Urban Academic Medical Center Research Articles

Health Care Utilization Patterns Associated with eConsults for Headache: Insights from an Urban Academic Medical Center.

Introduction: Interprofessional electronic consultations (eConsults) can reduce health care utilization and improve access to specialty care. However, health care utilization and access impacts of eConsults for headache disorders remain incompletely characterized. Methods: We conducted a retrospective, 1:3-matched cohort study comparing patients referred for in-person headache evaluations to patients who had a headache-related eConsult. The cohorts were propensity score-matched by age, sex, race, preferred language, provider specialty, insurance status, and medical comorbidities. Our primary outcome was the presence of one or more headache-related ambulatory encounters in the 12 months following the index referral date. We used univariable and conditional logistic regression models to ascertain the associations between referral type and outcome. Results: We identified 74 and 222 patients with eConsult and in-person referrals, respectively. Over the follow-up period, the proportion of patients with the primary outcome was significantly greater in the eConsult cohort than the in-person cohort (46.0% vs. 43.2%, p < 0.0001). A greater proportion of the in-person cohort had one or more ambulatory headache encounters in the 12 months preceding their referral than the eConsult cohort (10.8% vs. 5.4%, p < 0.0001). In the adjusted analysis, eConsult usage was not associated with significantly increased odds of the primary outcome (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 1.1, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.6-2.0, p = 0.71), although patients with one or more ambulatory neurology encounters in the preceding 12 months had significantly increased odds of the primary outcome (aOR 3.1, 95% CI 1.2-7.9, p = 0.015). Conclusion: Compared to in-person referrals, eConsult use for headache was not associated with significantly increased odds of having subsequent ambulatory headache-related encounters.

Caregivers' Views of a Pediatric Inpatient Intervention to Address Health-Related Social Risks.

To understand the experiences of parents and caregivers of hospitalized children with CommunityRx-Hunger, a social care intervention designed to address food insecurity and other health-related social risks (HRSRs). Perspectives on how clinicians can sensitively deliver information about HRSRs in the pediatric inpatient setting were also elicited. In-depth, semistructured qualitative interviews were conducted (April 2022 through April 2023) with caregivers of children hospitalized at an urban academic medical center. Caregivers (N = 23) were purposefully sampled from the intervention arm of the double-blind CommunityRx-Hunger randomized controlled trial (NCT4171999). Initiated during hospital discharge, CommunityRx-Hunger includes 3 evidence-based components: education about HRSRs, delivery of HRSR-related resource information, and ongoing support to boost the intervention over 12 months. Data were analyzed using directed content analysis. Most caregivers identified as the child's mother (n = 20) and as African American or Black (n = 19) and were partnered (n = 14). Three main themes emerged: (1)positive experiences with CommunityRx-Hunger, including the sentiment that caregivers were unaware of the amount of community resources available to address HRSRs and perceptions that caregivers "were set up for success once we left the hospital"; (2)barriers to integrating social care with medical care, including concern that clinicians "are gonna use [disclosure of HRSRs] against me"; and (3)recommendations for optimizing social care delivery, including a prevalent suggestion to "just give the information" to caregivers, without asking about risks or needs. CommunityRx-Hunger was mostly well received by caregivers. Routinely providing resource information to all caregivers of hospitalized children, regardless of need, could help alleviate concerns about disclosing HRSRs.

Apixaban versus enoxaparin to prevent venous thromboembolism in post-operative patients with gynecologic cancers at an urban academic medical center

ObjectiveA recent clinical trial demonstrated that the use of apixaban was safe and equal to enoxaparin (LMWH) in post-operative gynecologic oncology patients. This study aimed to determine if these findings are applicable in a diverse patient population at a single site urban academic medical center. MethodsThis was a retrospective cohort study of patients who underwent an exploratory laparotomy for confirmed or presumed gynecologic cancer from the years 2017–2023 at a single-site urban academic medical center. Venous thromboembolism (VTE) prophylaxis with LMWH was standard practice at our institution up until January 2021 after which apixaban became standard for post-operative prophylaxis in our division. Baseline demographic and clinical characteristics of patients receiving apixaban post-operatively were compared to the population previously receiving enoxaparin. The primary outcome was a VTE event within 90days of surgery. Secondary outcomes included major and minor bleeding events. ResultsTwo hundred fifteen patients met inclusion criteria, of which 65 were discharged on enoxaparin and 150 were discharged on apixaban. Baseline characteristics in terms of age, race/ethnicity and BMI found no significant difference between the two groups. Rates of any VTE event within 90 days of surgery were similar for apixaban and LMWH (3.33 % vs. 4.61 %, p = 0.6). Secondary outcomes demonstrated that the rate of a major bleeding event in apixaban group was 1.31 % and LMWH group was 3.08 %, (p = 0.38). Minor bleeding events in the apixaban group were comparable to the LMWH group (10.60 % vs 10.16 %, p = 0.5). ConclusionsIn this real world, urban setting, for women undergoing laparotomy for gynecologic cancer, apixaban as post-operative VTE prophylaxis showed no increase in VTE events and appeared safe with no increase in bleeding events compared to LMWH. This study adds to the literature demonstrating that apixaban is safe and effective for VTE prophylaxis in our gynecologic oncology patients.

Evaluating associations between social risks and health care utilization in patients with chronic low back pain.

Care and outcomes for patients with chronic low back pain (cLBP) are influenced by the social risk factors that they experience. Social risk factors such as food insecurity and housing instability have detrimental effects on patient health and wellness, healthcare outcomes, and health disparities. This retrospective cross-sectional study examined how social risk factors identified in unstructured and structured electronic health record (EHR) data for 1,295 patients with cLBP were associated with health care utilization. We also studied the impact of social risk factors, controlling for back pain-related disability on health care utilization. Included patients who received outpatient spine and/or physical therapy services at an urban academic medical center between 2018 and 2020. Five identified social risks were financial insecurity, housing instability, food insecurity, transportation barriers, and social isolation. Outcomes included 4 categories of health care utilization: emergency department (ED) visits/hospitalizations, imaging, outpatient specialty visits related to spine care, and physical therapy (PT) visits. Poisson regression models tested associations between the presence of identified social risks and each outcome measure. Identified social risks in 12.8% of the study population (N = 166/1,295). In multivariate models, social isolation was positively associated with imaging, specialty visits, and PT visits; housing instability was positively associated with ED visits/hospitalizations and imaging; food insecurity was positively associated with ED visits/hospitalizations and specialty visits but negatively associated with PT visits; and financial strain was positively associated with PT visits but negatively associated with ED visits/hospitalization. These associations were seen above and beyond other factors used as markers of socioeconomic marginalization, including neighborhood-level social determinants of health, race/ethnicity, and insurance type. Identifying and intervening on social risk factors that patients with cLBP experience may improve outcomes and be cost-saving.

Incorporating Climate Change Education Into Residency: A Focus on Community Risks and Resources.

Graduate medical education (GME) focused on climate change (CC) health effects is essential. However, few CC education evaluations exist to guide residency programs looking to implement CC content. To evaluate the effect of an education session on residents' self-reported knowledge of CC health effects and confidence utilizing local CC anticipatory guidance and community resources with patients. A CC session was integrated into the pediatric, family medicine, and social medicine curricula at an urban academic medical center in 2023. A convenience sample of residents participated in 1 of 4 nonrandomized case-based or lecture-based sessions. Pre- and post-session 5-question Likert-scale surveys were used for assessment and analyzed using paired t tests. Sixty-eight of 108 eligible residents completed the surveys (28 case-based, 40 lecture-based, 63% response rate). Residents' understanding and confidence to engage with patients on CC health effects after the educational session improved (Q1 mean difference 1.3, t 67=9.85, 95% CI 1.04-1.57, P<.001; Q2 1.5, t 67=9.98, 95% CI 1.20-1.82, P<.001; Q3 1.8, t 67=12.84, 95% QI 1.54-2.11, P<.001; Q4 2.1, t 67=16.25, 95% CI 1.84-2.36, P<.001; Q5 2.1, t 67=16.28, 95% CI 1.86-2.38, P<.001). Resident self-reported understanding of the health effects of CC and confidence utilizing local CC anticipatory guidance and resources with patients increased after a CC education session.

Combining Ultrasonography and Endometrial Aspiration as a One-Stop Screening for Endometrial Neoplasia.

To assess the performance of simultaneous endometrial aspiration and sonohysterography to screen for endometrial cancer or hyperplasia in women aged 50 years or older. We conducted a prospective study from February 2014 to October 2020 at the ultrasound unit of a large urban academic medical center. The study included 1,635 women aged 50 years or older referred for endometrial evaluation, with follow-up through January 2021. Participants underwent saline infusion sonohysterography combined with ultrasound-guided endometrial aspiration. The primary outcome measured was a diagnosis of endometrial cancer or hyperplasia within 1 year from screening. The diagnostic accuracy of the combined evaluation method, including sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), and negative predictive value (NPV), was assessed. Of 1,170 women who completed the study protocol, 82 (7.0%) had endometrial cancer and 42 (3.6%) had endometrial hyperplasia. Of all patients who developed cancer during the follow-up period, 85.5% were diagnosed within 1 year after evaluation. The application of simultaneous endometrial aspiration and sonohysterography together demonstrated a sensitivity of 99.1%, specificity of 24.9%, PPV of 11.8%, and NPV of 99.6%. Using a theoretical sequential approach, assuming an endometrial aspiration is performed only in patients determined to be high risk by sonohysterography, demonstrated a sensitivity of 93.4%, specificity of 99.9%, PPV of 99.0%, and NPV of 99.3%. Simultaneous endometrial aspiration and sonohysterography is an effective one-stop outpatient screening tool for detecting endometrial cancer and hyperplasia in women aged 50 years or older. With the integration of two screening modalities into a single procedure, simultaneous endometrial aspiration and sonohysterography may overcome the limitations inherent in each of the currently recommended methods individually, potentially improving patient prognosis and streamlining the diagnostic process.

Current Patterns of Use and Acceptability of Consumer Wearable Activity Trackers in Emergency Department Patients

Introduction: Obesity and the metabolic syndrome are leading causes of increased healthcare utilization, preventable illness, and premature death. Future emergency department (ED) based strategies may include the use of consumer wearable activity trackers (WATs). Our objective was to characterize patterns of use and acceptability of WATs in ED patients and examine differences based on demographic and socioeconomic factors. Methods: This was a survey-based study addressing: 1) current or prior use of WATs, and 2) future interest in WAT use and willingness to share associated data with researchers. Any adult patient presenting to the ED was included, with enrollment at two large, urban academic medical centers. Results: A total of 169 participants were included, with 27% reporting current WAT use. WAT users were significantly younger (p&lt;0.01) with higher rates of employment (p=0.01), income (p=0.03), and education (p=0.02) compared to non-WAT users. WAT users were less likely to report comorbidities including hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and diabetes mellitus (all p&lt;0.01). Cost was the most prohibitive barrier among non-WAT users. Importantly, &gt;90% were open to wearing WATs and sharing activity data with researchers. Conclusions: Results indicate that although current WAT use is limited, most ED patients express interest in future use and willingness to share activity data with researchers.

Predictors of mortality among older adults discharged to or readmitted from a skilled nursing facility.

Previous studies have shown that patients who are readmitted to the hospital from a skilled nursing facility (SNF) have a higher mortality rate. The objective of this study is to determine factors associated with high mortality rate for older adults who require hospital readmission while on presumed short stay in SNF to trigger a goals-of-care discussion. Retrospective study of 847 patients aged 65 and above who were discharged from 1 large urban academic medical center to multiple SNF in 2019. Charts of 847 patients admitted to SNF after an acute hospital stay were reviewed; their overall 1-year mortality rate was 28.3%. The 1-year mortality rate among individuals readmitted to the hospital within 30 days of discharge to SNF was 50%, whereas for those who did not require readmission, the rate was 22%. For the most common diagnostic categories of nervous system, and musculoskeletal, patients with readmission to hospital within 30 days of discharge to SNF had a roughly threefold higher 1-year mortality rate. Worse frailty score on hospital readmission, poor nutrition, and weight loss were the most impactful individual factors carrying a higher degree of mortality of up to 83%. Hospital discharge to SNF and readmission from SNF within 30 days, further decline in functional status, and malnutrition characterize high-risk groups that should trigger care preference and prognostic discussions with patients as these events may be markers of vulnerability and are associated with high 1-year mortality rates.

Abstract 4137587: Need for Testing Standardization and Improved Treatment of Elevated Lipoprotein(a) at a Large Urban Academic Medical Center

Background: Lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)] is causally linked to ASCVD events and aortic stenosis. Some guidelines now recommend screening of Lp(a) at least once in an adult’s lifetime. Currently, there is inconsistency in measurement modality (mg/dL vs. nmol/L), but most guidelines recommending testing in nmol/L due to less variability and improved standardization. We sought to determine the Lp(a) measurement practices, including testing modality and downstream interventions, at a large academic medical institution. Methods: We evaluated all patient encounter data at UT Southwestern Medical Center (UTSW) between January 1, 2017 to December 31, 2021 for any Lp(a) measurement. High Lp(a) was defined as &gt;50mg/dL or &gt;125 nmol/L. Aggregate data were used to summarize patient demographics, relevant ASCVD co-morbidities, and lipid lowering prescriptions. Chart-review was conducted on patients with high Lp(a) to assess referrals to specialty clinics. Results: From 2017 to 2021, there were 1,065 Lp(a) measurements among 938 patients, representing fewer than 0.1% of all patients with labs at UTSW. Most were ordered by cardiologists (71%). Lp(a) tests ordered by cardiologists increased 69% annually but remained stagnant for other specialties (figure 1, lines). Median Lp(a) levels across all tests were 17mg/dL and 43nmol/L. Lp(a) was high in 30% of all initial tests. A higher proportion of tests ordered in 2021 by cardiologists (84%) were in nmol/L, the recommended standard, compared with other specialties (55%) (figure 1, bars). Patients with high Lp(a) found by a non-cardiologist were infrequently referred to cardiology (16%), and 53% of patients with high Lp(a) were prescribed lipid lowering therapy within 3 months. Conclusion: Lp(a) testing at a major academic medical center was rare and only marginally increased during the 5-year study period. Measurement frequency and assay varied widely between specialties, and there were potential opportunities for downstream interventions. In addition to improving awareness of Lp(a), there is an opportunity to standardize practice patterns regarding its measurement and implications.

Unexpected Pathology During Pelvic Organ Prolapse Repair in an Urban Population.

This study quantifies the occult pathology risk among our urogynecologic patient population and highlights the importance of preoperative counseling, particularly in patients who have been underrepresented in prior studies. The aim of the study was to estimate unexpected gynecologic pathology incidence among a low-risk, racially, and ethnically representative patient population undergoing surgery for symptomatic pelvic organ (POP) prolapse. This was a retrospective study of patients undergoing hysterectomy for POP at an urban academic medical center. Patients with abnormal preoperative pathologic evaluation were excluded. Data were abstracted from the electronic health record, including demographic and clinical history, preoperative laboratory evaluation, and clinical risk factors for gynecologic malignancy. Two hundred ninety-nine nononcologic patients who underwent POP repair with hysterectomy were assessed. Thirty-six percent of patients identified as Hispanic, 17% as non-Hispanic Black, and 38% as non-Hispanic White. Twenty-three percent of patients reported abnormal uterine bleeding, 36% underwent a preoperative ultrasound examination, and 15% underwent endometrial biopsy. Two patients (0.9%) were diagnosed with endometrial carcinoma. Two patients (0.9%) were diagnosed with cervical dysplasia. No patients with concurrent oophorectomy or salpingectomy had ovarian or tubal pathology. The overall incidence of unexpected gynecologic pathology at the time of hysterectomy for prolapse was 1.7%. The rate of endometrial cancer in our cohort is on the higher end of previously published data, although absolute rates of unanticipated malignancy remain low. Future studies should examine the pathological findings of larger, racially, and ethnically diverse cohorts of patients undergoing POP surgery with hysterectomy, which can aid in providing relevant estimates for preoperative counseling.

Census growth and challenges of a novel Hospital at Home program: A retrospective cohort study.

Hospital at Home (HaH) is a growing care model requiring significant investments. Critical to starting a program is estimating census and enrollments. The objective of this study was to compare expected versus actual consults, enrollments, and barriers in a novel HaH program. This was an observational, retrospective cohort study at a single urban academic medical center. Adult inpatients considered for enrollment to HaH were included. Demographic data, diagnoses and outcomes data were extracted for HaH patients. Volume and outcomes of HaH consults were recorded, including reasons for ineligibility or a patient declining to enroll. Over the first year of implementation, 248 patients enrolled. The average daily census (ADC) grew over months 1-6, then plateaued at a mean of 4.4 patients during month 10, with an overall ADC range from 0 to 7 patients. From months 7 to 12, there were 724 consults for a home hospital assessment, of which 22.5% (163/724) of patients were enrolled, 21.8% (158/724) declined to enroll, 29.3% (212/724) were ineligible for the program, and 26.4% (191/724) had consults that were deferred until the time of discharge and never explicitly consented or refused. The most common reasons for program ineligibility were complex care needs, insurance status, and not meeting inpatient status. The most common reasons patients declined to enroll were a preference to remain in the brick-and-mortar hospital and home conditions not suitable for HaH. This retrospective, cohort study defines the challenges of enrolling patients in an HaH program and provides areas for other programs to examine as they start or grow a program.

Apixaban versus enoxaparin to prevent venous thromboembolism in postoperative patients with gynecologic cancers at an urban academic medical center

Apixaban versus enoxaparin to prevent venous thromboembolism in postoperative patients with gynecologic cancers at an urban academic medical center

Suicide Risk Screening in Children and Adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder Presenting to the Emergency Department

Youth with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are over three times more likely to experience suicidal thoughts and behaviors (STB) than children in the general population. Screening to detect suicide risk is therefore critical for youth with ASD. This study examines the capacity of the Ask Suicide-Screening Questions (ASQ), a standard suicide screening tool, to detect suicide risk in children and adolescents with ASD who present to the pediatric emergency department (PED). This is a retrospective chart review of 393 (2.1%) youth with ASD and 17,964 (97.9%) youth without ASD, aged 8 to 21 years, who presented to the PED of a large urban academic medical center between 2017 and 2020. During the study period, the ASQ was universally administered to children and adolescents who presented to the PED for any reason. Data extracted from the electronic health record included demographic information, presenting concerns, ASD diagnosis, and ASQ results. Autistic children and adolescents were more likely to present to the PED with STB at the first PED visit compared to non-autistic children (12.7% vs. 4.4%, p < 0.001). In both autistic and non-autistic groups, presenting concerns about STB were significantly associated with a positive ASQ screen. More autistic youth were found to have a positive ASQ without STB as their chief presenting complaint as compared to non-autistic youth (22.6% vs. 11.6%, p < 0.001). Youth with ASD endorsed each item of the ASQ at roughly twice the rate of those without ASD. This preliminary descriptive study indicates that the ASQ may be a promising screening tool to assess suicide risk in autistic individuals. Further research on the predictive validity and overall reliability of the ASQ in youth with ASD is recommended.

Self-Reported Patient and Provider Satisfaction With Neurology Telemedicine Visits After Rapid Telemedicine Implementation in an Urban Academic Center: Cross-Sectional Survey.

Many clinics and health systems implemented telemedicine appointment services out of necessity due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Our objective was to evaluate patient and general provider satisfaction with neurology telemedicine implementation at an urban academic medical center. Patients who had completed 1 or more teleneurology visits from April 1 to December 31, 2020, were asked to complete a survey regarding their demographic information and satisfaction with teleneurology visits. Providers of all specialties within the same hospital system were given a different survey to gather their experiences of providing telemedicine care. Of the estimated 1500 patients who had completed a teleneurology visit within the given timeframe, 117 (7.8%) consented to complete the survey. Of these 117 respondents, most appointments were regarding epilepsy (n=59, 50.4%), followed by multiple sclerosis (n=33, 28.2%) and neuroimmunology (n=7, 6%). Overall, 74.4% (n=87) of patients rated their experience as 8 out of 10 or higher, with 10 being the highest satisfaction. Furthermore, 75.2% (n=88) of patients reported missing an appointment in the previous year due to transportation issues and thought telemedicine was more convenient instead. A significant relationship between racial or ethnic group and comfort sharing private information was found (P<.001), with 52% (26/50) of Black patients reporting that an office visit is better, compared to 25% (14/52) of non-Black patients. The provider survey gathered 40 responses, with 75% (n=30) of providers agreeing that virtual visits are a valuable tool for patient care and 80% (n=32) reporting few to no technical issues. The majority of provider respondents were physicians on faculty or staff (n=21, 52%), followed by residents or fellows (n=15, 38%) and nurse practitioners or physician assistants (n=4, 10%). Of the specialties represented, 15 (38%) of the providers were in neurology. Our study found adequate satisfaction among patients and providers regarding telemedicine implementation and its utility for patient care in a diverse urban population. Additionally, while access to technology and technology literacy are barriers to telemedical care, a substantial majority of patients who responded to the survey had access to devices (101/117, 86.3%) and were able to connect with few to no technological difficulties (84/117, 71.8%). One area identified by patients in need of improvement was comfortability in communicating via telemedicine with their providers. Furthermore, while providers agreed that telemedicine is a useful tool for patient care, it limits their ability to perform physical exams. More research and quality studies are needed to further appreciate and support the expansion of telemedical care into underserved and rural populations, especially in the area of subspecialty neurological care.

Racial and ethnic disparities in COVID-19 hospital cost of care.

Although studies have evaluated the hospital cost of care associated with treating patients with COVID-19, there are no studies that compare the hospital cost of care among racial and ethnic groups based on detailed cost accounting data. The aims of this study were to provide a detailed description of the hospital costs of COVID-19 based on individual resources during the hospital stay and standardized costs that do not rely on inflation adjustment and evaluate the extent to which hospital total cost of care for patients with COVID-19 differs by race and ethnicity. This study used electronic medical record data from an urban academic medical center in Chicago, Illinois USA. Hospital cost of care was calculated using accounting data representing the cost of the resources used to the hospital (i.e., cost to the hospital, not payments). A multivariable generalized linear model with a log link function and inverse gaussian distribution family was used to calculate the average marginal effect (AME) for Black, White, and Hispanic patients. A second regression model further compared Hispanic patients by preferred language (English versus Spanish). In our sample of 1,853 patients, the average adjusted cost of care was significantly lower for Black compared to White patients (AME = -$5,606; 95% confidence interval (CI), -$10,711 to -$501), and Hispanic patients had higher cost of care compared to White patients (AME = $8,539, 95% CI, $3,963 to $13,115). In addition, Hispanic patients who preferred Spanish had significantly higher cost than Hispanic patients who preferred English (AME = $11,866; 95% CI $5,302 to $18,431). Total cost of care takes into account both the intensity of the treatment as well as the duration of the hospital stay. Thus, policy makers and health systems can use cost of care as a proxy for severity, especially when looking at the disparities among different race and ethnicity groups.

Digital supervision in the clinical learning environment: Characterizing teamwork in the electronic health record.

Attending physicians in academic hospitals work in supervisory team structures with medical residents to provide patient care. How attendings utilize the electronic health record (EHR) to support learning through supervision is not well understood. To compare EHR behavior on teaching versus direct care, including evidence of supervisory calibration to learners. Cross-sectional study analysis of EHR metadata from 1721 shifts of hospital medicine faculty at a large, urban academic medical center, January to June 2022. Measures included total EHR time per shift, EHR time outside shift, and time spent on: note-writing, note review/attestation, order entry, and other clinical review. We assessed within physician differences across these service types and used multilevel modeling to determine whether these behaviors varied with resident physicians' experience, accounting for physician-specific signature behavior patterns. Attendings spent substantially less time in the EHR while on teaching service than on direct service (129 vs. 240 min; p < .001) and apportioned their work differently throughout the day. Physicians were less behaviorally consistent and varied more than their peers when on teaching service. Attendings calibrated their supervision to learners. Attendings logged 12.7% less EHR time when paired with more senior residents than postgraduate year 2 (PGY2) residents (137 vs. 120 min, p = .002). PGY1 presence was also associated with reduced EHR time, suggesting some delegation of supervision to senior trainees. EHR behaviors on teaching service are highly variable and differ substantially from direct care; a lack of consistency suggests important opportunities to establish best practices for EHR-based supervision and create an effective clinical learning environment.

Health Care Workers' Perspectives on Collecting Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity in the Adult Primary Care Setting.

Despite numerous calls for standardized collection of sexual orientation and gender identity (SOGI) data in clinical settings, uptake of this practice still lags. This study conducted a preimplementation assessment of staff attitudes toward SOGI data collection within an adult primary care practice in an urban academic medical center in the northeastern United States. We created a process map of the flow of patient data from the point of registration to the clinical encounter to identify all staff roles associated with registration and patient demographic data collection. We purposively sampled staff members across these roles and conducted semistructured virtual interviews between November 2021 and February 2022. The research team used deductive and inductive coding and conducted a thematic analysis to identify barriers and facilitators to implementation. Nine clinical staff and eleven nonclinical staff were interviewed. Participants were asked about their general experiences with lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) patients, their perspectives on collecting this data, and potential barriers and facilitators to incorporating this into the workflow. The main themes that emerged were the relevance of SOGI data to the clinical practice; concerns about patient acceptability; the prevalence of cis-gender, heteronormative assumptions; and concerns about linguistic, cultural, and generational differences. Differences were noted between clinical and nonclinical staff. Greater education is needed to help both clinical and nonclinical staff understand how patients' SOGI demographics can be used to provide affirming, patient-centered care. Implementation strategies can be tailored to address specific barriers at the individual, organizational, and social levels.

S2090 Obesity Medication Prescribing Practices in an Urban Academic Medical Center

S2090 Obesity Medication Prescribing Practices in an Urban Academic Medical Center

Association between food insecurity and healthcare utilization among patients at a breast oncology center.

143 Background: A breast cancer (BC) diagnosis often creates or exacerbates financial stress. As a result, many patients with BC struggle with a lack of consistent access to nutritious food due to limited resources, a condition termed “food insecurity” (FI). We investigated the association between FI and healthcare utilization among breast oncology patients at our urban academic medical center. Methods: Screening for health-related social needs (HRSN) was conducted primarily through the electronic patient portal, at appointment registration for a breast oncology clinic visit. The 8-item HRSN survey included 2 questions on access to food resources and 1 question quantifying emergency department (ED) visits over the past year. Any level of food hardship or concern constituted a positive FI screen. We conducted a retrospective analysis among patients evaluated between 11/2/22 and 4/20/24. Clinical and demographic data were obtained from the electronic health record (EHR). We evaluated the association between FI and health care utilization measures (ED visits, inpatient admissions) with a Pearson's Chi-squared test and univariate logistic regression. Results: A total of 2820 patients were screened for HRSN and provided responses to at least 1 FI question, of which 19.7% (555) reported some level of FI. Food-insecure patients self-reported significantly higher rates of ED visits in the past 12 months compared to food-secure patients: 43.2% vs 22.6% reported at least 1 ED visit, respectively (p&lt;0.001), and 25.0% vs 8.45% reported multiple ED visits, respectively (p&lt;0.001). Overall, FI was associated with 2.5 times the odds of self-reporting at least 1 ED visit (univariate OR 2.47, p&lt;0.001). Similarly, on review of EHR data, 33.3% of food-insecure patients had at least 1 ED visit (vs 20.0% of food-secure patients, p&lt;0.001), and 6.13% had 3 or more ED visits (vs 2.83%, p&lt;0.001) during the study period. On univariate analysis, food-insecure patients had double the odds of having at least 1 ED visit documented in the EHR (univariate OR 2.00, p&lt;0.001). We examined reasons for ED presentations among 186 food-insecure patients with ED visits during the study period, and found that 23.8% had at least 1 cancer-related complaint (oncological treatment-related (16.8%) and/or BC symptom-related (8.6%)). The incidence of inpatient admissions during the study period was similar among food-insecure vs food-secure patients (19.8% vs 18.4%, p=0.467). Conclusions: In this analysis of FI and health care delivery measures, ED utilization was significantly higher among food-insecure patients. A quarter of food-insecure patients who presented to the ED had oncological complaints. FI may be a marker of unmet healthcare needs in patient with cancer, and targeted interventions focused on symptom monitoring and management are warranted to optimize healthcare utilization.

Characterizing health-related social needs and their association with medication adherence in a diverse cohort of patients with breast cancer.

139 Background: Food insecurity, housing instability, and transportation challenges are modifiable health-related social needs (HRSN) that have been associated with worse health outcomes in patients with cancer. Nonadherence to medications is also associated with decreased survival and other poor outcomes. Less is known about the association between HRSN and medication adherence in this patient population. Methods: We implemented screening for HRSN among breast oncology patients at our urban academic medical center, primarily through the electronic patient portal. Patients were offered an 8-item HRSN survey with questions covering food insecurity, housing, transportation needs, and emergency department visits. Any level of food hardship, housing instability, or transportation challenges reported during the study period (11/2/22-4/20/24) constituted a positive screen for that HRSN. We also screened patients for nonadherence to medications (any medication) using the 3-item DOSE-Nonadherence questionnaire. Pearson's Chi-squared tests and univariate logistic regressions were used to compare differences between subsets. Results: During the 18-month study period, 2945 patients completed at least 1 item on the HRSN questionnaire, of which 765 (26.0%) screened positive for at least 1 HRSN. Among patients who responded to each HRSN domain, 555/2820 (19.7%) screened positive for food insecurity, 374/2650 (14.1%) for housing instability, and 255/2656 (9.6%) for transportation needs. Food-insecure patients also reported more housing (43.1% v 5.6%, p&lt;0.001) and transportation needs (27.7% v 4.0%, p&lt;0.001) compared to food-secure patients. When comparing the cohort of patients who screened positive for at least 1 HRSN vs those who screened negative, there was a higher proportion of Hispanics (55.3% vs 25.1%, p&lt;0.001), non-Hispanic Blacks (15.3% v 10.0%, p&lt;0.001), and Spanish speakers (41.2% v 17.2%, p&lt;0.001). Patients with any HRSN were more likely to self-report medication nonadherence compared to those with a negative HRSN screen (44.2% v 35.3%, OR 1.45, 95% CI 1.18-1.79). When looking at each individual HRSN domain, food-insecure patients were more likely to self-report medication nonadherence than food-secure patients (45.9% v 35.9%, OR 1.51, CI 1.19-1.92); this was also true for patients with housing instability (45.7% v 36.4%, OR 1.47, CI 1.12-1.92) and transportation needs (49.1% v 36.5%, OR 1.68, CI 1.23-2.31). Conclusions: More than a quarter of breast cancer patients self-reported at least 1 HRSN, with food insecurity being most frequently reported. Patients with at least 1 HRSN had 45% increased odds of medication nonadherence. Further research is warranted to understand the financial, social, psychological, and healthcare-related factors that may underlie this association, and to design interventions targeting at-risk cancer populations.