Emergency medicine Australasia : EMA
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Emerg Med Australas · Jun 2008
Teaching paediatric resuscitation skills in a developing country: introduction of the Advanced Paediatric Life Support course into Vietnam.
In 2001, a nationwide study revealed deficiencies in the emergency care of seriously ill and injured children in Vietnam. In response, a project was initiated to conduct the Advanced Paediatric Life Support course in Vietnam and ascertain whether this course would provide a practical and sustainable method of improving the knowledge and skills of medical and nursing staff in this area. After approval to use the course was secured and funding obtained, the project commenced in 2003. ⋯ As the skill and confidence of the Vietnamese instructors grew, the number and responsibilities of the international faculty reduced. The infrastructure now exists for the course to operate in a sustainable fashion within Vietnam. We believe that this project demonstrates that the course can be successfully modified to provide teaching in paediatric emergency care in a developing country.
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To perform a review of the efficacy of adenosine, including its potential role as first-line treatment in unstable supraventricular tachycardia (SVT) and its use in wide complex tachycardias and diagnosing difficult arrhythmias. The dose and administration, nature and frequency of side-effects and relevant interactions and dosage adjustments are also discussed. ⋯ There is extensive evidence showing adenosine to be efficacious at treating SVT, but no more efficacious than cheaper alternatives. More studies are required to investigate other areas of adenosine use.
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Emerg Med Australas · Jun 2008
Assessing the impact of streaming in a regional emergency department.
To evaluate the impact of a streaming model, previously validated in metropolitan EDs, on selected performance indicators in a regional ED. ⋯ The implementation of the streaming model had an impact on the two performance indicators associated with length of stay in this regional ED, but did not have a significant impact (positive or negative) on the percentage of patients who did not wait to be seen. These results might interest other EDs in regional hospitals.
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Emerg Med Australas · Jun 2008
Australasian emergency physicians: a learning and educational needs analysis. Part Four: CPD topics desired by emergency physicians.
To report the preferences of Fellows of the Australasian College for Emergency Medicine for topics they would desire for their continuing professional development (CPD). ⋯ This information may assist in the planning of future educational interventions for emergency physicians. EP seek CPD on management, educational and other non clinical skills, as well as topics relating directly to patient care.
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Emerg Med Australas · Jun 2008
Optimizing triage consistency in Australian emergency departments: the Emergency Triage Education Kit.
The Emergency Triage Education Kit was designed to optimize consistency of triage using the Australasian Triage Scale. The present study was conducted to determine the interrater reliability of a set of scenarios for inclusion in the programme. ⋯ All scenarios that showed good levels of agreement have been included in the Emergency Triage Education Kit and are recommended for testing purposes; those that showed moderate agreement have been incorporated for teaching purposes. Both scenario sets are accompanied by explanatory notes that link the decision outcome to the Australasian College for Emergency Medicine Guidelines on the Implementation of the Australasian Triage Scale. Future analysis of the scenarios is required to identify how task-related factors influence consistency of triage.