Emergency medicine Australasia : EMA
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Emerg Med Australas · May 2024
Computed tomography pulmonary angiogram ordering, adherence to decision rules and yield in the emergency department: An observational study.
Pulmonary embolism (PE) frequently requires diagnosis through CT pulmonary angiogram (CTPA). Appropriate application of evidence-based clinical decision tools can reduce unnecessary CTPAs. This study assessed adherence to and the efficacy of various aspects of the Queensland Health suspected PE diagnostic pathway, including Wells score, PE rule out criteria (PERC) and age-adjusted D-dimer interpretation. ⋯ Guideline adherence can be improved, and adherence to existing clinical decision tools may reduce unnecessary CTPA ordering and increase diagnostic yield. The use of the age-adjusted D-dimer had good sensitivity, whereas the new PTP approach will require further prospective research.
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In order to tackle racism in healthcare, it must be rooted out, carefully and mindfully, by all those who work in the field. Of late, there is much talk to enact institutional change; however, I believe there is a paucity of commentary to encourage individual responsibility. Here I present a personal experience which I believe illustrates a frequent occurrence whereby racism is falsely identified in a person. ⋯ I call for a more personal call to action for each and every healthcare professional. I urge my colleagues to be mindful with the use of racist and to take a breath before presiding judgement. You might be surprised as to what you learn from other when they are given the chance.
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Emerg Med Australas · Apr 2024
The effect of an extended-hours ED clinical pharmacy service on admission medication prescribing errors.
The aim of this study was to determine the effect of a 7-day extended-hours clinical pharmacy service in the ED on medication prescribing errors upon hospital admission and time to medication reconciliation. ⋯ The 7-day extended-hours ED clinical pharmacy service was associated with a reduction in medication prescribing errors in high-needs patients and improved time to BPMH and medication reconciliation.
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Emerg Med Australas · Apr 2024
Post-lockdown burden of road injury involving hospitalisation in Victoria, Australia: A statewide, population-based time series analysis.
Ever since COVID-19, short-term changes in transport injury patterns have been observed. The aim is to examine both the initial and the enduring impact of government lockdown and the pandemic on road injuries requiring hospitalisation and road fatalities. ⋯ Road injury requiring hospitalisation decreased significantly during governmental lockdown and has returned to three-quarters of pre-pandemic levels (except bicyclist injuries that have remained constant), but there is an increasingly disproportionate number of fatalities. This represents a new baseline of injury burden for EDs and hospitals that manage trauma patients.