Emergency medicine Australasia : EMA
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Emergency Medicine pioneered the use of ultrasound at the bedside. All of the Colleges of Emergency Medicine in the Anglo-American system have incorporated Emergency Ultrasound into their training curriculum, and all but ACEM have made training and proficiency mandatory. ⋯ It is a unique procedure that requires a College mandate to overcome the political and financial arguments that have kept it from flourishing in our hospitals. ACEM needs to instate such a mandate.
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Emerg Med Australas · Jun 2016
Clinical impact of a high-sensitivity troponin assay introduction on patients presenting to the emergency department.
Biomarkers are a critical component in the investigation of patients with potential ischaemic heart disease. The proposed benefits of a high-sensitivity troponin (hs-Tn) assay include earlier diagnosis of myocardial infarction. However, the decreased specificity may adversely affect clinical practice. The present study aims to investigate the impact that the introduction of a hs-Tn assay had on patients presenting to the ED. ⋯ Although the introduction of a hs-Tn assay led to an increase in hospital admissions, the unchanged rate of cardiac procedures or final diagnoses of acute myocardial infarction and ischaemic heart disease suggests that the hs-Tn did not improve the detection of these conditions. It remains unclear whether there was a benefit admitting the additional cohort of patients.
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Emerg Med Australas · Jun 2016
Review of therapeutic agents employed by an Australian aeromedical prehospital and retrieval service.
There is little current evidence regarding which therapeutic agents are actually used within existing aeromedical services. The Greater Sydney Area Helicopter Emergency Medical Service operates a large, physician-staffed, multimodal, prehospital and interhospital retrieval service. The aim of the present study was to identify the range and frequency of drug, fluid and blood product use within our service. ⋯ The results of the present study form a practical guide to aid prehospital and retrieval services in establishing or reviewing their medical agent formularies. Key practice points illuminated by the data provide insights into current practice in critical care. There remains a clear need for similar studies from other services worldwide.
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Emerg Med Australas · Jun 2016
TOXINZ, the New Zealand Internet poisons information database: The first decade.
The New Zealand National Poisons Centre has, over a number of years, developed an electronic poisons information database. In 2002, this was released as toxinz™ (University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand), an Internet accessible version. The objective of this study is to describe New Zealand subscriber utilisation of TOXINZ with an emphasis on pharmaceutical monographs viewed. ⋯ The TOXINZ Internet accessible poisons information database has proved to be a well-utilised addition to the New Zealand National Poisons Centre's service.
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Emerg Med Australas · Jun 2016
Trends and characteristics of short-term and frequent representations to emergency departments: A population-based study from New South Wales, Australia.
The objective of this study is to describe the trends and characteristics of short-term and frequent representations to EDs in New South Wales, Australia. ⋯ In this population-based study, short-term representations were highest in the infant patient population, in-patient readmission rates were highest in the elderly and very frequent representations to ED were characterised by middle-aged patients with mental health or drug and alcohol related presentations.