Articles tagged with Emergency Medicine
A study found that 9% of patients with acute pain conditions continued opioid use 3 months after discharge from the emergency department. Most patients used opioids to manage initial or new pain, not misuse. The study highlights the need for non-narcotic methods to treat acute pain and further research on chronic pain mechanisms.
Conversion therapy practices cause significant harm, including depression, suicidal thoughts, and economic burdens. Physicians advocate for education reform to better identify patients who underwent or may be undergoing conversion therapy.
A randomized controlled trial found that ultrasound-guided IV line placement increased first-attempt success rates to 85.4% compared to traditional methods at 45.8%. Children's Hospital of Philadelphia researchers report a significant reduction in needle sticks and improved patient satisfaction.
The updated guideline prioritizes early diagnosis, prompt intervention, and reduced unnecessary tests to improve patient outcomes. Enhanced emphasis on patient education and shared decision-making aims to optimize care for patients with sudden sensorineural hearing loss.
The American College of Emergency Physicians warns that generic mobile phone chargers can cause serious injuries, including burns and electrocutions. Teens and adolescents are particularly at risk due to their frequent mobile device use.
A new study published in Annals of Emergency Medicine found that 15.5% of in-flight medical emergencies involve children, with one in six cases requiring additional care. Parents can take steps to avoid emergencies by carrying their child's medicine on the plane and being mindful of potential health issues.
A new study found that having an intensive care unit within the emergency department improved care and survival rates for all emergency department patients. The study, which examined Michigan Medicine's own EC3 unit, observed a decrease in mortality rates and ICU admissions among emergency department patients.
A study by Duke University researchers found that children's common ailments like vomiting and fever require pediatric versions of therapies, which are often lacking in airline first-aid kits. Most incidents were handled by flight crew members, but parents should carry on medications for their children to ensure prompt treatment.
A new study found that women and racial/ethnic minorities are underrepresented in US emergency medical services, with less than a quarter of newly certified paramedics being female. The gaps are more pronounced among paramedics, who provide critical invasive interventions and make complex decisions.
A national study reveals children without insurance are 3.3 times more likely to be transferred for mental health emergencies than those with private insurance. The study highlights inequities in care based on insurance coverage, creating additional burdens on the patient, family, and healthcare system.
A new study published in PLOS Medicine found that intranasal sufentanil is non-inferior to IV morphine for acute severe trauma pain, offering a faster and more convenient alternative. The study involved 136 patients who received either intranasal sufentanil or IV morphine, with similar pain relief results at 30 minutes.
A new study from Michigan Medicine found that nearly 12% of patients with acute ankle sprain injuries filled an opioid prescription within seven days of diagnosis. Additionally, 8.4% of individuals who had not previously taken opioids were prescribed them three months after the original diagnosis.
A multicenter study found that antibiotic stewardship interventions can significantly reduce overuse of antibiotics for viral acute respiratory infections. By implementing a bundle of evidence-based strategies, institutions can cut antibiotic overuse by one-third, even among high-performing systems.
A study published in Academic Emergency Medicine found that pediatric emergency medicine physicians are at risk for developing compassion fatigue, burnout, and low compassion satisfaction. The researchers recommend improving interpersonal relationships, work environment, and self-care to enhance provider well-being and patient care.
An observational study found caregiver depression associated with more emergency department visits for patients with dementia, including a 0.7 increase in visits per person-year. Caregivers with depression had higher rates of ED use (1.5 vs. 0.8 visits) compared to those without depression.
A study of 456 acute gout patients found that over 28% received opioid prescriptions, with many lasting longer than the typical gout attack. Diabetes and prior opioid use increased the likelihood of receiving opioids.
A large study found that people with both physical illnesses and mental disorders experience a significant increase in frequent visits to emergency departments, compared to those with multiple physical illnesses or mental illness alone. This synergy between physical multimorbidity and mental disorders can lead to a greater impact on pu...
A new study published in Annals of Emergency Medicine highlights the potential for emergency departments to reduce low-value imaging tests and associated costs. By analyzing data from a statewide quality network, researchers estimate that implementing benchmark standards could avoid $3.8 million in annual spending on unnecessary care.
The M-RISE program aims to develop innovative therapies to prevent brain damage caused by cardiac arrest, with a focus on early treatments delivered by bystanders and first responders. The program will explore neuroprotective agents and strategies to improve survival rates and outcomes for patients affected by cardiac arrest.
A new study by Carnegie Mellon University researchers found that repeat ER users in states with Medicaid expansion shifted their use of the ED toward more severe conditions requiring hospitalization. The study also found a similar increase for illnesses not easily avoided by outpatient care.
A UC Davis study found that educating physicians and patients about safe antibiotic use can reduce overuse by one-third. The study compared two approaches, including educational materials and on-site physician champions, and found significant reductions in inappropriate antibiotic treatment.
A study by Regenstrief Institute researchers found that only 30% of patients reported having some form of advance directive, but only 16% had one on file in their electronic medical record. This lack of documentation can lead to complex situations for care providers and loved ones.
A new study found that 64,686 children under five were treated in US emergency departments for personal care product injuries from 2002 to 2016. Most injuries occurred when children ingested or exposed themselves to these products, leading to poisonings and chemical burns.
A new study by Johns Hopkins researchers found that five-star hospitals offer fewer services compared to non-five star hospitals. Five-star hospitals are less likely to have emergency departments, intensive care units, and other specialized services.
A study by Children's National Hospital found that only 54.1% of teenagers diagnosed with chlamydia or PID filled their prescribed antimicrobial treatments, highlighting barriers to treatment adherence for this high-risk population.
The policy statement recommends optimizing stroke systems of care with standardized triage protocols, public education initiatives, and comprehensive post-stroke care. The goal is to maximize patient outcomes in acute stroke care, addressing disparities among racial and ethnic minorities.
At SAEM 2019, experts like Rebecca Cunningham emphasized the need for gun safety beyond 'gun control', focusing on injury prevention. Meanwhile, a study found opportunities to reduce over-testing in emergency departments through data analysis and targeted quality improvement initiatives.
Northeast Ohio Medical University has received a $500,000 grant from the Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services to collaborate with other Ohio medical schools on developing a comprehensive curriculum for pain management and opioid use disorder treatment. The project aims to improve systems of prevention and treatment f...
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.
Researchers found that certain surgeries, such as colorectal and cardiovascular surgeries, increase the likelihood of patients continuing to refill opioid prescriptions. Generalist nurse practitioners and physician assistants may also be overprescribing opioids, suggesting a need for education and better oversight.
A new model developed by the Regenstrief Institute provides chaplains with a framework to deliver better care to families of patients in intensive care settings. The Spiritual Care Assessment and Intervention (SCAI) framework helps chaplains provide proactive, semi-structured spiritual care to meet family members' needs.
A study by Johns Hopkins Medicine researcher Junaid Razzak found a 6% increase in deaths due to emergency conditions between 1990 and 2015. The mortality burden was highest in low-income countries, with injuries, heart attacks, lung infections, and strokes being the top causes.
A team at Vanderbilt University is developing 'safe harbor' standards of care based on scientific evidence to reduce defensive medicine and its consequences. The project aims to lower healthcare costs, improve quality of care, and decrease patient exposure to radiation.
A New Zealand-Australian study has found that using two anti-convulsant medications one after the other can increase the success rate of stopping prolonged seizures in children by up to 75%. This breakthrough treatment may halve the number of children ventilated and sent to intensive care, improving their chances of recovery.
A new study found that children who had telemedicine visits for acute respiratory infections were more likely to receive antibiotics than those who visited primary care offices or urgent care centers. The use of unnecessary antibiotics during these visits may contribute to antibiotic resistance.
Researchers found that uninsured and Medicaid patients are more likely to be transferred from emergency departments, discharged without admission, or admitted to hospitals with limited critical care services. Financial incentives for hospitals may contribute to these disparities in access to acute hospital care.
Research finds that student loan forgiveness incentives influence new doctors' choice of specialty, with 35% of top-debt-quartile physicians practicing in primary care after using loan forgiveness programs. The article emphasizes the need to expand these programs to address the growing shortage of primary care physicians.
The Jim and Julie Cardwell Fund has gifted $750,000 to Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center El Paso to establish an endowed chair in neurology. The chair will be supported by a $1.5 million fund, aiming to increase the number of neurologists available for the El Paso community.
A new ICU model, called LOTUS, has been developed by Rutgers and RWJBarnabas Health System to improve patient care. The model prioritizes patient-centered care, empowering social workers to address underlying issues that lead to health emergencies.
A study found that pharmacists in accident and emergency departments can provide overall clinical care to patients, taking on roles such as examining and diagnosing patients. With their medicines expertise, they fill gaps in doctor and nurse practitioner rotas.
The UK is failing to provide universal health coverage to undocumented child migrants by charging them for healthcare, contravening the UN Convention on Rights of the Child and Sustainable Development Goals. The policy has led to poor health outcomes, underuse of services, and obstacles in identifying children at risk.
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 simple method to measure continuity of care has been developed, showing benefits for patients, including lower mortality rates. The new St Leonards Index tracks continuity on a monthly basis in practices with personal patient list systems, aiming to help GPs improve continuity and patient care.
A study led by McMaster University found that providing additional health-care services to help heart failure patients transition from hospital to home does not improve their outcome. Despite this, patients receiving the intervention reported improvements in discharge preparedness and quality of life.
A study by University of Pennsylvania researchers found that patients' words, such as 'told', frequently convey frustrations with poor communication. These feelings are strongly associated with low ratings and negative reviews.
A Canadian Medical Association Journal study found that women are less likely than men to receive geriatric care during hospitalization for emergency hip surgery. Women from low-income neighborhoods and those with dementia were also excluded from receiving anesthesiology consultations before surgery.
A Queensland-based Research Support Network, launched in 2015, significantly increased the number of active research projects among emergency departments from 36 to 144. The program also led to a fourfold increase in collaborative projects and a tripling of research ideas aimed at patient care.
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.
Geriatric frequent users are more likely to have multiple chronic conditions and require more resources and medical interventions. The most common conditions among these patients include diabetes, kidney disease, and congestive heart failure.
Americans with primary care receive more recommended cancer screenings, flu shots, and reported better patient experience compared to those without. Primary care also leads to better overall healthcare access.
A study by Vanderbilt University Medical Center found that freestanding emergency departments (FSEDs) charge significantly more than urgent care centers, even with lower annual patient volumes. FSEDs experienced a decrease in patient volume between 29.5% and 94.8% after converting from urgent care centers.
A study published in the Emergency Medicine Journal found that paramedics' hand hygiene compliance is remarkably low, with only 15% of instances adhering to recommended standards. The over-reliance on gloves indicates a tendency towards self-protection rather than patient protection.
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 new clinical review recommends medication-assisted treatment for patients experiencing opioid withdrawal, which can help ease them into longer-term treatment and recovery. Buprenorphine is the preferred medication for most patients, particularly in emergency department settings.
A novel online questionnaire found that most CFS patients do not receive proper care in EDs, with only a third receiving appropriate treatment. Researchers call for more training on the disorder to improve patient outcomes.
A study found that nearly one-third of non-urgent ED visits in Ontario can be managed by pharmacists with an expanded scope of practice, reducing crowdedness and free up resources for more acute cases. The most frequent ED cases that could be managed include skin-related concerns and other minor conditions.
Researchers developed a new guideline to safely discharge patients who have received naloxone for suspected opioid overdose. The study found that most adverse events occurred in patients with normal examinations, suggesting the current one-hour observation period is sufficient.
Studies from Massachusetts General Hospital examine the presence of pediatric areas in EDs and use of telemedicine for pediatric emergency care. An intervention increased the appointment of Pediatric Emergency Care Coordinators in Massachusetts EDs, a key step to improve pediatric emergency care.