Boarding of admitted patients in the Emergency Department (ED) changes both the setting and teams providing care during the initial phase of admissions. We measured the waiting time from ED door arrival to inpatient floor arrival for 17,944 admissions to internal medicine services over a 5-year period from 2018 to 2023 and propose this as a metric for the total delay in care associated with ED boarding, termed "Door to Floor" (DTF) time. We find a sustained increase as well as significant seasonal and day-of-the-week variation in DTF times.
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November 2024
The way we enact screening for substance use during pregnancy within our healthcare systems can work by decreasing stigma, promoting engagement, and supporting people with reaching the end of their pregnancy in a manner where the newborn can be well supported. The way we enact biochemical specimen toxicology testing for substance use during pregnancy and in newborns contributes to increased stigma, disengagement from care, and potential continuation of uncontrolled substance use up until delivery such that the newborn may not be able to be well supported in the family environment. These effects are inequitably distributed, leading to worse outcomes for families of color and families living in poverty.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFMental health conditions including substance use disorder are the leading cause of pregnancy-related deaths in the U.S. Unfortunately, fears of child protective services' involvement interfere with maternal self-disclosure of substance use in pregnancy.
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