Articles tagged with Emergency Medicine
A new policy analysis from Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Institute identifies the intensive care crisis in rural America and proposes comprehensive solutions. The study suggests policies like reducing uninsured populations through ACA Medicaid expansion and increasing healthcare workforce can strengthen rural intensive care capacity.
Researchers analyzed trauma injury data from over 56,000 car crash victims and found that women have a higher shock index, indicating a greater risk of hemorrhagic shock. This suggests that female bodies may handle blood loss differently than male bodies, warranting further investigation into car safety design and first aid response.
A new study shows that hospitals struggle to consistently collect accurate racial and ethnicity data from patients who visit their emergency department multiple times. The findings suggest that nearly a quarter of adult patients and up to 32% of children receive different race or ethnicity designations on subsequent visits, indicating ...
A new UCLA Health study found that women and individuals who don't fit traditional norms in the emergency room environment are underrepresented due to the challenging cultural dynamics. Most medical students who pursued emergency medicine despite this hurdle indicated they needed mentorship, representation, and exposure to the specialty.
A qualitative study of 25 Black patient interviews reveals significant medical mistrust and anticipation of racism in emergency care. The study suggests system improvements are needed to address these issues and improve health outcomes for Black patients.
A new study by the University of Illinois Chicago found that the average age for cardiac arrest outside the hospital fell from 64.7 to 62.7 among Chicagoans, with Black men experiencing the largest decline, leading to a 75% increase in lost years of life.
A comprehensive study found pulse oximeters significantly overestimated oxygen saturation readings in individuals with darker skin tones. This could lead to missed treatments and incorrect diagnoses, as devices may not accurately reflect critical oxygen levels.
Exposure to neighborhood violence among children is associated with unmet physical and mental health care needs, increased acute care utilization, and poor school performance. The study calls for evidence-based interventions to improve access to care in communities impacted by violence.
A new study led by the University of Surrey found that live video streaming from trauma incidents to emergency medical services using smartphones is feasible to implement and evaluate. The technology could aid decision-making about dispatching the right personnel and vehicles to major trauma incidents.
A new review of research evidence suggests that having fewer nurses on shift in emergency departments is associated with longer waits, patients leaving without being seen, and a higher number of cardiac arrests. This is linked to increased pressure on the healthcare system due to increasing demand and complex health problems.
A bilingual healthcare app is being launched to assist Canadians in maintaining their health during the current healthcare crisis. The app aims to encourage users to take proactive steps towards preventative care, providing them with personalized recommendations and resources.
The Changing High-Risk Asthma in Memphis through Partnership (CHAMP) program significantly decreased healthcare use related to asthma by addressing access to care, fragmented care, and social needs. After one year of enrollment, results showed a 48% reduction in ED visits, 68% reduction in inpatient and observation visits.
A new study reveals significant variations in emergency medical service (EMS) performance across urban and rural communities. EMS systems often focus on response times rather than patient-specific clinical care, leading to inconsistent quality of care.
A new study from the Icahn School of Medicine of Mount Sinai reveals significant variations in emergency medical service (EMS) performance across the United States. The research found that EMS agencies in rural areas were less likely to provide optimal care, including treating low blood sugar and pain for trauma patients.
Researchers at Mount Sinai Health System developed a novel protocol for rapid diagnosis of eye stroke, improving outcomes and preserving vision. The protocol uses high-resolution retinal imaging in emergency rooms, along with remote consultation, to confirm diagnosis and expedite care.
A recent study reveals significant disparities in emergency department use among transgender and cisgender Medicare beneficiaries. The findings highlight increased utilization of emergent services, particularly for psychological care, which are more likely to lead to hospital admissions.
A digital app has been found to reduce emergency hospital admissions from care homes by 25%, as well as A&E attendances by 11%. The use of the Health Call app led to a cost reduction for the NHS of £57 per resident in 2018, increasing to £113 in 2021.
A recent study found that mobile patient lift-assisted early mobilization in ventilated ICU patients led to earlier standing and improved physical function. The intervention group exhibited higher Functional Status Score for the Intensive Care Unit scores at ICU discharge, supporting the benefits of proactive early mobilization.
Eleven prominent researchers recognized for groundbreaking work in stroke and brain health, with a focus on improving treatments and addressing disparities. The honorees include experts in magnetic resonance imaging, inherited risk factors, and clinical stroke research.
A Canadian study found that 30% of parent caregivers have unmet emotional needs and 15% feel inadequately involved in their child's care. Providing regular updates and addressing parents' emotional needs can help ease pressures of ER crowding.
A study of emergency department visits reveals that most injuries from conducted energy devices, such as TASERs, involve young Black and white males from low-income areas. This finding is consistent with existing research on police violence and racial disparities in the US population.
A new study found that people with drug-related cardiac arrests in the U.S. were more likely to be younger and have fewer coexisting health conditions compared to non-drug-related cardiac arrests, which was a surprising finding given the increasing number of overdose deaths.
The American Heart Association has outlined three target needs for improving cardiac arrest outcomes by 2030: increasing bystander CPR rates, defibrillation, and survival after cardiac arrest. The goal is to double survivorship to 20% through increased access to lifesaving care in underrepresented communities.
A study of 824 N95 masks used by 412 emergency department workers found that trifold N95s had a higher incidence of fit failure compared to dome N95s. The results highlight the importance of selecting appropriate N95 masks for reuse and extended use in pandemic preparedness
A new study found a significant decline in emergency department visits related to emergency contraception, dropping by 96% between 2006 and 2020. The decrease was attributed to the FDA's approval of over-the-counter emergency contraception, which also reduced medical costs by $7.6 million.
A new app developed by Toho University researchers enhances nurses' care coordination competency for critically ill patients on life support. The app utilizes the Nurses' Care Coordinate Competency Scale and provides immediate feedback to improve care coordination behaviors.
Researchers developed an AI algorithm to monitor patient variables and predict sepsis before symptom onset. The tool resulted in a 17% reduction in mortality rates.
A new study found that Black and Hispanic patients were less likely to be restrained in an emergency department compared to White patients. However, female Black and Hispanic patients with mental illness or substance use disorder were more likely to receive restraints than male counterparts.
A study found that the No Surprises Act's independent dispute resolution (IDR) process would be financially unfeasible for a large portion of out-of-network claims for hospital-based specialties, particularly radiologists. This could undermine patient access to in-network care due to limited bargaining power.
Despite pandemic disruptions, emergency visits, hospital admissions, and intensive care unit stays were lower for children. However, there were delays in new diagnoses of cancer and diabetes, and an increase in diabetic ketoacidosis among children with diabetes. Researchers urge education campaigns to improve future pandemic preparedness.
A systematic review of 95 studies found that 3D camera system estimates, patient self-estimates, and the Lorenz method are accurate for estimating adult body weight. However, no method is foolproof, and alternative strategies should be available when patients are unable to provide an estimate.
A new study highlights the importance of leadership in addressing the NHS retention crisis, citing poor working conditions, burnout, and lack of support as major issues. The research suggests that better leadership training and ongoing support for leaders are crucial to improving wellbeing at work.
Diagnostic errors in hospitalized adults who died or were transferred to the intensive care unit were common, with problems in test choice and clinician assessment identified as high-priority areas for improvement. The study analyzed 2,428 patient records at 29 hospitals and found that these errors led to significant patient harm.
Researchers developed mathematical models based on real events data from the Swedish Trauma Registry, showing that AI models outperformed clinical outcomes. The study highlights the potential of AI-powered decision support to improve ambulance staff's ability to assess injury severity and potentially save more lives.
Researchers from UC San Francisco have found that Paxlovid treatment does not reduce the risk of developing long COVID. They also discovered a higher proportion of individuals with acute symptoms rebounding after treatment, and those who took Paxlovid were just as likely to develop severe Long COVID symptoms as those who did not.
Making antivenom more widely available across hospitals and community health centers in the Brazilian Amazon region would significantly reduce death and disability from venomous snakebites. The study found that expanding access to both hospitals and community health centers would produce the largest benefits, averting up to 3,922 death...
A new study found that trauma survivors who received comprehensive mental health support after discharge had significantly lower hospital readmission rates. Researchers analyzed data from 171 patients and found that those receiving standard care had nearly twice as many readmissions as those with the intervention.
Patients screened in emergency departments (ED) are more likely to screen positive for Social Determinants of Health (SDOH) needs compared to primary care patients. Primary care may be better optimized to address SDOH needs, with lower screening rates.
Researchers found that bleeding control kits should be placed in two or more locations on premises, with a walking distance of under 90 seconds. Located near AEDs is more beneficial than at entrances, where they may be difficult to reach.
The University of Maryland School of Medicine will collect data on trauma patients for 3.5 years to identify lifesaving advancements in medical triage. The goal is to predict the need for interventions in real-time, enabling more effective triage and improved mass casualty response efforts.
A new study by researchers at University College London found that reducing oxygen levels for critically ill children on mechanical ventilators can lead to better outcomes, including reduced days spent on machines supporting organs. This approach has the potential to improve outcomes and reduce healthcare costs globally.
A new study calls for increased health outcome reporting at ICE detention centers to monitor the quality of medical care. The researchers found discrepancies between emergency medical services and ICE reports, raising questions about the medical care provided in these centers.
A study of 33.1 million hospital visits found that Black and Hispanic patients are more likely to be discharged against medical advice, indicating a need for interventions to address medical segregation. This disparity may be related to unequal allocation of healthcare resources in hospitals serving racial and ethnic minoritized groups.
The American Heart Association and Neurocritical Care Society emphasize the need for improved critical care management of patients after cardiac arrest. The consensus statement highlights gaps in knowledge, particularly in areas like neurological, cardiac, and gastrointestinal care.
A new NIH grant will investigate how news media reports on community firearm violence affect survivors, communities, and policymakers. The research aims to develop evidence-based guidelines for safer reporting, inspired by successful approaches for other traumatic events.
A recent study found that older adults with dementia who are transferred to another hospital are less likely to receive intensive care or medical procedures within the first two days of transfer. This highlights the need for closer patient and family involvement in determining whether transfer provides optimal care.
Breath-holding spells are common in young children and are harmless, yet many undergo unnecessary diagnostic interventions. A Lund University study proposes guidelines to reduce emergency visits and provide more equitable care for affected children.
A new study by the University of Plymouth reveals that chlorine disinfectants used in hospitals are no more effective at killing off hospital superbugs than water. The research highlights the need for alternative strategies to tackle Clostridioides difficile, which causes diarrhoea, colitis and other bowel complications globally.
A study found that only 60% of ED patients with fall-related head injury followed up with their PCP, while 56% adopted a fall prevention strategy. Physical therapy was the most common intervention, used by 68% of patients.
A population-based study found a significant increase in overdose-related OHCA from 2015 to 2021, with opioid-stimulant cases having lower survival rates. The combination of increasing incidence and lower survival rates supports prevention and treatment initiatives tailored to drug-specific profiles.
Research highlights racial disparities in cardiac arrest survival among children, with Black children facing poorer outcomes. The study's findings have implications for increased resources for CPR programs in higher-risk communities.
A national study of approximately 3,500 women found that those with a history of stroke are more likely to believe they won't receive adequate emergency care due to their gender and race. This perception may lead to delays in treatment for stroke patients, highlighting the need for improved healthcare equity.
A study found that Black and Hispanic cardiac arrest survivors are less likely to be treated at high-performing hospitals, leading to lower survival rates and poorer neurological outcomes. The research analyzed health records from the Cardiac Arrest Registry to Enhance Survival and found disparities in hospital quality measures.
A study found that Black and Hispanic cardiac arrest survivors were less likely to be treated at top-performing hospitals. The analysis of health records from the Cardiac Arrest Registry to Enhance Survival (CARES) revealed significant disparities in hospital quality measures based on race/ethnicity.
Researchers have successfully tested an MRI-equipped ambulance, enabling faster diagnosis of stroke patients and streamlining care. The device can provide diagnostic-quality images without radiation exposure, improving treatment outcomes.
The study found that bronchiolitis admissions decreased temporarily during the pandemic but then surged among older patients, suggesting atypical seasonality. Hospitals should prepare for potential outbreaks in unusual timing in 2023.
Researchers at Children's Hospital Los Angeles have developed a novel app called the CHALF score to predict if a child with acute liver failure needs a transplant. The tool assesses liver failure risk on a scale of 5-60 and has been shown to accurately predict patient outcomes.
Research found that curling irons and curlers were the most common causes of burn injuries, affecting 68% of injured children under 10. Most injuries occurred at home without hospitalization required.
Researchers from Nemours Children's Health present studies on body image, sports attrition, social determinants, and obesity, highlighting fresh approaches to keeping children healthy. Dr. Steven Selbst receives the prestigious Jim Seidel Distinguished Service Award for emergency medicine contributions.
Trauma centers with high pediatric readiness scores (93 or higher) have much lower death rates than those with lower scores. The study highlights the importance of addressing gaps in pediatric emergency care, particularly the lack of a pediatric-specific quality improvement plan.