Articles tagged with Emergency Medicine
Researchers found that taking blood thinners like warfarin does not significantly increase the risk of brain bleeding after blunt head trauma, contradicting previous assumptions. In fact, patients with poorly controlled warfarin activity had the highest bleeding risk.
A national study found that healthcare providers exhibit varying levels of stigma towards patients with substance use disorders (SUD), particularly for opioid and stimulant use. This stigma leads to missed opportunities for care and is often embedded in clinical encounters.
A study of 22 million urgent care visits found 12.4% of patients received antibiotics, 9.1% glucocorticoids, and 1.3% opioids for generally inappropriate diagnoses. The trends highlight the need for improved clinician knowledge, patient demand, and decision support.
A new study found that less than 5% of children admitted to hospital with suspected sepsis met the Phoenix Sepsis Score, highlighting the need for more accurate measures to diagnose sepsis in children. The research also showed that the current clinical tool failed to detect cases early and underestimated the overall burden of disease.
A new study reveals that at least 160 million patients annually are unable to receive surgery, with LMICs bearing the brunt of the crisis. The report emphasizes the need for urgent investment and highlights key recommendations to strengthen essential services for tomorrow's needs.
A study published in Pediatrics reveals a sharp surge in nicotine pouch ingestions among young children, with a 763% increase in rate of reported cases between 2020 and 2023. The ingestion rates for other nicotine products declined during the same period.
Dr. Andy Jagoda has received the Edward W. Gilmore Lifetime Achievement Award for his significant contributions to emergency medicine education, leadership, and quality improvement. The award recognizes his lifelong commitment to advancing emergency medicine in New York City.
A new study found that a nontargeted screening approach can identify more patients with hepatitis C virus infections than traditional targeted screening methods. The results highlight the need for improved treatment models, as patients who went from diagnosis to sustained virologic response increased significantly.
The journal is seeking original research, viewpoints, and tutorials exploring the use of AI-driven documentation in clinical settings. Submissions should address practical applications, challenges, and future directions of AI-facilitated clinical documentation.
Researchers at UTA and UT Southwestern Medical School developed an adaptive spine board overlay that redistributes pressure more effectively than traditional evacuation surfaces. The device features sensor-driven pressure modulation and autonomously adjusts air-cell pressure to maintain optimal distribution for each patient.
Researchers developed an AI model that converts fragmented electronic health records into readable narratives, enabling artificial intelligence to make sense of complex patient histories. The Multimodal Embedding Model for EHR (MEME) transformed tabular health data into 'pseudonotes' that mirror clinical documentation, achieving superi...
A new study from the University of Bath found that inappropriate polypharmacy is a major driver of emergency hospital admissions among adults aged 65 and over. The researchers developed a digital tool to proactively identify older adults at risk of medication-related harm, which could reduce preventable emergency hospitalisations.
A new study found that Black emergency department patients are less likely to be treated with opioids, but when their preferences are not met, they are at a higher risk of misusing opioids three months later. Patients who were satisfied with their pain care had lower rates of opioid misuse.
Research from Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago found that neurological crises, psychiatric conditions, and substance abuse were the most common reasons for school-based medical emergencies. The study highlights the need for schools to prioritize staff training and availability of key medications.
Academic medical centers can transform patient care by adopting learning health system principles, harnessing real-time data analysis and AI to improve patient outcomes. The proposed model aims to establish a smarter, more efficient and equitable care model by integrating diverse databases and leveraging AI for personalized, proactive ...
A new book written by an international team from Carnegie Mellon University and the University of Oxford argues that data-driven decision-making can improve healthcare outcomes. The authors explain how analytics can be used to optimize hospital operations, manage bed allocation, and improve treatment efficiency.
A new UVA Health study finds that stocking two twin packs of epinephrine autoinjectors and having campers leave their own at home is the most cost-effective strategy for residential camps. This approach comes with an estimated overall cost of $4.33 per camper.
A new study reveals six 'closed loop' barriers that prevent doctors from using point-of-care ultrasound, leading to missed opportunities for life-saving interventions. The researchers propose practical steps to address these cultural and practical challenges, aiming to increase POCUS uptake and benefit patients.
Researchers from Florida Atlantic University's Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine aim to reduce falls and adverse drug events among older adults by using personalized approach tailored to individual genetic profiles.
A team of scientists from Colorado State University and the University of São Paulo have developed a seismological solution to improve the resolution of ultrasound images for lung monitoring. This breakthrough could lead to improved critical care for patients, including continuous lung monitoring at the bedside. The technique uses seis...
Researchers will analyze course of illness, confirm ingested substances, and provide real-time data for better care. The study aims to predict effects of emerging opioids and deliver timely alerts to doctors and public health agencies.
The study found that the 988 Suicide Crisis Lifeline has been contacted over 16 million times since its launch in July 2022. Despite this high number, regional and state-level variations in usage suggest potential for further growth and improvement.
The health care workforce experienced decreased employment growth during the pandemic but fully recovered by 2024. This unique recovery is attributed to health care financing via insurance coverage that shielded health care employment from macroeconomic fluctuations.
A study found that between 11.6% and 20.2% of women with a history of pregnancy or testing for pregnancy visited crisis pregnancy centers across four US states, including Arizona and New Jersey. The attendance rates were not correlated with age, race, or socioeconomic status.
A study analyzing health and long-term care insurance data from Tsukuba City found that 73.5% of older patients were weaned off ventilators within 180 days, while 42.6% were discharged from the hospital. Patients with higher care levels had longer hospital stays.
A nationwide study reveals that Black, Hispanic, and Asian/Pacific Islander patients face significantly higher costs for emergency surgeries compared to white patients. Converting just 10% of emergency procedures to planned surgeries could save $1.8 billion annually.
A new study published in The Lancet Child & Adolescent Health suggests that parental intuition may outperform traditional early warning systems in identifying children at risk of deterioration. Caregiver concern for a worsening condition was strongly associated with critical illness, even after accounting for abnormal vital signs.
A new algorithm standardizes care for children with sickle cell disease who present to the ED with a fever, reducing hospitalizations by 10% without increasing readmissions. The algorithm uses predefined risk factors to determine treatment, making it safer and more efficient.
Approximately one in three pediatric mental health ED visits resulted in prolonged stays exceeding 12 hours, with over half due to suicidal thoughts or aggressive behaviors. The study highlights significant issues with access to mental health care for children and adolescents.
A new smartphone app, ECHAS, can help people determine if they are suffering from a heart attack or stroke and need medical attention. The app, developed by experts at UVA Health and other leading institutions, proved effective in identifying patients with cardiac and neurological emergencies.
Researchers at Intermountain Health found that using ePneumonia, a computerized clinical decision support tool, reduced mortality rates among patients with pneumonia, particularly those experiencing socioeconomic hardship. The study also showed that this technology helped overcome unconscious biases in treatment decisions.
A large study found an unexpectedly high frequency of pulmonary embolism in pediatric patients, equal to rates seen in adults. The study provides new criteria for clinicians to diagnose PE in children and raises questions about the need for earlier intervention.
Women primary care physicians demonstrate superior quality outcomes and higher value-based earnings compared to their male counterparts. This reversal may be attributed to fewer emergency department visits and hospitalizations among women's patients, reflecting better alignment with female-dominated practice patterns.
Dr. Tarek Hanna joins UMSOM from Emory University School of Medicine with expertise in emergency and trauma imaging, clinical operations optimization, and faculty development. He will advance clinical excellence and expand radiology services across central Maryland.
A study found that veterans enrolled in Medicare Advantage (MA) plans use dental and vision services at a similar rate as those in traditional Medicare. MA plans spent only slightly more on these services, including emergency dental care. After accounting for private insurance coverage, the total spending on dental services was compara...
The University of Texas at Arlington offers pre-health students valuable hands-on experience through an innovative collaboration. Students in SCIE 4304 participate in immersive clinical simulation lab at the UTA Smart Hospital, developing rudimentary clinical skills and overcoming imposter syndrome.
Researchers at Nationwide Children's Hospital found that teen drivers in vehicles 6-15 years old and those with fewer driver assistance technologies had a higher risk of death in fatal crashes. The study also showed that driving newer vehicles can reduce the risk of fatal crashes for teen drivers.
Researchers found daily increases of 11-24% in asthma-related emergency department visits over the first episode of a wildfire event, continuing up to 6 days after it ended. However, a second period of heavy smoke did not result in an increase in asthma-related ED visits.
Researchers discovered a promising new approach to treating hemorrhagic shock, which tripled survival rates and maintained healthy organ function. Activating Protein Kinase C epsilon (PKC-ε) significantly improved early survival rates and physiological stability following severe hemorrhage.
The American College of Chest Physicians has released a new clinical guideline on the transfusion of fresh frozen plasma and platelets in critically ill adults. The guideline contains seven evidence-based recommendations to reduce unnecessary transfusions, which are rarely needed prior to bedside procedures.
The study tracks maternal, fetal, and infant mortality trends in the US from 2000 to 2023. Despite improvements in some years, overall rates of maternal and infant mortality increased during the COVID-19 pandemic.
A new clinical study found that a universal community resource program reduced acute care for children of food-insecure families, saving thousands of dollars in healthcare expenditures. The program, called CommunityRx-Hunger, required only 50 staff hours and delivered benefits to both food-secure and food-insecure caregivers.
The USA Center for Rural Public Health Preparedness is leading a four-year project to identify and overcome obstacles in adopting the latest trauma triage guidelines. The goal is to produce guidelines that are equally useful and relevant for anyone, whether they are in urban or rural areas.
A cross-sectional analysis found firearm injury-related ED visits occurring approximately every 30 minutes between 2018 and 2023. Rates were highest during evenings, weekends, holidays, and summer months. Temporal patterns may inform health care staffing and emergency preparedness to reduce mortality rates.
A new study published in Transfusion journal reveals sex-based disparities in the transfusion of whole blood to traumatically injured patients. Women, particularly younger females and those of childbearing potential, are less likely to receive whole blood transfusions compared to men. This disparity is despite whole blood being associa...
The American Heart Association will strengthen and expand Hawaii's stroke system of care, reducing death and disability rates from stroke in rural populations. The initiative aims to enhance coordination among emergency responders, hospitals, and healthcare providers.
The WNFC's player ambassadors will amplify public service announcements, social media content, and local community education events to raise awareness about cardiovascular disease and CPR education in women. The league has also implemented a requirement for all coaches to be certified in CPR, AED, and first aid.
A new NIH study found that children born in lower-opportunity neighborhoods are more likely to experience repeated asthma flares requiring emergency care. Non-Hispanic Black children have the highest incidence rates of severe childhood asthma, also known as asthma with recurrent exacerbations (ARE).
A new study published in Annals of Internal Medicine found that AI diagnostic and treatment recommendations were more accurate than those made by physicians in a virtual urgent care setting. In 77% of cases, AI recommendations were rated as optimal, compared to 67% for physicians' decisions.
The RAND report highlights issues such as long wait times, boarding patients in emergency department beds, and high uncompensated care, posing risks of closures and staffing shortages. The study recommends a new tiered payment model to address these shortcomings and sustain hospital emergency departments.
A cross-sectional study found wildfire smoke exposure associated with increased odds of mental health-related emergency department visits. The study suggests a possible increase in demand for mental health services during wildfire events.
A Cedars-Sinai study finds AI treatment recommendations were graded higher than physician decisions in virtual urgent care settings. AI excelled at identifying critical red flags and suggesting antibiotic treatments, but physicians better assessed patient histories and adapted recommendations.
A qualitative study reveals that migration has a complex influence on border-region emergency medical services, leading to more injuries and deaths. Increased federal funding is needed to support the work of local EMS clinicians, who are struggling with unsustainable strain.
A new study investigates the safety of excluding pulmonary embolism in high-risk patients based on D-dimer testing. The analysis found that ruling out PE based on a low D-dimer level was safe, with no missed cases.
A recent study from Michigan Medicine found that 85% of postpartum-initiated lactation in ICUs aligns with national averages. Limited documentation and delays during mechanical ventilation are identified as barriers to lactation. The research team is developing an algorithm and guideline to support patients' lactation goals.
The University of Texas at Arlington has launched a new Mobile Simulation Lab to tackle workforce and training challenges in rural areas. The lab, equipped with advanced patient manikins and simulation bays, will provide specialized training for local healthcare providers to expand their expertise.
Nurses in states with abortion bans face communication gaps and moral distress when providing care to pregnant patients. They resort to 'work-arounds' like reading the room for allies or using online resources to find legal reproductive health care, highlighting the need for better guidance and support.
Despite a rise in long distance running participation, cardiac arrests during US marathons and half-marathons have shown no significant increase, indicating improved emergency response measures are at play.
Researchers at Lancaster University discovered a new type of vaccine-specific scepticism, where some people perceive COVID-19 vaccines as 'not a vaccine' compared to MMR. This phenomenon may also apply to the flu vaccine, highlighting the need for clear public health messaging.
A special issue of Academic Emergency Medicine examines the science of errors in emergency care, highlighting the need for a systemic approach to address gaps in knowledge, communication, and awareness. The journal's findings propose actionable solutions to minimize diagnostic errors and enhance patient safety.