Effect of using pediatric emergency department virtual observation on inpatient admissions and lengths of stay

Allison D Cator; Julie S Weber; Marie M Lozon; Michelle L Macy

doi:10.1016/j.acap.2014.03.010

Effect of using pediatric emergency department virtual observation on inpatient admissions and lengths of stay

Acad Pediatr. 2014 Sep-Oct;14(5):510-6. doi: 10.1016/j.acap.2014.03.010.

Authors

Allison D Cator¹, Julie S Weber², Marie M Lozon³, Michelle L Macy⁴

Affiliations

¹ Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Mich; Department of Pediatrics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Mich. Electronic address: acator@med.umich.edu.
² Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Mich.
³ Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Mich; Department of Pediatrics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Mich.
⁴ Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Mich; Division of General Pediatrics, Department of Pediatrics, Child Health Evaluation and Research Unit, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Mich.

PMID: 25169162
DOI: 10.1016/j.acap.2014.03.010

Abstract

Objective: To determine whether using emergency department (ED) virtual observation for select pediatric conditions decreases admission rates for these conditions, and to examine effects on length of stay.

Methods: The option of ED virtual observation care for 9 common pediatric conditions was introduced in 2009; associated order sets were developed. Retrospective secondary analyses of administrative data from our tertiary care pediatric ED and children's hospital were performed for the year before (year 0) and after (year 1) this disposition option was introduced. The proportion of visits admitted to the inpatient unit and length of stay (LOS) were determined for all visits considered eligible for ED virtual observation care on the basis of diagnosis codes for both study years.

Results: There were 1614 observation-eligible visits in year 0 and 1510 in year 1. In year 1, 18% (n = 266) of observation-eligible visits received ED virtual observation care. Admission rates for observation-eligible visits were similar after this model of care was introduced (25% year 0, 29% year 1, P = .02). Median LOS for ED virtual observation visits was 8.8 hours (interquartile range 6.5-12.4). ED LOS was shorter for ED discharges (5.6 hours year 0, 5.1 hours year 1, P < .001) and unchanged for admissions (6.0 hours year 0, 5.8 hours, year 1, P = .41) after introducing ED virtual observation.

Conclusions: Admission rates for observation-eligible visits were not lower in the year after ED virtual observation care was introduced. LOS decreased for ED discharges and was unchanged for admissions. Reevaluation of the effects of pediatric ED virtual observation on admission rates and LOS after longer periods of use is indicated.

Keywords: child; delivery of health care; emergency department; length of stay; observation medicine.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Adolescent
Cellulitis / therapy
Child
Child, Preschool
Craniocerebral Trauma / therapy
Dehydration / therapy
Diabetic Ketoacidosis / therapy
Disease Management
Emergency Medicine / methods*
Emergency Service, Hospital*
Female
Headache / therapy
Hospitalization / statistics & numerical data*
Humans
Hypersensitivity / therapy
Infant
Length of Stay / statistics & numerical data*
Male
Observation / methods*
Pediatrics / methods*
Poisoning / therapy
Respiratory Tract Diseases / therapy
Retrospective Studies
Seizures / therapy