Research Article
Identifying Potentially Avoidable Emergency Department Visits of Long-Term Care Hospital Residents in Korea: A Multicenter Retrospective Cohort Study
Table 2
Potentially avoidable reasons for ED transfer.
| | n | % |
| Potentially avoidable ED transfers (N=168) | | | Non-critical diagnosis – assessment in an LTCH would be appropriate | 96 | 57.1 | Family member/members who refused further evaluation and treatment in the ED | 58 | 34.5 | Already-known advance care directives (including DNR) | 6 | 3.6 | Simple procedure | 5 | 3.0 | Minor trauma – ED assessment not required | 3 | 1.8 | Reasonable ED transfers (N=963) | | | Signs of being systemically unwell – suitable observations cannot be provided | 568 | 59.0 | No response to treatment in an LTCH | 103 | 10.7 | Procedure unable to be performed in an LTCH | 83 | 8.6 | Abnormal results of laboratory or radiological examinations performed in an LTCH | 83 | 8.6 | Suspicion of cerebral event with neurological changes | 73 | 7.6 | History of trauma with suspected fracture | 37 | 3.8 | Family request for ED transfer | 12 | 1.2 | Open wound with suturing required | 4 | 0.4 |
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ED: emergency department, LTCH: long-term care hospital, DNR: do-not-resuscitate.
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