How Well Do Emergency Department Patients Recognize Their Providers?

Document Type

Conference Proceeding

Publication Date

10-2024

Publication Title

Annals of Emergency Medicine

Abstract

Study Objectives: Over the past several decades, emergency departments (EDs) have experienced a diversification of provider roles and titles which could limit patients’ ability to accurately identify their providers. The recent COVID-19 pandemic may have introduced an additional barrier to provider recognition through the common use of surgical masks. We aimed to evaluate how well patients are able to identify their providers in this complex environment and to describe how demographic factors affect this recognition. Additionally, we aimed to assess how mask use affects patients’ recognition of their providers. Methods: We conducted a prospective randomized controlled trial at a single large academic hospital from August 2022 to November 2023. Participants were English speaking patients aged 18 years or older presenting to the ED with at least 2 hours of exposure to specific ED providers. Exclusion criteria included hemodynamic instability, altered mental status, head or multiple traumas, or a history of mental health concerns, dementia, or seizures. We showed the participants a picture of one of their ED providers after 2 hours of care in the ED, and asked them to complete a survey to identify the provider’s role. Provider demographic data collected included provider type (Advanced Practice Provider [APP], Attending Physician, Resident Physician), age (40,

Volume

84

Issue

4 Suppl 1

First Page

S24

Comments

American College of Emergency Physicians ACEP Research Forum, Sept 29 - Oct 2, 2024, Las Vegas, NV

Last Page

S25

DOI

10.1016/j.annemergmed.2024.08.061

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