Articles tagged with Emergency Medicine
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 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.
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.
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.
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 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.
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.
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 study measures the causes behind the US health care spending increase, attributing 50% to price and intensity of services. The analysis reveals that factors like population growth, age, disease prevalence, and utilization drive most of the spending increase.
A team from Michigan Medicine proposes a data-driven, insurer-funded approach to make surgery safer and less expensive for all; the Value Partnership model has saved lives and dollars at 72 Michigan hospitals, with potential for federal help to accelerate nationwide adoption.
A new study found that smokers who received financial incentives, in addition to personalized support, were nearly 10 times more likely to quit smoking after six months compared to those in the control group. The intervention also showed significant reductions in smoking rates among older participants, women, and non-white smokers.
Consultants argue that the four-hour wait target remains essential for driving flow through the urgent care system, reducing mortality rates. Experts caution that abandoning the target could worsen hospital overcrowding and performance issues due to perverse incentives.
A randomized, double-blind study found that haloperidol reduces nausea and pain in patients with acute gastroparesis, suggesting it as a promising adjunctive therapy. The addition of haloperidol to conventional therapy is better than conventional therapy alone without side effects.
A study found that asthma prevalence and emergency department visits vary widely among different NYC neighborhoods. Pollutants like nitrogen dioxide and elemental carbon are associated with greater urgent asthma care in lower-prevalence areas, especially among children.
A standardized eight-step ambulatory surgery care protocol reduced patients' postoperative pain and unplanned returns to the emergency room after surgery. The protocol emphasized patient preoperative education and preferential use of monitored anesthesia care, significantly reducing rates of unplanned visits.
A single-center study compared outcomes of 222 hip fracture patients treated before and after implementing the Perioperative Surgical Home (PSH) model. PSH patients had reduced mortality rates, fewer ER visits, and higher discharge rates to home care.
Tufts Medical Center joins a new initiative to advance critical emergency medicine research with the Strategies to Innovate EmeRgENcy Care Clinical Trials Network (SIREN) Network. The SIREN Network will conduct large-scale clinical trials to test new treatments in cardiology and neurology.
A recent Regenstrief Institute study explores the impact of health information exchange on patient outcomes in emergency departments. The research reveals that access to complete medical records via health information exchange may lead to reduced hospitalizations, improved decision-making, and better patient care.
A new study by University of Maryland School Medicine researchers found that nearly half of all US medical care is delivered by emergency departments. Emergency department visits increased by 44% over a 14-year period, with African-American patients and those without insurance using these services at a higher rate.
PrEP prescriptions increased by 976% in NYC between 2014 and 2016, but men of color, women, and those outside city centers were less likely to receive the HIV prevention medication. Many medical students and healthcare providers remain unaware of PrEP's benefits, highlighting the need for education and outreach programs.
Medicare beneficiaries who receive home health services from lower-quality agencies are more likely to experience higher rates of hospital admissions and emergency department visits. Home health care is a critical area for addressing healthcare disparities, particularly among vulnerable populations.
The SIREN network pools resources to boost patient numbers for emergency medicine clinical trials, targeting vulnerable populations and life-threatening emergencies like heart attacks, lung disease, trauma, and more. The network aims to improve treatments and outcomes for patients in critical care situations.
A community-based program, Bridges to Care, reduced ED visits and hospital admissions while increasing primary care use among Medicaid-eligible high ED users. The program provided intensive medical, behavioral health, and social care coordination services.
The UNC School of Medicine will use the grant to develop a new protocol for Afib patients, allowing them to receive care in outpatient settings. The goal is to reduce hospitalizations and improve patient engagement in their own health.
Emergency room patients prescribed opioids are less likely to become long-term users, with prescriptions exceeding 7 days decreasing by 84-91% in ER settings. This study suggests that adherence to CDC guidelines may contribute to reduced opioid misuse.
Women earn less than men regardless of rank or training, with women leaving careers due to advancement issues. Underrepresented minorities are underrepresented in senior positions and promotions across all levels
A new study published in Academic Emergency Medicine found no association between prehospital advanced cardiac life support and survival for patients with out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. Instead, the study suggests focusing on increasing bystander CPR, decreasing response times, and defibrillation.
Researchers developed an electronic triage tool to improve patient care in emergency departments, identifying critically ill patients and assigning priority treatment levels. The tool showed equal or improved identification of patient outcomes compared to the existing emergency severity index (ESI) based on a multi-site retrospective s...