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Introduction: Falls are the leading cause of traumatic injury among elderly adults in the United States, which represents a significant source of morbidity and leads to exorbitant healthcare costs. The purpose of this study was to characterize elderly fall patients and identify risk factors associated with seven-day emergency department (ED) revisits. Methods: This was a multicenter, retrospective, longitudinal cohort study using non-public data from 321 licensed, nonfederal, general, and acute care hospitals in California obtained from the Department of Healthcare Access and Information from January 1–December 31, 2017. Included were patients 65 and older who had a fall-related ED visit identified by International Classification of Diseases codes W00x to W19x. Primary outcome was a return visit to the ED within a seven-day window following the index encounter. Demographics collected included age, gender, ethnicity/race, patient payer status, Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI), psychiatric diagnoses, and alcohol/substance use disorder diagnoses. We performed multivariate logistic regression to identify characteristics associated with seven-day ED revisit. Results: We identified a total of 2,758,295 ED visits during the study period with 347,233 (12.6%) visits corresponding to fall-related injuries. After applying exclusion criteria, 242,572 index ED visits were identified, representing 206,612 patients. Of these, 24,114 (11.7%) patients returned to an ED within seven days (revisit). Within this revisit population, 6,161 (22.6%) presented to a facility that was distinct from their index visit, and 4,970 (18.2%) were ultimately discharged with the same primary diagnosis as their index visit. Characteristics with the largest independent associations with a seven-day ED revisit were presence of a psychiatric diagnosis (odds ratio [OR] 1.75; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.69 to 1.80), presence of an alcohol or substance use disorder (OR 1.70; 95% CI 1.64 to 1.78), and CCI ≥ 3 (OR 2.79; 95% CI 2.68 to 2.90). Conclusion: In this study we identified 24,114 elderly fall patients who experienced a seven-day ED revisit. Patients with multiple comorbidities, a substance use disorder, or a psychiatric diagnosis exhibited increased odds of experiencing a return visit to the ED within seven days of a fall-related index visit. These findings will help target at-risk elderly fall patients who may benefit from preventative multidisciplinary intervention during index ED visits to reduce ED revisits.

Introduction: The first proposed emergency care alternative payment model seeks to reduce avoidable admissions from the emergency department (ED), but this initiative may increase risk of adverse events after discharge. Our study objective was to describe variation in ED discharge rates and determine whether higher discharge rates were associated with more ED revisits. Methods: Using all-payer inpatient and ED administrative data from the California Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development (OSHPD) 2017 database, we performed a retrospective cohort study of hospital-level ED discharge rates and ED revisits using conditions that have been previously described as having variability in discharge rates: abdominal pain; altered mental status; chest pain; chronic obstructive pulmonary disease exacerbation; skin and soft tissue infection; syncope; and urinary tract infection. We categorized hospitals into quartiles for each condition based on a covariate-adjusted discharge rate and compared the rate of ED revisits between hospitals in the highest and lowest quartiles. Results: We found a greater than 10% difference in the between-quartile median adjusted discharge rate for each condition except for abdominal pain. There was no significant association between adjusted discharge rates and ED revisits. Altered mental status had the highest revisit rate, at 34% for hospitals in the quartile with the lowest and 30% in hospitals with the highest adjusted discharge rate, although this was not statistically significant. Syncope had the lowest rate of revisits at 16% for hospitals in both the lowest and highest adjusted discharge rate quartiles. Conclusion: Our findings suggest that there may be opportunity to increase ED discharges for certain conditions without resulting in higher rates of ED revisits, which may be a surrogate for adverse events after discharge.

Introduction: Ischemic stroke (IS) patients are frequently transferred between hospitals. Our objective was to determine whether patient insurance status contributes to variation in access to stroke center care among transferred patients with IS. Methods: We compiled California data on every nonfederal hospital admission from 2010-17 and used ICD-9, ICD-10, and DRG codes to identify IS patients transferred from an initial emergency department to another hospital. Transfers were categorized based on whether or not the patient was ultimately discharged from a stroke center hospital (primary or comprehensive). Patient insurance status was categorized as private, Medicare, Medicaid or self/uninsured. Clusters of closely connected hospitals via transfer frequency were identified using network science community detection methods. Within each cluster, we examined the degree of disparity in stroke center access by quantifying the difference between the insurance groups with the highest and lowest proportion of transfers discharged from a stroke center. Results: We identified 10,049 IS transfers during the study period (private 5,297 [53%]; Medicare 3,328 [33%]; Medicaid 904 [9%]; self/uninsured 520 [5%]). Stroke center access varied by patient insurance (overall 87%, private 89%, Medicare 87%, Medicaid 82%, self 72%). There were 14 clusters of closely connected hospitals via transfers. In the highest performing cluster, 100% of transferred patients in each insurance category were discharged from a stroke center (delta 0). The lowest performing cluster was also the largest (n=2,364 transfers); in this cluster 69% of transfers were discharged from a stroke center, ranging from 32% of self-pay transfers to 81% of privately insured transfers (highest delta among all clusters: 49%). Conclusions: These findings demonstrate that current care patterns differ by insurance status. Further research is needed to determine interventions to address this disparity.

To examine the association of higher emergency department (ED) census with inpatient outcomes on the day of discharge (inpatient length of stay, in-hospital mortality, ED revisits, and readmissions).All-payer ED and inpatient discharge data and hospital characteristics data from all non-federal, general, and acute care hospitals in the state of California from October 1, 2015 to December 31, 2017.In retrospective data analysis, we examined whether ED census was associated with inpatient outcomes for all inpatients, including those not admitted through the ED. The main predictor variable was ED census on day of discharge, categorized based on hospital year and day of week. Separate linear regression models with robust SEs and hospital fixed effects examined the association of ED census on inpatient outcomes (length of stay, 3-day ED revisit, 30-day all-cause readmission, in-hospital mortality), controlling for patient and visit-level factors. We stratified analyses by whether admission was elective or unscheduled.Inpatient discharges in non-federal, general medical hospitals with EDs.We examined 5,784,253 discharges. The adjusted model showed that, compared to when the ED was below the median, higher ED census on the day of discharge was associated with longer inpatient length of stay, lower readmissions, and higher in-hospital mortality (90th percentile for length of stay: +0.8% [95% confidence interval, CI: +0.6% to +1.1%]; readmissions: -0.59 percentage points [or -5.6%] [95% CI: -0.0071 to -0.0048]; mortality: +0.14 percentage points [or +5.4%] [95% CI: +0.0009 to +0.0018]). [Correction added on 18 November 2022, after first online publication: '[odds rato, OR -5.6%]' and '[OR +5.4%]' of the preceding sentence have been corrected to '[or -5.6%]' and '[or +5.4%]', respectively, in this version.] Results for length of stay were primarily driven by patients with elective admissions, while results for readmissions and in-hospital mortality were primarily driven by patients with unscheduled admissions.This study suggests that ED crowding may affect inpatients throughout the hospital, even patients who are already admitted to the hospital.

Background Optimized stroke systems of care enable access to timely care, including endovascular thrombectomy (EVT). Stroke systems have likely evolved after publication of EVT benefit (2015). Our objective was to map the stroke patient transfer network in California in terms of EVT access and patient transfer patterns, and to examine changes after 2015. Methods In this observational study, we identified all ischemic stroke encounters, transfers, alteplase use, and EVT procedures in California from 2010 to 2017. An established connection between any hospital pair was defined as the transfer of ≥2 patients between them. A 2‐level logistic regression model assessed whether encounters were more frequently transferred to EVT‐capable hospitals post‐2015, adjusting for patient‐ and hospital‐level factors. Linear regression examined trends in key network characteristics over time, and interrupted time series regressions examined for changes post‐2015. Results Among 336 247 encounters, 3.4% were transferred, 9.3% received alteplase, and 2.3% underwent EVT. From 2010 to 2017 the proportion that were EVT treated increased (1.0%–4.3%; P ‐for‐trendP =0.01). Odds of transfer to EVT‐capable hospital were greater post‐2015 (adjusted odds ratio, 6.54; [95% CI 5.52–7.74]), but were lower for patients who were older, Black, Hispanic, and presented to a rural hospital. Significant network changes from 2010 to 2017 included increased number of encounters transferred, increased number of transferring hospitals, decreasing number of receiving hospitals, and increased proportion of receiving hospitals performing EVT. However, none of these network changes demonstrated a significant inflection point after 2015. Conclusion The California stroke network has been dynamic over time. Although most changes have been incremental, after the release of EVT trial data in 2015 changes in transfer patterns did lead to increased access to EVT.

Introduction: There is increasing appreciation of the challenges of providing safe and appropriate care to cancer patients in the emergency department (ED). Our goal here was to assess which patient characteristics are associated with more frequent ED revisits. Methods: This was a retrospective cohort study of all ED visits in California during the 2016 calendar year using data from the California Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development. We defined revisits as a return visit to an ED within seven days of the index visit. For both index and return visits, we assessed various patient characteristics, including age, cancer type, medical comorbidities, and ED disposition. Results: Among 12.9 million ED visits, we identified 73,465 adult cancer patients comprising 103,523 visits that met our inclusion criteria. Cancer patients had a 7-day revisit rate of 17.9% vs 13.2% for non-cancer patients. Cancer patients had a higher rate of admission upon 7-day revisit (36.7% vs 15.6%). Patients with cancers of the small intestine, stomach, and pancreas had the highest rate of 7-day revisits (22-24%). Cancer patients younger than 65 had a higher 7-day revisit rate than the elderly (20.0% vs 16.2%). Conclusion: In a review of all cancer-related ED visits in the state of California, we found a variety of characteristics associated with a higher rate of 7-day ED revisits. Our goal in this study was to inform future research to identify interventions on the index visit that may improve patient outcomes.

Purpose: This qualitative study explores the barriers and facilitators to health care from the perspective of providers who care for patients without documentation status in the San Francisco Bay Area. Methods: Twenty-four direct providers were interviewed using semi-structured in-depth interviews. Participants included health care providers and community-based organization leaders. Interviews were independently coded using grounded theory analysis. The socioecological framework was used to develop the interview guide, analyze findings, and guide the discussion. Results: Participants identified fear as a barrier that transcended multiple levels of influence. At the public policy level, national policies, such as public charge and anti-immigration rhetoric, limited access to services. Local expansion of health care coverage, such as Healthy San Francisco, facilitated access to care. At the organizational level, law enforcement presence generated fear. This was countered by a welcoming environment, described as culturally concordant clinical sites, representation of the community in the provider pool, and resources to address social needs. Individual-level fear, rooted in trauma and economic insecurity, was eased by trauma-informed care and health navigators. Community engagement and sustained partnerships built trust and credibility to transcend the fear that hindered access to care. Conclusion: In a region with expansive policies for improved health care access, barriers are rooted in fear and span individual, organizational, and public policy levels of access to care. Richer community engagement may lessen the national and systemic barriers that this vulnerable population continues to face. Developing an understanding of this topic improves health care providers' ability to meet the needs of this growing and vulnerable population.

The continued harm of Black individuals in the US by law enforcement officers calls for reform of both law enforcement officers and structural racism embedded in communities.To examine the association between county characteristics and racial and ethnic disparities in legal intervention injuries.This retrospective, cross-sectional study was conducted among 27 671 patients presenting to California hospitals from January 1, 2016, to December 31, 2019, with legal intervention injuries (defined as any injury sustained as a result of an encounter with any law enforcement officer) as identified by International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems, Tenth Revision codes.Legal intervention injuries were classified by International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems, Tenth Revision external cause of injury code Y35. Expected injury counts were calculated for each county by multiplying statewide median rates of injury per capita for each age-racial and ethnic group, and then observed to expected injury ratios were measured. The association between county injury ratio, percentage of Black individuals, and residential segregation (measured using an index of dissimilarity) was modeled, stratifying by race and ethnicity.A total of 27 671 patients (24 159 male patients [87.3%]; 1734 Asian and Pacific Islander [6.3%], 5049 Black [18.2%], 11 250 Hispanic [40.7%], and 9638 White [34.8%]; mean [SD] age, 34.2 [12.5] years) presented with legal intervention injuries in California from 2016 to 2019. Observed to expected injury ratios ranged from 0 to 7 for Black residents and from 0 to 5 for White residents. High observed to expected injury ratios for Black residents (408 observed vs 60 expected; ratio = 7) were clustered around San Francisco Bay Area counties and corresponded with a higher proportion of Black residents. High observed to expected injury ratios for White residents (57 observed vs 11 expected; ratio = 5) clustered around rural northern California counties and corresponded with higher mean percentage of residents with income below the federal poverty level and fewer urban areas.This study suggests that residential segregation may be associated with increased legal intervention injury rates for Black residents of California counties with a large percentage of Black residents. Reform efforts to address racial and ethnic disparities in these injuries should carefully consider and address the legacy of discriminatory policies that has led to segregated communities in California and the United States.

Objective We determine how aggregate costs have changed for commonly used emergency department (ED) medications, and assess drivers of cost increases. Methods Using the National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey (NHAMCS), we identified the top 150 ED medications administered and prescribed at discharge in 2015. We used average wholesale prices (AWP) for each year from 2006 to 15 from the Red Book (Truven Health Analytics Inc.). Average wholesale price per patient (AWPP) was calculated by dividing AWP by drug uses. This was then multiplied by the total drug administrations or prescriptions to estimate the total cost in a given the year. All prices were converted to 2015 dollars. Results Aggregate costs of drugs administered in the ED increased from $688.7 million in 2006 to $882.4 million in 2015. For discharge prescriptions, aggregate costs increased from $2.031 billion in 2006 to $4.572 billion in 2015. AWPP for drugs administered in the ED in 2015 was 14.5% higher than in 2006 and 24.3% higher at discharge. The largest absolute increase in AWPP for drugs administered was for glucagon, which increased from $111 in 2006 to $235 in 2015. The largest AWPP increase at discharge was for epinephrine auto-injector, which increased from $124 in 2006 and to $481 in 2015. Conclusion Over the course of the study period, the aggregate costs of the most common medications administered in the ED increased by 28% while the costs of medications prescribed at discharge increased 125%.

Purpose Sepsis remains amongst the most common causes of death worldwide. It has been described as a disease of the elderly, but contemporary data on risk factors and mortality is lacking. Materials and methods Multi-center longitudinal cohort study using non-public, state of California data from January 1, 2008 to September 31, 2015. Patients with sepsis, severe sepsis, and septic shock were identified using ICD-9-CM diagnosis and procedure codes with age subgroups of 18–44, 45–64, 65–74, 75–84, and >85 years old. Descriptive statistics and a single direct logistic regression model were used to present data on incidence and mortality and to identify independent factors associated with mortality. Results Of 30,282,159 total inpatient encounters, 20,358,569 met inclusion criteria and 1,566,306 met sepsis criteria. Conditions associated with mortality included metastatic cancer, age, liver disease, residing in a care facility, and a gastrointestinal source of infection as well as fungal infection. Mortality in the >85-year-old subgroup with septic shock was 45.7%, lower than previously reported. Conclusion Age remains an important sepsis risk factor, but other conditions correlated more closely with sepsis-associated death. Patients over 85 years of age suffering from septic shock may have a better chance of survival than previously thought.

This cohort study investigates trends in the association between emergency department use and insurance coverage in California between 2011 and 2019.

There are significant racial and ethnic disparities in receipt of reperfusion interventions for acute ischemic stroke. Our objective was to determine whether there are disparities in access to stroke center care by race or ethnicity that help explain differences in reperfusion therapy and to understand whether interhospital patient transfer plays a role in improving access.Using statewide administrating data including all emergency department and hospital discharges in California from 2010 to 2017, we identified all acute ischemic stroke patients. Primary outcomes of interest included presentation to primary or comprehensive stroke center (PSC or CSC), interhospital transfer, discharge from PSC or CSC, and discharge from CSC alone. We used hierarchical logistic regression modeling to identify the relationship between patient- and hospital-level characteristics and outcomes of interest.Of 336,247 ischemic stroke patients, 55.4% were non-Hispanic White, 19.6% Hispanic, 10.6% non-Hispanic Asian/Pacific Islander, and 10.3% non-Hispanic Black. There was no difference in initial presentation to stroke center hospitals between groups. However, adjusted odds of reperfusion intervention, interhospital transfer and discharge from CSC did vary by race and ethnicity. Adjusted odds of interhospital transfer were lower among Hispanic (odds ratio [OR] 0.94, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.89 to 0.98) and non-Hispanic Asian/Pacific Islander patients (OR 0.84, 95% CI 0.79 to 0.90) and odds of discharge from a CSC were lower for Hispanic (OR 0.91, 95% CI 0.85 to 0.97) and non-Hispanic Black patients (OR 0.74, 95% CI 0.67 to 0.81).There are racial and ethnic disparities in reperfusion intervention receipt among stroke patients in California. Stroke system of care design, hospital resources, and transfer patterns may contribute to this disparity.

Background The 2016 presidential election and the controversial policy agenda of its victor have raised concerns about how the election may have impacted mental health. Objective Assess how mental health changed from before to after the November 2016 election and how trends differed in states that voted for Donald Trump versus Hillary Clinton. Design Pre- versus post-election study using monthly cross-sectional survey data. Participants A total of 499,201 adults surveyed in the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System from May 2016 to May 2017. Exposure Residence in a state that voted for Trump versus state that voted for Clinton and the candidate’s margin of victory in the state. Main Measures Self-reported days of poor mental health in the last 30 days and depression rate. Key Results Compared to October 2016, the mean days of poor mental health in the last 30 days per adult rose from 3.35 to 3.85 in December 2016 in Clinton states (0.50 days difference, p = 0.005) but remained statistically unchanged in Trump states, moving from 3.94 to 3.78 days (− 0.17 difference, p = 0.308). The rises in poor mental health days in Clinton states were driven by older adults, women, and white individuals. The depression rate in Clinton states began rising in January 2017. A 10–percentage point higher margin of victory for Clinton in a state predicted 0.41 more days of poor mental health per adult in December 2016 on average (p = 0.001). Conclusions In states that voted for Clinton, there were 54.6 million more days of poor mental health among adults in December 2016, the month following the election, compared to October 2016. Clinicians should consider that elections could cause at least transitory increases in poor mental health and tailor patient care accordingly, especially with the 2020 election upon us. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s11606-020-06328-6.

BackgroundThe impact of a pandemic on unplanned hospital attendance has not been extensively examined. The aim of this study is to report the nationwide consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic on unplanned hospital attendances in Denmark for 7 weeks after a ‘shelter at home’ order was issued.MethodsWe merged data from national registries (Civil Registration System and Patient Registry) to conduct a study of unplanned (excluding outpatient visits and elective surgery) hospital-based healthcare and mortality of all Danes. Using data for 7 weeks after the ‘shelter at home’ order, the incidence rate of unplanned hospital attendances per week in 2020 was compared with corresponding weeks in 2017–2019. The main outcome was hospital attendances per week as incidence rate ratios. Secondary outcomes were general population mortality and risk of death in-hospital, reported as weekly mortality rate ratios (MRRs).ResultsFrom 2 438 286 attendances in the study period, overall unplanned attendances decreased by up to 21%; attendances excluding COVID-19 were reduced by 31%; non-psychiatric by 31% and psychiatric by 30%. Out of the five most common diagnoses expected to remain stable, only schizophrenia and myocardial infarction remained stable, while chronic obstructive pulmonary disease exacerbation, hip fracture and urinary tract infection fell significantly. The nationwide general population MRR rose in six of the recorded weeks, while MRR excluding patients who were COVID-19 positive only increased in two.ConclusionThe COVID-19 pandemic and a governmental national ‘shelter at home’ order was associated with a marked reduction in unplanned hospital attendances with an increase in MRR for the general population in two of 7 weeks, despite exclusion of patients with COVID-19. The findings should be taken into consideration when planning for public information campaigns.

17 USC 105 interim-entered record; under temporary embargo. The regionalization of care for ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) may unintentionally concentrate patients with non-ST elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) into percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) capable hospitals. This could lead to benefits such as increased access to PCI-capable hospitals, but could cause harms such as crowding in some hospitals with decreased patient volume and revenue in others. We set out to assess whether STEMI regionalization programs concentrated patients with NSTEMI at STEMI-receiving hospitals. U.S. Government affiliation is unstated in article text.

Background: There is significant hospital-level variation in quality of acute stroke care delivery. As a result, patients’ access to disability-reducing reperfusion interventions and stroke center care depends on the initial hospital of presentation and interhospital transfer. Our objective was to examine racial and ethnic disparities in access to reperfusion interventions, and whether interhospital patient transfer mitigates disparities in access to stroke center care. Methods: Using statewide administrating data including all emergency department and hospital discharges in California from 2010-2017, we identified acute ischemic stroke patients and outcomes of interest: thrombolytic therapy, endovascular thrombectomy (EVT) receipt, interhospital transfer, and discharge from primary or comprehensive stroke center hospital. We used hierarchical logistic regression modeling to identify the relationship between race/ethnicity and outcomes after accounting for important patient- and hospital-level factors. Results: Of 336,247 ischemic stroke patient encounters during the study period, 186,444 (55.4%) were non-Hispanic white, 66,016 (19.6%) Hispanic, 34,596 (10.3%) non-Hispanic Black and 35,784 (10.6%) non-Hispanic Asian/Pacific Islander. Relative to non-Hispanic white patients, adjusted odds of thrombolytic receipt were lower for Hispanic, non-Hispanic Asian/Pacific Islander, and non-Hispanic Black patients (Figure). Adjusted odds of EVT were lower for Hispanic and non-Hispanic Black patients. Adjusted odds of interhospital transfer were lower among Hispanic and non-Hispanic Asian patients. Adjusted odds of discharge from a stroke center hospital was similar across racial/ethnic groups. Conclusions: There are racial/ethnic disparities in receipt of reperfusion interventions among stroke patients in California. Configuration of the stroke system of care, hospital resources, and transfer patterns may contribute.

ObjectivesIn 2018, Spain adopted a national law that significantly expanded healthcare access to all residents, including undocumented migrants. This was a substantial shift from a more restrictive system of coverage in previous years. However, irregular migrants continue to experience challenges accessing healthcare in Spain. This study aimed to describe the legislative and administrative barriers to implementation of this law from the perspective of providers and administrators of the healthcare system.DesignWe interviewed 12 individuals using a semistructured format.SettingSpain.Participants12 participants were interviewed; 7 males, 5 females. Participants included Spanish healthcare workers, government officials, hospital administrators, individuals working with non-governmental organisations focused on the provision of healthcare, and experts studying healthcare for underserved populations.Primary and secondary outcome measuresInterviews delved into personal experiences and knowledge of the entitlements and barriers of providing or trying to access care for undocumented migrants.ResultsThe interviews yielded eight key themes: (1) context of universal healthcare in Spain pre-2012; (2) erosion of trust as rationale for more restrictive policies of 2012; (3) challenges of the 3-month residency requirement; (4) areas of ambiguity: exceptions in the 2012 Royal Decree Law not discussed in the 2018 Royal Decree Law; (5) jurisdictional authority and conflicts between national and AC government; (6) near impossibility of obtaining documentation for exportation of healthcare; (7) difficulties obtaining necessary paperwork to register residency; and (8) rise of NGOs to provide support to irregular migrants.ConclusionWhile there has been a general political movement to expand healthcare access for undocumented migrants in Spain, there remains a fundamental need to clarify the legal entitlements for undocumented migrants nationally and create administrative consistency across autonomous communities for providing health cards for undocumented migrants. Other countries may be able to draw lessons from the Spanish experience about the legislative frameworks surrounding access to healthcare for undocumented migrants.

The article of record as published may be found at http://dx.doi.org/10.1377/hlthaff.2019.00125 High-occupancy hospitals may be sensitive to neighboring emergency department (ED) closures and openings, as they already operate at or near capacity. We conducted a retrospective analysis using data for the period 2001-13 to examine outcomes of and treatment received by patients with acute myocardial infarction at so-called bystander EDs that had been exposed to nearby ED closures or openings. We used changes in driving time between an ED and the next-closest one as a proxy for a closure or opening: If driving time increased, for instance, it meant that a nearby ED had closed. When a high-occupancy ED was exposed to a closure that resulted in increased driving time of thirty minutes or more to the next-closest ED, one-year mortality and thirty-day readmission rates increased by 2.39 and 2.00 percentage points, respectively, while the likelihood of receiving percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) declined by 2.06 percentage points. Exposure to ED openings that resulted in decreased driving times of thirty minutes or more was associated with reductions in thirty-day mortality at bystander hospitals and an increased likelihood of receiving PCI. Our findings suggest that limited resources at high-occupancy bystander hospitals make them sensitive to changes in the availability of emergency care in neighboring communities. This work was supported by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute of the National Institutes of Health (Grant Nos. R01HL114822 and R01HL134182 to both Renee Hsia and Yu-Chu Shen). This work was supported by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute of the National Institutes of Health (Grant Nos. R01HL114822 and R01HL134182 to both Renee Hsia and Yu-Chu Shen).

Objective Emergency department (ED) utilization has increased for the last several decades. Despite a focus on adult frequent ED users, little research has examined pediatric frequent ED users. The purpose of this study was to assess pediatric ED utilization in California and to describe those identified as frequent ED users. Methods This was a retrospective multi-facility study of ED visits by children 1–17 years of age using statewide data from the California Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development. Patients were classified into utilization groups by the number of ED visits in a one-year period prior to their last visit in 2016: occasional (1–5 visits) vs. frequent (>5 visits). Differences in patient characteristics were compared between occasional and frequent users. Results There were 690,130 patients between 1 and 17 years of age with 1,238,262 visits during the study period. Children with ≥6 visits (2.3%) accounted for 9.3% of all visits. 67% of frequent users had no visits to a pediatric ED. Over 40% (41.4%) of frequent users visited 2 or more hospitals, compared to 7.7% of occasional users. In multivariate analysis, the characteristics with the largest associations with frequent ED use were age, payer, and being admitted/transferred. Conclusions The majority of pediatric frequent users do not seek care in pediatric EDs. Age, prior admission, and Medicare/Medicaid appear to have the largest associations with pediatric patient frequent ED utilization.

Study objective Frequent users of the emergency department (ED) are often associated with increased health care costs. Limited research is devoted to frequent ED use within the increasing senior population, which accounts for the highest use of health care resources. We evaluate patient characteristics and patterns of ED use among geriatric patients. Methods This was a multicenter, retrospective, longitudinal, cohort study of ED visits among geriatric patients older than 65 years in 2013 and 2014. Logistic regression analysis was used to identify independent associations with frequent users. The setting was a nonpublic statewide database in California, which includes 326 licensed nonfederal hospitals. We included all geriatric patients within the database who were older than 65 years and had an ED visit in 2014, for a total of 1,259,809 patients with 2,792,219 total ED visits. The main outcome was frequent users, defined as having greater than or equal to 6 ED visits in a 1-year period, starting from their last visit in 2014. Results Overall, 5.7% of geriatric patients (n=71,449) were identified as frequent users of the ED. They accounted for 21.2% (n=592,407) of all ED visits. The associations of frequent ED use with the largest magnitude were patients with an injury-related visit (odds ratio 3.8; 95% confidence interval 3.8 to 3.9), primary diagnosis of pain (odds ratio 5.5; 95% confidence interval 5.4 to 5.6), and comorbidity index score greater than or equal to 3 (odds ratio 7.2; 95% confidence interval 7.0 to 7.5). Conclusion Geriatric frequent users are likely to have comorbid conditions and be treated for conditions related to pain and injuries. These findings provide evidence to guide future interventions to address these needs that could potentially decrease frequent ED use among geriatric patients.

To test whether the differences across sex and race in the treatment of and outcomes for ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) and non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) have changed over a recent decade.We conducted a retrospective analysis of patients with a diagnosis of STEMI or NSTEMI in California from 2005 to 2015 using the Office of State Health Planning and Development dataset. Using multivariable linear regression with county-fixed effects, we measured the baseline and change over time in the proportions of patients with STEMI or NSTEMI who underwent appropriately-timed coronary angiography (day of admission and within 3 days of admission, respectively) and survived at 1 year according to sex and race (Asian, Black, Hispanic, and White) and adjusting for comorbidities, payor, and hospital characteristics.We analyzed 159,068 STEMI and 294,068 NSTEMI presentations. In 2005, 50.0% of 12,329 men and 35.7% of 6,939 women with STEMI and 45.0% of 14,379 men and 33.1% of 10,674 women with NSTEMI underwent timely angiography. In 2015, 76.7% of 6,257 men and 66.8% of 2,808 women with STEMI underwent timely angiography and 56.3% of 13,889 men and 45.9% of 9,334 women with NSTEMI underwent timely angiography. In 2005, 1-year survival was 82.3% for men and 69.6% for women after STEMI; in 2013, 1-year survival was 88.1% for men and 79.1% for women. In the multivariable model, the baseline difference was 1.1 percentage points (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.2 to 1.9), and survival increased for women compared with men by 0.3 percentage points per year (95% CI 0.2 to 0.5). In 2005, 46.0% (5,878) of 12,789 White patients and 31.2% (330) of 1,057 Black patients with STEMI underwent timely angiography; in 2015 75.2% of 3,928 White patients and 69.2% of 522 Black patients underwent timely angiography for STEMI. In the multivariable model, this difference was 6.4 percentage points at baseline (95% CI 4.5 to 8.3), and the probability of undergoing timely angiography for Black patients increased by 0.3 percentage points per year (95% CI -0.1 to 0.6).Despite overall improvements in the treatment of and outcomes for STEMI and NSTEMI, disparities persist in the treatment of and outcomes for both the conditions, particularly for women.

BackgroundDo-not-resuscitate (DNR) orders are commonly used after intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) and have been shown to be a predictor of mortality independent of disease severity. We determined the frequency of early DNR orders in ICH patients and whether a previously reported association with increased mortality still exists.MethodsWe performed a retrospective analysis of patients discharged from non-federal California hospitals with a primary diagnosis of ICH from January 2013 through December 2014. Characteristics included hospital ICH volume and type and whether DNR order was placed within 24h of admission (early DNR order). The risk of in-hospital mortality was evaluated both on the individual and hospital level using multivariable analyses. A case mix-adjusted hospital DNR index was calculated for each hospital by comparing the actual number of DNR cases with the expected number of DNR cases from a multivariate model.ResultsA total of 9,958 patients were treated in 180 hospitals. Early DNR orders were placed in 20.1% of patients and 54.2% of these patients died during their hospitalization compared to 16.0% of patients without an early DNR order. For every 10% increase in a hospital's utilization of early DNR orders, there was a corresponding 26% increase in the likelihood of in-hospital mortality. Patients treated in hospitals within the highest quartile of adjusted DNR use had a higher relative risk of death compared to the lowest quartile (RR 3.9 vs 5.2) though the trend across quartiles was not statistically significant.ConclusionsThe use of early DNR orders for ICH continues to be a strong predictor of in-hospital mortality. However, patients treated at hospitals with an overall high or low use of early DNR had similar relative risks of death whether or not there was an early DNR order, suggesting that such orders may not be a proxy for less aggressive care as seen previously.

Background: Regionalization of ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) systems of care has been championed over the past decade. Although timely access to percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) has been shown to improve outcomes, no studies have determined how regionalization has affected the care and outcomes of patients. We sought to determine if STEMI regionalization is associated with changes in access, treatment, and outcomes. Methods: Using a difference-in-differences approach, we analyzed a statewide, administrative database of 139 494 patients with STEMI in California from 2006 to 2015 using regionalization data based on a survey of all local Emergency Medical Services agencies in the state. Results: For patients with STEMI, the base rate of admission to a hospital with PCI capability was 72.7%, and regionalization was associated with an increase of 5.34 percentage points (95% CI, 1.58–9.10), representing a 7.1% increase. Regionalization was also associated with a statistically significant increase of 3.54 (95% CI, 0.61–6.48) percentage points in the probability of same-day PCI, representing an increase of 7.1% from the 49.7% base rate and a 4.6% relative increase (2.97 percentage points [95% CI, 0.1–5.85]) in the probability of receiving PCI at any time during the hospitalization. There was a 1.84 percentage point decrease (95% CI, −3.31 to −0.37) in the probability of receiving fibrinolytics. For 7-day mortality, regionalization was associated with a 0.53 (95% CI, −1 to −0.06) percentage point greater reduction (representing 5.8% off the base rate of 9.1%) and a 1.75 percentage point decrease in the likelihood of all-cause 30-day readmission (95% CI, −3.39 to −0.11; representing 6.4% off the base rate of 27.4%). No differences were found in longer-term mortality. Conclusions: Among patients with STEMI in California from 2006 to 2015, STEMI regionalization was associated with increased access to a PCI-capable hospital, greater use of PCI, lower 7-day mortality, and lower 30-day readmissions.

Background: Administrative data are frequently used in stroke research. Ensuring accurate identification of ischemic stroke patients, and those receiving thrombolysis and endovascular thrombectomy (EVT) is critical to ensure representativeness and generalizability. We examined differences in patient samples based on different modes of identification, and propose a strategy for future patient and procedure identification in large administrative databases. Methods: We used nonpublic administrative data from the state of California to identify all ischemic stroke patients discharged from an emergency department or inpatient hospitalization from 2010-2017 based on ICD-9 (2010-2015), ICD-10 (2015-2017), and MS-DRG discharge codes. We identified patients with interhospital transfers, patients receiving thrombolytics, and patients treated with EVT based on ICD, CPT and MS-DRG codes. We determined what proportion of these transfers and procedures would have been identified with ICD versus MS-DRG discharge codes. Results: Of 365,099 ischemic stroke encounters, most (87.7%) had both a stroke-related ICD-9 or ICD-10 code and stroke-related MS-DRG code; 12.3% had only an ICD-9 or ICD-10 code, and 0.02% had only a MS-DRG code. Nearly all transfers (99.9%) were identified using ICD codes. We identified32,433 thrombolytic-treated patients (8.9% of total) using ICD, CPT, and MS-DRG codes; the combination of ICD and CPT codes identified nearly all (98%). We identified 7,691 patients treated with EVT (2.1% of total) using ICD and MS-DRG codes; both MS-DRG and ICD-9/-10 codes were necessary because ICD codes alone missed 13.2% of EVTs. CPT codes only pertain to outpatient/ED patients and are not useful for EVT identification. Conclusions: ICD-9/-10 diagnosis codes capture nearly all ischemic stroke encounters and transfers, while the combination of ICD-9/-10 and CPT codes are adequate for identifying thrombolytic treatment in administrative datasets. However, MS-DRG codes are necessary in addition to ICD codes for identifying EVT, likely due to favorable reimbursement for EVT-related MS-DRG codes incentivizing accurate coding.

Background Many communities have implemented systems of regionalized care to improve access to timely care for patients with ST‐segment–elevation myocardial infarction. However, patients who are ultimately diagnosed with non–ST‐segment–elevation myocardial infarctions (NSTEMIs) may also be affected, and the impact of regionalization programs on NSTEMI treatment and outcomes is unknown. We set out to determine the effects of ST‐segment–elevation myocardial infarction regionalization schemes on treatment and outcomes of patients diagnosed with NSTEMIs. Methods and Results The cohort included all patients receiving care in emergency departments diagnosed with an NSTEMI at all nonfederal hospitals in California from January 1, 2005 to September 30, 2015. Data were analyzed using a difference‐in‐differences approach. The main outcomes were 1‐year mortality and angiography within 3 days of the index admission. A total of 293 589 patients with NSTEMIs received care in regionalized and nonregionalized communities. Over the study period, rates of early angiography increased by 0.5 and mortality decreased by 0.9 percentage points per year among the overall population (95% CI, 0.4–0.6 and −1.0 to −0.8, respectively). Regionalization was not associated with early angiography (−0.5%; 95% CI, −1.1 to 0.1) or death (0.2%; 95% CI, −0.3 to 0.8). Conclusions ST‐segment–elevation myocardial infarction regionalization programs were not statistically associated with changes in guideline‐recommended early angiography or changes in risk of death for patients with NSTEMI. Increases in the proportion of patients with NSTEMI who underwent guideline‐directed angiography and decreases in risk of mortality were accounted for by secular trends unrelated to regionalization policies.

BACKGROUND There are limited data on sex-specific outcomes and management of cardiogenic shock complicating ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (CS-STEMI). We investigated whether any sex bias exists in the admission to revascularization capable hospitals (RCH) or intensive cardiac care units (ICCU) and its impact on in-hospital mortality. METHODS We used the Spanish National Health System Minimum Basic Data from 2003 to 2015 to identify patients with CS-STEMI. The primary outcome was sex differences in in-hospital mortality. RESULTS Among 340 490 STEMI patients, 20 262 (6%) had CS and 29.2% were female. CS incidence was higher in women than in men (7.9% vs 5.1%, P = .001). Women were older and had more hypertension and diabetes, and were less often admitted to RCH than men (from 58.7% in 2003 to 79.6% in 2015; and from 61.9% in 2003 to 85.3% in 2015; respectively, P = .01), and to ICCU centres (25.7% vs 29.2%, P = .001). Adjusted mortality was higher in women than men over time (from 79.5 ± 4.3% to 65.8 ± 6.5%; and from 67.8 ± 6% to 58.1 ± 6.5%; respectively, P

BACKGROUND: Patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) require timely reperfusion, and percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) decreases morbidity and mortality. Regionalization of ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) care has increased timeliness and use of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), but it is unknown whether benefits to regionalization depend on a community’s distance from its nearest PCI center. We sought to determine if STEMI regionalization benefits, measured by access to PCI centers, timeliness of treatment (same-day or in-hospital PCI), and mortality, differ by baseline distance to nearest PCI center. METHODS: Using a difference-in-difference-in-differences model, we examined access to PCI-capable hospitals, receipt of PCI either on the day of admission or during the care episode, and health outcomes for patients hospitalized from January 1, 2006 – September 30, 2015. RESULTS: Of 139,408 patients (2006 to 2015), 51% could reach the nearest PCI center in

Importance Cardiac care regionalization, specifically for patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), has been touted as a potential mechanism to reduce systematic disparities by protocolizing the treatment of these conditions. However, it is unknown whether such regionalization arrangements have widened or narrowed disparities in access, treatment, and outcomes for minority communities. Objective To determine the extent to which disparities in access, treatment, and outcomes have changed for patients with STEMI living in zip codes that are in the top tertile of the Black or Hispanic population compared with patients in nonminority zip codes in regionalized vs nonregionalized counties. Design, Setting, and Participants This cohort study used a quasi-experimental approach exploiting the different timing of regionalization across California. Nonpublic inpatient data for all patients with STEMI from January 1, 2006, to October 31, 2015, were analyzed using a difference-in-difference-in-differences estimation approach. Exposure Exposure to the intervention was defined as on and after the year a patient's county was exposed to regionalization. Main Outcomes and Measures Access to percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI)-capable hospital, receipt of PCI on the same day and at any time during the hospitalization, and time-specific all-cause mortality. Results This study included 139 494 patients with STEMI; 61.9% of patients were non-Hispanic White, 5.6% Black, 17.8% Hispanic, and 9.0% Asian; 32.8% were women. Access to PCI-capable hospitals improved by 6.3 percentage points (95% CI, 5.5 to 7.1 percentage points; P

IntroductionAfter having an acute myocardial infarction (AMI), racial and ethnic minorities have less access to care, decreased rates of invasive treatments such as percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), and worse outcomes compared with white patients. The objective of this study was to determine whether the Affordable Care Act’s expansion of Medicaid eligibility was associated with changes in racial disparities in access, treatments, and outcomes after AMI.MethodsQuasi-experimental, difference-in-differences-in-differences analysis of non-Hispanic white and minority patients with acute myocardial infarction in California and Florida from 2010–2015, using linear regression models to estimate the difference-in-differences. This population-based sample included all Medicaid and uninsured patients ages 18–64 hospitalized with acute myocardial infarction in California, which expanded Medicaid through the Affordable Care Act beginning as early as July 2011 in certain counties, and Florida, which did not expand Medicaid. The main outcomes included rates of admission to hospitals capable of performing PCI, rates of transfer for patients who first presented to hospitals that did not perform PCI, rates of PCI during hospitalization and rates of early (within 48 hours of admission) PCI, rates of readmission to the hospital within 30 days, and rates of in-hospital mortality.ResultsA total of 55,991 hospital admissions met inclusion criteria, 32,540 of which were in California and 23,451 were in Florida. Among patients with AMI who initially presented to a non-PCI hospital, the likelihood of being transferred increased by 12 percentage points (95% CI 2 to 21) for minority patients relative to white patients after the Medicaid expansion. The likelihood of undergoing PCI increased by 3 percentage points (95% CI 0 to 5) for minority patients relative to white patients after the Medicaid expansion. We did not find an association between the Medicaid expansion and racial disparities in overall likelihood of admission to a PCI hospital, hospital readmissions, or in-hospital mortality.ConclusionsThe Medicaid expansion was associated with a decrease in racial disparities in transfers and rates of PCI after AMI. We did not find an association between the Medicaid expansion and admission to a PCI hospital, readmissions, and in-hospital mortality. Additional factors outside of insurance coverage likely continue to contribute to disparities in outcomes after AMI. These findings are crucial for policy makers seeking to reduce racial disparities in access, treatment and outcomes in AMI.

Do-not-resuscitate (DNR) orders are commonly used after intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) and have been shown to be a predictor of mortality independent of disease severity. We determined the frequency of early DNR orders in ICH patients and whether a previously reported association with increased mortality still exists.We performed a retrospective analysis of patients discharged from non-federal California hospitals with a primary diagnosis of ICH from January 2013 through December 2014. Characteristics included hospital ICH volume and type and whether DNR order was placed within 24 h of admission (early DNR order). The risk of in-hospital mortality was evaluated both on the individual and hospital level using multivariable analyses. A case mix-adjusted hospital DNR index was calculated for each hospital by comparing the actual number of DNR cases with the expected number of DNR cases from a multivariate model.A total of 9,958 patients were treated in 180 hospitals. Early DNR orders were placed in 20.1% of patients and 54.2% of these patients died during their hospitalization compared to 16.0% of patients without an early DNR order. For every 10% increase in a hospital's utilization of early DNR orders, there was a corresponding 26% increase in the likelihood of in-hospital mortality. Patients treated in hospitals within the highest quartile of adjusted DNR use had a higher relative risk of death compared to the lowest quartile (RR 3.9 vs 5.2) though the trend across quartiles was not statistically significant.The use of early DNR orders for ICH continues to be a strong predictor of in-hospital mortality. However, patients treated at hospitals with an overall high or low use of early DNR had similar relative risks of death whether or not there was an early DNR order, suggesting that such orders may not be a proxy for less aggressive care as seen previously.

Background: Optimized stroke systems of care can enable equitable access to timely care, including endovascular thrombectomy (EVT). Yet how hospitals are connected in the care of stroke patients is not well-characterized. Given that EVT is only available in specialized centers, stroke systems and patient transfer patterns may have evolved after the 2015 publication of EVT benefit. Primary objective: to map the stroke patient transfer network in California and to determine whether it changed after 2015. Methods: We analyzed California data including every nonfederal hospital admission from pre- (2010-2014) and post-2015 (2016-2017). ICD-9, ICD-10, and DRG codes identified ischemic stroke (IS) hospitalizations. Connections between any 2 hospitals were based on the transfer of > 5 IS patients between them/year. t-tests compared the patient transfer maps pre- vs post-2015 on descriptive network measures: number of hospitals, transfer connections, and patients shared in transfer, and distance traveled in transfer. A hierarchical logistic regression model assessed whether patients were more frequently transferred to EVT-capable hospitals after 2015, adjusting for patient- and hospital-level factors, including a time-by-distance interaction. Results: Among 385,799 IS hospitalizations, 15,522 (4.0%) were transferred. After 2015, patients traveled longer distances in transfer (25.1 vs 28.4 miles, p Conclusion: The California stroke transfer network significantly changed after the 2015 publication of benefit for EVT, with increased likelihood of transfer to EVT centers and longer distances traveled in transfer.

Adult hospital readmission rates can reliably identify meaningful variation in hospital performance; however, pediatric condition-specific readmission rates are limited by low patient volumes.To determine if a National Quality Forum (NQF)-endorsed measure for pediatric lower respiratory illness (LRI) 30-day readmission rates can meaningfully identify high- and low-performing hospitals.Observational, retrospective cohort analysis. We applied the pediatric LRI measure and several variations to evaluate their ability to detect performance differences.Administrative claims from all hospital admissions in California (2012-2014).Children (age18 years) with LRI (primary diagnosis: bronchiolitis, influenza, or pneumonia; or LRI as a secondary diagnosis with a primary diagnosis of respiratory failure, sepsis, bacteremia, or asthma).Thirty-day hospital readmission rates and costs. Hierarchical regression models adjusted for age, gender, and chronic conditions were used.Across all California hospitals admitting children (n = 239) using respiratory readmission rates, no outlier hospitals were identified with (1) the NQF-endorsed metric, (2) inclusion of primary asthma or secondary asthma exacerbation diagnoses, or (3) inclusion of 30-day emergency revisits. By including admissions for asthma, adding emergency revisits, and merging 3 years of data, we identified 9 outlier hospitals (2 high-performers, 7 low-performers). There was no association of hospital readmission rates with costs.Using a nationally-endorsed quality measure of inpatient pediatric care, we were unable to identify meaningful variation in hospital performance without broadening the metric definition and merging multiple years of data. Utilizers of pediatric-quality measures should consider modifying metrics to better evaluate the quality of pediatric care at low-volume hospitals.Supported by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (K08 HS24592 to SVK and U18HS25297 to MDC and NSB) and the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (K23HD065836 to NSB). The funding agency played no role in the study design; the collection, analysis, and interpretation of data; the writing of the report; or the decision to submit the manuscript for publication.

The article of record as published may be found at http://dx.doi.org/10.1377/hlthaff.2017.1602 Inpatient volume has long been believed to be a contributing factor to ambulance diversion, which can lead to delayed treatment and poorer outcomes. We examined the extent to which both daily inpatient and emergency department (ED) volumes at specified hospitals, and diversion levels (that is, the number of hours ambulances were diverted on a given day) at their nearest neighboring hospitals, were associated with diversion levels in the period 2005–12. We found that a 10 percent increase in patient volume was associated with a sevenfold greater increase in diversion hours when the volume increase occurred among inpatients (5 percent) versus ED visitors (0.7 percent). When the next-closest ED experienced mild, moderate, or severe diversion, the study hospital’s diversion hours increased by 8 percent, 23 percent, and 44 percent, respectively. These findings suggest that efforts focused on managing inpatient volume and flow might reduce diversion more effectively than interventions focused only on ED dynamics. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute of the National Institutes of Health R01HL134182 R01HL114822