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Drones could speed up delivery of automated external defibrillators to patients suffering cardiac arrest

A new study found that drones can significantly reduce the time between cardiac arrest reporting and defibrillation, particularly in rural and congested areas. By combining fixed AEDs with drones, access times can be reduced by up to 3.76 minutes, with over 95% of cases covered within five minutes.

SourceEuropean Society for Emergency Medicine (EUSEM)·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateSep 25, 2026

Violence against emergency workers is increasing: hospital overcrowding is a major contributor

A survey of 1,300 health professionals worldwide reveals that 75.5% have witnessed violence, with patients and relatives being the main perpetrators. The study highlights overcrowding as a significant contributor to violence, with many respondents reporting psychological harm and diminished quality of care.

SourceEuropean Society for Emergency Medicine (EUSEM)·JournalEuropean Journal of Emergency Medicine·TypeSurvey·DateSep 24, 2026

Study shows how risk of death rises with rate of overcrowding and corridor care in hospital emergency department

Research found that emergency department overcrowding increases patient mortality by one percent for every ten percent increase in occupancy. The study also linked corridor care to increased risk of deaths, highlighting the need for policy makers and hospital managers to prioritize emergency care.

Lessons from 7 October for European mass casualty planning

A study from Linköping University highlights the importance of regular drills, staff safety, and communication systems in mass casualty planning. The research shows that staff training exercises enable staff to work automatically during crises, while staff safety is crucial to prevent attacks on staff and ensure system effectiveness.

SourceLinköping University·JournalDisaster Medicine and Public Health Preparedness·DateSep 21, 2026

University of Cincinnati emergency medicine physicians safely eliminate thousands of unnecessary CT scans

A targeted quality improvement campaign by University of Cincinnati emergency medicine physicians safely reduced unnecessary head and cervical spine CT scans in low-risk trauma patients, saving patients $6.2 million in healthcare costs and avoiding significant radiation exposure. The campaign, which included continuing education sessio...

SourceUniversity of Cincinnati·JournalWestern Journal of Emergency Medicine·TypeSystematic review·DateSep 18, 2026

Drug decriminalization in BC reduced police encounters for drug possession, with no changes in drug-related deaths

A 5-year study in BC found that decriminalization reduced police encounters for drug possession by 39% without changes in overdose deaths or hospitalizations. The partial recriminalization period also saw declines in drug-related hospitalizations and overdose deaths, but similar trends were seen in other parts of Canada.

SourceCanadian Medical Association Journal·JournalCanadian Medical Association Journal·TypeObservational study·DateSep 14, 2026

Rapid response to heat waves: Using electronic health records to protect patients in near-real time

Researchers analyzed 8.1 million emergency department visits to identify the most at-risk patients during heat waves, offering a near-real-time opportunity to implement protective measures. The study suggests that delays in identifying those most at-risk are no longer necessary, and timely evidence is increasingly essential for effecti...

SourceBoston University School of Public Health·JournalNature Health·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateAug 31, 2026

Waiting for a bed, but not for care: Emergency department boarding study finds wide variation in handoffs

A new study found that 23% of emergency department boarding patients wait at least 4 hours before receiving inpatient-quality care, with some patients waiting 12 or 24 hours. The study highlights the importance of efficient handoffs from emergency to inpatient care, particularly for vulnerable populations.

SourceMichigan Medicine - University of Michigan·JournalJAMA·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateAug 17, 2026

What October 7 taught hospitals about preparing for modern warfare

A new study of an Israeli hospital's response to the October 7 attacks reveals critical gaps in communication, staffing, logistics, and casualty distribution. The findings offer practical lessons that could help hospitals worldwide prepare for prolonged armed conflicts and other large-scale emergencies.

SourceThe Hebrew University of Jerusalem·JournalDisaster Medicine and Public Health Preparedness·TypeObservational study·DateJul 27, 2026

Scheduling surgeons: UMass Amherst researchers identify factors that could influence hospital efficiency

A study at Baystate Medical Center identified factors such as emergency surgeries, chest and heart procedures, and taxing operations affecting surgeons' schedules. These insights aim to optimize surgical scheduling, reduce waste, and improve patient outcomes.

SourceUniversity of Massachusetts Amherst·JournalJournal of the American Medical Informatics Association·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateJun 25, 2026

JMIR report: Can digital twins fix hospital patient bottlenecks?

The report highlights the operational wins of health systems utilizing digital twin technology, including reduced ER wait times, increased patient throughput, and optimized surgical blocks. Successful deployment depends on data integrity and a shared definition of reality across the organization.

SourceJMIR Publications·JournalJournal of Medical Internet Research·TypeCommentary/editorial·DateApr 27, 2026

University of Cincinnati works with local paramedics to advance sudden cardiac arrest research

A University of Cincinnati study proves the feasibility and scalability of collecting blood from patients in cardiac arrest during treatment. The approach, which involves paramedics delivering samples to a biorepository, showed significant variation among patients and underscores the need for further research.

SourceUniversity of Cincinnati·JournalPrehospital Emergency Care·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateApr 24, 2026

As hospital assaults rise, VR training steps in

A 20-minute VR training session improved nursing students' confidence in managing aggressive patients, with a statistically significant improvement found in their confidence levels. The study's findings highlight the potential for immersive technology to strengthen frontline healthcare skills quickly and effectively.

SourceEdith Cowan University·JournalTeaching and Learning in Nursing·TypeExperimental study·DateMar 11, 2026

An abnormally slow heart rate is associated with xylazine-fentanyl overdose; primarily seen in northeastern United States

Researchers identified bradycardia as a symptom of xylazine-opioid overdose, particularly in the Northeast, where xylazine is more prevalent. This finding may aid emergency medicine physicians in detecting xylazine exposure and providing harm reduction counseling.

SourceThe Mount Sinai Hospital / Mount Sinai School of Medicine·JournalAddiction·TypeMeta-analysis·DateJan 13, 2026

America doesn’t have enough hospital beds. This could help.

A new study from Michigan Medicine found that its data-driven command center increased hospital bed use efficiency by 63%, reducing emergency department boarding time by 33% and patient transfers by 13%. The initiative also streamlined discharge processes, resulting in a 12% drop in waiting times for patients ready to leave the hospital.

SourceMichigan Medicine - University of Michigan·JournalNEJM Catalyst·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateDec 5, 2025

Older adults who see the same primary care physician have fewer preventable hospitalizations

A machine learning-based study found that older adults who see the same primary care physician have significantly fewer preventable hospitalizations. The 11-year study linked survey responses and medical records, revealing a 9.8-23.5% lower probability of acute preventable hospitalizations with higher continuity of care.

SourceAmerican Academy of Family Physicians·JournalThe Annals of Family Medicine·DateNov 24, 2025

Hypnosis can make ventilation masks more acceptable to patients with breathing problems

A pilot study found that hypnosis significantly improved patients' tolerance of masks, allowing them to breathe more comfortably. The study showed a substantial improvement in non-invasive ventilation (NIV) tolerance, reduced agitation, and lower requirements for sedation and anti-anxiety medication.

SourceEuropean Society for Emergency Medicine (EUSEM)·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateSep 28, 2025

Unplanned, premature, out-of-hospital births pose challenges for emergency team

In a first-of-its-kind study, researchers found that unplanned, premature births outside hospitals in Austria posed significant challenges for emergency teams. The study identified key findings on how to improve outcomes for mothers and newborns, including the importance of standardised protocols, training, and equipment availability.

SourceEuropean Society for Emergency Medicine (EUSEM)·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateSep 28, 2025

Emergency medicine workers report job satisfaction, though burnout and staff retention remain major problems

The survey found that while job satisfaction was generally positive, with an average score of 25.37 out of 36, career development opportunities, work organisation, and workload received relatively low scores. Nurses and paramedics reported higher satisfaction levels than physicians, particularly in workload and organisational aspects.

SourceEuropean Society for Emergency Medicine (EUSEM)·JournalEuropean Journal of Emergency Medicine·TypeSurvey·DateSep 27, 2025

Deaths rose after hospitals were acquired by private equity

A nationwide study found patient death rates increased in emergency departments of U.S. hospitals acquired by private equity firms, with staffing cuts and salary reductions proposed as likely explanations. The researchers also found transfers of patients to other hospitals and shortened stays in intensive care units.

SourceHarvard Medical School·JournalAnnals of Internal Medicine·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateSep 22, 2025

Thousands of kids in mental health crisis are stuck for days in hospital emergency rooms, study finds

A new study found that over 1 in 10 Medicaid-enrolled youths experiencing a mental health crisis are kept in hospital emergency rooms for three to seven days. The research highlights the shortage of appropriate care in Oregon and nationwide, with experts warning that boarding kids can worsen their conditions and demoralize families.

SourceOregon Health & Science University·JournalJAMA Health Forum·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateAug 15, 2025

AI could help emergency rooms predict admissions, driving more timely, effective care

A multi-hospital study by the Mount Sinai Health System found that AI can accurately predict hospital admissions hours earlier than current methods. The machine learning model performed reliably across diverse hospital settings, suggesting that it can support decision-making on the front lines of care.

SourceThe Mount Sinai Hospital / Mount Sinai School of Medicine·JournalMayo Clinic Proceedings Digital Health·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateAug 11, 2025

Free AI tools can help doctors read medical scans—safely and affordably

A new study from the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus shows that free, open-source AI tools can help doctors report medical scans just as well as more expensive commercial systems without compromising patient privacy. The research highlights a promising and cost-effective alternative to widely known tools like ChatGPT.

SourceUniversity of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus·Journalnpj Digital Medicine·DateJul 23, 2025

Adaptive spine board could revolutionize ER transport

Researchers at UTA and UT Southwestern Medical School developed an adaptive spine board overlay that redistributes pressure more effectively than traditional evacuation surfaces. The device features sensor-driven pressure modulation and autonomously adjusts air-cell pressure to maintain optimal distribution for each patient.

SourceUniversity of Texas at Arlington·JournalJournal of Rehabilitation and Assistive Technologies Engineering·TypeExperimental study·DateJul 7, 2025

Special issue of Journal of Intensive Medicine analyzes non-invasive respiratory support

A special issue of Journal of Intensive Medicine provides key insights into selecting optimal non-invasive respiratory support strategies for AHRF, featuring review articles and original research. The collection offers guidance on the efficacy of HFNC, CPAP, NIV, and awake prone positioning to improve patient outcomes.

SourceJournal of Intensive Medicine·JournalJournal of Intensive Medicine·DateJul 3, 2025

Too many medicines, too many hospital visits: New study highlights hidden risk for older adults

A new study from the University of Bath found that inappropriate polypharmacy is a major driver of emergency hospital admissions among adults aged 65 and over. The researchers developed a digital tool to proactively identify older adults at risk of medication-related harm, which could reduce preventable emergency hospitalisations.

SourceUniversity of Bath·JournalAge and Ageing·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateJul 1, 2025