Missed Serious Medical Illness in Psychiatric Patients Seen in an Academic Emergency Department
Overview
- Phase
- Not Applicable
- Intervention
- Not specified
- Conditions
- Emergency Services, Psychiatric
- Sponsor
- Western University, Canada
- Enrollment
- 800
- Primary Endpoint
- Number of patients admitted to a medical / surgical service within 7 days of psychiatry referral in the emergency department
- Last Updated
- 10 years ago
Overview
Brief Summary
Psychiatric presentations are common in the emergency department (ED), and determining whether or not a psychiatric presentation is due to medical illness can be a difficult task for the emergency physician. The investigators define "serious medical illness" (SMI) as a pathological condition that would necessitate inpatient treatment on a medical or surgical ward. It is important for patient safety that SMI be triaged by the emergency physician to the appropriate inpatient service. The rate of missed SMI in patients with psychiatric presentations to the ED is unknown. The investigators will research missed SMI in patients referred to adult psychiatry from the ED, with the intent to improve patient safety.
Investigators
Chris Poss
Resident
Western University, Canada
Eligibility Criteria
Inclusion Criteria
- •All patients greater than or equal to 18 years of age presenting to London Health Sciences Centre, Victoria Hospital emergency department between October 1, 2014 - July 31, 2015 who were referred to adult psychiatry by the emergency physician.
Exclusion Criteria
- Not provided
Outcomes
Primary Outcomes
Number of patients admitted to a medical / surgical service within 7 days of psychiatry referral in the emergency department
Time Frame: Approximately 8 months
Medical / surgical admission diagnosis
Time Frame: Approximately 8 months
This will be extracted from the electronic medial record.
Number of days after psychiatric referral that patient is admitted to medical / surgical service
Time Frame: Approximately 8 months
Secondary Outcomes
- Proportion of patients discharged home from the emergency department by psychiatry following referral by the emergency physician(Approximately 8 months)
- Risk factors associated with medical / surgical admission after initial psychiatry referral(Approximately 8 months)
- Number of admissions to medical / surgical service within 30 days of discharge from psychiatry(Approximately 8 months)