Articles tagged with Emergency Medicine
The Federal Communications Commission awarded UVA Health a $767,139 grant to expand its use of telehealth for patient care during the COVID-19 pandemic. The funding will support remote patient monitoring, virtual urgent care, and videoconferencing to reduce exposure for patients and care providers.
Children with diabetes, sepsis, and cancer were most commonly involved in 'delayed presentations' in emergency care during the pandemic lockdown. The survey found that nearly 60% of paediatricians reported seeing such cases, highlighting an urgent need for improved public health messaging.
The study found a significant drop in EMS calls, but a corresponding doubling in EMS-attended deaths, highlighting the severity of non-COVID-19 emergencies during the pandemic. The trend persists despite easing pandemic restrictions, indicating ongoing concerns about accessing healthcare.
A recent study analyzing nearly 38,000 test results revealed a positivity rate among Latinx populations approximately three times higher than other racial and ethnic groups. Researchers attribute the disparities to socially and economically marginalized factors such as crowded living conditions and essential worker status.
A University of Melbourne-led study developed a world-first framework that identifies health practitioners' readiness to address family violence. The CATCH model highlights five vital themes: Commitment, Advocacy, Trust, Collaboration, and Health system support.
A recent study published in Academic Emergency Medicine identified common barriers to using risk stratification tools for evaluating pulmonary embolism in emergency departments. The study found that provider-level factors such as risk avoidance and lack of knowledge of the tools dominated as barriers, while inner-setting factors were i...
The COVID-19 pandemic saw a dramatic drop in patients seeking care in emergency departments during March and April 2020. Social distancing measures and increased hand washing helped lower the transmission of viruses, while changes in epidemiology and healthcare policies also contributed to the decline.
A case series examines the clinical characteristics and outcomes of patients who received intervention by a COVID-19 palliative care response team. The study found that these interventions led to improved patient outcomes, including reduced mortality rates.
A study published in Critical Care Medicine reveals that the actual mortality rate of adults with critical illness from COVID-19 is lower than previously reported, at 35.7%, compared to earlier reports of a 50 percent mortality rate. About 60 percent of patients survived to hospital discharge.
Academic emergency departments have a legal, historical, and ethical obligation to provide safe evaluation and care to anyone in need. The Federal Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act (EMTALA) prohibits EDs from turning away patients, ensuring access to medical screening and care for all 120 million ED visitors annually.
The new guidelines aim to improve stroke care by speeding up treatment and preventing the spread of COVID-19. The recommendations emphasize the use of telemedicine to connect patients with UVA stroke experts before arrival at the hospital.
A study found that only 16% of commercially insured patients received timely follow-up care after an opioid overdose, with black patients being half as likely to receive treatment. The lack of care is attributed to barriers beyond insurance status and highlights the need for increased adoption of pathways to initiate buprenorphine in EDs.
Researchers found that lifestyle is the strongest factor influencing specialty choice among osteopathic medical students, with women being more likely to pursue primary care. The study suggests that osteopathic medical schools investing in female candidates may lead to an increase in primary care physicians.
A realist synthesis investigated how case management in primary care affects frequent users of healthcare services with chronic conditions. The study found that case management is an effective way to integrate all aspects of care, improving patient outcomes.
The article highlights Singapore's successful COVID-19 containment response in primary care, featuring triage, containment, and infection control measures. Additionally, it explores the benefits of routine lung cancer screenings and discusses the increasing use of artificial intelligence in primary care to improve diagnostic accuracy.
A simulated patient study in Northern California found that counties with limited new patient primary care appointments had higher rates of Medi-Cal patients' emergency room usage. Adequate access to primary care is crucial for improving health outcomes and controlling costs among Medicaid expansion beneficiaries.
UVA Health's telehealth tools improved patient care and healthcare provider safety during the Ebola outbreak. The Isolation Communication Management System (iSOCOMS) allowed doctors to provide personal, high-quality care while conserving vital PPE.
Visits for mental health disorders rose 60%, while deliberate self-harm increased 329%. The rate of substance use disorders also saw a significant rise. To address this, researchers recommend improved preparedness and screening for suicidal ideation in emergency departments.
A study by Yale researchers found that only 21% of emergency department clinicians indicated readiness to offer buprenorphine to patients with opioid use disorder. Barriers included lack of formal training, time limitations, and perceptions that initiating therapy falls outside the scope of emergency medicine.
A study of over 4 million children found that those relying on urgent care centers for more than a third of their outpatient needs had fewer visits to primary care providers, potentially missing preventative services like vaccinations. This may lead to concerning health impacts down the road if regular primary care is displaced.
Researchers used a nontoxic fluorescent solution under ultraviolet light to demonstrate the importance of proper PPE use during COVID-19 patient care. The study found that health care staff who contaminated their face or forearms during PPE removal were more likely to be exposed to the contagion.
A new study shows that financial incentives can increase the number of emergency department physicians trained to prescribe buprenorphine, a potentially life-saving medication for opioid overdose. By offering reimbursement and a $750 incentive, 89% of physicians were fully trained in six weeks.
An analysis of medical insurance claims and productivity data reveals that non-fatal US injuries result in an estimated $1,590 and 11 days off work per injured employee every year. The study found that total medical costs for emergency care visits exceed $133 billion annually.
A study by NYU Langone Health shows a massive expansion of telemedicine during the COVID-19 pandemic, with virtual urgent care visits growing by 683% and non-urgent virtual care visits increasing by 4,345%. The rapid growth was made possible by US insurers expanding coverage and state licensing relaxations.
A 12-week study involving 1,600 emergency department personnel will assess the effectiveness of practices and personal protective equipment in preventing COVID-19 acquisition. The study aims to identify key strategies for reducing transmission risk among frontline health care workers.
The Academic Emergency Medicine journal is making its latest COVID-19 research freely available in an easy-to-navigate online collection. New research will be added to the collection as soon as it is accepted and available.
The current NHS regulations for charging non-residents are poorly understood and applied by healthcare staff, leading to cases of patients being deterred from accessing care and eligible patients being incorrectly billed. Survey responses also highlight the need for independent review and training on the regulations.
A new two-year apprenticeship course will be launched to train 18 emergency and urgent care nursing associates annually, helping ensure efficient use of NHS resources. The course focuses on Urgent and Emergency care systems, combining university studies with paid employment in hospitals.
Researchers recommend conservative approach to treatment, prioritizing physical, emotional, and spiritual needs for severely ill COVID-19 patients. Palliative care teams adapt to emergency style due to resource constraints and high demand.
The Emergency Medicine Foundation is awarding research grants to advance emergency patient care and improve healthcare system responses to pandemics. Eligible applicants can apply for funding to study topics such as PPE design, telemedicine, laboratory testing, and special populations.
The Surviving Sepsis Campaign COVID-19 panel has released comprehensive guidelines for intensive care unit (ICU) patients with COVID-19, including infection control, laboratory diagnosis, and ventilator support. The guidelines were developed in just three weeks by a team of 36 experts from around the world.
An international team of experts has released 54 recommendations for caring for ICU patients with COVID-19, including guidelines on infection control, ventilation support, and therapy. The guidelines were developed in just three weeks and provide critical guidance for frontline clinicians, allied health professionals, and policy makers.
A recent observational study found that opioid-related emergency department visits and hospitalizations decreased in states that implemented the Affordable Care Act's Medicaid expansion. The study suggests that improved access to outpatient treatment has contributed to this reduction.
A new study highlights that appendicitis is often missed in emergency department visits, with a diagnosis rate of 3.8% to 15% in children and 5.9% to 23.5% in adults. The study found factors such as symptoms mislabeling, patient demographics, and diagnostic tests played a role in the missed diagnoses.
A recent survey found that most emergency physicians (over half of 1,074 respondents) encounter firearms at work annually, yet less than half feel confident in handling them. The study suggests that emergency physicians may benefit from educational interventions targeting firearms safety.
Around 1 in 20 NHS 111 calls lead to unnecessary emergency care visits, with factors like female sex and young age increasing the risk. The study analyzed 16 million calls and found that 83% of those advised against emergency care still visited within 24 hours.
A recent study by Stanford University examined the association between the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) and out-of-pocket spending among patients with traumatic injuries. The researchers found a significant increase in premium and out-of-pocket spending among patients who received care under the ACA.
Risk factors for transmission of coronavirus include flu-like symptoms, recent travel to China, and close contact with someone infected. Public health concerns highlighted by the outbreak include economic and social risks, misinformation, and anxiety-driven public behavior change.
A new study finds that ER patients rate their satisfaction with care equally for female or African-American doctors, contradicting fears about physician diversity. The study's results may alleviate concerns about quality reporting and patient biases in emergency medicine.
A study published in JAMA Network Open highlights the strain on Texas emergency departments from uninsured kidney disease patients seeking lifesaving dialysis. The researchers found that over 10,000 uninsured patients incurred $21.8 million in hospital costs for emergency dialysis treatments.
A new study finds that elder-friendly surgical care significantly improves outcomes for older patients after emergency surgery. The tailored treatment program assesses frailty, prevents infection, gets patients moving and home more quickly.
Emergency medicine physicians at MCG are equipping rural hospitals with mobile carts for remote consultation and basic diagnostic tests, guided by MCG physicians. This partnership aims to enable rural hospitals to provide higher-level emergency care, reducing transfers to larger hospitals.
The new guidelines offer 29 evidence-based recommendations for managing adult acute and acute-on-chronic liver failure in the ICU, covering cardiovascular, hematologic, pulmonary, renal, and endocrine considerations. The guidelines also highlight areas needing further research to inform clinical practice.
A new PSU study found that decreasing out-of-network primary care across all Medicare ACOs could save the system $45 million a year. Higher specialty care leakage was associated with higher costs for ACOs, driven by outpatient care and emergency room visits.
A study analyzing 9,295 patients in four Indiana hospital systems found that those with multiple ED visits, heroin use, and Medicaid or uninsured status were more likely to have future emergency department encounters. Consolidating patient information can improve risk assessment and treatment opportunities for at-risk patients.
A study published in Annals of Emergency Medicine found that cooling burns with running water decreases skin grafting requirements by over 40%, hospital admission by 35.8% and operating room treatment by 42.4%. Cool running water also accelerates healing, reducing scarring risk.
A new pilot study found that a 90-second magnetocardiography scan using CardioFlux Magnetocardiograph can help rule out coronary artery disease in patients presenting with chest pain. The test showed competitive results relative to stress testing and coronary angiography, with high specificity and negative predictive value.
A new study from George Washington University found that many dermatologists lack preparedness training for biological disasters. The survey of 200 dermatologists revealed only 28.9% received training in disaster preparedness and response.
A new study by the Keck School of Medicine of USC found that Los Angeles County's traffic conditions affect consistent access to comprehensive stroke centers (CSCs), particularly in socioeconomically disadvantaged neighborhoods. Nearly 20% of the population has intermittent access to CSCs, with many living in urban core areas.
A study by University of Alberta researchers found that virtual assistants such as Google Home and Alexa perform better than Siri and Cortana in providing accurate first aid information. However, even the top performers fell short, recognizing only 56% of topics correctly and giving accepted advice only 19% of the time.
Researchers found that modifying default settings for opioid prescriptions resulted in lower quantities prescribed. The study's findings suggest that reducing default settings can help improve prescription practices and protect patients from developing opioid addictions.
A recent case analysis published in JACEP Open reveals that vaping emergencies can be challenging to diagnose due to initial symptoms that resemble pneumonia. The study highlights the importance of accurate diagnoses, which typically involve ruling out other infections and conditions.
Researchers at UT Southwestern analyzed Medicare claims data to report no increased mortality risk in heart failure patients treated in observation units and emergency departments. The study suggests that end-of-life care transitions from hospital to post-hospitalization period may contribute to the observed increase in mortality.
A study published in Academic Emergency Medicine found that prolonged telemetry (over 12 hours) is a safe alternative to hospitalization for non-low-risk patients with syncope. The sensitivity of ECG monitoring is high, supporting the use of minimum 12-hour monitoring as a diagnostic tool.
Patients treated in a specialized resuscitation unit received faster treatment and better health outcomes, including a 36% lower risk of dying than those transferred directly to traditional intensive care units. The CCRU improved access to critical care resources and definitive surgical treatment.
A study published in Academic Emergency Medicine found that troponin testing for acute coronary syndrome (ACS) in selected elderly patients with nonspecific complaints (NCSs) may not be necessary due to a low diagnostic yield. The study revealed an elevated troponin in 20% of patients but only a 1.2% ACS rate.
A study found that Medicaid expansion under the Affordable Care Act (ACA) decreased coverage disruptions among low-income adults. The researchers estimated that half a million fewer adults experienced churning annually, leading to improved access to care and reduced emergency department visits.
A study by University of Chicago Medicine found that hospitals caring for patients in disadvantaged areas may garner lower quality scores due to social risk factors. Hospitals' ability to improve certain quality outcomes is hindered by these factors, such as income and education levels in the community.
A new study suggests freestanding emergency departments can lead to increased health-care costs and out-of-pocket spending for patients. Researchers analyzed insurance claims data from four states and found that entry of a freestanding emergency department was associated with a 3.6% increase in estimated out-of-pocket payments for emer...
Researchers found that out-of-network, non-emergency hospital costs rose rapidly from 2012 to 2017, affecting 16% of individuals with an average cost of $621. Average costs for emergency and non-emergency care increased significantly.