Does Timing Matter?: Timing and Outcomes Among Early Unplanned PICU Transfers

Abstract

BACKGROUND Many institutions track early ICU transfers (transfer from an inpatient floor to an ICU within 24 hours of admission) as a marker of quality of emergency department (ED) care. There are limited data evaluating whether patient characteristics or clinical outcomes differ on the basis of timing of ICU transfer within this 24-hour window. METHODS We conducted a retrospective cohort study examining all patients ≤21 years old admitted to an inpatient pediatric floor from the ED and subsequently transferred to an ICU within 24 hours of hospitalization. Patient characteristics and clinical outcomes were compared on the basis of timing (0–6 hours, 6–12 hours, 12–24 hours) of ICU transfer. Outcomes assessed included receipt of critical intervention, timing of intervention with respect to transfer, type of intervention received, hospital and ICU length of stay, and mortality at 72 hours and during hospitalization. RESULTS A total of 841 patients were transferred to an ICU within 24 hours from admission to a pediatric ward from the ED; 266 patients (32%) transferred within 6 hours of admission, 269 patients (32%) transferred between 6 and 12 hours, and 306 patients (36%) transferred between 12 and 24 hours. Patient characteristics did not materially differ on the basis of timing of ICU transfer, nor did clinical outcomes. CONCLUSIONS Among children transferred to an ICU within 24 hours of hospitalization, patient characteristics and clinical outcomes did not materially differ based on the timing of transfer relative to admission from the ED.