Introduction: Managing a patient’s expectations in the emergency department (ED) environment is challenging. Previous studies have identified several factors associated with ED patient satisfaction. Lengthy wait times have shown to be associated with dissatisfaction with ED care. Understanding that patients are inaccurate at their estimation of wait time, which could lead to lower satisfaction, provides administrators possible points of intervention to help improve accuracy of estimation and possibly satisfaction with the ED. This study was undertaken to examine the accuracy of patient estimates of time periods in an ED and identify factors associated with accuracy.Method: In this prospective convenience sample survey at UTMC ED, we collected data between March and July 2012. Outcome measures included duration of each phase of ED care and patient estimates of these time periods.Results: Among 309 participants, the majority underestimated the total length of stay (LOS) in the ED (median difference -7 minutes (IQR -29-12)). There was significant variability in ED LOS (median 155 minutes (IQR 75-240)). No significant associations were identified between accuracy of time estimates and gender, age, race, or insurance status. Participants with longer ED LOS demonstrated lower patient satisfaction scores (p<0.001).Conclusion: Patients demonstrated inaccurate time estimates of ED treatment times, including total LOS. Patients with longer ED LOS had lower patient satisfaction scores. [West J Emerg Med. 2014;15(2):170-175.]

INTRODUCTION: Geriatric patients (age >65) comprise a growing segment of the trauma population. New-onset atrial fibrillation may occur after injury, complicating clinical management and resulting in significant morbidity and mortality. This study was undertaken to identify clinical and demographic factors associated with new-onset atrial fibrillation among geriatric trauma patients. METHODS: In this case control study, eligible participants included admitted trauma patients age 65 and older who developed new-onset atrial fibrillation during the hospitalization. Controls were admitted trauma patients who were matched for age and injury severity score, who did not develop atrial fibrillation. We evaluated the associations between new-onset atrial fibrillation and clinical characteristics, including patient demographics, health behaviors, chronic medical conditions, and course of care. RESULTS: Data were available for 63 cases and 25 controls. Patients who developed atrial fibrillation were more likely to be male, compared to controls (49% versus 24%; odds ratio 3.0[1.0, 8.9]). Other demographic and clinical factors were not associated with new-onset atrial fibrillation, including mechanism of injury, co-morbid medical conditions, drug or alcohol use, surgical procedures, and intravenous fluid administration. CONCLUSIONS: Male geriatric trauma patients were at higher risk for developing new-onset atrial fibrillation. Other demographic and clinical factors were not associated with new-onset atrial fibrillation.

Objective: The medical literature has demonstrated disparities and variability in physician salaries and, specifically, emergency physician (EP) salaries. We sought to investigate individual physician characteristics, including sex and educational background, together with individual preferences of graduating EPs, and their association with the salary of their first job.

Methods: The American College of Emergency Physicians and the George Washington University Mullan Institute surveyed 2019 graduating EPs. The survey included respondents’ demographic and educational background, post-training job characteristics and location, hospital characteristics, importance of different personal priorities, and starting salaries. We performed a multivariable regression analysis to determine how salaries were associated with job types and individuals’ characteristics.

Results: We sent surveys to 2,192 graduating residents in 2019. Of these, 487 (22.2%) responded, and 270 (55.4%) accepted first-time clinical jobs and included salary data (12.3% of all surveys sent). Male sex, osteopathic training, and full-time work were significantly associated with higher salary. Men and women prioritized different factors in their job search. Women were more likely to consider such factors as parental leave policy, proximity to family, desired practice setting, type of hospital, and desired location as important. Salary/compensation was considered very important by 51.8% of men and 29.6%
of women. Men’s median salary was $30,000 more than women’s (p= 0.01, 95% CI +$6,929 ± $53,071), a significant pay differential.

Conclusion: Salaries of graduating emergency medicine residents are associated with the resident’s sex and degree type: doctor of osteopathic medicine or doctor of allopathic medicine. Multiple factors may contribute to men having higher salaries than women, and some of this difference reflects different priorities in their job search. Women were more likely to consider job conditions and setting to be more important, while men considered salary and compensation more important.