P119: Characteristics and outcomes of patients with neurologic complaints who leave the emergency department without being seen

Abstract

Introduction: Patients with neurologic chief complaints comprised 12.5% of total visits to the University of Alberta Emergency Department (ED) in 2017. Symptoms are often subjective, transient, or atypical, leading to diagnostic uncertainty. Serious diagnoses require timely intervention to mitigate morbidity and mortality, however the proportion of patients who leave the ED without being seen (LWBS) has increased over time. We sought to analyze the characteristics and outcomes of patients with neurologic complaints who LWBS to identify opportunities for improvement in quality and safety of patient care. Methods: Data was extracted from the Emergency Department Information System (EDIS) and National Ambulatory Care Reporting System database to select adult patients presenting to the University of Alberta Hospital in 2017 with neurologic complaints as defined by the Canadian Triage Acuity Scale (CTAS). Using standard descriptive statistics we examined demographic and clinical characteristics to compare LWBS patients to all others. Results: Of 8,726 total visits 7.54% patients LWBS. These patients tended to be younger on average (39 vs 55 years), with a larger proportion presenting at night (37.69%) and on Monday. The majority were triaged CTAS 3 (68.69%). Their mean length of stay was shorter than all other visits (3.70 vs 9.51 hours). Headache (22.74%), extremity weakness/symptoms of CVA (20.19%), head injury (14.32%), seizure (8.28%), and sensory loss/paresthesia (8.14%) comprised the top 5 neurologic complaints, and were disproportionately presented in LWBS patients; headache (31.76%), head injury (23.71%), sensory loss/paresthesia (12.01%), seizure (11.25%). Patients who LWBS also re-presented to the ED within 72 hours (21.43%), more often than those discharged by a physician (8.29%). Conclusion: Patients presenting with neurologic complaints who LWBS are younger, tend to arrive at night, with less acute presentations, however they more frequently return to the ED within 72 hours than those seen and discharged. Patients who LWBS may benefit from education, physician assessment or closer nurse reassessment at triage to increase the quality and safety of care in the ED, reduce return visits and ED utilization.