Short-stay Observation Unit Research Articles

The impact of a non-restrictive Antimicrobial Stewardship Program in the emergency department of a secondary-level Italian hospital.

Evidence supporting the effectiveness of Antimicrobial Stewardship (AMS) Programs in the emergency department (ED) setting is limited. We conducted a prospective cohort study to assess the efficacy of an AMS program in an ED and a short-stay observation unit. The intervention included periodic prospective audits (twice a week), conducted by four infectious disease consultants. Primary outcomes included the difference in the hospital mortality rate, antibiotic consumption, and the incidence of bloodstream infections (BSI) caused by multidrug resistant (MDR) bacteria, before March 2020-February 2021 and after March 2021-February 2022 when the program was implemented. Interrupted time-series analysis was performed to assess the effect of our program. During the 12-month program, we performed 152 audits and evaluated 366 antibiotic therapies out of a total of 853 patients admitted. In the intervention period, we observed a non-statistically significant decrease in total antibiotic consumption, with a change in level of -31.2 defined daily dose/100 patient-days (PD) (p = 0.71). Likewise, we found no significant variations in the rate of BSI due to MDR Gram-positive (CT -0.02 events/PD, p = 0.84), MDR Gram-negative bacteria (CT 0.08, p = 0.71), or Candida spp. (CT 0.008, p = 0.86). Conversely, we found a significant decrease in the mortality rate between the pre- and post-intervention periods (-1.98 deaths/100 PD, CI -3.9 to -0.007, p = 0.049). The Antibiotic Stewardship Program in the ED was associated with a significant decrease in the mortality rate. More high-quality studies are needed to determine the most effective ASP strategies in this unique setting.

The benefit of a short-stay neurological observation unit in the COVID-19 era

Acute neurological symptoms are responsible for 5–15% of referral to the Emergency Department (ED). Since the COVID-19 outbreak, our stroke network shifted toward a mothership model with direct transport of stroke patients to the Comprehensive Stroke Center (“M. Bufalini” hospital, Cesena, Italy). To handle the increase in referrals due to mothership and guarantee a neurological fast-track in the ED, the Neurology service opened a four-bed Short-Stay Neurological Observation Unit (SSNO or “OBI Neuro”).

Necessity of In-hospital Neurological Observation for Mild Traumatic Brain Injury Patients with Negative Computed Tomography Brain Scans

Objective: The authors aimed to evaluate the necessity of in-hospital neurological observation for mild traumatic brain injury (TBI) patients, who did not have any evidence of intracranial injury from initial computed tomography (CT) brain scans. Material and Methods: We retrospectively reviewed mild TBI patients with initial negative CT brain scans, receiving treatment at Songklanagarind hospital between January and December, 2018. All patients were observed in the emergency department short stay observation unit for 24 hours after injury. Patients’ medical records, initial and official CT brain scan interpretation were collected and analyzed. Results: This study included 493 cases. No patient deteriorated from intracranial injury, while one patient deteriorated from hypoglycemia, associated with his underlying adrenal insufficiency. However, one patient was admitted to the in patient ward, due to a missed diagnosis of acute subdural hematoma from his initial CT interpretation. The incidence of missed intracranial injury from initial CT brain scan interpretation was 1.6%. The need for neurosurgical intervention (in-patient ward admission, anticonvulsant and repeat brain imaging) was 0.2% (1/493). No patient required surgical intervention.Conclusion: Mild TBI patients, with initial negative CT brain scans, have very low risk for deterioration or need of neurosurgical intervention. Patient's underlying major comorbidity may be considered as an indication for in-hospital observation.

Hospitalisation and morbidity due to adverse drug reactions in elderly patients: a single‐centre study

Adverse drug reaction (ADR) is a leading but under-recognised cause of illness, particularly in frail subjects with multiple comorbidities. To investigate the frequency, patterns and outcomes of ADR as a cause of hospitalisation in elderly patients admitted to an internal medicine ward. We performed a retrospective observational study including every patient aged over 65 years who was admitted to our department during a 12-month period. Patients admitted to short-stay (<24 h) observation unit were excluded. ADR accounted for 106 of total 1750 recorded admissions, which constituted a proportion of 6.1% (95% confidence interval 5.0-7.3%). The median age of patients was 83.5 (78.0-87.0) years and 56.6% were on polypharmacy. A total of 170 ADR was recorded with 45.3% of subjects experiencing concomitantly more than one ADR from a single molecule. Diuretics were the most commonly imputed molecules (30 events, 17.6%), followed by antithrombotics (25 events, 14.7%) and central nervous system-active drugs (16 events, 9.4%). Interactions were judged responsible for 39 cases of ADR (36.8%). An unfavourable outcome was observed in about one-third of patients (37.7%). Among those subjects, 11 (10.4%) died and 29 (27.4%) had residual disability. ADR are a common cause of hospital admission in elderly patients and are often associated with adverse outcomes. Our data underline the need of appropriate strategies aimed at identifying high-risk patients and avoiding potentially preventable drug toxicities.

First‐ever convulsive seizures in children presenting to the emergency department: risk factors for seizure recurrence and diagnosis of epilepsy

Aetiologies of first-ever convulsive seizures may be diverse, not all leading to recurrence or epilepsy diagnosis. We aimed to describe the epidemiology of first-ever convulsive seizures in children, investigating risk factors for recurrence and epilepsy diagnosis. This was a retrospective study of children presenting with a first-ever convulsive seizure to a tertiary-care paediatric emergency department (PED) in Italy, in a 12-month period (2011-2012). One hundred and eight children (57 males, 51 females) presented to the PED for a first-ever convulsive seizure; 90.7% were 6months to 6years old (median age 1y 10mo, mean 2y 7mo, range 0mo-14y 4mo). Seizure duration was less than 5minutes in 76.8%. Seizures were 'unprovoked' in 19.4% and 'provoked' in 80.6%. At 4-year follow-up, 37.9% of patients experienced recurrence and 13.6% received a diagnosis of epilepsy. Factors significantly associated with recurrence were the 'unprovoked' nature of the first seizure, multiple seizures in the first 24hours, positive family history of febrile seizures or epilepsy, and pre-existing neurological conditions/problems. Factors significantly associated with a diagnosis of epilepsy were the 'unprovoked' nature of the first seizure, age older than 6years, pre-existing neurological conditions/problems, and focal onset of first seizure. Children presenting to the PED with first-ever convulsive seizures represent a heterogeneous group. The identification of prognostic factors for recurrence and epilepsy diagnosis may help provide tailored counselling and follow-up. Seizures were 'unprovoked' in 19.4% and 'provoked' in 80.6% of children presenting to the emergency department. At 4-year follow-up, 37.9% relapsed, and 13.6% received a diagnosis of epilepsy. 'Unprovoked' first seizure, family history of febrile seizures, and pre-existing neurological conditions were associated with recurrence. 'Unprovoked' first seizure, age younger than 6years, and pre-existing neurological conditions were associated with epilepsy diagnosis.

Development of a paediatric short-stay observation and assessment unit.

In recent years children's emergency admissions have risen by 18%. In 2011 a team at a city district general hospital in England recognised that children were being admitted to the general children's ward and often only staying for short periods of time. After a review of the service a plan was put forward for the development of a paediatric short-stay observation and assessment unit. The unit has led to a reduction in ward admissions and offered opportunities for children's nurses to extend their roles in assessment and treatment. This article explores the planning, delivery and audit of this unit and offers an exemplar for other trusts considering a similar change to service delivery.

Use of a 23-hour emergency department observation unit for the management of patients with toxic exposures

BackgroundA significant proportion of patients with toxic exposures presenting to the ED require admission. However, most will improve within 24 hours, and so could potentially be managed in a short-stay...

Management of transient loss of consciousness of suspected syncopal cause, after the initial evaluation in the Emergency Department

The recommendations enclosed in the present document have been developed by a group of experts appointed by the &lt;em&gt;Gruppo Multidisciplinare per lo Studio della Sincope&lt;/em&gt; (Multidisciplinary Group for the Study of Syncope; GIMSI) and Academy of Emergency Medicine and Care (AcEMC). The aim is to define the diagnostic pathway and the management of patients referred to the Emergency Department (ED) for transient loss of consciousness of suspected syncopal cause, which is still unexplained after the initial evaluation. The risk stratification enables the physician to admit, discharge or monitor shortly the patient in the intensive short-stay Syncope Observation Unit (SOU). There are three risk levels of life-threatening events or serious complications (low, moderate, high). Low risk patients can be discharged, while high risk ones should be monitored and treated properly in case of worsening. Moderate risk patients should undergo clinical and instrumental monitoring in SOU, inside the ED. In all these three cases, patients can be subsequently referred to the Syncope Unit for further diagnostic investigations.

Recurrent and high-frequency use of the emergency department by pediatric patients.

The authors sought to describe the epidemiology of and risk factors for recurrent and high-frequency use of the emergency department (ED) by children. This was a retrospective cohort study using a database of children aged 0 to 17 years, inclusive, presenting to 22 EDs of the Pediatric Emergency Care Applied Research Network (PECARN) during 2007, with 12-month follow-up after each index visit. ED diagnoses for each visit were categorized as trauma, acute medical, or chronic medical conditions. Recurrent visits were defined as any repeat visit; high-frequency use was defined as four or more recurrent visits. Generalized estimating equations (GEEs) were used to measure the strength of associations between patient and visit characteristics and recurrent ED use. A total of 695,188 unique children had at least one ED visit each in 2007, with 455,588 recurrent ED visits in the 12 months following the index visits. Sixty-four percent of patients had no recurrent visits, 20% had one, 8% had two, 4% had three, and 4% had four or more recurrent visits. Acute medical diagnoses accounted for most visits regardless of the number of recurrent visits. As the number of recurrent visits per patient rose, chronic diseases were increasingly represented, with asthma being the most common ED diagnosis. Trauma-related diagnoses were more common among patients without recurrent visits than among those with high-frequency recurrent visits (28% vs. 9%; p<0.001). High-frequency recurrent visits were more often within the highest severity score classifications. In multivariable analysis, recurrent visits were associated with younger age, black or Hispanic race or ethnicity, and public health insurance. Risk factors for recurrent ED use by children include age, race and ethnicity, and insurance status. Although asthma plays an important role in recurrent ED use, acute illnesses account for the majority of recurrent ED visits.

Home treatment of patients with acute cholecystitis

Background Patients with acute cholecystitis are treated in Hospital. The aim of the study was to analyze the security and efficacy of treating not-operated-on patients with acute cholecystitis in Hospital in the Home (HIH). Methods Prospective study from January 2010 to May 2011 including all patients diagnosed with acute cholecystitis, not operated on and without comorbidities admitted to HIH Unit from the Emergency Department Short Stay Unit and Observation Unit. Patients were treated with ertapenem for at least one week. Intravenous treatment was followed by oral therapy to complete 14 days of antibiotic treatment. Patient characteristics, clinical course, need for return to hospital during admission to HIH, and admission to hospital in the month after discharge from HIH are analyzed. Results 25 patients were included. Mean age was 59 years (34–82). Upon arrival to the Emergency Department, all patients suffered abdominal pain, 60% had fever, and 32% vomiting. 48% of patients had a leukocyte count over 13,000 cells/μl. All patients had cholelithiasis and a distended gallbladder. 56% showed thickening of the gallbladder wall. Fluid accumulation around the gallbladder was noted in 16% of the cases. Murphy's sign proved positive in 44%. All patients showed a favorable course. No patient required hospital readmission during stay in HIH or in the month after discharge. All patients expressed their satisfaction with treatment at home. Conclusions Patients with acute cholecystitis and without comorbidities can be safely and effectively treated in HIH after a short monitoring period in hospital.

Organisation et moyens de l’accueil des urgences pédiatriques : enquête nationale française en 2008

Organization and resource utilization of pediatric emergency departments (PEDs) have been poorly evaluated. To assess the access to appropriate pediatric emergency care in France and the degree of preparedness of PEDs and general emergency departments (GEDs) without separate pediatric emergency facilities. A closed-response survey was e-mailed and/or posted to 256hospitals with pediatric wards. A total of 120useable surveys were returned (93% of PEDs and 29% of GEDs). In the PEDs surveyed (n=67, 33university hospitals [UHs] and 34non-university hospitals), disease recruitment was medical and surgical with trauma (84%) or medical only (16%). The medical directors of the PEDs were pediatricians (99%). The average number of visits in 2007was 20,200±10,600per PED (+13% within 5years), and the average number of medical practitioners was 4±3. However, in only 76% of PEDs was at least one pediatrician present after midnight. Medical staffing of PEDs in UHs did not include a pediatric resident in 30% and a pediatric attending physician in 63% of these units. Approximately, 48% of PEDs had a short-stay observation unit (median, five beds). In GEDs (n=53), children were admitted 24h a day in the GED (41%) and directly in the pediatric ward during the day and in the GED at night (28%). Traumas were admitted in 98% of the GEDs. Pediatric coverage 24h a day is still insufficient in PEDs. The training and experience of pediatricians were restricted by the lack of pediatric residency and physician positions in pediatric emergency care. A different access to pediatric emergency care during the day and night was frequent in hospitals without a PED.

Future Options for Management of Heart Failure in an Emergency Department Observation Unit

In the next year there will be over 1 million United States hospitalizations for acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF), with 80% admitted to the hospital through the emergency department. The short stay Observation Unit represents a new strategy for diagnosis and treatment of ADHF. This manuscript examines some of the promising options that may become available to the practitioner in the near future. These include 1) ultrafiltration, where excess fluid is removed by the application of a minimally invasive extracorporeal blood circuit; 2) digital sound wave analysis, which provides improved specificity for the diagnosis of ADHF; 3) and intermittent infusion therapy, where initial studies suggest infusion therapy with nesiritide may improve chronic outcomes. These applications may be uniquely appropriate for the observation unit environment. While not currently mainstream or standard of care in their current usage, these opportunities may represent foreseeable directions in the early diagnosis and treatment of ADHF. Future research will place these maneuvers into their appropriate diagnostic and therapeutic roles, which will hopefully provide benefit to our patients.

Actividad de una unidad de observación en un servicio de urgencias de un hospital terciario: dos años de experiencia

To describe the characteristics of the activity of a short stay observation unit (SSOU) in a tertiary hospital, and to analyze its influence on the hospitalization rate. The activity of the SSOU during the first 2 years after opening is described. Descriptive variables were registered. Hospitalization activity during the first 5 months after opening the unit was compared with the activity during the same period in the previous year. From June 1, 2001 to May 31, 2003, 74,989 patients were admitted to the emergency department (ED) and 2,438 (3.25 %) were transferred to the SSOU. The mean age of the patients was 64.55 months. The mean length of stay was 5 hours and 50 minutes. The main discharge diagnoses were gastrointestinal disease (30.2 %), accidents (15 %), respiratory illness (12.5 %) and febrile syndrome (9.8 %). The hospitalization rate in patients admitted to the ED was 5.8 % from June 1, 2000 to October 1, 2000 and was 4.28 % in the same period in 2001. The mean diagnosis-related group (DRG)-weight was 0.8648 in 2000 and was 0.9078 in 2001. Total weight was 680.66 in 2000 and 495.69 in 2001, allowing an approximate saving of 329,162 Euros. The opening of the SSOU has been useful in the assessment and treatment of common childhood diseases and has helped reduce the hospitalization rate, increase the complexity of inpatients and lower costs.

A Five-Year Experience of a Short Stay Observation Unit in Saudi Arabia

A Five-Year Experience of a Short Stay Observation Unit in Saudi Arabia

Modalités de réhydratation des diarrhées aiguës du nourrisson à l’hôpital. Impact de la présence permanente d’un pédiatre et d’une structure d’hospitalisation de courte durée

Diarrheal diseases account for 10% of hospitalizations in infants, and large differences in rates of hospitalization have been reported. Objective. – To analyze hospital treatment of infants with acute gastroenteritis, especially the variations in modes of rehydration, hospitalization rates and lengths of stay, related to paediatrician permanency with a short-stay observation unit at their disposal. Methods. – This prospective multicentric study during two rotavirus epidemic periods included 1,187 infants (mean age 10 ± 6 months) with acute gastroenteritis resulting or not in dehydration. During the first period, 12 volunteer hospitals were included. During the second period, we compared six (among the 12) hospitals where infants were admitted in emergency care or pediatric units without pediatric 24-h permanency, with a pediatric emergency care unit having pediatric permanency with a short-stay observation unit. Results. – During the first period, 32% were dehydrated and 6% had hypovolemic shock on admission. The hospitalization rate was 81%. Only 19% of dehydrated infants had exclusively oral rehydration, and 19% of normohydrated infants had intravenous rehydration. During the second period, the hospitalization rate was 42% in the pediatric emergency care unit (28% in the short-stay unit and 14% in hospitalization units) versus 77% in the six hospitals. In the pediatric emergency care unit as compared to the six hospitals, there were a reduction of 65% of hospitalization days, 58% of intravenous accesses, and 66% of laboratory tests. Conclusion. – Our findings suggest that a paediatric permanency with a short-stay observation unit at their disposal improves quality of treatment and is cost-effective.

A short-stay observation unit improves care in the paediatric emergency care setting.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of a short-stay observation unit (SSOU) on the hospitalization rate, the authors have analysed the activity of a SSOU opened in 1992 in a paediatric emergency department (PED) and the number of children hospitalized between 1987 and 1996. Among 2321 patients admitted to the SSOU in 1996, 644 medical patients have been analysed, showing a young population (55% under 3 years old), living in the town or surroundings (70%) and usually have not been referred by a general practitioner (64%). Twenty per cent were admitted for accurate diagnosis (group A), 49% for treatment and observation of a recognized acute pathology before decision of discharge (group B), and 31% waiting for a bed in a paediatric ward (group C). Sixty-eight per cent of children spent less than 6 hours in the SSOU, and 79% of those from groups A and B were thereafter discharged home. Between 1987 and 1991, the number of children hospitalized increased 5% per year on average. After the opening of the SSOU in 1992, this increase has been stopped although the number of medical referrals to PED was still going up. The SSOU in a PED can provide comprehensive care to young children requiring short-term treatment or observation, and is effective in limiting unappropriate hospitalizations.

Cost-effectiveness of a new short-stay unit to “rule out” acute myocardial infarction in low risk patients

Objectives. This study attempted to determine the safety and costs of a new short-stay unit for low risk patients who may be admitted to a hospital to rule out myocardial infarction or ischemia.Background. One strategy to reduce the costs of ruling out acute myocardial infarction in low risk patients is to develop alternatives to coronary care units.Methods. The short-term and 6-month clinical outcomes and costs for 592 patients admitted to a short-stay coronary observation unit at Brigham and Women's Hospital with a low (≤ 10%) probability of acute myocardial infarction were compared with those for 924 consecutive comparison patients who were eligible for the same unit but were admitted to other hospital settings or discharged home. Actual costs were calculated using detailed cost-accounting methods that incorporated nursing intensity weights.Results. The rate of major complications, recurrent myocardial infarction or cardiac death during 6 months after the initial presentation of the 592 patients admitted to the coronary observation unit was similar to that of the 924 comparison patients before and after adjustment for clinical factors influencing triage and initial diagnoses (adjusted relative risk 0.86, 95% confidence interval 0.49 to 1.53). Their median total costs (25th, 75th percentile) at 6 months ($1,927; 1,455, 3,650) were significantly lower than for comparison patients admitted to the wards ($4,712; 1,868, 11,187), to stepdown or intermediate care units ($4,031; 2,069, 9,169) or to the coronary care unit ($9,201; 3,171, 20,011) but were higher than for comparison patients discharged home from the emergency department ($403; 403, 927) before and after the same adjustments (all adjusted p < 0.0001).Conclusions. These data suggest that the coronary observation unit may be a safe and cost-saving alternative to current triage strategies for patients with a low risk of acute myocardial infarction admitted from the emergency department. Its replication in other hospitals should be tested.

Outcome of patients who were admitted to a new short-stay unit to “rule-out” myocardial infarction

For emergency room patients with a low probability of acute myocardial infarction, we established a new short-stay coronary observation unit, a 2-bed nonintensive care unit with telemetry monitoring adjacent to the emergency room. Of 512 consecutive admissions to the coronary observation unit, 425 (83%) were discharged home without evidence of acute myocardial infarction or serious complications (mean length of stay, 1.2 days; median length of stay, 1 day); 87 (17%) were transferred to other hospital beds. The rate of acute myocardial infarction was 3%. No deaths and only 1 serious complication occurred in the coronary observation unit. At 6 month follow-up, the cardiac survival rate was 99% for patients sent home directly from this unit. It is concluded that the coronary observation unit is safe and adequate for ruling out acute myocardial infarction in a defined subset of patients. Short-stay units, however, encourage early discharges which, when premature, may miss patients who are at risk of having complications shortly thereafter. Strategies such as mandatory but expeditious predischarge stress testing to encourage early but not premature discharge may augment the efficiency of coronary observation units.