Emergency medicine Australasia : EMA
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Emerg Med Australas · Dec 2022
Observational StudyPericapsular nerve group block for hip fracture is feasible, safe and effective in the emergency department: A prospective observational comparative cohort study.
The pericapsular nerve group (PENG) block was first described for analgesia of hip fracture in 2018. We hypothesised that the PENG block is safe and effective for patients with hip fracture when provided by emergency physicians and trainees in the ED. ⋯ The present study demonstrated that the PENG block can be provided safely and effectively to patients with hip fracture in the ED. On the basis of this pilot study, a larger randomised controlled study should now be designed.
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Emergency physicians often experience significant cognitive load and task interruptions in the ED. This combination results in cognitive errors and poor patient outcomes. Quality research about this topic is scarce. Raising awareness of personal thinking processes (metacognition) is one way of reducing the unfavourable impact of task interruptions on cognition.
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Emerg Med Australas · Dec 2022
Evaluating Stroke Code Activation Pathway in Emergency Departments study.
To describe the clinical characteristics and outcomes of Code Stroke activations in an ED and determine predictors of a final diagnosis of stroke or transient ischemic attack (TIA) diagnosis. ⋯ In a cohort of patients requiring Code Stroke activation in an ED, increased age, systolic blood pressure and weakness and speech impairment increased the risk of stroke. Prehospital notification was associated with lower door to needle times for patients undergoing thrombolysis.
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Emerg Med Australas · Dec 2022
Structured evaluation of a virtual emergency department triage model of care: A study protocol.
A new virtual ED service was introduced into a hospital network in the northern suburbs of Melbourne in response to changing needs during the COVID-19 pandemic. The 'virtual ED' utilises a telehealth model as a means of assessment for appropriately selected patients to facilitate either complete care or navigation into streamlined pathways for ongoing care, in some cases bypassing the ED entirely where appropriate. The proposed study aims to evaluate the implementation of the model and identify future improvement opportunities, assess the impact on traditional health service delivery processes and patient experience, and determine the acceptability of the 'virtual ED' model of care. ⋯ This project will support the delivery of care to ED patients by evaluating the 'virtual ED' model of care.
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Emerg Med Australas · Dec 2022
Clean the skin: Reducing blood culture contamination in the emergency department.
To determine whether blood culture contamination (BCC) rates could be decreased in the ED by an educational programme. ⋯ This educational intervention focusing on skin clean time did not significantly decrease BCC rates in a setting of an already low (<3%) BCC rate.