The inaccuracy of determining overcrowding status by using the National ED Overcrowding Study Tool

Background

Emergency department (ED) crowding has become more common, and perceptions of crowding vary among different health care providers. The National Emergency Department Overcrowding Study (NEDOCS) tool is the most commonly used tool to estimate ED crowding but still uncertain of its reliability in different ED settings.

Objective

The objectives of this study are to determine the accuracy of using the NEDOCS tool to evaluate overcrowding in an extremely high-volume ED and assess the reliability and consistency of different providers’ perceptions of ED crowding.

Material and methods

This was a 2-phase study. In phase 1, ED crowding was determined by the NEDOCS tool. The ED length of stay and number of patients who left without being seen were analyzed. In phase 2, a survey of simulated ED census scenarios was completed by different providers. The interrater and intrarater agreements of ED crowding were tested.

Results

In phase 1, the subject ED was determined to be overcrowded more than 75% of the time in which nearly 50% was rated as severely overcrowded by the NEDOCS tool. No statistically significant difference was found in terms of the average length of stay and the number of left without being seen patients under different crowding categories. In phase 2, 88 surveys were completed. A moderate level of agreement between health care providers was reached (κ = 0.5402, P < .0001). Test-retest reliability among providers was high (r = 0.8833, P = .0007). The strength of agreement between study groups and the NEDOCS was weak (κ = 0.3695, P < .001).

Conclusion

Using the NEDOCS tool to determine ED crowding might be inaccurate in an extremely high-volume ED setting.     

The Effect of Boarders on Emergency Department Process Flow

Background

Emergency department (ED) overcrowding with boarders and waiting times are a significant concern in many countries.

Objective

We aim to show the relationship between boarders in the ED and the percentage time to disposition in under 6 h for our ED patients.

Method

A review was carried out to show the percentage of patients presenting to the ED compliant with a 6-h standard per day compared to the number of attendances, the number of admissions to the hospital, and the number of boarders in the ED per day.

Results

Over the 2-year study period, there was an average 0.37% fall in the ED's rate of compliance per day, with a 6-h standard for each boarder in the ED.

Conclusion

Boarding patients in the ED has a negative effect on compliance with our 6-h standard of time to disposition.     

ED crowding is associated with an increased time to pneumonia treatment

Objective

We measured the correlation between emergency department (ED) occupancy rate and time to antibiotic administration for patients with pneumonia treated in a community hospital setting.

Methods

We reviewed quality improvement data on patients treated for pneumonia in our ED and admitted over a 5-month period. The outcomes were timeliness of antibiotic therapy (within 4 hours of arrival) and overall time to antibiotic administration. Emergency department crowding was measured as the ED occupancy rate. We calculated (1) the Spearman correlation between occupancy rate at time of patient presentation and the time to antibiotic administration, (2) the odds ratio of receiving antibiotics within 4 hours with increasing ED occupancy, and (3) the ability of the occupancy rate to predict failure of achieving the 4-hour goal with the receiver operating characteristic curve.

Results

A total of 334 patients were treated over the study period, of which 262 had complete data available. Occupancy rate ranged from 20% to 245%, and median was 137%. Eighty-one percent received antibiotics within 4 hours; the median time was 150 minutes. Time to antibiotics showed a positive correlation with occupancy rate (Spearman ρ = 0.17, P = .008). An increasing ED occupancy rate was associated with decreased odds of receiving antibiotics within 4 hours (odds ratio, 0.31; 95% confidence interval, 0.13-0.75). Receiver operating characteristic curve area was 0.62 (95% confidence interval, 0.54-0.70; P = .009).

Conclusion

Emergency department occupancy rate was associated with increased time to antibiotic treatment for patients admitted with pneumonia. Occupancy rate had fair success in predicting failure of treatment within 4 hours.     

A study of the workforce in emergency medicine: 2007

Introduction

This study was undertaken to describe the current status of the emergency medicine workforce in the United States.

Methods

Surveys were distributed in 2008 to 2619 emergency department (ED) medical directors and nurse managers in hospitals in the 2006 American Hospital Association database.

Results

Among ED medical directors, 713 responded, for a 27.2% response rate. Currently, 65% of practicing emergency physicians are board certified by the American Board of Emergency Medicine or the American Osteopathic Board of Emergency Medicine. Among those leaving the practice, the most common reasons cited for departure include geographic relocation (46%) and better pay (29%). Approximately 12% of the ED physician workforce is expected to retire in the next 5 years.Among nurse managers, 548 responded, for a 21% response rate. Many nurses (46%) have an associate degree as their highest level of education, 28% have a BSN, and 3% have a graduate degree (MSN or higher). Geographic relocation (44%) is the leading reason for changing employment.Emergency department annual volumes have increased by 49% since 1997, with a mean ED volume of 32 281 in 2007. The average reported ED length of stay is 158 minutes from registration to discharge and 208 minutes from registration to admission. Emergency department spent an average of 49 hours per month in ambulance diversion in 2007. Boarding is common practice, with an average of 318 hours of patient boarding per month.

Conclusions

In the past 10 years, the number of practicing emergency physicians has grown to more than 42 000. The number of board-certified emergency physicians has increased. The number of annual ED visits has risen significantly.     

Hypertension in the ED: still an unrecognized problem

Introduction

Hypertension is prevalent in the general population. Emergency Department (ED) follow-up studies show persistence of blood pressure elevations in up to 50% of patients, and ED screening for hypertension has been recommended. Blood pressure elevations are often ignored or attributed to pain or anxiety. Our purpose was to document the incidence and recognition of hypertension in the ED and to assess its relation to pain scores and age.

Methods

This was a retrospective study. Patients presenting to the ED during a 1-month period were included. Age, blood pressure, and pain scores were reviewed. Discharge instructions and diagnoses were assessed as to whether blood pressure was recognized or follow-up was recommended.

Results

There were 2821 patients. Fifteen percent were less than 18 years old. Twenty-six percent had an elevated blood pressure (40% of pediatric patients). There was no correlation between the distribution of pain scores in either children or adults. There was almost no recognition of the problem. Follow-up for elevated blood pressure was recommended in only 4%. Of these, only 46% actually received follow-up. Twenty-four percent of patients with elevated blood pressure received follow-up for other reasons. Blood pressure was still elevated in 47%.

Conclusion

Hypertension was a common problem in our patient population. Elevated blood pressure readings were almost uniformly ignored or unrecognized, particularly in children. There was no correlation of elevated blood pressure readings and acute pain scores. Elevated blood pressure readings should not be attributed solely to anxiety or acute pain on presentation.     

Recurrent Posterior Reversible Encephalopathy Syndrome in a Pediatric Patient With End-stage Renal Disease

Background

Posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES) is a condition manifested by altered mental status, seizures, headaches, and visual loss. Specific abnormalities are seen by computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging. Awareness of this syndrome is important for Emergency Physicians because visual loss can be reversible with prompt treatment of the underlying cause.

Objective

We present a case of recurrent PRES in a 14-year-old female who presented to the Emergency Department (ED) for headache and photosensitivity.

Case Report

A patient with a history of end-stage renal disease of unknown etiology was brought in by her mother for headache and photosensitivity. The patient developed blurry vision, seized in the ED, and required intubation. She was discharged 2 weeks later with complete return of vision. The same patient presented to the ED many times during the next several months for hypertensive emergencies, with three subsequent episodes that involved either seizures, vision loss, or both. Each of the episodes resolved with aggressive control of blood pressure in the pediatric intensive care unit.

Conclusions

PRES should be considered in all patients presenting to the ED with visual loss, seizures, or headache, and can be recurrent in some individuals. Prompt treatment can help prevent permanent vision loss.     

ED endovaginal pelvic ultrasound in nonpregnant women with right lower quadrant pain

Introduction

We hypothesized that emergency physician–performed endovaginal ultrasound (EVUS) would change diagnostic decision making in nonpregnant women with right lower quadrant (RLQ) pain.

Methods

A prospective cohort of female patients was enrolled at an urban emergency department (ED). Inclusion criteria were RLQ pain, hemodynamic stability, and a strong suspicion for appendicitis or right adnexal pathology. Treating physicians were queried regarding pre– and post–ED EVUS probability of disease, differential diagnoses, consultation, and management. Positive findings included large cysts or multitissue densities, tubal dilation, uterine enlargement/mass, and extensive peritoneal fluid.

Results

With a positive ED EVUS, mean physician probability increased for gynecologic (24%) and decreased for both surgical (14%) and medical (20%) disease. With a negative ED EVUS, mean physician probability increased for surgical disease (5.3%) and decreased for gynecologic disease (18.6%).

Conclusion

Emergency department EVUS changes physician diagnostic decision making in nonpregnant women with undifferentiated RLQ pain.     

Short-term Unscheduled Return Visits of Adult Patients to the Emergency Department

Background

Emergency department (ED) crowding is a major international concern that affects patients and providers.

Study Objective

We describe the characteristics of patients who had an unscheduled related return visit to the ED and investigate its relation to ED crowding.

Methods

Retrospective medical record review of all unscheduled related ED return visits by patients older than 16 years of age over a 1-year period. The top quartile of ED occupancy rates was defined as ED crowding.

Results

Eight hundred thirty-seven patients (1.9%) made an unscheduled related return visit. Length of stay (LOS) at the ED for the index visit and the LOS for the return visit (5 h, 54 min vs. 6 h, 51 min) were significantly different, as were the percent admitted (11.6% vs. 46.1%). Of these patients, 85.1% and 12.0% returned due to persistence or a wrong initial diagnosis, of their initial illness, respectively, and 2.9% returned due to an adverse event related to the treatment initially received. Patients presented the least frequently with an alcohol-related complaint during the index visit (480 patients), but they had the highest number of unscheduled return visits (45 patients; 9.4%). Unscheduled related return visits were not associated with ED crowding.

Conclusion

Return visits impose additional pressure on the ED, because return patients have a significantly longer LOS at the ED. However, the rate of unscheduled return visits and ED crowding was not related. Because this parameter serves as an essential quality assurance tool, we can assume that the studied hospital scores well on this particular parameter.     

Does ED crowding decrease the number of procedures a physician in training performs? A prospective observational study

Purpose

The aim of the study was to determine whether the number of procedures performed by residents and medical students in the emergency department (ED) is affected by ED crowding.

Methods

In this single-center, prospective, observational study, standardized data collection forms were completed by both trainees and supervising emergency physicians (EPs) at the end of each ED shift from August 2009 to March 2010. Shifts with no trainees were excluded. All procedures that were offered to a trainee were recorded as well as the number of potential ED procedures that were, instead, referred to a consulting service. Emergency department crowding was measured in 2 ways: ED length of stay (LOS) and the EP's assessment of crowding during the shift. Poisson regression was used to assess the adjusted effect of ED crowding on the number of trainee procedures performed as well as on the number of procedures given away.

Results

There were 804 procedures performed by 113 trainees during 647 trainee shifts. Medical students comprised 51% of trainees. Median number of procedures performed per shift was 1.0 (Fine interquartile range, 0-2.0). Emergency department crowding was not associated with the adjusted number of procedures trainees performed using either the EP's assessment of crowding (P = .52) or ED LOS (P = .84). Emergency department crowding was associated with an adjusted 256% increase in the mean number of procedures given away (P = .02) when measured using physician assessment but was not associated with crowding when assessed using ED LOS (P = .06).

Conclusions

Crowding was not significantly associated with the number of procedures availed to ED trainees. In patients being considered for admission, however, when the managing EP felt that it was crowded, there was an association with giving procedures to consulting services.     

The impact of overcrowding on the bacterial contamination of blood cultures in the ED

Objectives

This study aims to determine the risk factors associated with the bacterial contamination of blood cultures among adults visiting the emergency department (ED).

Methods

Clinical variables and medical records of adults with bacterial growth of blood cultures in the ED as well as the degree of ED crowding, between August 2007 and July 2008, were prospectively collected.

Results

Of the 11?491 adults who underwent blood culture sampling, the medical records of 558 (4.86%) eligible patients with bacterial growth in their blood cultures were analyzed. Most patients (366, or 3.19%) had true bacteremia, whereas 192 (1.67%) were regarded as contaminated. In multivariate analyses, ED overcrowding (scoring was based on a National Emergency Department Overcrowding Study [NEDOCS] score ≥100 points) was independently associated with blood culture contamination (odds ratio [OR], 1.58; P = .04). In contrast, other medical comorbidities, such as liver cirrhosis (OR, 0.31; P = .02), thrombocytopenia (<100?000/mm³; OR, 0.28; P = .002), or high serum levels of C-reactive protein (>100 mg/L; OR, 0.24; P < .001), were negatively associated with blood culture contamination. On further analysis of the 5 crowding categories as stratified by NEDOCS scores, which included not busy and busy (0-60 points), extremely busy but not overcrowded (60-100), overcrowded (100-140), severely overcrowded (140-180), and dangerously overcrowded (180-200), there was a strong correlation between blood culture contamination rates and the degrees of ED crowding (γ = 0.99, P < .001).

Conclusions

Emergency department overcrowding may have an adverse impact on the quality of clinical care, including increasing the risk of blood culture contamination.     

Emergency Department Management of Shoulder Dystocia

Background

Precipitous obstetric deliveries can occur outside of the labor and delivery suite, often in the emergency department (ED). Shoulder dystocia is an obstetric emergency with significant risk of adverse outcome.

Objective

To review multiple techniques for managing a shoulder dystocia in the ED.

Discussion

We review various techniques and approaches for achieving delivery in the setting of shoulder dystocia. These include common maneuvers, controversial interventions, and interventions of last resort.

Conclusions

Emergency physicians should be familiar with multiple techniques for managing a shoulder dystocia to reduce the chances of fetal and maternal morbidity and mortality.     

The effect of ED crowding on education

Objective

We studied if emergency department (ED) crowding affects the quality of resident and medical student education on individual patient encounters.

Methods

We performed a cross-sectional study of a ED faculty-learner interactions over a 5-week period in an academic ED. Research assistants administered surveys to residents and senior medical students assessing attending physicians on 4 domains (teaching, clinical care, approachability, and helpfulness) using a scale (ER score for teaching on individual patients) validated for use during ED rotations. Each domain was assessed on a 5-point scale with a highest score of 20 representing superb/outstanding. We tested the association between measures of ED crowding (waiting room number, occupancy, number of admitted patients, and patient-hours) at the time of assessment with the ER score and individual domain scores using correlation coefficients and regression analysis with clustering on the attending physician.

Results

Forty-three residents (22 ED, 21 non-ED) and 3 medical students assessed 34 attending physicians in 352 separate encounters. Median ER score was 16/20 (interquartile range, 12-16). Emergency department crowding levels and ER scores on individual patients were not significantly correlated, nor were ED crowding and individual domains. In the adjusted analysis, ED crowding was not associated with an ER score of 16 or higher, nor was any ED crowding measure associated individual assessments of teaching, clinical care, approachability, or helpfulness.

Conclusion

Emergency department crowding is not associated with the quality of education on individual patients.     

Impact of ED management on hospital quality measures: the negative case of atrial fibrillation

Objective

Emergency department (ED) cardioversion and discharge of atrial fibrillation (AF) is an evolving treatment. Emergency department cardioversion patients have few comorbidities, and their discharge directly from the ED leads to a sicker in-patient population of AF patients. This study examines whether the quality care markers, hospital charges (HC) and length of stay (LOS), negatively reflect the practice of ED cardioversion.

Methods

Median HC and LOS were determined for 2 different quality assessment reporting models. In a standard model (SM), patients discharged from the ED were not included in any hospital statistics and only admitted, or observation patients were used to calculate the HC and LOS of AF patients. In an inclusive model (IM), patients discharged from the ED were also included in the hospital statistics but given the same LOS as observation patients. Differences across medians were analyzed using Wilcoxon rank sum tests.

Results

A total of 312 patients were evaluated for AF over an 18-month period. Of these, 197 (62%) were admitted, 21 (7%) were placed in observation status, and 95 (31%) were discharged from the ED. Median values for LOS were 3 days (interquartile range [IQR], 1-5) for the SM and 1 day (IQR, 0-4) for the IM. Median values for HC were $33 062 (IQR, $19 267-$60 614) for the SM and $20 059 (IQR, $4249-$47 195) for the IM.

Conclusion

Emergency department cardioversion selects out a less sick cohort of patients whose removal from a hospital's admission numbers negatively skews quality performance profiles.     

Low volume tubes are not effective to reduce the rate of hemolyzed specimens from the emergency department

Objectives

Spurious hemolysis is the leading source of nonconformities that can be recorded in diagnostic samples, especially those collected in the emergency department (ED). The aim of this study was to assess whether the shift from regular to low volume blood collection tubes may reduce the rate of hemolysis in a large urban ED, where approximately 80% of blood collections are performed through catheters.

Design and methods

In a former 5-month period, blood collection in the ED was performed using 5.0 mL (13 × 100 mm) plastic serum tubes, which were then completely replaced with 3.5 mL (13 × 75 mm) plastic serum tubes for another period of 5 months. The rate of hemolyzed specimens (i.e., those containing a cell-free hemoglobin ≥ 0.5 gL) collected in the two periods was compared by Fisher exact test.

Results

The rate of hemolyzed specimens received from the ED increased from 3.5% using 5.0 mL plastic serum tubes to 5.2% after introduction of 3.5 mL plastic serum tubes (p < 0.001).

Conclusions

The use of low volume tubes was not effective to decrease the hemolysis rate in a large urban ED.     

Differing prevalence estimates of elevated blood pressure in ED patients using 4 methods of categorization

Objective

This study examined the variability of blood pressure measurements and prevalence estimates of elevated blood pressure in emergency department (ED) patients using 4 different methods of categorization.

Methods

A prospective, observational study was conducted on adult ED patients with elevated triage blood pressures (systolic ≥140 or diastolic ≥90 mm Hg). Three blood pressure measurements were obtained on all subjects and categorized as follows: (1) triage measurement only, (2) the mean of the triage and second measurement, (3) the mean of the 3 measurements, and (4) the mean of the second and third measurements.

Results

Of 2192 screened patients, 326 were included in the final analysis with mean triage systolic and diastolic blood pressures of 160 and 90 mm Hg, respectively. Prevalence estimates of elevated blood pressure in this sample ranged from 100% (reference standard: mean triage blood pressure) to the most conservative estimate of 67% (fourth method).

Conclusion

Determination of elevated blood pressure in ED patients is largely dependent on the method of blood pressure categorization.     

Measuring cardiac index with a focused cardiac ultrasound examination in the ED

Objectives

Noninvasive technology may assist the emergency department (ED) physician in determining the hemodynamic status in critically ill patients. The objective of our study was to show that ED physicians can accurately measure cardiac index (CI) by performing a bedside focused cardiac ultrasound examination.

Methods

A convenience sample of adult subjects were prospectively enrolled. Cardiac index, left ventricular outflow tract (LVOT) diameter, velocity time integral (VTI), stroke volume index, and heart rate were obtained by trained ED physicians and a certified cardiac sonographer. The primary outcome was percent of optimal LVOT diameter and VTI measurements as verified by an expert cardiologist.

Results

One hundred patients were enrolled, with obtainable CI measurements in 97 patients. Cardiac index, LVOT diameter, VTI, stroke volume index, and heart rate measurements by ED physician were 2.42 ± 0.70 L min⁻¹ m⁻², 2.07 ± 0.22 cm, 18.30 ± 3.71 cm, 32.34 ± 7.92 mL beat⁻¹ m⁻², and 75.32 ± 13.45 beats/min, respectively. Measurements of LVOT diameter by ED physicians and sonographer were optimal in 90.0% (95% confidence interval, 82.6%-94.5) and 91.3% (73.2%-97.6%) of patients, respectively. Optimal VTI measurements were obtained in 78.4% (69.2%-85.4%) and 78.3% (58.1%-90.3%) of patients, respectively. In 23 patients, the correlation (r) for CI between ED physician and sonographer was 0.82 (0.60-0.92), with bias and limits of agreement of −0.11 (−1.06 to 0.83) L min⁻¹ m⁻² and percent difference of 12.4% ± 10.1%.

Conclusions

Emergency department ED physicians can accurately measure CI using standard bedside ultrasound. A focused ultrasound cardiac examination to derive CI has potential use in the management of critical ill patients in the ED.     

Do ED staffs have a role to play in the prevention of repeat falls in elderly patients?

Background

Fall-related morbidity is a serious public health issue in older adults referred to emergency departments (EDs). Emergency physicians mostly focus on immediate injuries, whereas the specific assessment of functional consequences and opportunities for prevention remain scarce. The aim of this study was to determine the factors influencing 6-month independence.

Methods

We used a prospective observational study at the ED of a tertiary teaching hospital over a 6-month period. Uni- and multivariate assessments of factors related to loss of independence were examined.

Results

A total of 367 patients survived to 6 months, mean age was 86 years, and 79% were women. The population was initially healthy and independent. Because this independence reassured the medical staff, more than 42% percent were directly discharged home without any improvement of home facilities; only 63% had recovered their independence at the end of the follow-up. There were 111 patients were hospitalized for 30 days or more. Older patients, initial Katz score, and absence of immediate trauma consequences were associated with an increased risk for loss of independence.

Conclusions

Because prevention is an emerging role of ED, a multidisciplinary team should evaluate fallers and propose medical and environmental changes as required for those discharged after their ED visit.     

ED administration of thienopyridines in non–ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction: results from the NCDR

Objective

American Heart Association/American College of Cardiology guidelines recommend that patients with definite unstable angina or non–ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) receive dual antiplatelet therapy on presentation to the hospital when undergoing early invasive management or “as soon as possible” after admission when being managed conservatively. The guidelines do not specify whether these medications should be administered in the emergency department (ED). Our aim was to determine whether ED administration of a thienopyridine was associated with clinical outcomes among patients with NSTEMI.

Methods

We examined thienopyridine use in 39 454 patients with NSTEMI who received a thienopyridine within 24 hours of presentation in the National Cardiovascular Data Registry's Acute Coronary Treatment and Intervention Outcomes Network–Get With The Guidelines Registry from January 2007 to June 2010. Patients who were not seen initially in the ED, were transferred in, or were missing time data were excluded. We analyzed the association between ED administration of thienopyridines and outcomes and patient demographics.

Results

Of the cohort receiving a thienopyridine within 24 hours, 9534 (24.2%) received it in the ED. Emergency department administration of a thienopyridine was not associated with in-hospital major bleeding (multivariable adjusted odds ratio, 0.99; 95% confidence interval, 0.91-1.09) or in-hospital mortality (adjusted 1.02; 95% confidence interval, 0.86-1.20). Independent predictors most strongly associated with ED thienopyridine administration were elevated troponin, ED length of stay, prior percutaneous coronary intervention, and initial electrocardiogram showing ischemic changes.

Conclusions

There was no association between ED thienopyridine administration and in-hospital major bleeding or mortality. Emergency department length of stay, electrocardiographic changes, and elevated troponin were associated with ED thienopyridine administration.     

Literature-based Recommendations for Suicide Assessment in the Emergency Department: A Review

Background

Suicidal ideation and attempted suicide are important presenting complaints in the Emergency Department (ED). The Joint Commission established a National Patient Safety Goal that requires screening for suicidal ideation to identify patients at risk for suicide.

Objectives

Given the emphasis on screening for suicidal ideation in the general hospital and ED, it is important for Emergency Physicians to be able to understand and perform suicide risk assessment.

Methods

A review of literature was conducted using PubMed to determine important elements of suicide assessment in adults, ages 18 years and over, in the ED. Four typical ED cases are presented and the assessment of suicide risk in each case is discussed.

Results

The goal of an ED evaluation is to appropriately determine which patients are at lowest suicide risk, and which patients are at higher or indeterminate risk such that psychiatry consultation is warranted while the patient is in the ED. Emergency clinicians should estimate this risk by taking into account baseline risk factors, such as previous suicide attempts, as well as acute risk factors, such as the presence of a suicide plan.

Conclusion

Although a brief screening of suicide risk in the ED does not have the sensitivity to accurately determine which patients are at highest risk of suicide after leaving the ED, patients at lowest risk may be identified. In these low-risk patients, psychiatric holds and real-time psychiatric consultation while in the ED may not be needed, facilitating more expeditious dispositions from the ED.     

Practice variation in the management for nontraumatic pediatric patients in the ED

Study objective

To improve the management quality and monitoring for common pediatric illnesses in the general emergency department (ED), we examined the effect of physician specialty training on medical resource use and patient outcomes.

Methods

This was a retrospective cohort review of visits by children less than 18 years to the ED of 2 university-affiliated teaching hospitals. Clinical management by 2 groups (emergency physicians [EPs] and pediatricians each working 168 h/wk) was compared with respect to demographics, ED resource use, short-term outcome, disposition, direct ED costs for each visit, and frequency of radiographic and laboratory test use. The effects of medical decision making on resource use was assessed by comparing costs of radiographic studies, laboratory studies, and medication.

Results

Between-group differences in mean patient age, sex, and triage category were insignificant. Compared to pediatricians, EPs used radiographic and laboratory studies more frequently (respectively, 10.1% and 3.8% higher frequency and 90.5% and 7.6% higher cost) and less medication (12.5% lower cost). Patients managed by EPs had longer ED length of stay (LOS), higher admission rates to general wards, and shorter LOS per hospitalization but similar 72-hour revisit rates, needed more frequent referral for medical reasons, and left more frequently against medical advice.

Conclusion

Emergency physicians spent more time and medical resources and admitted patients at a higher rate. Emergency physicians and pediatricians managed critical patients similarly.