Emergency medicine Australasia : EMA
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Emerg Med Australas · Apr 2023
Exploring a hospital's response to children who have no fixed address.
To explore how a tertiary metropolitan public healthcare provider supported children who presented with 'no fixed address' (NFA). ⋯ The hospital system did not effectively identify or respond to the psychosocial needs of children with NFA.
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Emerg Med Australas · Apr 2023
Potential to be more effective: reduction in lower urgency emergency department presentations during the COVID-19 period in New South Wales, Australia.
Diverting lower urgency ED presentations to more suitable healthcare is a key goal of several healthcare systems. During the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, there was a substantial drop in ED presentations in New South Wales (NSW), potentially because of lower risk of illness and injury through social restrictions, or ED avoidance for lower urgent care. The present study aimed to better understand the impact of social restrictions during the pandemic on ED presentations, to inform potential shifts to alternative modes of care in emergency medicine. ⋯ This finding suggests that reducing lower urgency ED presentation beyond the COVID-19 pandemic maybe feasible, by supporting alternative, more appropriate sources of care.
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Emerg Med Australas · Apr 2023
Accuracy and clinical use of biliary point-of-care ultrasound: A retrospective cohort study.
To assess the utilisation and diagnostic accuracy of biliary point-of-care ultrasounds (POCUS) performed and archived in a single New Zealand ED. ⋯ Biliary POCUS was primarily utilised for and was accurate for the detection of gallstones. Further quality assurance and training could be directed at earlier credentialing to address technical errors and improved documentation of POCUS findings.
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Emerg Med Australas · Apr 2023
Comment Observational StudyImpact on the health service in the Top End, Northern Territory following the introduction of an electric scooter sharing service.
To investigate patients presenting to EDs following the recent introduction of a shared electric scooter (e-scooter) scheme in Northern Territory (NT). ⋯ Harm minimisations strategies targeting implementation of alcohol testing and penalties for riders may be able to reduce the effect that the introduction of e-scooters on the strained health system in the NT.
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Emerg Med Australas · Apr 2023
Using network analyses to characterise Australian and Canadian frequent attenders to the emergency department.
To explore and compare the characteristics of frequent attenders to the ED at an Australian and a Canadian tertiary hospitals by utilising a network analysis approach. ⋯ Younger, middle-aged and older frequent attenders have distinct characteristics, made readily apparent by using network analyses. Future interventions to reduce ED visits should consider the heterogeneity of frequent attenders who have needs specific to their age, presenting problems and jurisdiction.