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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

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

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

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

Is your health care provider really listening to you?

A new article by Dr. Leonard Berry of Texas A&M University argues that values-driven listening can improve care and heal the healthcare system. The authors identify six types of listening, including proximate, curious, earning trust, aided by design, empowering, and fostering resilience, which contribute to better care.

SourceTexas A&M University·JournalMayo Clinic Proceedings·DateAug 18, 2025

New protein therapy shows promise as first-ever antidote for carbon monoxide poisoning

Researchers developed a new engineered protein-based therapy called RcoM-HBD-CCC, which acts like a sponge to soak up carbon monoxide from the blood. The therapy was tested on mice and showed promising results, clearing half of the carbon monoxide in the blood in less than a minute.

SourceUniversity of Maryland School of Medicine·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeExperimental study·DateAug 12, 2025

Nearly 70% of U.S. children in car crashes with a fatality were not using proper child passenger restraints, study finds

A study found that nearly 70% of children under 13 involved in fatal car crashes were not using proper child passenger restraints. Inappropriate practices included premature transitions to less protective seats and riding without seatbelts. The study highlights the need for innovative, targeted programs to promote correct use of age-ap...

SourceAnn & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago·JournalTraffic Injury Prevention·DateJul 31, 2025

More accurate measures required to help diagnose sepsis in children

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.

SourceMurdoch Childrens Research Institute·JournalThe Lancet Regional Health - Western Pacific·DateJul 22, 2025

Hepatitis C screening in emergency departments

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.

SourceJAMA Network·JournalJAMA·DateJul 9, 2025

Adaptive spine board could revolutionize ER transport

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.

SourceUniversity of Texas at Arlington·JournalJournal of Rehabilitation and Assistive Technologies Engineering·TypeExperimental study·DateJul 7, 2025

AI model converts hospital records into text for better emergency care decisions

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...

SourceUniversity of California - Los Angeles Health Sciences·Journalnpj Digital Medicine·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateJul 2, 2025

Black emergency department patients less likely to be treated with opioids – and more likely to misuse them later as a result

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.

SourceUniversity of California - Los Angeles Health Sciences·JournalJournal of General Internal Medicine·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateJul 1, 2025

Too many medicines, too many hospital visits: New study highlights hidden risk for older adults

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.

SourceUniversity of Bath·JournalAge and Ageing·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateJul 1, 2025

Using data and AI to create better health care systems

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 ...

SourceWeill Cornell Medicine·Journalnpj Health Systems·DateJun 26, 2025

‘Closed loop’ learning barriers prevent doctors from using life-saving bedside ultrasound

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.

SourceUniversity of Cambridge·JournalAdvances in Health Sciences Education·DateJun 23, 2025

Researchers solve ultrasound imaging problem using seismology technique

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...

SourceColorado State University·JournalIEEE Transactions on Biomedical Engineering·DateJun 11, 2025

The Lancet Child & Adolescent Health: New study highlights importance of caregiver concerns in detecting critical in illness hospitalised children

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.

SourceThe Lancet·JournalThe Lancet Child & Adolescent Health·TypeObservational study·DateMay 29, 2025