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Study shows federal safety metric inappropriately penalizes hospitals for lifesaving stroke procedures

A new UCLA study finds that the Patient Safety Indicator 04 (PSI 04) metric is fundamentally flawed when applied to emergency stroke care. The researchers argue that the metric incorrectly flags unavoidable complications of severe strokes, rather than problems with the procedure itself.

SourceUniversity of California - Los Angeles Health Sciences·JournalJournal of NeuroInterventional Surgery·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateJan 8, 2026

1 in 4 children with major traumatic injuries not cared for in pediatric trauma centres

Research shows that 77% of severely injured children are transported or transferred to pediatric trauma centers, highlighting the need for improved access and evidence-based strategies. Variability in access exists across Canadian provinces, with some areas having higher access than others.

SourceCanadian Medical Association Journal·JournalCanadian Medical Association Journal·TypeObservational study·DateDec 15, 2025

Remote ventilate view platform for real-time monitoring of patient-ventilator asynchrony

The study demonstrates a significant association between the overall asynchrony index (OAI) and patient outcomes in COVID-19-associated severe pneumonia. Patients with a high asynchrony burden had significantly higher intensive care unit mortality and fewer ventilator-free days, highlighting the importance of PVA monitoring.

SourceJournal of Intensive Medicine·JournalJournal of Intensive Medicine·TypeObservational study·DateDec 12, 2025

NEJM Group launches NEJM Clinician

NEJM Clinician curates highly relevant clinical insights from over 150 peer-reviewed journals to give physicians clear guidance without the noise. The weekly publication delivers summaries and commentary in a concise, 30-minute read, helping healthcare providers stay informed and confident in their decisions.

SourceNEJM Group·JournalNew England Journal of Medicine·DateDec 8, 2025

When pregnancy emergencies collide with state abortion bans

A new study found that states with abortion bans without health exceptions saw a substantial increase in pregnancy-related violations of EMTALA. This led to a rise in medical screening examination and general compliance citations, suggesting early breakdowns in the emergency-care-seeking process.

SourceTufts University·JournalJAMA Health Forum·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateDec 5, 2025

Increased use of cannabis seen among adolescents with psychiatric illnesses after cannabis sales became legal

After cannabis sales became legal, rates of cannabis use and cannabis-related disorders increased significantly among adolescents aged 12 to 17 presenting for psychiatric emergencies. The study found a fourfold increase in cannabis use and a similar rise in cannabis-related disorders among this age group.

SourceMass General Brigham·JournalAmerican Journal of Preventive Medicine·TypeContent analysis·DateDec 3, 2025

How and when could AI be used in emergency medicine?

A Drexel University study found that providing both AI-synthesized information and treatment recommendations to emergency medical doctors improved diagnostic accuracy. The technology was tested in a simulated environment, where participants made correct decisions in 64.4% of scenarios with full support.

SourceDrexel University·JournalProceedings of the ACM on Human-Computer Interaction·DateNov 20, 2025

Longer distances to family physician has negative effect on access to health care

A study of almost 10 million patients in Ontario found that those living over 30 km from their family physician were more likely to visit the emergency department for nonurgent reasons and had fewer visits with a family physician. The distance also negatively impacted preventive screening for certain cancers.

SourceCanadian Medical Association Journal·JournalCanadian Medical Association Journal·TypeObservational study·DateNov 3, 2025

Individuals with sickle cell disease face long delays to pain care in emergency department

A study published in Blood Advances found that individuals with sickle cell disease who were triaged appropriately received their first dose of pain medication within 60 minutes, while those triaged at lesser severity levels waited nearly three times as long. The researchers analyzed the impact of emergency severity index (ESI) assignm...

SourceAmerican Society of Hematology·JournalBlood Advances·DateOct 8, 2025

Study finds new program to enhance HIV screening dramatically boosts testing in urgent care clinics and emergency departments

A comprehensive program in urgent care clinics and emergency departments significantly increased HIV testing for patients being evaluated for other sexually transmitted diseases. The program resulted in a 42% increase in HIV testing in urgent care clinics and a 53% increase in Intermountain emergency departments.

SourceIntermountain Healthcare·JournalClinical Infectious Diseases·TypeMeta-analysis·DateOct 2, 2025

Immune cell ‘signatures’ could help guide treatment for critically ill patients

Researchers developed a collection of blood tests that assess genetic activity patterns in immune cells to reveal patient immune states. These tests could help physicians determine diagnosis and care protocols for patients with suspected infections or critical conditions, providing more accurate diagnoses and treatment guidance.

SourceStanford Medicine·JournalNature Medicine·TypeExperimental study·DateSep 30, 2025

Unplanned, premature, out-of-hospital births pose challenges for emergency team

In a first-of-its-kind study, researchers found that unplanned, premature births outside hospitals in Austria posed significant challenges for emergency teams. The study identified key findings on how to improve outcomes for mothers and newborns, including the importance of standardised protocols, training, and equipment availability.

SourceEuropean Society for Emergency Medicine (EUSEM)·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateSep 28, 2025

Hypnosis can make ventilation masks more acceptable to patients with breathing problems

A pilot study found that hypnosis significantly improved patients' tolerance of masks, allowing them to breathe more comfortably. The study showed a substantial improvement in non-invasive ventilation (NIV) tolerance, reduced agitation, and lower requirements for sedation and anti-anxiety medication.

SourceEuropean Society for Emergency Medicine (EUSEM)·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateSep 28, 2025

Emergency medicine workers report job satisfaction, though burnout and staff retention remain major problems

The survey found that while job satisfaction was generally positive, with an average score of 25.37 out of 36, career development opportunities, work organisation, and workload received relatively low scores. Nurses and paramedics reported higher satisfaction levels than physicians, particularly in workload and organisational aspects.

SourceEuropean Society for Emergency Medicine (EUSEM)·JournalEuropean Journal of Emergency Medicine·TypeSurvey·DateSep 27, 2025

Telestroke patients more likely to receive treatment, but with greater delays

Researchers evaluated over 3,000 ischemic stroke patients and found that telestroke patients were 1.6 times more likely to receive clot-busting drugs, but took nearly seven minutes longer to receive treatment after arriving at the hospital. The study highlights clear gaps in timely treatment for these patients.

SourceMichigan Medicine - University of Michigan·JournalJAMA Network Open·TypeObservational study·DateSep 26, 2025

Deaths rose after hospitals were acquired by private equity

A nationwide study found patient death rates increased in emergency departments of U.S. hospitals acquired by private equity firms, with staffing cuts and salary reductions proposed as likely explanations. The researchers also found transfers of patients to other hospitals and shortened stays in intensive care units.

SourceHarvard Medical School·JournalAnnals of Internal Medicine·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateSep 22, 2025

Not all heart attack patients receive the same type of care, researchers find

A new study found significant racial disparities in the care of patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) in Florida. Hispanic and non-Hispanic Black patients were less likely to receive percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), a recommended treatment, compared to non-Hispanic white patients. This disparity resulted in ...

SourcePenn State·JournalJAMA Network Open·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateSep 19, 2025

Food for thought: Using food delivery services to provide rapid cardiac arrest response and potentially save lives

A simulation study suggests that deploying food delivery riders to deliver defibrillation can reduce automated external defibrillator response times by approximately three minutes, reducing patient waiting time for defibrillation. The approach offers a cost-effective and scalable strategy for improving cardiac arrest outcomes in high-d...

SourceElsevier·JournalCanadian Journal of Cardiology·TypeExperimental study·DateAug 28, 2025