Articles tagged with Emergency Medicine
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 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 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 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 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 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 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.
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 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 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.
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.
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.
Contact lens wearers are advised to remove their lenses before sleeping to avoid microbial keratitis, a potentially serious infection. Proper eye care is crucial to prevent such health issues.
Researchers urge employers to integrate mental health first aid into a broader system of support for employees. The Institution of Occupational Safety and Health recommends a 'prevention first' approach that tackles root causes of mental health issues through good management and organizational culture.
A new care model at Nemours Children's Hospital reduces the use of medication for children with autism spectrum disorders in emergency visits. The REACH Program uses distraction objects and rewards to manage anxiety and agitation, leading to improved patient experiences.
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 nationwide study of cardiac arrests found ambulances took nearly four minutes longer to handle calls from low-income areas than high-income communities. The study highlights the importance of ensuring access to care for vulnerable populations.
A new study found that transfusions of packed red blood cells stored for 22 days or more are associated with a 5% increase in mortality risk in trauma patients. The study suggests that patients who require massive transfusions may benefit from receiving fresh stored packed red blood cells, or those stored for 14 days or less.
A systematic review of 15 studies found no strong evidence to support the effectiveness and safety of diverting low-need patients from emergency departments. The strategy was also not effective in reducing subsequent use of emergency care services.
A UK population-based study found nearly one in five ICU survivors die within one year after discharge. Increased hospital use before and after ICU stay is associated with a higher risk of death, along with older age, multiple medical conditions, and organizational factors indicating high system stress.
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.
Hands-Only CPR training kiosks are effective in teaching life-saving skills in minutes, increasing bystander intervention and improving survival rates. The study found that kiosk sessions outperformed video-only sessions in raising awareness and teaching techniques.
A study analyzed over 100,000 Yelp reviews to identify key themes in emergency department and urgent care center ratings. Emergency departments received high marks for bedside manner but low marks for speed of care, while urgent care centers excelled in ease of prescription refills but struggled with patient confidence.
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...
Research suggests that the Affordable Care Act's Medicaid expansion helped low-income families access more comprehensive care, leading to a significant drop in emergency department visits by uninsured patients in Illinois. The study found a 40% reduction in uncompensated care in emergency departments between 2009 and 2015.
A study by Brigham and Women's Hospital found that 15.7% of emergency department visits could be denied coverage based on discharge diagnoses. Patients may face difficulties self-determining their medical needs, highlighting the need for alternative solutions.
Research shows ALD patients have worse outcomes in intensive care unit (ICU) with lower survival rates and higher risk of emergency hospital admissions. The study emphasizes the need for better community services for alcohol addiction and management of long-term conditions.
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 recent study published in the Emergency Medicine Journal found that simply eyeballing patients may be more effective than using a formal structured assessment to prioritize those who are the sickest. The researchers compared the triage decisions made by experienced nurses and phlebotomists with medical students, finding that basic cl...
A study published in CMAJ found that immigrant and refugee youth are more likely to visit emergency departments for new mental health issues, highlighting gaps in access to outpatient mental health care. The study suggests that barriers to primary care services, including language and cultural differences, contribute to this issue.
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.
Boston Medical Center (BMC) is leading a $3.2M education program to educate hospital providers on how to counsel women about contraception use, particularly long-acting reversible contraception methods. The program aims to improve birth control options for pregnant women and reduce unwanted pregnancies.