The association of continuity of care and cancer centre affiliation with outcomes among patients with cancer who require emergency department care.

The association of continuity of care and cancer centre affiliation with outcomes among patients with cancer who require emergency department care. CMAJ. 2019 Apr 23;191(16):E436-E445 Authors: Grewal K, Sutradhar R, Krzyzanowska MK, Redelmeier DA, Atzema CL Abstract BACKGROUND: Patients with cancer have complex care requirements and frequently use the emergency department. The purpose of this study was to determine whether continuity of care, cancer expertise of an institution or both affect outcomes in patients with cancer in the emergency setting. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective cohort study using administrative databases from Ontario, Canada, involving records of patients aged 20 years and older who received chemotherapy or radiation in the 30 days before a cancer-related visit to the emergency department between 2006 and 2011. Patients seen in an emergency department at an alternative hospital (not the site where cancer treatment was given) were matched based on propensity score to patients who visited their original hospital (site where cancer treatment was given). Next, patients seen at an alternative emergency department that was in a general hospital (i.e., not a cancer centre) were matched to patients who visited their original hospital or a cancer centre. Outcomes were admission to hospital at the index visit to the emergency department, 30-day mortality, having imaging with computed tomography and return visi...
Source: cmaj - Category: General Medicine Authors: Tags: CMAJ Source Type: research