Percentage Of Admissions Research Articles

Role of Multi-Detector Computed Tomography in Evaluating Traumatic Brain Injuries in Taif City, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Background: Traumatic brain injury (TBI) represents a major percentage of admissions to hospital due to frequent trauma to this region and is considered a life-threatening situation because of that, MDCT is necessary to provide rapid diagnosis and best management that leads to successful treatment. Multi-detector Computed Tomography (MDCT) has a critical and significant rule for early evaluation and patient triage. Aim: This study aimed to evaluate the findings that occur due to head injuries using MDCT. Material and Method: An analytical retrospective study of 200 patients with head injuries were examined by CT, the study extended from January 2024 to September 2024. 128 slice CT systems (Siemens Medical system) were applied to investigate patients with head trauma at King Abdul-Aziz Specialist Hospital (KAASH )in Ta'if City, Saudi Arabia. Results: A total of 200 head trauma 136 (68%) males and 64(32%) females, were examined via head CT and presented with various types of trauma. The findings have noticed that brain injuries were significantly higher in the male population (68%) than in the female population (32%). Based on age groups, the incidence percentage of TBI was 34%, occurring in the age group 18-27 years. The most common cause of injury in patients presenting with head trauma was road traffic accidents, comprising 63% of cases. The isolated skull fracture was most frequently seen 35% of cases. Our study reveals that Subdural hematoma (52%) was the most frequent lesion noted in traumatic patients. Conclusion: Non-enhanced computed tomography( NECT) is considered the gold standard and the most informative diagnostic modality in the evaluation of Traumatic brain injuries and it is essentially to triage patients to observation, surgical, or medical management.

Outpatient Endocrine Protocol and Testing Coincides with Reduced Length of Postpituitary Surgery Admission

Abstract Objective The study objective was to compare the length of stay (LOS) and the proportion of one-night admissions before and after the implementation of an endocrine monitoring protocol following endoscopic transsphenoidal surgery (ETSS) for pituitary adenoma. Methods Patients who underwent transsphenoidal pituitary adenoma resection between July 1, 2018, and September 9, 2022, were identified, and divided into two cohorts before and after the implementation of the monitoring protocol. The overall LOS and number of nights of admission were recorded. Readmission within 30 days after surgery was also recorded. The number of outpatient laboratory tests performed and the time to the first test were also noted. Results Thirty patients were identified in the preprotocol group and 60 in the postprotocol group. The average admission length in the preprotocol group was significantly longer than the average admission length in the postprotocol group (2.4 vs. 1.7 days, p = 0.004). The percentage of one-night admissions increased from 13 to 57% (p < 0.001). There were no significant differences in readmission rates between the two groups (p = 0.681). The number of laboratory encounters increased from a mean of 1.38 to 2.40 (p = 0.030), while the time to the first test decreased from a mean of 3.43 to 2.36 days (p = 0.049). Conclusion Patients admitted after ETSS for pituitary adenoma had shorter hospital stay and greater proportion of one-night admission with the implementation of an endocrine monitoring protocol. The all-cause readmission rate was not statistically different between the two groups. Through aggressive outpatient laboratory monitoring, one-night admission for ETSS may be feasible.

Efectividad de nirsevimab en la prevención de los ingresos por bronquiolitis por virus respiratorio sincitial en lactantes

Introduction. Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) bronchiolitis is the leading cause of hospitalization in infants. This season, a long half-life monoclonal antibody (Nirsevimab) is available to prevent this disease for all infants born from 1 April-30 September to 2023 and all those born during RSV season (October2023- March 2024). The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of the implementation of this antibody on RSV admissions in a tertiary hospital. Material and methods. Observational, retrospective and analytical study. All patients <6 months in October admitted for bronchiolitis at 2 time points were included: T1 or Pre-nirsevimab time: 1 September 2015-30 September 2023 and T2 or Nirsevimab time: 1 October-31 December 2023. Total admissions due to any cause of infants <6 months in the same period were used as the reference population. To assess the impact of the implementation of nirsevimab, we calculated the reduction in the percentage of admissions due to RSV with respect to total admissions in both periods, and also in the 2023-2024 season we calculated the double negative test to calculate the effectiveness of the intervention (1-Odds ratio) x 100. Results. In infants under 6 months of age, we found significant differences in the number of admissions for RSV bronchiolitis between the last season and the previous 7 seasons [574/1195 (48%) vs 6/138 (4.3%); p<0.01, RPI: 91%). In the 2023/2024 season, the effectiveness of nirsevimab in preventing admission for RSV bronchiolitis in children under 6 months of age was 85% (CI 95%: 32-97%). Conclusions. The implementation of nirsevimab has had an important impact on the number of hospital admissions for RSV bronchiolitis. There were no differences in the severity of bronchiolitis

Documento nacional de consenso de monitorización terapéutica de antibióticos y antifúngicos en el paciente pediátrico y neonatal de la Sociedad Española de Farmacia Hospitalaria (SEFH) y la Sociedad Española de Infectología Pediátrica (SEIP)

Therapeutic monitoring of antibiotics and antifungals based on pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic param- eters, is a strategy increasingly used for the optimization of therapy to improve efficacy, reduce the occurrence of toxicities, and prevent the selection of antimicrobial resistance, particularly in vulnerable patients including neonates and the critical or immunocompromised host.In neonates and children, infections account for a high percentage of hospital admissions and anti-infectives are the most used drugs. However, pediatric pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic studies and the evidence regarding the efficacy and safety of some newly marketed antibiotics and antifungals -usually used off-label in pediatrics- to determine the optimal drug dosage regimens are limited. It is widely known that this population presents important differences in the pharmacokinetic parameters (especially in drug clearance and volume of distribution) in comparison with adults that may alter antimicrobial exposure and, therefore, compromise treat- ment success. In addition, pediatric patients are more susceptible to potential adverse drug effects and they need closer monitoring.The aim of this document, developed jointly between the Spanish Society of Hospital Pharmacy (SEFH) and the Spanish Society of Pediatric Infectious Diseases (SEIP), is to describe the available evidence on the indications for therapeutic drug monitoring of antibiotics and antifungals in newborn and pediatric patients and to provide prac- tical recommendations for therapeutic drug monitoring in routine clinical practice to optimize pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic parameters, efficacy and safety of antibiotics and antifungals in the pediatric population.

Documento nacional de consenso de monitorización terapéutica de antibióticos y antifúngicos en el paciente pediátrico y neonatal de la Sociedad Española de Farmacia Hospitalaria (SEFH) y la Sociedad Española de Infectología Pediátrica (SEIP)

Therapeutic monitoring of antibiotics and antifungals based on pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic parameters, is a strategy increasingly used for the optimization of therapy to improve efficacy, reduce the occurrence of toxicities, and prevent the selection of antimicrobial resistance, particularly in vulnerable patients including neonates and the critical or immunocompromised host.In neonates and children, infections account for a high percentage of hospital admissions and anti-infectives are the most used drugs. However, pediatric pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic studies and the evidence regarding the efficacy and safety of some newly marketed antibiotics and antifungals -usually used off-label in pediatrics- to determine the optimal drug dosage regimens are limited. It is widely known that this population presents important differences in the pharmacokinetic parameters (especially in drug clearance and volume of distribution) in comparison with adults that may alter antimicrobial exposure and, therefore, compromise treatment success. In addition, pediatric patients are more susceptible to potential adverse drug effects and they need closer monitoring.The aim of this document, developed jointly between the Spanish Society of Hospital Pharmacy (SEFH) and the Spanish Society of Pediatric Infectious Diseases (SEIP), is to describe the available evidence on the indications for therapeutic drug monitoring of antibiotics and antifungals in newborn and pediatric patients and to provide practical recommendations for therapeutic drug monitoring in routine clinical practice to optimize pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic parameters, efficacy and safety of antibiotics and antifungals in the pediatric population.

[Translated article] Therapeutic Drug Monitoring of antibiotic and antifungical drugs in paediatric and newborn patients. Consensus Guidelines of the Spanish Society of Hospital Pharmacy (SEFH) and the Spanish Society of Paediatric Infectious Diseases (SEIP)

Therapeutic monitoring of antibiotics and antifungals based on pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic (PK/PD) parameters is a strategy increasingly used for the optimization of therapy to improve efficacy, reduce the occurrence of toxicities, and prevent the selection of antimicrobial resistance, particularly in vulnerable patients including neonates and the critical or immunocompromised paediatric host.In neonates and children, infections account for a high percentage of hospital admissions, and anti-infectives are the most used drugs. However, paediatric PK/PD studies and the evidence regarding the efficacy and safety of some newly marketed antibiotics and antifungals—usually used off-label in paediatrics—to determine the optimal drug dosage regimens are limited. It is widely known that this population presents important differences in the PK parameters (especially in drug clearance and volume of distribution) in comparison with adults that may alter antimicrobial exposure and, therefore, compromise treatment success. In addition, paediatric patients are more susceptible to potential adverse drug effects and they need closer monitoring.The aim of this document, developed jointly by the Spanish Society of Hospital Pharmacy and the Spanish Society of Paediatric Infectious Diseases, is to describe the available evidence on the indications for therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) of antibiotics and antifungals in newborn and paediatric patients, and to provide practical recommendations for TDM in routine clinical practice to optimise their dosing, efficacy and safety. Of antibiotics and antifungals in the paediatric population.

Validation of Emergency Nurse Practitioner Competencies: Patient Complexity and Clinical Decision Making

IntroductionOver the past 15 years, the emergency nurse practitioner has been recognized as a nursing specialty role with dedicated scope and standards of practice. However, a paucity of objective data exists to validate the actual practice of emergency nurse practitioners in the emergency care setting. The purpose of this pilot study was to describe the initial acuity of patients assigned to emergency nurse practitioners, actions, decisional complexity, and disposition decisions of advanced practice nurses as they function in emergency departments in a single system. MethodsThis descriptive exploratory study used retrospective chart data to gain understanding. ResultsThe most common Emergency Severity Index level seen by emergency nurse practitioners was Emergency Severity Index 3. Of 8513 encounters with Emergency Severity Index level data, 21% were triaged at Emergency Severity Index 2, 56% at Emergency Severity Index 3, 21% at Emergency Severity Index 4, and only 2% at Emergency Severity Index 5. Half of encounters resulted in a Current Procedural Terminology code of 99825 or higher and 94% were coded at 99824 or higher. There were a high percentage of admissions including intensive care unit admissions. DiscussionAlthough descriptive, this study is highly illustrative of the broad scope of complex skills and clinical decision making required to perform as an advanced practice nurse in the emergency department. Further examination of education and training is warranted.

Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Influenza Hospital Admissions and Deaths in Wales: Descriptive National Time Series Analysis.

The COVID-19 pandemic and the ensuing implementation of control measures caused widespread societal disruption. These disruptions may also have affected community transmission and seasonal circulation patterns of endemic respiratory viruses. We aimed to investigate the impact of COVID-19-related disruption on influenza-related emergency hospital admissions and deaths in Wales in the first 2 years of the pandemic. A descriptive analysis of influenza activity was conducted using anonymized pathology, hospitalization, and mortality data from the Secure Anonymised Information Linkage Databank in Wales. The annual incidence of emergency hospitalizations and deaths with influenza-specific diagnosis codes between January 1, 2015, and December 31, 2021, was estimated. Case definitions of emergency hospitalization and death required laboratory confirmation with a polymerase chain reaction test. Trends of admissions and deaths were analyzed monthly and yearly. We conducted 2 sensitivity analyses by extending case definitions to include acute respiratory illnesses with a positive influenza test and by limiting admissions to those with influenza as the primary diagnosis. We also examined yearly influenza testing trends to understand changes in testing behavior during the pandemic. We studied a population of 3,235,883 Welsh residents in 2020 with a median age of 42.5 (IQR 22.9-61.0) years. Influenza testing in Wales increased notably in the last 2 months of 2020, and particularly in 2021 to 39,720 per 100,000 people, compared to the prepandemic levels (1343 in 2019). The percentage of influenza admissions matched to an influenza polymerase chain reaction test increased from 74.8% (1890/2526) in 2019 to 85.2% (98/115) in 2021. However, admissions with a positive test per 100,000 population decreased from 17.0 in 2019 to 2.7 and 0.6 in 2020 and 2021, respectively. Similarly, deaths due to influenza with a positive influenza test per 100,000 population decreased from 0.4 in 2019 to 0.0 in 2020 and 2021. Sensitivity analyses showed similar patterns of decreasing influenza admissions and deaths in the first 2 years of the COVID-19 pandemic. Nonpharmaceutical interventions to control COVID-19 were associated with a substantial reduction in the transmission of the influenza virus, with associated substantial reductions in hospital cases and deaths observed. Beyond the pandemic context, consideration should be given to the role of nonpharmaceutical community-driven interventions to reduce the burden of influenza.

Perinatal substance use treatment and criminal legal system referral trends

IntroductionTo guide improvements in treatment for pregnant persons with substance use disorders within the criminal legal system, treatment programs must first determine the primary substances of concern for this population. The objective of this study is to compare trends in specific substance use upon admission to treatment in pregnancy, based upon whether referrals originated from the criminal legal system or from another referral source. MethodsThis research accessed data on perinatal substance use (1995–2021) and referral sources from the Treatment Episode Data Set-Admissions (TEDS-A). Analyses use multiple logistic regressions to evaluate trends in primary substance use leading to treatment admission during pregnancy. ResultsApproximately 1 % (N = 536,948) of all substance use treatment admissions in TEDS-A were for pregnant people. Between 1995 and 2021, the percentage of treatment admissions increased for primary methamphetamine use (10 % to 27 %), primary opioid use (21 % to 38 %), and primary cannabis use (9 % to 18 %), and decreased for primary cocaine use (32 % to 6 %) and primary alcohol use (26 % to 11 %). By 2021, treatment admissions referred from criminal legal agencies were more likely to primarily be for primary methamphetamine use (33 % vs 25 %) and less likely to be for primary opioid use (22 % vs 42 %) compared to other referral sources. ConclusionsTrends in substance use treatment during pregnancy have changed substantially over the past few decades and emphasize the unique needs of patients referred to treatment by the criminal legal system. Treatment programs must therefore adapt to fluctuating trends in perinatal substance use. In particular, it is important to expand programs that prioritize treatment of methamphetamine use disorder for pregnant people referred through criminal legal agencies.

Effect of COVID-19 Pandemic on Admission Pattern to Pediatric Surgery Division at King Fahad University Hospital and Subsequent Quality of Presentation in Cases: A Comparative Study and Single-Center Experience.

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has affected healthcare systems worldwide, with mandatory quarantine and isolation measures being implemented to curb the spread of the virus. These measures have potentially led to delayed or complicated presentations of non-COVID-19 cases, including pediatric surgical cases. This study aims to evaluate pediatric surgical admission patterns, analyze the incidence of surgical diagnoses, and assess the severity of presentation during the COVID-19 period compared to the pre-COVID-19 period. This retrospective observational study was conducted at a university hospital in the eastern region of Saudi Arabia to assess the effect of the pandemic on pediatric surgery admissions patterns and severity of presentation duringthe COVID-19 period (March 2, 2020, to March 1, 2022) and pre-COVID-19 period (March 1, 2018, to March 1, 2020). Of the 903 pediatric surgical admissions, 366 (40.5%) presented during the COVID-19 period. The admission rate per month decreased by 6.9 during COVID-19 compared to pre-COVID-19 (mean [SD]: 21.5 [9.3] vs. 14.6 [8.2], p = 0.01). The most common admission diagnoses were appendicitis (17.5%) and inguinal hernia (15.8%). There was a 15% increase in the percentage of emergency admissions (54.4% vs. 47.3%, p = 0.037) during COVID-19 compared to pre-COVID-19. Of note, the percentage of patients admitted with acute appendicitis increased by 35.9% (20.8% vs. 15.3%, p = 0.03). Furthermore, the emergency admissions for patients with inguinal hernia doubled (26.6% vs. 12.7%, p = 0.035). No significant difference in ICU admissions, hospital length of stay, and routine discharge were observed. In conclusion, the COVID-19 pandemic correlated with a significant decrease in overall admissions and an increase in emergency admissions, including those for appendicitis and inguinal hernia. The increase in complicated conditions was not significant. There was no significant difference in ICU admissions and hospital length of stay. Future studies involving multiple centers are necessary to validate these findings.

Wide-Awake Local Anesthesia No Tourniquet (WALANT) versus Regional Anesthesia with Tourniquet for Hand Flexor Tendon Repair Surgeries in Adults

Abstract Background Flexor tendon injuries represent a significant percentage of admissions in emergency departments in Egypt. A bloodless surgical field is important to perform a hand surgery. Traditionally, a tourniquet is used for hemostasis, and the standered anesthetic techniques utilized in hand surgery were general anesthesia, intravenous regional anesthesia, or brachial plexus block. Recently the evolving Wide-Awake Local Anesthesia No Tourniquet (WALANT) technique where patient is operated on under local anesthesia and hemostasis is achieved via adrenaline could be a better choice. Aim of this work is to compare the intraoperative pain scores, induction time, operating time, blood loss, postoperative pain scores, and patient satisfaction with WALANT versus supraclavicular brachial plexus block (SC-BPB ) with tourniquet, in patients undergoing flexor tendon repair. Patients and Methods In the current study 52 patients who underwent flexor tendon intervention were divided randomly into two groups, each group consisting of 26 patients. Group A: Patients in this group received WALANT. Group B: Patients in this group received SC-BPB with a tourniquet applied to the arm. Results Intraoperative Wong-Baker Faces scale revealed no statistically significant difference in intraoperative pain scores in both groups, except during injection (p = 0.04). Tourniquet-related pain was reported in 23% of patients of SC-BPB group (p = 0.001). Induction time was significantly shorter in WALANT (p < 0.01) but time needed to obtain sufficient hemostasis is significantly more in WALANT than SC-BPB (p < 0.01) while surgical time was similar in both groups (p = 0.538). Blood loss in spite of being minimal it was statistically significant higher in WALANT (p < 0.01). Conclusion WALANT anesthesia was found to be better alternative to SC-BPB in flexor tendon repair surgeries in adults being more simple technique and no need for special skills or ultrasound device, less time consumed in induction and less injection pain also no tourniquet-related pain, intraoperative active motion of the hand is preserved facilitating surgical technique, better effect on postoperative analgesia and more patient and surgeon satisfaction.

Analysis of Patients Admitted for Asthma Exacerbation in a Tertiary Hospital in Spain.

To analyze the characteristics of adult patients admitted for asthma exacerbation and determine optimization, treatment adherence, and follow-up in clinics. Patients ≥ 18 years old admitted from May 2021 to June 2023 with a primary diagnosis of asthma exacerbation were included. Patients with a secondary diagnosis of asthma exacerbation and those without a confirmed diagnosis were excluded. A total of 186 patientswere analyzed, 63% were female, with a mean age of 49 ± 34 years, mean body mass index (BMI) of 26.4 ± 5 kg/m2, mean immunoglobulin E level of 132 ± 235 IU/mL (range: 25-2041), mean eosinophils count of 180 ± 443, and length of stay of 8.6 ± 5 days.Comparing patients with one admission to those with multiple admissions, differences were observed in age (39 ± 15 vs. 58 ± 20, p < 0.0001), BMI (25.2 ± 3 vs. 27.4 ± 4, p < 0.0003), comorbidity (15% vs. 60%, p < 0.0001), and length of stay (4.5 ± 2 vs. 11 ± 3, p < 0.0001). Of the patients, 15% had undiagnosed asthma, 28% had known asthma without maintenance therapy, 23% were managed by primary care, and 34% were followed by pneumology. The mean Test ofAdherenceto Inhalers (TAI) score was 42.5 ± 8 points, with 70% showing erratic non-adherence, 46% showing deliberate non-adherence, and 21% showing unconscious non-adherence. The young population represents a significant percentage of admissions for asthma exacerbation due to poor follow-up in pulmonology clinics, inadequate treatment optimization, and low adherence.This study adds that it is necessary to improve the approach to asthma in primary care to optimize treatment, reduce under-diagnosis, and avoid hospital admissions.

Evaluation of the diagnostic value of the HALP score, uric acid value, and uric acid-creatinine ratio in preeclampsia.

In this study, we aimed to evaluate the diagnostic value of the HALP score, serum uric acid value, and uric acid-creatinine ratio, which are inflammatory markers, in the diagnosis of preeclampsia (PE). One hundred sixty-six pregnant women who met the inclusion and exclusion criteria were included in the study. They were divided into two groups: 81 pregnant women diagnosed with PE (PE group) and 85 pregnant women with healthy pregnancies (control group). Demographic and obstetric stories of the groups; weeks of pregnancy at diagnosis; hematological and biochemical parameters; hemoglobin, albumin, lymphocyte, and platelet (HALP) score and serum uric acid-creatinine ratio (sUA/sCr); and the results of the newborns were recorded and compared between groups. There was no significant difference between the groups in terms of age, gravidity, parity, and body mass index (P values = 0.533, 0.188, 0.085, 0.915, resp.). Mean gestational age, mean birth weight, 1st and 5th minute Apgar scores, and mean umbilical cord pH values were lower in the PE group compared to the control group (P values = 0.0001 for all). Percentage of NICU admissions was higher in the PE group (P = 0.0001). HALP score of the PE group was significantly lower than the control group (2.2 vs. 3.2; P = 0.0001). Uric acid and sUA/sCr ratios were significantly higher in the PE group compared to the control group (for uric acid, 6.2 ± 1.7 vs. 4.5 ± 1.2; P = 0.0001; for sUA/sCr, 12.0 ± 4.0 vs. 9.9 ± 3.1; P = 0.0001). In diagnosing PE, serum uric acid had a sensitivity of 82.7% at values of 4.7 and above, 58% sensitivity at values of sUA/sCr ratio of 10.9 and above, and 3.7% sensitivity at HALP score values of 6.6 and above (P values = 0.0001, 0.001, 0.001, resp.). In our study, we found that the HALP score in PE was significantly lower than in healthy controls, and the uric acid value and sUA/sCr ratios were significantly higher. Diagnostic value of the serum uric acid value and then the sUA/sCr ratio were higher in PE. However, we found that the HALP score was insufficient for diagnosing PE.

Incorporating Medicare Advantage Admissions Into the CMS Hospital-Wide Readmission Measure

Medicare Advantage (MA) enrollment is rapidly expanding, yet Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) claims-based hospital outcome measures, including readmission rates, have historically included only fee-for-service (FFS) beneficiaries. To assess the outcomes of incorporating MA data into the CMS claims-based FFS Hospital-Wide All-Cause Unplanned Readmission (HWR) measure. This cohort study assessed differences in 30-day unadjusted readmission rates and demographic and risk adjustment variables for MA vs FFS admissions. Inpatient FFS and MA administrative claims data were extracted from the Integrated Data Repository for all admissions for Medicare beneficiaries from July 1, 2018, to June 30, 2019. Measure reliability and risk-standardized readmission rates were calculated for the FFS and MA cohort vs the FFS-only cohort, overall and within specialty subgroups (cardiorespiratory, cardiovascular, medicine, surgery, neurology), then changes in hospital performance quintiles were assessed after adding MA admissions. Risk-standardized readmission rates. The cohort included 11 029 470 admissions (4 077 633 [37.0%] MA; 6 044 060 [54.8%] female; mean [SD] age, 77.7 [8.2] years). Unadjusted readmission rates were slightly higher for MA vs FFS admissions (15.7% vs 15.4%), yet comorbidities were generally lower among MA beneficiaries. Test-retest reliability for the FFS and MA cohort was higher than for the FFS-only cohort (0.78 vs 0.73) and signal-to-noise reliability increased in each specialty subgroup. Mean hospital risk-standardized readmission rates were similar for the FFS and MA cohort and FFS-only cohorts (15.5% vs 15.3%); this trend was consistent across the 5 specialty subgroups. After adding MA admissions to the FFS-only HWR measure, 1489 hospitals (33.1%) had their performance quintile ranking changed. As their proportion of MA admissions increased, more hospitals experienced a change in their performance quintile ranking (147 hospitals [16.3%] in the lowest quintile of percentage MA admissions; 408 [45.3%] in the highest). The combined cohort added 63 hospitals eligible for public reporting and more than 4 million admissions to the measure. In this cohort study, adding MA admissions to the HWR measure was associated with improved measure reliability and precision and enabled the inclusion of more hospitals and beneficiaries. After MA admissions were included, 1 in 3 hospitals had their performance quintile changed, with the greatest shifts among hospitals with a high percentage of MA admissions.

Extremes of Emergency Department Boarding are Associated With Poorer Financial Performance Among Hospitals.

Boarding emergency department (ED) patients is associated with reductions in quality of care, patient safety and experience, and ED operational efficiency. However, ED boarding is ultimately reflective of inefficiencies in hospital capacity management. The ability of a hospital to accommodate variability in patient flow presumably affects its financial performance, but this relationship is not well studied. We investigated the relationship between ED boarding and hospital financial performance measures. Our objective was to see if there was an association between key financial measures of business performance and limitations in patient progression efficiency, as evidenced by ED boarding. Cross-sectional ED operational data were collected from the Emergency Department Benchmarking Alliance, a voluntarily self-reporting operational database that includes 54% of EDs in the United States. Freestanding EDs, pediatric EDs and EDs with missing boarding data were excluded. The key operational outcome variable was boarding time. We reviewed the financial information of these nonprofit institutions by accessing their Internal Revenue Service Form 990. We examined standard measures of financial performance, including return on equity, total margin, total asset turnover, and equity multiplier (EM). We studied these associations using quantile regressions of added ED volume, ED admission percentage, urban versus nonurban ED site location, trauma status, and percentage of the population receiving Medicare and Medicaid as covariates in the regression models. Operational data were available for 892 EDs from 31 states. Of those, 127 reported a Form 990 in the year corresponding to the ED boarding measures. Median boarding time across EDs was 148min (interquartile range [IQR]: 100-216). A significant relationship exists between boarding and the EM, along with a negative association with the hospital's total profit margin in the highest-performing hospitals (by profit margin percentage). After adjusting for the covariates in the regression model, we found that for every 10min above 90min of boarding, the mean EM for the top quartile increased from 245.8% to 249.5% (p <.001). In hospitals in the top 90th percentile of total margin, every 10min beyond the median ED boarding interval led to a decrease in total margin of 0.24%. Using the largest available national registry of ED operational data and concordant nonprofit financial reports, higher boarding among the highest-profitability hospitals (i.e., top 10%) is associated with a drag on profit margin, while hospitals with the highest boarding are associated with the highest leverage (i.e., indicated by the EM). These relationships suggest an association between a key ED indicator of hospital capacity management and overall institutional financial performance.

Clinical exome sequencing by general pediatricians: high clinical utility and no evidence of inappropriate testing.

Genetic disorders account for a large percentage of admissions and outpatient visits to children's hospitals around the world. Clinical exome sequencing (CES) is a valuable diagnostic tool in the workup of these disorders; however, it is not routinely requested by general pediatricians. This may represent a missed opportunity to increase patient access to this powerful diagnostic tool. In our institution, general pediatricians can directly order CES. In this context, this study aims to evaluate the appropriateness of CES and its clinical utility when ordered by general pediatricians. We retrospectively reviewed all CES tests ordered by general pediatricians in our institution between 2019 and 2023 and recorded their indications and results. General pediatricians were interviewed to evaluate how CES impacted the domains of clinical utility by assessing changes in management, communication, subsequent testing, and counseling. In addition, feedback was obtained, and barriers faced by general pediatricians to order CES were assessed. The study cohort (n = 30) included children from the inpatient (60%) and outpatient (40%) departments. A positive finding (a pathogenic or likely pathogenic variant that explains the phenotype) was observed in 11 of 30 cases (37%), while 3 (10%) and 16 (53%) received ambiguous (variant of uncertain significance) and negative results, respectively. The indication was deemed appropriate in all 30 cases (100%). Clinical utility was reported in all 11 positive cases (100%). Reproductive counseling is a notable utility in this highly consanguineous population, as all variants identified, in the 11 positive cases, were autosomal recessive. We show that CES ordered by general pediatricians is appropriately indicated and provides a diagnostic yield comparable to that requested by specialists. In addition, we note the high clinical utility of positive results as judged by the ordering pediatricians. The findings of this study can empower general pediatricians to advocate for expanded CES adoption to improve patient access and shorten their diagnostic odyssey.

The effect of intrahepatic cholestasis in pregnancy combined with different stages of hepatitis B virus infection on pregnancy outcomes: a retrospective study.

To investigate the impact of intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy (ICP) with hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection on pregnancy outcomes. We selected 512 pregnant women, collected the data including maternal demographics, main adverse pregnancy outcomes and maternal HBV infected markers HBeAg and HBV-DNA loads status, then have a comparative analysis. There were 319 solitary ICP patients without HBV infection (Group I) and 193 ICP patients with HBV infection. Of the latter, there were 118 cases with abnormal liver function(Group II) and 80 cases with normal liver function(Group III). All HBV-infected pregnant women with ICP were divided into hepatitis Be antigen (HBeAg)-positive group (102 cases) and HBeAg-negative group (91 cases), according to the level of the serum HBeAg status; and into high viral load group (92 cases), moderate viral load group (46 cases) and low viral load group (55 cases) according to the maternal HBV-DNA level. Group II had a higher level of serum total bile acids, transaminase, bilirubin as well as a higher percentage of premature delivery, neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) admission and meconium-stained amniotic fluid (MSAF) compared with the other two groups(P < 0.05), but there were no significant differences in the above indicators between the Group I and Group III. Among the HBV-infected patients with ICP, HBeAg-positive group had a higher level of serum transaminase, bilirubin and bile acid as well as earlier gestational weeks of delivery, lower birth weight of new-borns and a higher rate of NICU admission than HBeAg-negative group (P < 0.05). Those with a high viral load (HBV-DNA > 106IU/ml) had a higher level of transaminase, bilirubin, and bile acid as well as shorter gestational weeks of delivery, lower birth weight of new-borns and a higher rate of NICU admission compared with those with a low or moderate viral load (P < 0.05). HBV-infected pregnant women with ICP combined with abnormal liver function have more severe liver damage, a higher percentage of preterm birth and NICU admission. HBeAg-positive status and a high HBV-DNA load will increase the severity of conditions in HBV-infected pregnant women with ICP. HBV-infected patients with ICP who have abnormal liver function, HBeAg-positive or a high viral load should be treated more actively.

How the pandemic spread of COVID-19 affected children's traumatology in Italy: changes of numbers, anatomical locations, and severity.

The study aim was to share our experience in hospital reorganization and management of pediatric traumatology in the early stage of COVID-19 pandemic. We centralized pediatric traumatology supposing a reduction of ER admissions, with increased severity of conditions, and a change in fracture patterns; consequently, we reorganized our structure. The COVID-19 epidemic in Europe has seen Italy as the first focus starting from February 21, 2020. Lombardy has been the most affected area. The initial NHS approach determined a high percentage of hospital admissions that led to early overload of hospitals, and we had to reorganize our structure to face the emergency. We retrospectively evaluated the admission and treatment data to observe the epidemiological evolution of pediatric trauma during the lockdown ordinance and compared them with the same period in 2019. We found a reduction of 78% pediatric visits in the ER but no decrease in the number of pediatric fractures. We found a rate of pediatric fractures increased by 21.62%: the upper limb fractures being the most representative. Our expectations were confirmed. We believe that the reorganization and the guidelines by us designed have been effective to spare resources and subtract the pediatric traumatology load from those hospitals dealing with an unexpected number of critical COVID-19 patients. Even if we experienced a significant reduction of pediatric admissions to our trauma ER, the presence of a determined number of fractures justifies the necessity of a specialized hub to collect all pediatric fractures.

Which Laboratory and Clinical Feature are different in Pregnant and Non-pregnant Women with COVID-19? A Cross-sectional Study in the West of Iran

Background: This study aimed to determine the differences in laboratory and clinical characteristics of pregnant and non-pregnant women with COVID-19 in Hamadan, the west of Iran. Material &amp; Methods: This cross-sectional study compared 135 pregnant with 135 non-pregnant women without underlying diseases and matched by age with COVID-19 from March 2020 to June 2021 in Hamadan, a western city in Iran. Their demographic characteristics, clinical symptoms, vital signs, and laboratory findings were evaluated using a preset checklist and contrasted between the two groups. The adjusted odds ratios (ORs) for the outcomes of illness were presented. A considerable amount of analysis was performed on all data using the SPSS version 26 software. Results: In general, there was a significant association between most clinical symptoms and status of pregnancy. Although the Peripheral oxygen saturation with a pulse oximeter (SPO2) mean was significantly lower among non-pregnant compared to the pregnant women (89.19±4.52 versus 94.91±3.12; p &lt; 0.001), the mean of heart rate was significantly lower among pregnant women compared to non-pregnant women (90.59±11.80 versus 96.50±15.02; p = 0.001). The percentage of low hemoglobin (Hb), abnormal Blood Urea Nitrogen, high Creatinine (CR), high Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate and high Lactate Dehydrogenase was significantly higher in non-pregnant women compared to the pregnant women. Women with pregnancy compared to non-pregnant women and women with low Hb compared to normal Hb had a considerably increased chance of intensive care unit /death. Each unit increase in SPO2 and pulse rate resulted in a considerable reduction in this risk. In addition, women with high CR, shortness of breath and per unit rise in temperature had a considerably higher chance of staying in the hospital for a longer period of time. Conclusion: The clinical and para-clinical manifestations of pregnant women with COVID-19 are different from non-pregnant women. Although there was a significant difference between the two groups due to mortality, the percentage of admission to the intensive care unit in pregnant women with COVID-19 is higher than in non-pregnant women. To avoid these adverse outcomes, pregnant women should take precautions to avoid COVID-19 infection.

Factors associated with receipt of medication for opioid use disorder among pregnant individuals entering treatment programs in the U.S.

BackgroundOpioid use disorder (OUD) among pregnant individuals in the U.S. has been on the rise, and carries significant health risks if left untreated. Despite the effectiveness of medication for opioid use disorder (MOUD), rates of treatment utilization remain low, and access varies by state. This study seeks to expand on what is known about the utilization of MOUD by estimating annual percentages of MOUD use among treatment admissions among pregnant individuals across all 50 states and U.S. regions. The study also examines how pregnant people experiencing OUD are referred to substance use treatment programs to better understand which referral sources are most effective at linking them to MOUD. MethodsThis study estimated MOUD utilization among pregnant admissions over a 9-year period, identifying trends in the use of this treatment, using national and state level data from the Treatment Episode Dataset-Admissions (TEDS-A). The sample were pregnant females who admitted to treatment with opioids as a primary substance use problem, in all 50 states, from 2010 to 2018. The study examined the referral pathways through which pregnant individuals enter treatment, identifying variations in how they are linked with MOUD. A binary logistic regression was conducted to estimate significant sociodemographic characteristics and referral sources associated with MOUD receipt in treatment. ResultsAmong admissions who reported both pregnancy and OUD across nine years (n= 84,492), the average percentage of MOUD use was 50.8%. Average annual MOUD use was highest in the Northeast region (63.42%), and lowest in the South (34.01%). Maine had the highest MOUD use, for an average of 81.99% across all years. Pregnant individuals who were self-referred to treatment comprised the largest percentage of admissions leading to MOUD use (62.1%), and those referred by the criminal justice system or other legal entity resulted in the lowest MOUD use across years (23.6%). Binary logistic regression results found that race, education, employment status, and referral source were significantly associated with MOUD receipt in 2018; specifically, individuals with a higher education, those were unemployed, and those who were referred to treatment by another substance use or healthcare provider or from the criminal or legal system, were significantly less likely to receive MOUD. ConclusionThis study estimated that an average of approximately half of admissions who were pregnant with OUD received MOUD as part of their treatment plans, and identified regional and state trends which can be further investigated to understand factors contributing to these geographical variations in MOUD access. Also notable were findings pertaining to low MOUD receipt among those referred from criminal or legal entities, warranting further investigation. These findings can lead to a better understanding of which referral sources to treatment can act as effective pathways to MOUD, and best practices to link pregnant individuals with evidence-based care.