Browsing by Author "Simons, Clark J."

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    Bilateral trauma case conferences: an approach to global surgery equity through a virtual education exchange
    (Springer Nature, 2023) Bhatia, Manisha B.; Munda, Beryl; Okoth, Philip; Carpenter, Kyle L.; Jenkins, Peter; Keung, Connie H.; Hunter‑Squires, JoAnna L.; Saruni, Seno I.; Simons, Clark J.; Surgery, School of Medicine
    Purpose: With increased interest in international surgical experiences, many residency programs have integrated global surgery into their training curricula. For surgical trainees in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), physical exchange can be costly, and laws in high-income countries (HICs) prevent LMIC trainees from practicing surgery while on visiting rotations. To enrich the educational experience of trainees in both settings, we established a monthly virtual trauma conference between surgery training programs. Methods: General surgery teams from two public institutions, a public university with two surgical training programs in Kenya and a public university with two level I trauma centers in the United States, meet monthly to discuss complex and interesting trauma patients. A trainee from each institution presents a clinical case vignette and supplements the case with pertinent peer-reviewed literature. The attendees then answer a series of multiple-choice questions like those found on surgery board exams. Results: Monthly case conferences began in September 2017 with an average of 24 trainees and consultant surgeons. Case discussions serve to stimulate dialogue on patient presentation and management, highlighting cost-conscious, high-quality care and the need to adapt practice patterns to meet resource constraints and provide culturally appropriate care. Conclusion: Our 5-year experience with this virtual case conference has created a unique and robust surgical education experience for trainees and surgeons who have withstood the effects of the pandemic. These case conferences have not only strengthened the camaraderie between our departments, but also promoted equity in global surgery education and prioritized the learning of trainees from both settings.
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    Long-term evaluation of a hospital-based violence intervention program using a regional health information exchange
    (Wolters Kluwer, 2018-01) Bell, Teresa M.; Gilyan, Dannielle; Moore, Brian A.; Martin, Joel; Ogbemudia, Blessing; McLaughlin, Briana E.; Moore, Reilin; Simons, Clark J.; Zarzaur, Ben L.; Surgery, School of Medicine
    BACKGROUND: Hospital-based violence intervention programs (HVIP) aim to reduce violent-injury recidivism by providing intensive case management services to high-risk patients who were violently injured. Although HVIP have been found effective at reducing recidivism, few studies have sought to identity how long their effects last. Additionally, prior studies have been limited by the fact that HVIP typically rely on self-report or data within their own healthcare system to identify new injuries. Our aim was to quantify the long-term recidivism rate of participants in an HVIP program using more objective and comprehensive data from a regional health information exchange. METHODS: The study included 328 patients enrolled in Prescription for Hope (RxH), an HVIP, between January 2009 and August 2016. We obtained RxH participants' emergency department (ED) encounter data from a regional health information exchange database from the date of hospital discharge to February 2017. Our primary outcome was violent-injury recidivism rate of the RxH program. We also examined reasons for ED visits that were unrelated to violent injury. RESULTS: We calculated a 4.4% recidivism rate based on 8 years of statewide data, containing 1,575 unique encounters. More than 96% of participants were matched in the state database. Of the 15 patients who recidivated, only five were admitted for their injury. More than half of new violence-related injuries were treated outside of the HVIP-affiliated trauma center. The most common reasons for ED visits were pain (718 encounters), followed by suspected complications or needing additional postoperative care (181 encounters). Substance abuse, unintentional injuries, and suicidal ideation were also frequent reasons for ED visits. CONCLUSION: The low, long-term recidivism rate for RxH indicates that HVIPs have enduring positive effects on the majority of participants. Our results suggest that HVIP may further benefit patients by partnering with organizations that work to prevent suicide, substance use disorders, and other unintentional injuries. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Therapeutic study, level III.
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    Qualitative study of factors affecting engagement with a hospital-based violence intervention programme in Indianapolis, Indiana
    (BMJ, 2024) Ortiz, Damaris; Magee, Lauren A.; Adams, Zachary W.; Marriott, Brigid R.; Moore, Reilin J.; Brooks, Blakney Q.; Boustani, Malaz; Simons, Clark J.; Psychiatry, School of Medicine
    Background: There are few qualitative studies of firearm injury survivors and hospital-based violence intervention programme (HVIP) participants. The original study aimed to identify facilitators and barriers to survivors’ utilisation of mental health services. This secondary analysis aimed to identify factors that may impact engagement with an HVIP. Study design: This study was a subanalysis of an original qualitative study that used a community-based participatory research approach to conduct semistructured interviews with English-speaking, intentional firearm injury survivors aged 13 and older within Indianapolis, Indiana between 2021 and 2022. Participants were recruited by a community organisation through a snowball sampling method. Interviews were analysed using manual thematic analysis. Themes were analysed and discussed in relation to HVIPs. Results: A total of 18 interviews were completed. The majority of participants identified as black (17/18, 94.4%). Nearly all (75%) participants were between the ages of 13 and 24 years of age at the time of their shooting. During content analysis, five themes were identified: (1) delayed readiness to change, (2) desire for independence, (3) lack of trust, (4) persistent emotional and physical effects of trauma and (5) unawareness of HVIP resources. Conclusions: This qualitative analysis of firearm injury survivor experiences provided insights for improved engagement with HVIPs. Continued pursuit of survivors for several years after their injury, improved dissemination of resources, establishing trust, and addressing persistent physical and psychological symptoms while respecting participants’ desire for independence may lead to increased engagement of firearm injury survivors with HVIPs.
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    Short-term Outcomes for Patients and Providers After Elective Tracheostomy in COVID-19–Positive Patients
    (Elsevier, 2021-04) Murphy, Patrick; Holler, Emma; Lindroth, Heidi; Laughlin, Michelle; Simons, Clark J.; Streib, Erik W.; Boustani, Malaz; Ortiz, Damaris; Surgery, School of Medicine
    Background Urgent guidance is needed on the safety for providers of percutaneous tracheostomy in patients diagnosed with COVID-19. The objective of the study was to demonstrate that percutaneous dilational tracheostomy (PDT) with a period of apnea in patients requiring prolonged mechanical ventilation due to COVID-19 is safe and can be performed for the usual indications in the intensive care unit. Methods This study involves an observational case series at a single-center medical intensive care unit at a level-1 trauma center in patients diagnosed with COVID-19 who were assessed for tracheostomy. Success of a modified technique included direct visualization of tracheal access by bronchoscopy and a blind dilation and tracheostomy insertion during a period of patient apnea to reduce aerosolization. Secondary outcomes include transmission rate of COVID-19 to providers and patient complications. Results From April 6th, 2020 to July 21st, 2020, 2030 patients were admitted to the hospital with COVID-19, 615 required intensive care unit care (30.3%), and 254 patients required mechanical ventilation (12.5%). The mortality rate for patients requiring mechanical ventilation was 29%. Eighteen patients were assessed for PDT, and 11 (61%) underwent the procedure. The majority had failed extubation at least once (72.7%), and the median duration of intubation before tracheostomy was 15 d (interquartile range 13-24). The median positive end-expiratory pressure at time of tracheostomy was 10.8. The median partial pressure of oxygen (PaO2)/FiO2 ratio on the day of tracheostomy was 142.8 (interquartile range 104.5-224.4). Two patients had bleeding complications. At 1-week follow-up, eight patients still required ventilator support (73%). At the most recent follow-up, eight patients (73%) have been liberated from the ventilator, one patient (9%) died as a result of respiratory/multiorgan failure, and two were discharged on the ventilator (18%). Average follow-up was 20 d. None of the surgeons performing PDT have symptoms of or have tested positive for COVID-19. Conclusions and relevance: PDT for patients with COVID-19 is safe for health care workers and patients despite higher positive end-expiratory pressure requirements and should be performed for the same indications as other causes of respiratory failure.
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    Violent injury prevention does not equal to violent crime prevention: an analysis of violence intervention program efficacy using propensity score methods
    (BMJ, 2022-10-17) Holler, Emma; Ortiz, Damaris; Mohanty, Sanjay; Meagher, Ashley D.; Boustani, Malaz; Zarzaur, Ben L.; Simons, Clark J.; Surgery, School of Medicine
    Objective: The purpose of this study was to determine if exposure to Prescription for Hope (RxH), a hospital-based violence intervention program (HVIP), is associated with reduced violent reinjury and new convictions for violent crime in the 2-year period after index hospitalization for a violent injury. Methods: This was a retrospective cohort study analyzing patients from two level I trauma centers in Indianapolis, Indiana. RxH participants (n=260) enrolled between January 1, 2015 and December 31, 2018 and who had trauma registry data were included. RxH eligibility criteria: admitted for a violent injury (excluding sexual violence), at least 15 years of age, live in Marion County, Indiana, and stay in the hospital for at least 24 hours. RxH exclusion criteria: heavy active substance use, acute psychosis, dementia, severe traumatic brain injury, intentional self-harm, and incarceration. All patients admitted to IU Health Methodist Hospital, a nearby level I trauma center, for an assault, stabbing, or gunshot wound during the same period and met the RxH eligibility criteria were included as a comparison group (n=732). Doubly adjusted logistic regression with inverse probability of treatment weighting was used to estimate the average treatment effect of RxH participation on violent reinjury and new convictions for violent crime. Results: Data from 992 patients were analyzed. RxH was significantly associated with reduced odds of violent reinjury (OR=0.35, 95% CI 0.20 to 0.59) and increased odds of conviction for a violent crime (OR=2.43, 95% CI 1.64 to 3.61). Conclusion: RxH was associated with decreased odds of violent reinjury but increased odds of new conviction for a violent crime. Our results highlight the importance of robust, routine evaluation of HVIP efficacy and recommend inclusion of other outcomes in addition to violent reinjury when evaluating program success. High-quality randomized controlled trials are needed to further investigate the impact of HVIPs on a variety of outcomes.