Articles tagged with Emergency Medicine
An analysis of over 1.3 million emergency department visits found that the presence of medical students was associated with a statistically significant increase in patient length of stay. However, this effect may be too small to have clinical relevance.
A study published in Health Affairs found that the most crowded US hospital emergency departments did not adopt effective interventions to improve flow, leading to worse patient care and outcomes. Despite increased adoption of strategies to reduce crowding over four years, many hospitals still failed to implement proven interventions.
Research shows that patients are not harmed during doctor strikes in developed countries when emergency care is available. Studies have found no significant increase in mortality rates during strikes, despite some concerns from healthcare professionals.
Decreasing county-wide psychiatric services led to a significant increase in emergency psychiatric consults and prolonged hospital stays. The study found that patients with mental illness faced greater challenges in accessing care, resulting in increased medical issues.
A new study found that older adults with dementia visit emergency departments at higher rates, are admitted to hospitals more often, and have a higher death rate after ED visits compared to those without dementia. The study also highlights the need for better care in fast-paced emergency departments.
A new study published in Annals of Emergency Medicine found that commercial electronic health record opioid warning systems often fire off unnecessary alerts, compromising patient safety. The alert fatigue issue highlights the need to refine these systems to highlight only clinically significant alerts.
Researchers found that embedded clinical practice guidelines in patient electronic medical records during outpatient visits improved the use of severity measurement tools, referrals to rehabilitation programs, inhaler education, and vaccinations among stable COPD patients. The intervention also led to better quality of care measures.
A new study found that kids with asthma who make 5 acute care visits have a 87% probability of future emergency department visits. Early treatment and controlled asthma management significantly reduce asthma attacks and ED visits.
A new UCLA study found that having a routine place for well and sick care is the most reliable predictor of whether a child will be readmitted to hospital. The study also revealed that parents' confidence in their children's continued good health is closely correlated with fewer unplanned readmissions.
A new study from the University of Michigan Institute for Healthcare Policy and Innovation found that nearly all nonprofit hospitals have written charity care policies, but many fail to notify patients about their potential eligibility or charge them fairly. Hospitals in states without expanded Medicaid reported having less generous ch...
A recent case series highlights the risk of EpiPen-related injuries in children, particularly thigh lacerations and embedded needles. The study recommends improving product design and instructions for use to reduce these risks, citing a safer alternative device as Auvi-Q.
Research found that physician care has the largest impact on overall pediatric patient satisfaction in outpatient specialty care, while nursing care was valued as most important in inpatient settings. Personal concern and ease of scheduling were also key factors in primary care.
Two new clinical decision instruments (DIs) can accurately identify blunt chest injury in patients. Chest CT-All correctly identified major or minor injuries 95.4% of the time, while Chest CT-Major identified major injuries with a high degree of accuracy. These DIs may reduce unnecessary scans by 25%-37%.
A nationally representative study found racial/ethnic minorities and unemployed individuals spent more time traveling to, waiting for, and receiving medical care. Face-to-face time with physicians averaged 20.5 minutes and did not vary by patient race/ethnicity.
A recent study published in Annals of Emergency Medicine found that irrigation of cutaneous abscesses did not improve treatment success and may even increase the risk of microbiologic contamination. The study suggests that this procedure may not be necessary, potentially saving time and resources for emergency departments.
A 11-year study in Maryland showed that changes to trauma triage protocols decreased helicopter transport for trauma patients while improving patient outcomes. Ground transport increased by 33%, saving the state considerable money.
A recent ENA study found that moral distress in emergency nurses is caused by environmental factors such as excessive documentation and inadequate staffing. The study highlights the need for emergency departments to address these challenges to provide high-quality care.
A study found that commercial electronic health records (EHRs) increased emergency physicians' tasks performed per minute by nearly 12 percent, leading to potential patient safety hazards. The introduction of a commercial EHR imposed cognitive burdens on physicians, causing stress and frustration.
Researchers developed a method to measure cognitive load in medical assessments using eye-tracking glasses. Novices expend more mental effort than experts when answering medical questions, even when the answers are correct.
Boston Medical Center (BMC) has significantly reduced the average wait time for pediatric patients experiencing severe pain from sickle cell disease from 56 minutes to 23 minutes. The hospital's quality improvement initiative also improved care by reducing the time to administer pain medication and increase patient-controlled analgesics.
A study published in Annals of Emergency Medicine found that neighborhood characteristics have a lesser impact on EMS activation for stroke than stroke severity or individual factors. Most patients arrived at the ER within 3 hours, but only about half used EMS, with lower stroke severity and younger age being key determinants.
The conference will showcase advancements in acute cardiovascular care, including heart attack, cardiac arrest, and pulmonary embolism treatment. Experts will discuss novel therapies and debate controversial topics such as pre-hospital care and bleeding management.
A Kaiser Permanente study found that introducing electronic order entry and care-decision support in emergency departments led to a significant increase in the timely administration of clot-dissolving treatments for patients with acute ischemic stroke. The technology helped minimize errors while improving patient outcomes.
A substantial proportion of NHS hospital staff, including those in maternity services, encounter patients who have been trafficked, according to research published in BMJ Open. The study found that staff across various specialties lack knowledge on how best to respond to victims and feel inadequately prepared to provide appropriate care.
Researchers at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine have developed a research-based guidance to improve compliance when treating septic patients. The guidance, which incorporates high-profile clinical trials, aims to aid hospitals in implementing the National Quality Forum's Severe Sepsis and Septic Shock Management Bundle.
A national survey of EMS providers identified airway management skills and personal anxiety as key factors contributing to pediatric safety events in out-of-hospital care. The study supports the American Academy of Pediatrics' recommendation for pediatric physician involvement in EMS training and policy development.
A study published in Medical Care found that rural Medicare beneficiaries have lower rates of follow-up care after leaving the hospital, which may lead to higher risks of emergency department visits and repeat hospitalizations. The research also highlights the need for policies to improve access to care for patients in rural areas.
A study led by Boston University School of Medicine researchers found that educating medical residents about transgender identity improved their knowledge and willingness to assist with hormonal therapy. The intervention increased residents' willingness to provide care for transgender patients from 5% to 76% for female-to-male patients...
A randomized clinical trial found that an ED-based counseling program did not significantly reduce excessive drinking and partner violence among women in abusive relationships. Despite initial results suggesting brief interventions could be effective, the study found no positive outcome among participants who received the intervention.
A workgroup published five primary recommendations to maximize health information exchange value in emergency departments, including physician involvement and standardized data elements. Seven secondary recommendations aimed to improve HIE for emergency physicians, focusing on data quality and access.
A study published in Annals of Emergency Medicine found that only 77% of patients accurately assessed their ability to perform tasks after visiting emergency departments. This highlights the need for direct assessments rather than relying on patient statements about abilities.
A recent study found that Medicaid dental coverage does not reduce emergency room visits for nontraumatic dental conditions in urban areas. Despite an adequate supply of dentists, patients struggle to find providers who accept Medicaid, leading to increased ER use.
A randomized clinical trial found that screening women for partner violence and providing a resource list did not reduce hospitalizations or emergency department visits. The study also did not find improvements in quality of life or the recurrence of partner violence after one year.
A California study found that not-for-profit hospitals provided an average of 1.9% of operating costs for charity care, while for-profits spent 4.4% on bad debt and uncompensated care. The disparity highlights the need for clearer guidelines to ensure hospitals fulfill their community obligations.
A new study reveals that transfer times for stroke patients are significantly longer than expected driving times, with average differences ranging from 46 to 133 minutes. This highlights the need for improvements in emergency transport systems to ensure timely diagnosis and treatment.
A new study led by Duke Medicine shows that bystander-initiated CPR substantially increased survival from cardiac arrest. The early application of CPR was associated with improved patient survival compared to situations where patients waited for EMS-initiated CPR and defibrillation.
The Low Risk Ankle Rule reduces unnecessary radiation exposure and healthcare costs for children with ankle injuries. Implementing the rule leads to a 22.9% decrease in x-ray orders and $36.93 less in healthcare costs.
Researchers found a new treatment approach for blood clots that allows patients to go home the same day, reducing hospital stays and costs. The treatment, rivaroxaban, also reduces recurrent thrombosis and bleeding rates.
A new study provides a glimpse into the complex dynamics of end-of-life care and emergency response. Paramedics and EMTs often enter situations where a patient's end-of-life wishes contradict their professional code, requiring careful assessment and management to uphold those wishes.
A study found that hospital weekend death risk is a feature of several developed countries' healthcare systems, not just England. Experts highlight the need to clarify what causes this phenomenon, which amounts to about 160 additional deaths per year.
A new study from the University of Iowa found that improving access to affordable primary care reduced preventable hospital stays for black and Hispanics who receive both Medicare and Medicaid. However, it also showed that trips to the emergency department went up among all dual eligibles, regardless of race or ethnicity. The study sug...
The American Red Cross supports increased public education and training opportunities for bystander CPR and defibrillation to reduce barriers. The report calls for national accreditation standards, a national registry, and enhanced EMS capabilities to improve cardiac arrest survival rates.
Researchers suggest that level I trauma centers can provide training opportunities for military surgeons to maintain their skills. The study found that level I trauma centers closely resemble military Role 3 facilities in terms of case density and work schedules, making them ideal for sustaining combat surgical skills.
Researchers in Navarre, Spain developed a system that uses soft computing to predict the survival of multiple trauma patients. The system achieved high accuracy by considering patient severity variables, age and other clinical parameters.
A study found that over half of seniors injured in motor vehicle crashes were still taking pain medication six months later. The results highlighted the need for effective management of acute pain in older adults to prevent negative consequences on function and quality of life.
A new evidence-based protocol to treat acute, severe pain in emergency department patients has been shown to be effective and safe. The study found that simply asking patients if they want more pain medication resulted in satisfactory pain control for 99% of participants.
A recent UAlberta study reveals nearly half of severely obese patients require ICU admission and one in five do not survive after emergency surgery. The researchers attribute these findings to underlying health conditions, malnutrition, and impaired healing due to obesity.
A three-year study shows significant improvements in quality and use of medical services relative to comparison practices. Medical home interventions that paid bonuses based on financial savings improved diabetes care, breast cancer screening, hospitalizations, emergency department visits, and primary care visits.
A recent study found that nearly a quarter of ER clinical encounters could pose difficulties due to the new ICD-10 coding system. The researchers identified convoluted mappings in 27% of commonly used emergency room ICD-9 codes, which may lead to incorrect reporting or reimbursement.
Joint recommendations from the Heart Failure Association, European Society of Emergency Medicine, and Society for Academic Emergency Medicine emphasize urgent diagnosis and treatment of acute heart failure. The guidelines outline tests, treatments, and management strategies to reduce mortality and morbidity.
For severe salicylate poisoning, hemodialysis is the best remedy according to a comprehensive review of medical literature. Salicylate poisoning causes significant harm and death, requiring prompt treatment with dialysis.
A new study by Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center found a low risk of life-threatening cardiac events among patients with chest pain who have normal test results. The researchers suggest discharging these patients to outpatient settings for further testing, which could significantly reduce hospital admissions.
More than half of Medicaid enrollees opt for hospital emergency departments due to convenience and access to technology, rather than primary care clinics. This finding exposes a gap in healthcare services, as patients may avoid costs associated with travel and time away from work but neglect preventive care and chronic disease management.
Indiana University researchers Michael LaMantia and Kathleen Unroe have been recognized by the American Geriatrics Society for their groundbreaking work in geriatrics and aging research. Dr. LaMantia received an AGS New Investigator Award, while Dr. Unroe was named an AGS fellow for her dedication to health policy and long-term care.
Analysis of seven electronic databases reveals frequent users account for up to one in 12 patients seeking emergency department care, and are around 2.5 times more likely to be admitted or require outpatient treatment. The study suggests that frequent users may benefit from targeted proactive approach.
A University of Maryland School of Public Health study found that linking low-income uninsured patients to safety-net clinics reduced avoidable emergency department visits. The initiative improved health outcomes and reduced costs for vulnerable populations in Montgomery County, Maryland.
A three-year analysis by Mount Sinai researchers found that early palliative care interventions can improve geriatric emergency care, decreasing hospital lengths-of-stay and costs. The approach is shown to have reduced ICU admissions for patients aged 65 and older by 1.4%.
A randomized trial by Yale researchers found that patients given buprenorphine in the emergency department were more likely to engage in addiction treatment and reduce illicit opioid use. They also had fewer resources used, compared to those who received only referrals or brief interventions.
A new study published in Annals of Emergency Medicine has reevaluated the safety of droperidol for sedating emergency patients with acute behavioral disturbance. The study found that droperidol is effective and safe when used alone, but combinations with benzodiazepines may increase adverse effects.
A new study found that nearly 50% of emergency departments have a pediatric coordinator, leading to improved readiness and a 70% national score increase since 2003. The assessment identified areas for improvement, including disaster plans and equipment availability.