Characteristics analysis of patients being re-transferred among patients who transferred to emergency medical center

¹Department of Emergency Medicine, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
²Department of Emergency Medicine, Dong-A University College of Medicine, Busan, Korea
³Department of Emergency Medicine, Hanyang University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
⁴Department of Emergency Medicine, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea

Correspondence

Sung Woo Lee ,Tel: 02-920-5408, Fax: 02-920-5407, Email: kuedlee@korea.ac.kr,

Received: July 31, 2020; Revised: October 15, 2020 Accepted: October 20, 2020. Published online: February 26, 2021.

ABSTRACT

Objective:
This study investigates the characteristics of patients who were re-transferred from other hospitals to regional or local emergency medical centers.
Method:
Data from 2016 to 2017 was obtained from the National Emergency Department Information System (NEDIS). The study population was classified as ‘transferred group’ and ‘direct visit group.’ The transferred group was further subdivided into the ‘re-transfer group’ (patients transferred out to another hospital) and ‘single transfer group’ (patients not transferred out). Multiple logistic regression analysis was performed to identify factors associated with re-transfer.
Results:
The re-transfer rate (3.7%) of the ‘transferred group’ was higher than the transfer rate (1.3%) of the ‘direct visit group’. Multiple regression analysis revealed that older age, male (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 1.082; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.606-1.105), medical aid (aOR, 1.231; 95% CI, 1.191-1.105), injury origin (aOR, 1.063; 95% CI, 1.006-1.122), and Korean Triage and Acuity Scale level 1 or 2 (aOR, 1.214; 95% CI, 1.182-1.247), are associated with re-transfer. The Korean Standard Classification of Diseases group having the highest re-transfer rate was determined to be the neoplasm disease group.
Conclusion:
Data from the current study reveals that factors associated with an increased likelihood of re-transfer were high severity, old age, medical aid, and neoplasm diagnosis. Considering these characteristics of re-transferred patients, it is necessary to improve the transfer system to reduce re-transfers. However, further research is required, including the reasons for the transfer.

Key words: Patient transfer; Characteristic; Diagnosis