Emergency Medicine Topics
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Sickle Cell Disease in the Emergency Department
Sickle cell disease is a complex condition with diverse potential complications. In the emergency department setting, physicians should be aware of the life-threatening pathologies that can affect patients with sickle cell disease.
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Hanging and Strangulation Injuries in Intimate Partner Violence
Strangulation and hanging injuries are underidentified by healthcare providers, often because of the lack of external physical signs of trauma. A systematic approach to clinical evaluation and treatment, using an interdisciplinary team, is important to ensure positive outcomes for this vulnerable patient population.
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Taming of the Flu: A 2023 Update on What Is New
The 2023-2024 influenza season is already among us, and healthcare practitioners on the frontline must have current knowledge of prevention and treatment strategies, particularly in our nation’s emergency departments.
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Ruptured Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms
Recently the American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP) created a quality measure, just adopted by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, that suggests early ultrasound for patients presenting with new abdominal or back pain and hypotension who have not been screened for an abdominal aneurysm at age 55-65 years or older.
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Racial, Ethnic Disparities in Restraint Use
Use restraints only when absolutely necessary, and in accordance with established protocols and regulations. Undergo training on appropriate restraint techniques. Ensure regular monitoring of restrained patients. Continuously reassess the need for restraints. Clearly document the rationale for restraint use.
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Calling ED Boarding a Public Health Crisis, ACEP Pushes Policymakers to Act
Although there are many possible solutions, both legislative and administrative, the industry continues searching for the right formula to solve the problem.
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Many Patients Avoid Going to EDs Because of Fear of Boarding, Delays
Emergency physicians should convey to patients that they will receive care, regardless of the boarding crisis. Stick to the foundation of emergency medical care: stabilize, ensure patients are not experiencing a life-threatening emergency, and manage their urgent conditions.
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Hospitalist Triage Role Expedites Admission Decisions for ED Patients
This intervention alone likely will not reduce the number of boarded patients. But with accurate data in hand, the focus can shift to alleviating the downstream bottlenecks that prevent patients from going to inpatient beds sooner.
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Shorter Length of Stay if ED Workup Completed Before Surgical Consult
Researchers reported completion of workups, such as basic labs and imaging before consultation, resulted in patients spending less time in the ED. Average consultant-to-decision time was 2.5 hours for patients with complete workups vs. 4.9 hours for those with incomplete workups.
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Emergency Care Providers Help Identify Candidates for Hospital-at-Home Program
Project planners intend to care for hundreds of patients per year in the hospital-at-home program, thereby offloading some of that capacity from inpatient hospitals.