Adult Epilepsy Monitoring Unit during Post-Peak COVID-19 - A Single Center Operational Experience
Abstract number :
3.466
Submission category :
13. Health Services (Delivery of Care, Access to Care, Health Care Models)
Year :
2022
Submission ID :
2232975
Source :
www.aesnet.org
Presentation date :
12/5/2022 12:00:00 PM
Published date :
Nov 22, 2022, 05:29 AM
Authors :
Fawad Khan, MD – The International Center for Epilepsy at Ochsner, Ochsner Health System; Masoud Yeganegi, MD – Department of Neurology, Ochsner Health System; Jonathan Bidwell, PhD – Center for Outcomes and Health Services Research, Ochsner Health System; Kiara Dillard, MSN, RN- BC – The International Center for Epilepsy at Ochsner, Ochsner Health System; Theresa Ragas, R.EEG T., CLTM, R.EP T. – Ochsner Neurodiagnostic Lab, Ochsner Health System; Lauren Fine, PA – The International Center for Epilepsy at Ochsner, Ochsner Health System; Ashley Areaux, PA – The International Center for Epilepsy at Ochsner, Ochsner Health System; Meghan Finnegan, RN – The International Center for Epilepsy at Ochsner, Ochsner Health System; Sally Roberts, RN – Ochsner Health System
This is a Late-Breaking abstract.
Rationale: Many epilepsy centers, including epilepsy monitoring units (EMU), were negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic largely due to pandemic related re-assigning EMU beds, restrictions on elective admissions, reduced staffing, and patient reluctance for elective admission. The Ochsner Health adult 8-bed EMU was similarly impacted by the local outbreaks of COVID-19 in Louisiana resulting in modifications of existing policies and introduction of new protocols.
Methods: We compared protocols, policies, workflows, operative processes related to care received in the EMU during: baseline prior to COVID-19, the peaks of the pandemic, and the current post-peak period. The time points regarding peaks and post-peak were determined based on Louisiana Department of Health hospitalization data.
Results: The largest impact on EMU capacity was from March 2020 to May 2022. From May 2020 to July 2021, the EMU activities were limited by COVID-19 related changes in policies and procedures. From September 2021 to April 2022, the EMU operated under the hospital’s COVID-19 restrictions (during peaks). The specifics on length of stay, nursing protocols, staffing issues, EEG operations, and diagnostic yield are discussed. From May 2022 till current (August 2022) the EMU has resumed many pre-COVID-19 operations with improved access to resources (post-peak period). The major limitation is the restriction for visitors.
Conclusions: This information serves to increase awareness about the need for long term modifications in EMU operating policies and workflows, and the feasibility of successful recovery efforts during the current post-peak to minimize the impact on the diagnostic yield and outcomes for patients managed in the EMU.
Funding: None
Health Services (Delivery of Care, Access to Care, Health Care Models)