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Introduction: The purpose of this study was to validate and assess the performance of the Emergency Heart Failure Mortality Risk Grade (EHMRG) to predict seven-day mortality in US patients presenting to the emergency department (ED) with acute congestive heart failure (CHF) exacerbation.Methods: We performed a retrospective chart review on patients presenting to the ED with acute CHF exacerbation between January 2014–January 2016 across eight EDs in New York. We identified patients using codes from the International Classification of Diseases, 9th and 10 Revisions, or who were diagnosed with CHF in the ED. Inclusion criteria were patients ≥ 18 years of age who presented to the ED for acute CHF. Exclusion criteria included the following: end-stage renal disease related heart failure; < 18 years of age; pregnancy; palliative care; renal failure; and “do not resuscitate” directive. The primary outcome was seven-day mortality. We used mixed-effects logistic regression models to estimate C-statistics and continuous net reclassification index for events and nonevents.Results: We identified 3,320 ED visits associated with suspected CHF among 2,495 unique patients. Of the 3,320 ED visits, 94.7% patients were admitted to the hospital and 3.4% were discharged. The median age was 78.6 (interquartile range 68.01 - 86.76). There was an overall seven-day mortality of 2%, an inpatient mortality rate of 2.4%, and no mortality among the discharge group. Adding EHMRG to the risk prediction model improved the C-statistic (from 0.748 to 0.772) and led to a higher degree of reclassification for both events and nonevents.Conclusion: The EHMRG can be used as a valuable and effective screening tool in the US while considering disposition decision for patients with acute CHF exacerbation. Emergency medical services transport and metolazone use is much higher in the US population as compared to the Canadian population. We observed minimal to no short-term mortality among discharged CHF patients from the ED.

IntroductionPatients with end-stage kidney disease have a high risk of 30-day readmission to hospital. These readmissions are financially costly to health care systems and are associated with poor health-related quality of life. The objective of this study was to describe and analyze the frequency, causes, and predictors of 30-day potentially avoidable readmission to hospital in patients on hemodialysis.MethodsWe conducted a retrospective cohort study using the US Renal Data System data from January 1, 2008, to December 31, 2008. A total of 107,940 prevalent United States hemodialysis patients with 248,680 index hospital discharges were assessed for the main outcome of 30-day potentially avoidable readmission, as identified by a computerized algorithm.ResultsOf 83,209 30-day readmissions, 59,045 (70.1%) resulted in a 30-day potentially avoidable readmission. The geographic distribution of 30-day potentially avoidable readmission in the United States varied by state. Characteristics associated with 30-day potentially avoidable readmission included the following: younger age, shorter time on hemodialysis, at least 3 or more hospitalizations in preceding 12 months, black race, unemployed status, treatment at a for-profit facility, longer length of index hospital stay, and index hospitalizations that involved a surgical procedure. The 5-, 15-, and 30-day potentially avoidable readmission cumulative incidences were 6.0%, 15.1%, and 25.8%, respectively.ConclusionPatients with end-stage kidney disease on maintenance hemodialysis are at high risk for 30-day readmission to hospital, with nearly three-quarters (70.1%) of all 30-day readmissions being potentially avoidable. Research is warranted to develop cost-effective and transferrable interventions that improve care transitions from hospital to outpatient hemodialysis facility and reduce readmission risk for this vulnerable population.

The purpose of the study was to measure the effectiveness of communication skills intervention results for healthcare professionals. A multi-site pretest-posttest survey assessing the efficacy of a Goals of Care conversation education program. The program aimed to educate healthcare professionals concerning having Goals of Care conversations with patients and families. This research was implemented in a large healthcare organization in the Northeastern United States. This study found significant differences between pretests and posttests across professions, palliative care specialty, degree types, and years of experience in the participant's self-reported ability and comfort levels in having conversations about Goals of Care with patients and families. Providing education on Goals of Care was effective in improving the knowledge and comfort of health care professionals with conducting advanced illness conversations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]