Infected Elders in the Emergency Department: Outcomes and Processes of Care
Overview
- Phase
- Not Applicable
- Intervention
- Not specified
- Conditions
- Sepsis
- Sponsor
- Ohio State University
- Enrollment
- 213
- Locations
- 1
- Primary Endpoint
- Complicated Clinical course
- Status
- Completed
- Last Updated
- 12 years ago
Overview
Brief Summary
The purpose of this study is to determine factors which predict a complicated hospital course and then to develop from these findings an Emergency Department guideline to assist in knowing who is at highest risk of elderly patients with infection presenting for care.
Detailed Description
The study is looking at how closely physicians adhere to treatment guidelines in caring for elderly patients, and then to determine if there are differences in elderly patient disease symptoms that result in a failure to use guidelines. If this is known, physicians can then be aware of these differences and provide appropriate care.
Investigators
Jeffrey Caterino
Assistant Professor
Ohio State University
Eligibility Criteria
Inclusion Criteria
- •age 65 or older
- •blood cultures ordered in the Emergency Department
- •admitted to the hospital from the Emergency Department
Exclusion Criteria
- •age less than 65
- •prisoners
- •Patient unable to provide consent and no legally authorized representative available
- •non-English speaking
- •ED visit or admission in the last 7 days for the same condition
- •primary evaluation by the trauma team
Outcomes
Primary Outcomes
Complicated Clinical course
Time Frame: 0-30 days from ED visit
The presense of any one of the following will constitute a complicated clinical course: 1. mortality at 30 days 2. requirement for ICU admission or ICU-level care withing first 48 hours 3. positive blood cultures
Secondary Outcomes
- Inadequate process of care(entire length of Emergency Department visit and hospitalization)