Articles tagged with Emergency Rooms
A new study reveals that over 17 million US children lack access to specialized trauma care within an hour, with the largest gaps in rural areas. Establishing guidelines and maintaining an inventory of pediatric trauma centers could improve fragmented access to life-saving care.
A study by Michael L. Nance and colleagues identified 170 verified pediatric trauma centers in the US, with estimated access ranging from 22.9% in rural areas to 93.5% in urban areas. The authors estimate that 17.4 million children would not have access to a center within 60 minutes.
A study found that 14% of young adults (16-50 years old) with stroke symptoms were misdiagnosed in ERs, leading to delayed treatment and potential paralysis and speech problems. Accurate diagnosis is critical to reduce disability and improve outcomes.
A study published in New England Journal of Medicine found that most children with RSV infections between 1 and 5 years old were previously healthy and had no other risk factors. The study estimates that about 1 in 334 hospitalizations, 1 in 38 emergency department visits, and 1 in 13 primary care office visits occur due to RSV infection.
Researchers found that hospitalist interventions can significantly reduce emergency room crowding, with a 6% decrease in ambulance diversion. Additionally, the study highlights the importance of physician communication through apology laws, which may improve doctor-patient relationships and increase patient satisfaction.
A new study predicts a severe shortage of general surgeons in US hospitals by 2010, with the number of available surgeons failing to keep pace with public demand. The shortage is expected to worsen over time, leading to longer wait times for emergency treatment and elective surgeries.
Ambulance diversions from NYC emergency rooms are associated with increased heart attack deaths due to delayed treatment and longer wait times. The study found a significant association between time on diversion and increased mortality resulting from acute myocardial infarction.
The minimally invasive endograft procedure enables doctors to fix the artery without making an incision, reducing blood loss and recovery time. This innovative approach has evolved treatment options for blunt aortic injury, stabilizing the injured artery and offering a life-saving option for patients with multiple traumatic injuries.
Researchers will conduct a two-year clinical trial at multiple trauma centers to analyze data on vital signs, blood transfusions, and medications. The goal is to improve mortality rates and develop standards for transfusion ratios.
A recent study found that elderly trauma patients are undertriaged and less likely to be transported to trauma centers compared to younger patients. The study suggests that unconscious age bias among emergency medical services personnel may contribute to this disparity.
A U-M study found that three-quarters of ER patients leave with a misunderstanding of their diagnosis, treatment, and post-visit instructions. Patients often reported feeling confident despite lacking understanding, highlighting the need for improved communication between ER teams and patients.
Researchers discovered a three percent higher incidence of visits for asthma attacks on days following thunderstorms in the metro Atlanta area. The study, published in Thorax, could lead to improved intervention strategies and emergency services planning.
Researchers found that airbag use significantly reduces injuries to the brain, face, spine, and chest; lowers in-hospital mortality rates, injury severity, and hospital-acquired infections. The study suggests optimal airbag use could lead to cost savings for trauma centers.
Level I trauma centers have different survival rates for patients with similar injuries, with some centers achieving as high as 99% survival rate and others only 35%. This disparity may be due to variations in resources and processes.
A study published in the Journal of the American College of Surgeons reveals that community hospitals are transferring more patients to trauma centers for non-medical reasons. The majority of these patients have minor injuries, but this trend threatens to limit resources and increase system costs.
A study found that trauma centers upgraded to Level 1 designation had lower death rates compared to those designated as Level 2. Severely injured patients admitted to Level 1 centers had significantly reduced mortality rates, suggesting improved protocols and care may be key to saving lives.
A new study found that black and Hispanic patients are less likely to receive strong pain drugs in emergency rooms, despite increased opioid use. Non-opioid pain relievers were prescribed more often to non-whites than whites.
Two studies examine triage guidelines for emergency heart patients and find that those who followed the guidelines had similar outcomes to those who did not. However, low-risk patients who were discharged after receiving standard treatment had a small risk of developing acute coronary syndrome in the long term.
A six-year study found that higher unemployment rates were associated with more penetrating trauma admissions, while lower unemployment rates correlated with increased blunt trauma admissions. The authors suggest that socioeconomic status and demographics play a role in the types of trauma admissions.
A study of 314 low-income Indiana residents with heart failure found that pharmacist-led patient-centered care resulted in patients taking their medications 16% more consistently. This approach also reduced emergency room visits and hospitalizations by 19%, saving the healthcare system $14 in costs for every dollar spent.
A new study reveals that contrast-enhanced 64-MDCT can accurately diagnose acute trauma to the aorta without the need for invasive catheter angiography. This eliminates the need for mobilizing an angiography team, allowing treatment to begin immediately after diagnosis.
A study has identified rural individuals who frequently visit trauma centers for separate injuries, with substance abuse being the common thread. These recidivists are more likely to be older, white, and female, and have higher rates of positive blood alcohol screening results.
A UCLA study found that most homeless youths sought healthcare for sexually transmitted diseases and reproductive health, regardless of their housing situation. The study also showed that males who remained homeless were more likely to seek emergency room treatment for traumatic injuries.
A nationwide study found that motor vehicle crashes and rider behavior are the leading causes of nonfatal school bus-related injuries in the US. Children aged 10-14 suffered the most injuries, accounting for 42% of total incidents.
A Stanford University School of Medicine study found that napping improved mood, alertness and performance in doctors and nurses who worked night shifts. The study's results showed that a short nap break reduced fatigue, sleepiness and performance lapses.
A study conducted by the University of Maryland Medical Center found acute diverticulitis affecting younger patients, often those who are obese. The condition, typically associated with older adults, is linked to a low-fiber diet and increased abdominal pressure, leading to inflammation and potential complications.
MRSA is the most common cause of skin and soft-tissue infections among patients presenting in emergency rooms across the country, according to a UCLA study. The infection was found to be resistant to commonly used antibiotics, emphasizing the need for clinicians to culture infections and prescribe effective medications.
A Mayo Clinic study found that patients with widely fluctuating blood pressure during the first three hours in the emergency room were much less likely to survive more than 90 days after a stroke. The study suggests that managing blood pressure acutely after ischemic stroke is crucial to improve survival rates.
The study found a 25% overall decrease in the risk of death following care in a trauma center compared to non-trauma centers. Trauma centers also showed lower mortality rates for patients one year after injury.
A USC study of over 12,250 patients found that those treated at level I trauma centers had nearly a 20% lower mortality rate than those at level II centers. Patients also had better functional outcomes and were less likely to be severely disabled after discharge.
Half of high blood pressure patients reporting no medical care or guidance, despite 50 million adults affected. Guidelines for ER evaluation and management needed to address this issue.
A study of 497 emergency room patients found that repositioning during CT scans improved image quality for multiple trauma cases. By reorienting the patient's body position, artifacts caused by arms, electrodes, and cables were minimized, resulting in comparable image quality to routine imaging.
A US study finds that 84% of residents are within an hour's distance from a trauma center, with medical helicopters key to extending this access to suburban and rural areas. The researchers recommend reorganizing trauma centers, ambulances, and helicopter bases to improve access.
A study found that approximately 69% and 84% of US residents had access to level I or II trauma centers within 45 and 60 minutes, respectively. Rural areas were often without timely access to these centers, while urban areas had better access due to higher concentrations of trauma centers.
A recent study by Ohio State University found that black children are nearly eight times more likely to sustain burns or gunshot wounds, and seven times more likely to be struck by a car. However, when equally severe injuries occur, survival rates are equal, hospital stays are similar, and rehabilitation services are accessible.
A study published in Health Services Research found that patients with head injuries transferred from rural trauma centers to Level I trauma centers in Oregon and Washington had a 10% lower mortality risk. This improvement is attributed to the comprehensive care and training programs available at Level I centers.
A two-hour brief negotiation intervention was developed and taught to 58 emergency room physicians, with over 90% passing the proficiency exam. The intervention helps hazardous and harmful drinkers by raising awareness of their drinking levels, enhancing motivation to reduce drinking, and negotiating a plan of action.
A government study estimated that nearly half a million medical device injuries occur each year, with falls while using wheelchairs and walkers being the most common recorded injury type. The study suggests that the actual number of injuries may be higher due to underreporting by healthcare providers.
A study published in the Journal of Gerontology: Medical Sciences confirms that dementia is often misdiagnosed or left undiagnosed in clinical settings. Researchers found that nearly 60% of patients with mild cognitive impairment and over 70% of those with moderate-to-severe impairment experienced adverse events, yet only a small perce...
A UCLA study found that providing Head Start parents with easy-to-understand health-care guidance can lead to significant reductions in emergency room and clinic visits, resulting in cost savings for Medicaid. The study showed a 48% reduction in unnecessary ER visits and a 37.5% decrease in clinic visits for routine illnesses.
Researchers at UCSD found that blood pressure measurements vary significantly depending on the arm position used. The study measured blood pressure in 100 emergency room patients and found systolic and diastolic pressures to be lower with arms perpendicular to the body than parallel to it, affecting hypertension classifications.
A study analyzing data from over 56,000 U.S. patients found that almost two out of three received glycoprotein IIb/IIIa inhibitors within the first 24 hours, resulting in a 2.7% in-hospital death rate compared to 4.7%. The researchers emphasized the importance of aggressive treatment protocols and adherence to established guidelines.
A recent study found that two-thirds of referring physicians had a suspected diagnosis before CT scans were ordered. The scan confirmed the diagnosis in 50-60% of cases. However, one-quarter of CT scans revealed diagnoses not considered based on symptoms. Abdominal CT is being used more often for appendicitis and other diseases.
A recent study reveals that emergency room physicians often fail to inform patients about the risks and benefits of radiology procedures, including abdominal pelvic CT scans. The study found that only 22% of physicians accurately explained the radiation dose, while 74% underestimated it.
The study found that despite an increase in the number of trauma centers, many communities still lack access to adequate trauma care, particularly in rural areas. The inventory revealed a significant disparity in the distribution of trauma centers across the country, with level I and II centers concentrated in metropolitan areas.
A new study from UT Southwestern Medical Center has established criteria for safely treating patients with cocaine-associated chest pain. The study found that patients who did not show evidence of heart-muscle damage or cardiovascular complications during a 12-hour observation period had a low risk of death or other problems in the 30 ...
A study examining ambulance transport data in Toronto found that diversion can cause important delays for critically ill patients. The researchers used data from 3609 patients with chest pain in 1997 and 1999 to show a 28.4% increase in transport intervals during periods of high overcrowding.
A large prospective study found no significant difference in functional outcomes between patients who undergo reconstructive surgery and those who have a leg amputated. Both groups experienced high levels of disability and psychological distress two years post-treatment.
A recent study found that 2% of heart attack patients treated with thrombolytics had medical conditions that should have ruled them out, resulting in poorer outcomes. These patients were three times more likely to die and eight times more likely to experience bleeding complications.
Hospitals have made significant progress in improving stroke treatment, reducing CT scan interpretation time from an average of 219 minutes to 115 minutes, and increasing tPA treatment administration. Training and organizational improvements have enabled rapid response 'stroke teams' to diagnose and treat patients effectively.
Researchers at St. Paul's Hospital in Vancouver developed a care plan to address patients who frequently visit emergency departments with conditions treatable in community settings. The program involved social workers, physicians, and nurses, reducing hospital visits by 71%.
Emergency room physicians demonstrate similar door-to-needle time and outcomes as neurologists in treating acute stroke patients. The study's results show that ER physicians can safely administer clot-busting treatments within minutes of a patient's arrival.
A new study found that brief ER counseling significantly reduces teen drinking and related problems. After six months, counseled teens had 32% fewer drinking and driving incidents and 50% fewer alcohol-related injuries compared to those who received standard treatment.
A study published in JAMA found that injured patients have a much higher death rate after leaving the hospital than the general population. This suggests that deaths after discharge should be included in any meaningful analysis of a trauma center's quality to get an accurate picture of its success.
A study by Columbia University Irving Medical Center reveals that inner-city asthma patients often rely on emergency rooms due to insufficient disease management. The research highlights the urgent need for comprehensive asthma intervention in Harlem, targeting community health workers to educate and support patients.