Missed Serious Medical Illness in Psychiatric Patients Seen in an Academic Emergency Department

NCT02581267 | Unknown

• 1 other identifier: 107073
• Study Type: observational
• Target: 800
• Locations: 0 countries
• Sites: N/A

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.

Conditions

Emergency Services, Psychiatric

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (3)

• Number of patients admitted to a medical / surgical service within 7 days of psychiatry referral in the emergency department

  Approximately 8 months

• Medical / surgical admission diagnosis

  This will be extracted from the electronic medial record.

  Approximately 8 months

• Number of days after psychiatric referral that patient is admitted to medical / surgical service

  Approximately 8 months

Secondary Outcomes (3)

• 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

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years+
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)
• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

Adults emergency room patients referred to adult psychiatry by the emergency physician

You may qualify if:

• 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.

You may not qualify if:

• None

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Western University, Canada: lead

Study Design

• Study Type: observational
• Observational Model: COHORT
• Time Perspective: RETROSPECTIVE
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Resident

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: August 8, 2015
• First Posted: October 20, 2015
• Study Start: October 1, 2015
• Primary Completion: December 1, 2015
• Study Completion: December 1, 2015
• Last Updated: October 20, 2015

Record last verified: 2015-10