Predictors and Outcomes of Frequent Emergency Department Users

OBJECTIVE: To identify predictors and outcomes associated with frequent emergency department (ED) users. METHODS: Cross-sectional intake surveys, medical chart reviews, and telephone follow-up interviews of patients presenting with selected chief complaints were performed at five urban EDs during a one-month study period in 1995. Frequent use was defined by four or more self-reported, prior ED visits. Multivariate logistic regression identified predictors of frequent ED visitors from five domains (demographics, health status, health access, health care preference, and severity of acute illness). Associations between high use and selected outcomes were assessed with logistic regression models. RESULTS: All study components were completed by 2,333 of 3,455 eligible patients (67.5%). Demographics predicting frequent use included being a single parent, single or divorced marital status, high school education or less, and income of less than $10,000 (1995). Health status predictors included hospitalization in the preceding three months, high ratings of psychological distress, and asthma. Health access predictors included identifying an ED or a hospital clinic as the primary care site, having a primary care physician (PCP), and visiting a PCP in the past month. Choosing the ED for free care was the only health preference predictive of heavy use. Illness severity measures were higher in frequent visitors, although these were not independently predictive in the multivariate model. Outcomes correlated with heavy use include increased hospital admissions, higher rates of ED return visits, and lower patient satisfaction, but not willingness to return to the ED or follow-up with a doctor. CONCLUSIONS: Frequent ED visits are associated with socioeconomic distress, chronic illness, and high use of other health resources. Efforts to reduce ED visits require addressing the unique needs of these patients in the emergency and primary care settings.     

急诊科抗凝剂皮下注射护理规范及其效果评价

目的探讨急诊科抗凝剂皮下注射护理规范及其效果评价。方法从急诊科收治患者中随机性抽取80例作为研究对象,按照随机数字表法将其分为研究组和对照组各40例,在抗凝剂皮下注射时,对照组患者行常规护理,研究组患者行规范护理。比较2组患者抗凝剂皮下注射不良反应发生率,在患者出院前1 d采取本院自制护理满意度问卷调查表记录患者护理满意度。结果研究组患者不良反应发生率为15.00%(6/40),对照组不良反应发生率为52.50%(21/40),2组不良反应发生率差异有统计学意义(P<0.05);研究组患者护理满意度为92.50%(37/40),对照组患者护理满意度为77.50%(31/40),2组护理满意度差异有统计学意义(P<0.05)。结论急诊科抗凝剂皮下注射护理规范的应用,在有效降低患者不良反应发生率的同时,还能提高患者对护理人员的满意度。     

六西格玛法在优化门诊患者就诊流程中的应用及效果

目的优化门诊患者就诊流程,将门诊患者挂号、检查、收费、取药等待时间缩短在60min以内,提高门诊患者的满意度。方法应用六西格玛法,通过其定义、测量、分析、改进、控制5个步骤改进门诊患者就诊流程。结果改进后门诊患者挂号、检查、收费、取药等待时间缩短(P<0.01),患者对门诊满意度提高(P<0.01),达到预期目标。结论应用六西格玛法进行流程优化,缩短了患者的等候时间,提高了患者的满意度。     

儿科内科门诊护士心理健康状况调查分析与对策

目的 了解儿科内科门诊护士心理健康状况,针对性地给予应对措施,进一步的提高儿科内科门诊护士的心理健康水平.方法 采用基本情况调查表与症状自评量表(SCL-90)对55名儿科内科门诊护士进行问卷调查,将问卷调查结果进行数据的统计分析.结果 儿科内科门诊护士的心理健康水平低于普通人群,从SCL-90得分情况分析,其躯体化、强迫、抑郁、焦虑、敌对、恐惧、精神病性、总均分和阳性项目数等9项因子均分明显高于常模(P<0.05);62%～82%感觉多种不适应的心理症状,以躯体障碍、强迫、抑郁、焦虑和敌对最突出.结论应采取相应的对策,缓解门诊工作压力,提高儿科内科门诊护士自身的心理调节能力,促进身心的健康发展,更好地为儿童提供健康服务.     

Trends in Charges and Payments for Nonhospitalized Emergency Department Pediatric Visits, 1996–2003

Objectives:  To compare charges and payments for outpatient pediatric emergency visits across payer groups to provide information on reimbursement trends.
Methods:  Total charges and payments for emergency department (ED) visits Medicaid/State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP), privately insured, and uninsured pediatric patients from 1996 to 2003 using data from the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey. Average charges per visit and average payments per visit were also tracked, using regression analysis to adjust for changes in patient characteristics.
Results:  While charges for pediatric ED visits rose over time, payments did not keep pace. This led to a decrease in reimbursement rates from 63% in 1996 to 48% in 2003. For all years, Medicaid/SCHIP visits had the lowest reimbursement rates, reaching 35% in 2003. The proportion of visits from children insured by Medicaid/SCHIP also increased over the period examined. In 2003, after adjustment, charges were $792 per visit from children covered by Medicaid/SCHIP, $913 for visits from uninsured children, and $952 for visits from privately insured children.
Conclusions:  Reimbursements for outpatient ED visits in the pediatric population have decreased from the period of 1996 to 2003 in all payer groups: public (Medicaid/SCHIP), private, and the uninsured. Medicaid/SCHIP has consistently paid less per visit than the privately insured and the uninsured. Further research on the effects of these declining reimbursements on the financial viability of ED services for children is warranted.     

A Survey of the Emergency Department Population and Their Interest in Preventive Health Education

OBJECTIVE: To determine which preventive health information the emergency department (ED) population (patients and visitors) would be most interested in having available to them while they spend time in the waiting area. METHODS: This was a prospective survey of consecutive adults seated in the ED waiting area during a representative week on predetermined shifts. The survey asked them to indicate whether they would be interested in obtaining information about the following preventive health issues: breast cancer, prostate cancer, smoking, obesity, stress reduction, exercise programs, alcohol/drugs, HIV, blood pressure screening, immunizations, referrals to primary care physicians, Pap smears, car safety, smoke detectors, domestic and youth violence, depression, gun safety, and safe sex. RESULTS: Of the 1284 subjects approached, 878 (68%) made up the study group (56% female, mean age = 44 years, 60% white); 406 refused. The information people were most interested in obtaining was the following: 52% of the respondents were interested in referral to stress reduction programs, 51% in information about exercise programs, 42% in blood pressure screening, 40% in information about breast cancer screening, 33% in depression information/screening, 33% in prostate cancer screening, 26% in immunization against pneumococcus, 24% in immunization against tetanus, 26% in smoking cessation programs, and 26% in safe driving information. Women were most interested in breast cancer screening (64%); and men, in prostate cancer screening (55%). CONCLUSIONS: Of the 878 subjects in the study group, 96% were interested in obtaining information about one or more preventive health issues. An opportunity exists to respond to this interest by providing material for public health education in the waiting area of EDs.     

肿瘤科护士工作压力研究现状与进展

对肿瘤科护士的主要压力源和肿瘤科护理工作压力的相关因素及干预措施进行综述，为今后研究我国各专科护士工作压力提供信息与方向。     

发热门诊患者传染病相关知识调查研究

目的 了解发热门诊患者对传染病相关知识掌握情况，探讨对发热患者进行针对性健康教育的方法。方法 采用问卷方式对2004年11月-2005年1月在发热门诊就诊的495例患者就传染病防治法、常见传染病预防知识、合理卫生习惯、防病治病常识等方面内容进行调查分析。结果 患者对传染病法和传染病预防知识答对率最低；初中、高中学历、50岁以上的受调查者答题正确率较低，工人及一般城市居民答对率最低；电视广播是患者认可的传染病知识宣传方式。结论 应加强传染病法和传染病预防知识的宣传；重视对低学历、中老年人以及工人、城市居民群体的宣传教育；电视广播是目前健康教育的主要途径。