Articles tagged with Emergency Medicine
A new study found that many patients with traumatic brain injuries (TBI) and concussions do not receive adequate follow-up care after hospital discharge. The study revealed that approximately half of the patients saw a general practitioner, while about half were discharged without TBI educational materials.
A large-scale study found that inpatient opioid use and insufficient weaning before discharge may increase outpatient opioid prescriptions. Nearly half of patients who received opioids during hospitalization were more likely to report outpatient opioid use within 90 days.
The updated 'Hour-1 Bundle' introduces five critical steps for treating sepsis immediately upon recognition, including measuring lactate levels, performing blood cultures, and administering broad-spectrum antibiotics. This revised bundle aims to further reduce mortality rates among patients with sepsis by beginning treatment promptly.
Half of primary care patients face social challenges, leading to poorer health outcomes and reduced access to preventive services. More complex cases were associated with higher rates of ambulatory and emergency care visits.
A study analyzed 154,498 NSCLC and 27,834 SCLC patients who died on or before December 31, 2013, revealing racial-ethnic disparities in end-of-life care quality. Minority patients had higher odds of preventable medical encounters, delayed hospice referral, and aggressive chemotherapy during end-of-life.
A snapshot survey of over 120,500 US Airbnb rentals found that most properties had smoke detectors but fewer had fire extinguishers or first-aid kits. The study suggests that further investigation and intervention are needed to ensure adequate fire safety in these venues.
A study found that providing clinicians with timely and actionable feedback on their opioid prescribing data significantly decreases future opioid prescribing among those who underestimate their baseline prescribing. This intervention may help combat the opioid epidemic by addressing inaccurate provider self-awareness.
A new analysis highlights that undocumented people in certain states may get more medical help due to the current administration's effort to give states more flexibility with their health care spending. States like Florida and Texas have already received permission to increase funding for safety-net hospitals, leading to a 50-70% rise ...
The SAEM18 Annual Meeting will feature six plenary presentations on various topics in emergency medicine, including laryngeal tube vs endotracheal intubation and socioeconomic status and bronchiolitis severity. The meeting aims to advance academic emergency medicine through education, research, and advocacy.
A recent study found that paramedics using the new drug droperidol sedate patients nearly 70% quicker than those receiving midazolam, with fewer side effects. The Queensland Ambulance Service introduced droperidol in 2016 to reduce violence against paramedics.
A study published in Critical Care found that blood type O patients had a death rate of 28% after severe trauma, compared to 11% for patients with other blood types. The researchers suggest that lower levels of von Willebrand factor may be linked to higher hemorrhage rates and increased mortality.
A recent study published in CMAJ found that patients who received home care visits from nurses were more likely to visit the emergency department during the evening on the same day. The likelihood of this occurrence was greater among people with non-urgent issues and those who had not been admitted to hospital.
Patients presenting with high specificity and positive likelihood ratio for acute aortic dissection should be suspect. Findings such as hypotension, pulse deficit, or neurologic deficit are key indicators of the condition.
Project ASSERT, a peer education program at Boston Medical Center, has been awarded the American College of Physicians' Richard and Hinda Rosenthal Award. The program uses team-based counseling to provide alcohol and substance use services, education, and referral to treatment for over 60,000 patients since 1994.
A study from the University of Missouri found that electronic medical record documentation and direct patient care are the most common workflow interruptions in emergency departments, leading to increased workloads and decreased efficiency. The research suggests that changes in workflow could improve patient care and nurse productivity.
The transfer of stroke patients out of smaller community hospitals has increased significantly since 2006, with national rates doubling between 2006 and 2014. This trend highlights the need for better coordination between hospitals to determine which patients require transfer to specialized centers.
Dr. Tony Rosen, an emergency physician, was awarded the Jeffrey H. Silverstein Memorial Award for his research on programs to address elder abuse. Most programs focus on raising awareness and public education, but only a few use high-quality study designs.
A recent study published in Academic Emergency Medicine found that patients with one or more high-risk clinical features are at high risk for acute aortic dissection. The study also identified that patients with no high-risk and multiple low-risk features are at low risk for the condition.
A man developed excruciatingly painful episodic headaches after eating a Carolina Reaper, the world's hottest chilli pepper. His symptoms cleared up on their own, and a CT scan later showed that his affected arteries had returned to normal width.
A new protocol for treating fentanyl overdoses has shown that most patients can be safely discharged within two hours of arrival if given the antidote promptly. The study found that only one in nine patients required hospital admission, and complications were extremely rare.
A nationwide analysis of over 41,000 older patients found that one-third died in the hospital after receiving intubation. The study highlights the need for informed decision-making about emergency intubation for elderly patients and their families.
The Pittsburgh Atlas creates hundreds of regional referral regions to coordinate emergency and trauma care in the US, respecting geopolitical borders. The framework allows states and groups of counties to implement quality improvement programs accountable to regional performance measures.
A study found that 65% of emergency department physicians underestimated their opioid prescription rates, but rates decreased after they saw their actual data. The researchers believe this change was due to the shock of seeing the reality of their actions versus their perceptions, priming them to make a change.
Researchers have created a new tool to help clinicians diagnose appendicitis in children, reducing the use of CT scans and healthcare expenditures. The calculator uses data from ten pediatric emergency departments and independently validated results using data from a single children's hospital.
The study found that using Asthma APGAR tools reduced asthma-related emergency department, urgent care, or hospital visits by 50% and improved asthma control by 14% compared to usual care. The tools also increased adherence to National Asthma Education and Prevention Program guidelines.
A new study found that patients in primary care networks had significantly fewer emergency department visits and shorter hospital stays. The analysis of data from Alberta, Canada, suggests a province-wide program to promote team-based primary care can effectively reduce ED use.
New guidelines aim to improve care transitions for adults with DMD, emphasizing psychosocial issues, care coordination, and quality of life. Revised recommendations focus on preventing disease complications through prevention, earlier diagnosis, and better treatment.
Exertional heat stroke is a life-threatening condition in athletes that requires immediate cooling to prevent critical cell damage. The recommended treatment protocol 'cool first, transport second' prioritizes rapid cooling of the body to less than 104.5 degrees F within 30 minutes.
A study found that commonly used ICU risk scores can be adapted to provide continuous updates on the severity of illness in critically ill patients. The scores, including APACHE, SOFA, and DRS, showed good accuracy in predicting mortality risk and were more responsive to changes in patient condition.
Using an automated external defibrillator (AED) increases cardiac arrest survival, especially when applied by a bystander before emergency responders arrive. The American Heart Association found that nearly 66% of victims who received a shock from a publicly-available AED survived to hospital discharge.
Researchers found that Scottish hospitals experienced a slower reduction in inpatient deaths, with 0.3% of patients dying in elective admissions and 6% in emergency admissions, compared to 0.1% and 4% in England. The study's authors call for further investigation into the reasons behind these differences.
Thousands of appointments were cancelled during the 2016 junior doctor strikes in England, with effects greatest when emergency care was withdrawn. Admissions and A&E attendances also declined significantly, highlighting the need for improved healthcare systems to mitigate staff shortages.
The study found high-quality care for ordering brain imaging and administering antithrombotic agents, but gaps in care for processes like statin prescriptions, carotid artery imaging, and electrocardiography. Patients discharged from the Emergency Department without admission to a VA hospital had lower quality care.
A study of US insurance claims found that children whose families visited a doctor in the previous year were less likely to experience complications from appendicitis. The research suggests that establishing a relationship with a primary care doctor can lead to prompt emergency care and lower complication rates.
Research found that early access to palliative care significantly improves end-of-life quality indicators for patients with advanced cancer. Patients who received palliative care were more likely to die in a hospice or at home, rather than a hospital, and had better access to pain relief drugs.
The American Stroke Association honored 10 scientists and researchers for their significant contributions to stroke research, including Joanna Wardlaw, Walter Koroshetz, Jun Chen, and others. The award recognizes their work in investigating and managing clinical stroke science, basic stroke research, and more.
A study published in Academic Emergency Medicine found that training on synthetic and live tissue models did not result in a difference in performance for five critical procedures. The results suggest that further study is needed to determine the effectiveness of simulation training for emergency medicine and trauma teams.
A new study found that one in three low-income renters face housing instability, linked to poor health outcomes and material hardships. Housing instability was associated with increased odds of adverse health outcomes, including poor caregiver health and food insecurity.
A new study by USC Schaeffer Center for Health Policy and Economics found that doctors' offices are the main source of prescription opioids, accounting for 83% of prescriptions in 2012. This contrasts with emergency departments, which accounted for only 4.4% of opioid prescriptions during the same period.
A recent study published in the British Journal of General Practice found that patients with multiple long-term health conditions are more likely to attend emergency departments. The study analyzed data from over 800,000 patients in east London and found a significant link between socioeconomic deprivation and ED attendance rates.
A new study published in Prehospital Emergency Care suggests that risk management approach can combat EMS fatigue. The guidelines recommend limiting shifts to less than 24 hours, providing access to caffeine, allowing naps while on duty, and educating personnel on fatigue risk management.
A new emergency department program has been developed to reduce hospitalizations for older adults, with a focus on geriatric transitional care. The program, launched in 2013, has reduced hospital admissions among patients aged 65 and older by 33%, according to a recent study.
A study conducted at Mount Sinai Hospital found that transitional care nurses can significantly reduce the risk of inpatient admissions for geriatric patients. The program, which includes assessments for cognitive function and caregiver strain, led to a 10% lower chance of hospitalization for those treated by a transitional care nurse.
A new study published in Health Affairs finds that veterans receiving VA care have lower rates of excessive end-of-life interventions compared to those on Medicare. The research suggests that the financial incentives of Medicare's fee-for-service model drive higher-intensity care for patients nearing death.
A multidisciplinary approach to identify and care for young women with ischemic stroke may lead to improved outcomes. The study proposes creating clinical decision rules, educational campaigns, and preventive strategies to address the unique challenges in this population.
A study found that private emergency departments refer patients to public hospitals with public options, resulting in duplicate testing and increased costs. This practice also strains hospital resources and poses risks to patients.
A multimodal approach to peripheral intravenous cannula (PIVC) insertion in the emergency department has been shown to reduce unnecessary PIVC placements while increasing their utilization. This program benefits both patients and healthcare services, potentially leading to significant cost savings.
Researchers at GW and US Acute Care Solutions analyzed commercially-generated patient experience data from 2012-15, finding high variability and limited construct validity. Facility-level scores were shown to have greater construct validity than physician-level scores.
Despite efforts to streamline the process, UK child organ donation rates have failed to rise, with many families of dying children not being considered as donors. The authors argue that family refusal remains a major obstacle and call for improved consent rates and support for family decision-making.
A new study published in Annals of Internal Medicine found that personalized blood glucose goals can save an estimated $234 billion nationwide over time, mainly due to lower medication costs. The approach also improves quality of life compared to uniform intensive control.
A new web-based tool, Learning Moment, tracked medical students' learning experiences and found that most took place in patient rooms. The study concluded that the bedside remains an important component of medical education for students entering multiple specialties.
A risk score identifies children at low risk for submersion-related injury who can be safely discharged from the emergency department. The Pediatric Submersion Score is a proposed guideline developed using sophisticated statistical methods, providing valuable information for future management of low-risk childhood submersion.
A study published in Academic Emergency Medicine found that prehospital use of supraglottic airways is linked to better neurological outcomes in cardiac arrest patients who receive cardiopulmonary resuscitation. The study suggests that SGA may improve oxygenation, supporting its continued use in emergency medical services.
A study published in Academic Emergency Medicine found that intranasal ketamine had more minor side effects such as bad taste and dizziness compared to intranasal fentanyl in children with suspected extremity fractures. No significant differences were observed in efficacy or pain relief between the two drugs.
A UK study found that older patients experiencing more discontinuity of care in general practice are at a higher risk of emergency hospital admissions. Patients with the least continuity had a risk of admission twice as high as those with complete continuity.
The UC Davis Department of Pediatrics has received a $2 million grant to fund a new telemedicine program for children in remote communities. The program will provide physiatry care for kids with cerebral palsy, spina bifida, and other disabilities, improving quality of life and preventing complications.
Applying traffic rule exemptions enables rapid response vehicles to reach patients faster, with average response times reduced by 14 minutes. This could be critical for patients who are critically injured or sick, suggesting that the increased risk of road collisions may be justified.
A large international study found that primary care consultations last less than 5 minutes for over half the world's population, with significant variations between countries. Shorter consultation times have been linked to poorer health outcomes and burnout among doctors.
A new program at Boston Medical Center's Grayken Center for Addiction has shown promising results in engaging patients with substance use disorders in medication treatment during hospital stays. The study found that 70% of patients initiated methadone treatment and 49% linked to an outpatient clinic were still engaged in treatment afte...
A new study published in the Emergency Medicine Journal found that adopting four clinical standards for emergency care in English hospitals did not reduce excess deaths on Saturdays and Sundays. The study analyzed data from 123 hospital trusts and found no association between standard adoption and weekend death rates.