IntroductionAsynchronous online training has become an increasingly popular educational format in the new era of technology-based professional development. We sought to evaluate the impact of an online asynchronous training module on the ability of medical students and emergency medicine (EM) residents to detect electrocardiogram (ECG) abnormalities of an acute myocardial infarction (AMI).MethodsWe developed an online ECG training and testing module on AMI, with emphasis on recognizing ST elevation myocardial infarction (MI) and early activation of cardiac catheterization resources. Study participants included senior medical students and EM residents at all post-graduate levels rotating in our emergency department (ED). Participants were given a baseline set of ECGs for interpretation. This was followed by a brief interactive online training module on normal ECGs as well as abnormal ECGs representing an acute MI. Participants then underwent a post-test with a set of ECGs in which they had to interpret and decide appropriate intervention including catheterization lab activation.Results148 students and 35 EM residents participated in this training in the 2012–2013 academic year. Students and EM residents showed significant improvements in recognizing ECG abnormalities after taking the asynchronous online training module. The mean score on the testing module for students improved from 5.9 (95% CI [5.7–6.1]) to 7.3 (95% CI [7.1–7.5]), with a mean difference of 1.4 (95% CI [1.12–1.68]) (p<0.0001). The mean score for residents improved significantly from 6.5 (95% CI [6.2–6.9]) to 7.8 (95% CI [7.4–8.2]) (p<0.0001).ConclusionAn online interactive module of training improved the ability of medical students and EM residents to correctly recognize the ECG evidence of an acute MI.

BackgroundTimely diagnosis of ST‐segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) in the emergency department (ED) is made solely by ECG. Obtaining this test within 10 minutes of ED arrival is critical to achieving the best outcomes. We investigated variability in the timely identification of STEMI across institutions and whether performance variation was associated with the ED characteristics, the comprehensiveness of screening criteria, and the STEMI screening processes.Methods and ResultsWe examined STEMI screening performance in 7 EDs, with the missed case rate (MCR) as our primary end point. The MCR is the proportion of primarily screened ED patients diagnosed with STEMI who did not receive an ECG within 15 minutes of ED arrival. STEMI was defined by hospital discharge diagnosis. Relationships between the MCR and ED characteristics, screening criteria, and STEMI screening processes were assessed, along with differences in door‐to‐ECG times for captured versus missed patients. The overall MCR for all 7 EDs was 12.8%. The lowest and highest MCRs were 3.4% and 32.6%, respectively. The mean difference in door‐to‐ECG times for captured and missed patients was 31 minutes, with a range of 14 to 80 minutes of additional myocardial ischemia time for missed cases. The prevalence of primarily screened ED STEMIs was 0.09%. EDs with the greatest informedness (sensitivity+specificity−1) demonstrated superior performance across all other screening measures.ConclusionsThe 29.2% difference in MCRs between the highest and lowest performing EDs demonstrates room for improving timely STEMI identification among primarily screened ED patients. The MCR and informedness can be used to compare screening across EDs and to understand variable performance.

In this pilot trial of monthly provider funnel plot Press Ganey feedback reports, there was no difference in patient satisfaction scores between the intervention and control groups after 12 months. While this study was not powered to detect outcome differences, we demonstrate the feasibility, logistics, and effect sizes that could be used to inform future definitive trials.

IntroductionAdvances in ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) management have involved improving the clinical processes connecting patients with timely emergency cardiovascular care. Screening upon emergency department (ED) arrival for an early ECG to diagnose STEMI, however, is not optimal for all patients. In addition, the degree to which timely screening and diagnosis are associated with improved time to intervention and postpercutaneous coronary intervention outcomes, under more contemporary practice conditions, is not known.MethodsWe present the methods for a retrospective multicentre cohort study anticipated to include 1220 patients across seven EDs to (1) evaluate the relationship between timely screening and diagnosis with treatment and postintervention clinical outcomes; (2) introduce novel measures for cross-facility performance comparisons of screening and diagnostic care team performance including: door-to-screening, door-to-diagnosis and door-to-catheterisation laboratory arrival times and (3) describe the use of electronic health record data in tandem with an existing disease registry.Ethics and disseminationThe completion of this study will provide critical feedback on the quality of screening and diagnostic performance within the contemporary STEMI care pathway that can be used to (1) improve emergency care delivery for patients with STEMI presenting to the ED, (2) present novel metrics for the comparison of screening and diagnostic care and (3) inform the development of screening and diagnostic support tools that could be translated to other care environments. We will disseminate our results via publication and quality performance data sharing with each site. Institutional ethics review approval was received prior to study initiation.

Introduction: Febrile neutropenia is a potentially life-threatening complication of chemotherapy in pediatric oncology patients. Prompt initiation of antibiotic therapy may minimize morbidity and mortality associated with this condition, and time to antibiotic (TTA) administration <60 minutes is used as a quality benchmark by many institutions. We implemented a quality improvement initiative to achieve TTA < 60 minutes in >80% of eligible patients in the pediatric emergency department. Methods: After collecting baseline data, we employed consecutive PDSA cycles to (i) reduce time to antibiotic order after patient arrival; (ii) expedite the preparation of antibiotic by pharmacy; and (iii) enable antibiotic ordering before patient arrival. Statistical process control methodologies were used for key outcome measures to compare pre-intervention, post-intervention, and maintenance periods. Results: Comparing pre-intervention and post-intervention years, mean TTA decreased from 64 to 53 minutes and the percentage of patients receiving antibiotics in <60 minutes increased from 59% to 84%. Improvements were sustained in the maintenance period of the project, with mean TTA administration of 44 minutes and 85% of patients receiving antibiotics within our stated goal. Conclusion: Through a series of PDSA cycles, we decreased TTA and increased the percentage of febrile neutropenia patients receiving antibiotics in <60 minutes.

Significant delays occur in providing adequate pain relief for patients who present to the emergency department (ED) with extremity fractures. The median time to pain medication administration for patients presenting to our ED with extremity fractures was 72.5 minutes. We used a multidisciplinary approach to implement three improvement cycles with the goal of reducing the median time to pain medication by 15% over an eight month time period. First, we redesigned nursing triage and treatment processes. Second, we improved nursing documentation standardization to ensure accurate tracking of patients who declined pain medication. Third, through consensus building within our physician group, we implemented a department-wide standard of care to provide early pain relief for extremity fractures. Median time to pain medication for patients with an extremity fracture reduced significantly between the pre-and post-intervention periods (p=0.009). The average monthly median time to medication was 72.5 minutes (95% CI: 57.1 to 88.0) before the intervention (Jan 2013-Oct 2014) and 49.8 minutes (95% CI: 42.7 to 56.9) after the intervention (November 2014 to June 2016). In other words, monthly median time was 31% faster (22.7 minute difference) in the post intervention period. Implementing three key interventions reduced the time to pain medication for patients with extremity injuries. Since June 2016 the reductions in median time to medication have continued to improve.

Study Design: Cross-sectional cohort study. Objectives: Cauda equina syndrome (CES) is a neurologic emergency, and delay in diagnosis can result in irreversible impairment. Our purpose was to determine the value of physical examination in diagnosis of CES in patients complaining of bladder and/or bowel complications in the emergency department. Methods: Adult patients at one tertiary academic medical center that endorsed bowel/bladder dysfunction, underwent a lumbar magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and received an orthopedic spine surgery consultation from 2008 to 2017 were included. Patients consulted for trauma or tumor were excluded. A chart and imaging review was performed to collect demographic, physical examination, and treatment data. Sensitivity, specificity, and negative and positive predictive values were calculated, and fast-and-frugal decision trees (FFTs) were generated using R. Results: Of 142 eligible patients, 10 were diagnosed with CES. The sensitivity and specificity of the exam findings were highest for bulbocavernosus reflex (BCR) (100% and 100%), followed by rectal tone (80% and 86%), postvoid residual bladder (80% and 59%), and perianal sensation (60% and 68%). The positive predictive value was high for BCR (100%), but low for other findings (13% to 31%). However, negative predictive values were consistently high for all examinations (96% to 100%). Two FFTs utilizing combinations of voluntary rectal tone, perianal sensation, and BCR resulted in no false negatives. Conclusions: A combination of physical examination findings of lower sacral function is an effective means of ruling out CES and, with further study, may eliminate the need for MRI in many patients reporting back pain and bowel or bladder dysfunction.

Implementing a telephone follow-up system after a patient's emergency department (ED) visit is challenging, but it may improve patient safety and care. This study's objective was to describe the development and implementation of a comprehensive ED telephone follow-up system over a 9-year period. Discharged patients who received a follow-up telephone call within 48 hours of their ED visit included all pediatric patients, those who left without being seen by a provider, and any adult patient with a "high-risk chief complaint," which was defined as a headache, visual problem, chest pain, dyspnea, abdominal pain, syncope, trauma, and neurological-related problems. There were 127 524 cases that met criteria to receive a follow-up call, with 138 331 attempted calls being made and 46 114 (36.2%) cases successfully followed up. Forty-two percent of pediatric cases and 16% of patients who left without being seen were successfully contacted with a follow-up call; 1.6% of cases were referred to the CQI Committee. In the 9 years prior and after implementation of this follow-up system, there were 3.5 (95% confidence interval [CI] = 2.1-5.9) and 2.5 (95% CI = 1.3-4.5) medical malpractice lawsuits per 100 000 ED patient visits, respectively; this represented a 28.6% reduction. A comprehensive telephone follow-up program can be developed and implemented utilizing available resources.