A study by Sophie Terp, MD, MPH, found nearly one in five EMTALA penalty settlements involved psychiatric emergencies. These cases were more costly and often associated with failure to stabilize than nonpsychiatric emergency cases.
A study published in Academic Emergency Medicine found that half of syncope patients undergo CT head scans, yielding a diagnostic rate of 1.2% to 3.8%. The authors caution against indiscriminate use and recommend future studies to develop a prediction tool for optimal CT head use.
A study published in Academic Emergency Medicine found that the gender-based salary gap persists among academic emergency medicine physicians, with a $12,000 disparity remaining unchanged. The study suggests that deliberate strategies be developed to train employers on preventing gender bias and prioritize pay parity.
A study published in Academic Emergency Medicine found that female academic emergency medicine physicians are less likely to hold the rank of full professor compared to their male counterparts. Only 17% of female emergency physicians were associate or full professors, highlighting a significant disparity in representation and advancement.
A study published in Academic Emergency Medicine found no association between FQHC access and lower ED use rates among uninsured and Medicaid-insured patients. The study suggests investigating additional intervention points beyond primary care access to reduce ED overuse in vulnerable populations.
A study published in Academic Emergency Medicine confirms that patients treated with naloxone for opiate overdose can be safely discharged from the emergency department after one hour. The study found minimal risk of adverse events and suggests the St. Paul's Early Discharge Rule as a useful predictor of high-risk patients.
A study published in Academic Emergency Medicine finds that children and adolescents who survive firearm injuries have increased long-term mortality rates compared to those who survive nonviolent trauma. The study identifies socioeconomic disparities as a key factor in these disparities.
A screening tool can identify child sex trafficking victims presenting with high-risk health complaints in a pediatric emergency department. The study suggests that this tool presents minimal risk of harm and does not require significant extra time or resources.
A recent study published in Academic Emergency Medicine demonstrated that long-term follow-up in a trauma patient population is feasible. The study used established contact strategies and various interview locations to track hard-to-reach populations. Researchers suggest exploring newer methods of contacting participants through techno...
A study published in Academic Emergency Medicine suggests that intravenous, low-dose ketamine is as effective as intravenous morphine in controlling acute pain in adults in the emergency department. The findings indicate that ketamine can be considered as an alternative to opioids for ED short-term pain control.
A brief assessment of emergency department (ED) threat perceptions can identify patients at risk for developing cardiac-induced PTSD. The study developed a seven-item measure to assess subjective feelings of helplessness or lack of control in ED patients evaluated for acute coronary syndrome.
A new study published in Academic Emergency Medicine finds that risk adjusting for race and poverty improves the apparent performance of hospitals treating large numbers of nonwhite or poor patients. The study's lead author recommends including sociodemographic adjustment in payment models to prevent harm to vulnerable populations.
The Pediatric NEXUS Head Computed Tomography Decision Instrument (DI) reliably guides blunt trauma imaging decisions and may decrease head CT imaging in low-risk pediatric populations. The study found that the decision instrument could significantly reduce head CT utilization by up to 34%.
A study published in Academic Emergency Medicine found that most emergency department patients want some degree of involvement in decision making, but will wait for a clinician's invitation. The study recommends clear explanations and avoiding misdiagnosis of patient preferences based on verbal cues.
A study found that cost was the strongest factor in decreased desire for diagnostic testing, with patients willing to forego tests due to financial burden. Implementing financial considerations to alter testing behavior may be necessary to address this issue and improve healthcare outcomes.
A study found that providing clinicians with timely and actionable feedback on their opioid prescribing data significantly decreases future opioid prescribing among those who underestimate their baseline prescribing. This intervention may help combat the opioid epidemic by addressing inaccurate provider self-awareness.
The SAEM18 Annual Meeting will feature six plenary presentations on various topics in emergency medicine, including laryngeal tube vs endotracheal intubation and socioeconomic status and bronchiolitis severity. The meeting aims to advance academic emergency medicine through education, research, and advocacy.
A multicenter trial found that initial laryngeal tube insertion may be associated with better clinical outcomes than endotracheal intubation for out-of-hospital cardiac arrest patients. The study, presented at SAEM18, compared the effectiveness of these two airway management techniques in adult OHCA resuscitation.
Patients presenting with high specificity and positive likelihood ratio for acute aortic dissection should be suspect. Findings such as hypotension, pulse deficit, or neurologic deficit are key indicators of the condition.
A recent study published in Academic Emergency Medicine found that patients with one or more high-risk clinical features are at high risk for acute aortic dissection. The study also identified that patients with no high-risk and multiple low-risk features are at low risk for the condition.
A study published in Academic Emergency Medicine found that training on synthetic and live tissue models did not result in a difference in performance for five critical procedures. The results suggest that further study is needed to determine the effectiveness of simulation training for emergency medicine and trauma teams.
A multimodal approach to peripheral intravenous cannula (PIVC) insertion in the emergency department has been shown to reduce unnecessary PIVC placements while increasing their utilization. This program benefits both patients and healthcare services, potentially leading to significant cost savings.
A multidisciplinary approach to identify and care for young women with ischemic stroke may lead to improved outcomes. The study proposes creating clinical decision rules, educational campaigns, and preventive strategies to address the unique challenges in this population.
A study found that private emergency departments refer patients to public hospitals with public options, resulting in duplicate testing and increased costs. This practice also strains hospital resources and poses risks to patients.
A risk score identifies children at low risk for submersion-related injury who can be safely discharged from the emergency department. The Pediatric Submersion Score is a proposed guideline developed using sophisticated statistical methods, providing valuable information for future management of low-risk childhood submersion.
A study published in Academic Emergency Medicine found that prehospital use of supraglottic airways is linked to better neurological outcomes in cardiac arrest patients who receive cardiopulmonary resuscitation. The study suggests that SGA may improve oxygenation, supporting its continued use in emergency medical services.
A study published in Academic Emergency Medicine found that intranasal ketamine had more minor side effects such as bad taste and dizziness compared to intranasal fentanyl in children with suspected extremity fractures. No significant differences were observed in efficacy or pain relief between the two drugs.
A randomized, double-blind study found that haloperidol reduces nausea and pain in patients with acute gastroparesis, suggesting it as a promising adjunctive therapy. The addition of haloperidol to conventional therapy is better than conventional therapy alone without side effects.
Women earn less than men regardless of rank or training, with women leaving careers due to advancement issues. Underrepresented minorities are underrepresented in senior positions and promotions across all levels
A new study published in Academic Emergency Medicine found no association between prehospital advanced cardiac life support and survival for patients with out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. Instead, the study suggests focusing on increasing bystander CPR, decreasing response times, and defibrillation.
A study published in Academic Emergency Medicine found that patients with limited health literacy are more likely to visit the emergency department for potentially avoidable reasons. The researchers propose that targeted interventions can reduce preventable ED visits and improve healthcare efficiency.
A recent study published in Academic Emergency Medicine found that physician implicit racial bias does not directly affect treatment decisions, but may contribute to healthcare disparities. The study suggests that biases may indirectly influence patient outcomes and warrants further research.
A study published in Academic Emergency Medicine found that integrating clinical decision support into electronic medical records decreases high-cost imaging utilization, especially among higher users. This standardizes care delivery and improves compliance with evidence-based guidelines.
Researchers developed a novel technique that combines a micro-camera with a subjective re-situ interview to better understand physician decision-making in emergency medicine. The study found that this approach provided a more authentic understanding of clinical decision-making compared to traditional external perspectives.
A study led by Dr. Allysha C. Maragh-Bass found that transgender patients prioritize disclosing their gender identity over sexual orientation in healthcare, highlighting the importance of creating a safe environment for these individuals.
A study published in Academic Emergency Medicine found that point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) assessment is accurate, timely, and associated with low pain levels and high caregiver satisfaction. POCUS was compared to X-ray for diagnosing distal forearm fractures in children, yielding a sensitivity of 94.7% and specificity of 93.5%.
Researchers used extensive interviewing and focus group methods to explore asthma treatment goals. A three-step qualitative process identifies patient-relevant concepts, ranks them, and refines assessment questions for concept measurement. The study suggests assessing symptom improvement, medication access, medication use, and asthma k...
A study found that children with suspected appendicitis receive better diagnostic evaluation and reduced radiation exposure when ultrasound services are available 24/7. Hospitals can improve care by adding in-house coverage for ultrasound.
A new study validates the Ottawa Heart Failure Risk Scale (OHFRS) as a reliable predictor of serious adverse events in acute heart failure patients. The OHFRS, combined with NT-ProBNP blood test results, improves prediction accuracy, enabling safer hospital discharge decisions and reducing unnecessary admissions.
A study published in Academic Emergency Medicine found that lung ultrasound enhances pretest risk stratification for pulmonary embolism, detecting alternative diagnoses such as pneumonia or pleural effusion. This improves diagnostic accuracy and reduces unnecessary radiation exposure.
A study published in Academic Emergency Medicine found that physicians consistently underestimate ACS risk for women and minorities, despite objective assessments suggesting higher risk. The study suggests that the ED evaluation of chest pain has become protocolized, immune to unconscious bias.