Discrepancy between information provided and information required by emergency physicians for long-term care patients

Area of Science:

• Healthcare Quality
• Medical Documentation
• Emergency Medicine

Background:

• Effective transfer of patient information from long-term care (LTC) facilities to emergency departments (EDs) is critical for continuity of care.
• Gaps in documentation can lead to suboptimal treatment and decision-making for vulnerable LTC residents during emergencies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify the information typically included in LTC transfer documentation.
• To compare this documentation with the information urgently required by ED physicians for managing LTC patients.

Main Methods:

• A retrospective chart review of 200 LTC residents transferred to an academic ED.
• An online questionnaire distributed to ED physicians to ascertain their information needs.

Main Results:

• Commonly transferred information included past medical history (92.0%) and family physician name (91.0%).
• ED physicians most frequently required reason for transfer, past medical history, cognitive status, advanced directives, and emergency contact information.
• Significant discrepancies were noted, particularly for cognitive status (provided 24.0%, required) and advanced directives (provided 62.0%, required).

Conclusions:

• A notable gap exists between the information provided in LTC transfer documentation and the information essential for ED physicians.
• Targeted quality improvement initiatives are recommended to bridge this documentation gap and enhance patient care for LTC residents in emergency situations.