Weighing Longer Lengths of Stay Against Potential Hepatitis C Detection

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Screening for hepatitis C virus (HCV) means a modestly longer length of stay (LOS) in the emergency department (ED), according to a recent study. Conducted by Douglas A. E. White of the Department of Emergency Medicine at Alameda Health System, Highland Hospital in Oakland, CA, and colleagues, the study was published in PLOS One On October 19, 2016.

“The surprisingly high rates of undiagnosed HCV infection among ED patients highlights the import role EDs could play in combating the HCV epidemic through screening, disease identification, and linkage to care and treatment,” say the authors. However, no studies have addressed how HCV screening impacts LOS. Thus, the researchers say, “The objective of this study is to assess the impact of a streamlined and integrated HCV screening protocol on ED LOS for patients discharged from the ED.”

The researchers found 44,027 unique patients, of whom 45,852 (66%) were treated in the Main ED. “There were 2,864 HCV screening tests completed, of which 272 (9,5%) were antibody positive,” report the researchers. Both being seen in the Main ED and a complete blood count (CBC) were associated with an HCV screening. However, there was no significant difference in the rate of antibody positivity regardless of location of services or whether or not a CBC was conducted.