Emergency Medicine - Adult and Pediatric
RSSArticles
-
Tachycardia in the Emergency Department: Part I
This issue is the first of a two-part discussion of tachycardia, the most common rhythm abnormality seen in the emergency department. Part I will discuss the epidemiology, etiology, and characteristics of the different tachycardic arrhythmias. Part II will discuss conditions affecting other organ systems that can produce tachycardia, then finish by reviewing the assessment and management of these patients. We hope these two issues will be useful to your clinical practice.
-
Irritable Patient Behavior Affects Emergency Nursing Assessments
For encounters during which the patient exhibited irritable behavior, nurses reported more anger and unease. They also judged the patients as likely to exaggerate pain, as poorer historians, and less likely to cooperate and return to work and recover. In their documentation, nurses were more likely to use negative descriptions of patients and more likely to omit information, such as whether tests were ordered.
-
Is ED Patient Rude or Insulting? Risk Mitigation Needed
Patients who behave in this manner could be at risk for a missed diagnosis caused by poor communication with the treatment team. They may be so difficult to tolerate that they receive less attention and nursing care than they would have otherwise. The best approach is to recognize the risks with these types of patients and mitigate them.
-
Paramedicine Program Chips Away at High ED Use, Links Patients to Appropriate Care
Chicago-based Medical Home Network is partnering with community paramedics at the Chicago Fire Department on a program aimed at helping patients manage their chronic conditions and appropriately navigate the health system. The program is focused on steering patients away from calling 911 or presenting to EDs with nonurgent care needs.
-
Housing Instability Increases Likelihood of Discharge Against Medical Advice
It is important for emergency medicine providers to recognize that patients facing housing instability might be more inclined to self-discharge, even when dealing with severe medical conditions.
-
EDs Can Make Discharges Against Medical Advice Safer
Recognizing a discharge as higher risk could encourage physicians and care providers to engage in risk assessment and risk reduction.
-
Onsite Pharmacies Can Boost Medication Access to Patients, Surrounding Communities
There are some other possible workarounds, such as leveraging electronic prescribing from the ED so providers will know quickly whether medications are available in a specific outpatient pharmacy, administering first antibiotic doses in the ED, and providing a few days’ worth of medication to patients about to be discharged.
-
Fracture-Related Complications
The goal of this review is to familiarize emergency physicians with the initial assessment of fractures as well as the identification and management of immediate, early, and late-stage fracture complications.
-
Managing Anaphylaxis in the Emergency Department
The incidence of anaphylaxis, a rapidly progressive and potentially fatal disease, is increasing and unfortunately common in children. It is imperative that all acute care providers are prepared to recognize, quickly treat, and ensure appropriate follow-up for these patients. The authors focus on anaphylaxis, its presentation, management, and disposition from the ED.
-
Traumatic Hemorrhagic Shock
This issue will review the management of traumatic hemorrhage in the emergency department, highlighting prehospital care, recognition of hemorrhagic shock, initial resuscitative measures, massive hemorrhage protocol, reversal agents, and technological advancements in medical and mechanical support for traumatic hemorrhage.