Emergency medicine Australasia : EMA
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Emerg Med Australas · Jun 2021
Development and implementation of a Pacific Island centred COVID-19 Healthcare Worker Safety Guide.
Healthcare workers in Pacific Island Countries face unique workload and infection control hazards because of limited resources, cultural practices and local disease burden. In the context of COVID-19, concern around healthcare worker safety escalated in the region, triggering the need for a relevant resource. ⋯ We recommend a creative approach to facilitate meaningful communication with this group of clinicians, including low resolution technology and use of social media platforms.
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Emerg Med Australas · Jun 2021
Providing emergency medical care without consent: How the 'emergency principle' in Australian law protects against claims of trespass.
In a medical emergency, the usual requirement to obtain consent before giving treatment does not apply. This exception to the general rule on consent to medical treatment is known as the 'emergency principle'. ⋯ For example, whether a practitioner would ever be obliged to seek consent from a substitute decision-maker before providing emergency treatment is not clearly or consistently explained. We suggest the law should be clarified.
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Emerg Med Australas · Jun 2021
Emergency Department presentations in the Southern District of New Zealand during the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic lockdown.
To assess changes in presentations to EDs during the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown in the Southern Region of New Zealand. ⋯ Within the SDHB, patient volumes reduced during levels 4 and 3 of our lockdown, with reduced low-acuity presentations. High-acuity patient numbers also declined. Trauma, mental health, alcohol-related, infectious respiratory and acute coronary syndrome presentations declined while cerebrovascular accident and appendicitis numbers showed little to no change.
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Emerg Med Australas · Jun 2021
Assessment of the availability and utility of the paramedic record in the emergency department.
Clinical handover between pre-hospital ambulance service and the ED is important for patient safety and quality care. This study assessed the availability and utility of the paramedic record to ED clinicians in their patient assessment. ⋯ The information in the paramedic record was found to be useful to ED clinicians when it was available. Increasing the availability of the paramedic record for ED clinical assessment may be an opportunity to improve patient safety and flow.
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This article reviews the pathophysiology of acute ischaemic priapism, as well as the role of medications as an adjunct to definitive treatment. A clear procedure for aspiration is described.