It's a Hard Knock Life

Abstract

Objectives:The diagnosis and treatment of mild traumatic brain injuries (mTBIs) by emergency medicine providers is greatly varied. Because of the frequency and long-term consequences associated with pediatric head injuries, it is crucial that adequate counseling is provided in acute care settings. The purpose of our study is to evaluate existing practices at Loyola University Medical Center emergency department to address inconsistencies in diagnostic or discharge practices and determine future quality improvement measures.Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted at an academic hospital emergency department of patient records from 2017 to 2020. Demographic, diagnostic, and discharge data were summarized, and Pearson χ 2 tests and Fisher exact tests were performed to determine associations among patient characteristics and provider practices.