges. Lack of health insurance was found more frequently in patients discharged AMA (46.1 vs. 34.8%). Most AMA patients (63.0%) have been staying in hospital for less than 12 h. The most common reason stated by the patients for AMA discharge was dissatisfaction with care or diagnostic and therapeutic procedures (38.2%). This study identifies marked differences in prevalence and potential predictors of AMA discharges in Iran compared with what has been described in the literature. The high prevalence of AMA discharges after emergency admission in a developing country such as Iran calls for effective approaches to reduce the prevalence as well as further investigation into the responsible factors.

The Burden of Hospital Readmissions for Patients with Sickle Cell Disease in California and North Carolina: 2004 to 2007.

Abstract 554 Introduction:Hospital readmissions are viewed within health services and policy circles as an indicator of poor quality care. Little is known about what patient characteristics may also contribute to readmissions among patients with sickle cell disease (SCD). We used hospital administrative data from two states to examine patient and hospital discharge-level characteristics associated with hospital readmissions in this patient population. Methods:The State Inpatient Databases (SID) provided by the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project contain patient-level discharge data from 100% of hospitals in participating states. We used SID data from North Carolina and California for the years 2004 through 2007 to examine patient and discharge-level characteristics associated with hospital readmissions among patients with SCD. We identified SCD patients in the dataset using the following ICD9 codes: 28241-28242, and 28260-28269. Encrypted patient identifiers were availabel for the majority of patients in the dataset. For each individual SCD patient in the dataset, we defined an index admission as the patient's first admission in the dataset during the study period. We defined a readmission as any subsequent non-elective admission appearing in the dataset occurring within 1-month of any prior admission. We used ICD9 codes and Clinical Classification Software codes to identify comorbidities associated with SCD: vaso-occlusive crisis, pulmonary hypertension, cerebrovascular accidents, leg ulcers, gall bladder disease, retinopathies, avascular necrosis, chronic renal failure, acute chest syndrome, blood infections, and pneumonia. We also identified patients with diagnostic codes of HIV or other viral infections. We used discharge disposition codes provided in the dataset to identify patients who discharged themselves against medical advice (AMA). We used oneway ANOVAs, t-tests, chi-square tests, and multiple linear and logistic regressions to examine the association of patient-level and discharge-level characteristics with readmission history. A generalized estimating equation was used to account for within-patient clustering as appropriate. Results:We identified 9966 SCD patients who together accounted for 38363 hospital discharges during the study period. Sixty-five percent of the discharges were from California. Thirty-five percent of the discharges were identified as readmissions given our study definitions. The average length of stay for readmissions was 1.4 days longer than that of other hospitalizations (6.7 vs. 5.3, p < 0.001). Readmissions remained 0.76 days longer on average than other hospitalizations after adjustment for patient age, sex, insurance type, and sickle-related comorbidities (p < 0.001). The average billed charges for readmissions (unadjusted) were $4427 higher than that of other hospitalizations (p < 0.001). After adjustment for age, sex, and sickle-comorbidities, readmissions remained $1923 more expensive than other hospitalizations. The addition of length of stay to the model reversed the readmission effect on average charges. In a patient-level analysis, only 24% of the 9966 individuals in the dataset ever had a readmission during the study period. Nevertheless, this 24% of patients accounted for 71% of the total discharges, 76% of the total days of care, and 74% of the billed charges observed during the study period. In adjusted models, ever experiencing a readmission during the study period was significantly associated with a patient being female, being younger, leaving the hospital AMA, and ever experiencing vaso-occlusive crisis, pulmonary hypertension, cerebrovascular accidents, leg ulcers, gall bladder disease, retinopathies, avascular necrosis, chronic renal failure, acute chest syndrome, blood infections, pneumonia, or a viral infection (non-HIV) during the study period. Conclusions:A relatively small percentage of SCD patients, who appear to have more severe illness, are responsible for an overwhelming majority of hospital readmissions, which in turn are associated with significantly increased days of hospital care and total charges. The development of interventions to reduce readmissions among the small percentage of patients who disproportionately account for these costly admissions may be an effective and equitable focus of policy efforts to reduce the readmission rate for patients with SCD. Disclosures:No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

Inflammatory bowel disease patients who leave hospital against medical advice: Predictors and temporal trends

Leaving hospital against medical advice (AMA) may have consequences with respect to health-related outcomes; however, inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients have been inadequately studied. Thus, we determined the prevalence of self-discharge, assessed predictors of AMA status, and evaluated time trends. We analyzed the 1995-2005 Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS) to identify 93,678 discharges with a primary diagnosis of IBD admitted to the hospital emergently and did not undergo surgery. We described the proportion of IBD patients who left AMA. Predictors of AMA status were evaluated using a multivariate logistic regression model and temporal trend analyses were performed with Poisson regression models. Between 1995 and 2005, 1.31% of IBD patients left hospitals AMA. Crohn's disease (CD) patients were more likely to leave AMA (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 1.53; 95% confidence intervals [CI]: 1.30-1.79). Characteristics associated with leaving AMA included: ages 18-34 (aOR, 7.77, 95% CI: 4.34-13.89); male (aOR, 1.75; 95% CI: 1.55-1.99); Medicaid (aOR, 4.55; 95% CI: 3.81-5.43) compared to private insurance; African Americans (aOR, 1.34; 95% CI: 1.09-1.64) compared to white; substance abuse (aOR, 2.75; 95% CI: 2.14-3.54); and psychosis (aOR, 1.55; 95% CI: 1.13-2.14). The incidence rates of self-discharge for CD patients were stable (P > 0.05) between 1995 and 1999, while they significantly (P < 0.0001) increased after 1999. In contrast, AMA rates for UC patients remained stable during the study period. Approximately 1 in 76 IBD patients admitted emergently for medical management leave the hospital AMA. These were primarily disenfranchised patients who may lack adequate outpatient follow-up.

Differences Among Those who Complete and Fail to Complete Inpatient Detoxification

Some individuals hospitalized for alcohol or drug detoxification leave against medical advice (AMA). We hypothesized that certain characteristics would be associated with AMA discharges. A case-control study of 1,426 hospital admissions for detoxification (representing 1,080 individuals) was conducted to compare patients leaving the hospital AMA (n = 231) with a random sample of those completing detoxification (n = 286). Latino ethnicity, detoxification from drugs, Friday or Saturday discharge, Medicaid or no health insurance, and not being treated by one specific attending physician were characteristics associated with an AMA discharge in a backward logistic regression model. Although 85% of the patients with all these characteristics left AMA, only one patient, without any of these five characteristics, did so. We conclude that clinicians can use certain clinical features to predict AMA discharge. Additional research could evaluate if treatment strategies that consider these ethnic and socioeconomic disparities may reduce rates of AMA discharge.

HIV-positive injection drug users who leave the hospital against medical advice: the mitigating role of methadone and social support.

Leaving the hospital against medical advice has been associated with increased morbidity and readmission. Factors associated with the risk of leaving against medical advice among HIV/AIDS patients or injection drug users have not been examined in detail. To examine the clinical and social factors associated with leaving against medical advice (AMA) from a specialized HIV/AIDS ward among patients who reported a history of injection drug use. All patients with a history of injection drug use admitted to the HIV/AIDS ward at St. Paul's Hospital, Vancouver, British Columbia (the largest specialized HIV/AIDS hospital ward in Canada) between April 1997 and October 2000 were reviewed retrospectively. A multivariate logistic regression model utilizing a generalized estimating equation algorithm identified factors associated with leaving the hospital AMA. Of the 1056 hospital admissions to the HIV/AIDS ward by patients with a history of injection drug use, 263 (24.9%) resulted in leaving the hospital AMA. Independent positive predictors of leaving AMA included recent injection drug use (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 2.08, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.41-3.07) and aboriginal ethnicity (AOR = 1.55, 95% CI: 1.05-2.28). Discharge AMA was also more likely to occur on weekends (AOR = 2.27, 95% CI: 1.49-3.48) and on days when social assistance payments were issued (AOR = 2.95, 95% CI: 1.70-5.10). Factors that independently reduced the odds of hospital discharge AMA included in-hospital methadone use (AOR = 0.49, 95% CI: 0.32-0.76), social support (AOR = 0.33, 95% CI: 0.21-0.51), and older age (per 10-year increment, AOR = 0.56, 95% CI: 0.43-0.73). Among HIV-positive patients with a history of injection drug use, the odds of leaving the hospital AMA were reduced for subjects who received inpatient methadone treatment, were of older age, or had social supports. Addiction treatment and interventions that enhance social supports in marginalized populations at risk for hospital discharge AMA should be further explored.

Patients' Rights and Psychiatrists' Duties: Discharging Patients against Medical Advice

Every psychiatrist who treats voluntary inpatients has had or will have patients who leave the hospital against medical advice (AMA). Studies reveal that between 6 and 35 percent of voluntary psychiatric inpatients are discharged AMA. These patients often are acutely ill and have severe symptoms at discharge. They also, as a group, have high rehospitalization rates and worse outcomes than patients who do not leave AMA. When a mentally ill patient demands to leave the hospital AMA, a tension arises between the patient's rights and the psychiatrist's duties. These duties include those to the patient and, in many cases, to third parties. Patients discharged AMA may remain dangerous and can expose health care providers to a heightened liability risk. More importantly, because of such factors, decisions about handling the AMA discharge are more difficult than decisions about admission. This article analyzes the sources of increased liability risk posed by AMA discharges. It includes discussions of patients' rights, including the different types of voluntary admissions, and psychiatrists' duties. Malpractice litigation in this area is reviewed. The article concludes by suggesting risk-management techniques that can aid in protecting the psychiatrist while also respecting patients' rights and delivering good clinical care.

Predictors of early hospital readmission in HIV-infected patients with pneumonia.

Although hospitalization patterns have been studied, little is known about hospital readmission among HIV-infected patients in the era of highly active antiretroviral therapy. We explored the risk factors for early readmission to a tertiary care inner-city hospital among HIV-infected patients with pneumonia in Vancouver, Canada. Case-control study. Tertiary care, university-affiliated, inner-city hospital. All HIV-infected patients who were hospitalized with Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia (PCP) or bacterial pneumonia (BP) between January 1997 and December 2000. Case patients included those who had early readmissions, defined as being readmitted within 2 weeks of discharge (N = 131). Control patients were randomly selected HIV-infected patients admitted during the study period who were not readmitted within 2 weeks of discharge (N = 131), matched to the cases by proportion of PCP to BP. Sociodemographic, HIV risk category, and clinical data were compared using chi2 test for categorical variables, and the Wilcoxon rank-sum test was used for continuous variables. Multivariable logistic regression was performed to determine the factors independently associated with early readmission. We also reviewed the medical records of 132 patients admitted to the HIV/AIDS ward during the study period and collected more detailed clinical data for a subanalysis. Patients were at significantly increased odds of early readmission if they left the hospital against medical advice (AMA) (adjusted odds ratio [OR], 4.26; 95% confidence interval [95% CI], 2.13 to 8.55), lived in the poorest urban neighborhood (OR, 2.03; 95% CI, 1.09 to 3.77), were hospitalized in summer season (May though October, OR, 2.36; 95% CI, 1.36 to 4.10), or had been admitted in the preceding 6 months (OR, 2.55; 95% CI, 1.46 to 4.47). Gender, age, history of AIDS-defining illness, and injection drug use status were not significantly associated with early readmission. Predictors of early readmission of HIV-infected patients with pneumonia included: leaving hospital AMA, living in the poorest urban neighborhood, being hospitalized in the preceding 6 months and during the summer months. Interventions involving social work may address some of the underlying reasons why these patients leave hospital AMA and should be further studied.