Emergency medicine Australasia : EMA
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Emerg Med Australas · Jun 2023
ReviewReview article: Use of the Team Emergency Assessment Measure in the rating of emergency teams' non-technical skills: A mapping review.
The present study aims to explore the utility of the Team Emergency Assessment Measure (TEAM) in relation to the enhancement of emergency team non-technical skills based on research conducted over the last decade. In this mapping review, a citation mining process identified 22 primary studies for inclusion, published between 2012 and 2022. It provides outcome data on emergency teams' non-technical skills following team training and/or real-life patient emergencies. ⋯ The review highlights a lack of studies evidencing quality improvement or clinical impact such as change of patient care practice or health service performance. There is a need to conduct well-designed studies that explore both technical and non-technical skills of resuscitation teams and METs. Currently, non-technical skills training and repeated performance evaluations using the TEAM contribute immensely to the proficiency of emergency teams.
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Emerg Med Australas · Jun 2023
Economic evaluation of applying the Canadian Syncope Risk Score in an Australian emergency department.
To evaluate the Canadian Syncope Risk Score (CSRS) in syncope patients presenting to the ED from an economic perspective, using very-low and low-risk patients (CSRS -3 to 0) as a threshold for avoiding hospital admissions. ⋯ Compared to usual care, applying the CSRS appeared as a cost-effective strategy. This new evidence will help decision-makers choose cost-effective approaches for the management of patients presenting to the ED with syncope, as they search for efficient ways to maximise health gain from a finite budget.
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Emerg Med Australas · Jun 2023
Patterns of emergency department use in rural and metropolitan New South Wales by socioeconomic status: A population-based study.
To investigate the patterns of ED use in metropolitan and rural New South Wales (NSW) by socioeconomic status (SES). ⋯ Negative gradients in rates of ED presentations with increasing SES were observed in both metropolitan and rural NSW. At each SES quintile, rates of ED presentations were higher in rural compared to metropolitan areas. Further research exploring the underlying causal mechanisms leading to increased ED demand in rural NSW and socioeconomically disadvantaged populations is warranted.
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Emerg Med Australas · Jun 2023
Personal protective equipment for COVID-19 among healthcare workers in an emergency department: an exploratory survey of workload, thermal discomfort, and symptoms of heat strain.
To examine workload, thermal discomfort and heat-related symptoms among healthcare workers (HCWs) in an Australian ED during the COVID-19 pandemic. ⋯ ED HCWs experience thermal discomfort when wearing PPE. Combined with their workloads, HCWs experienced symptoms related to heat strain. Therefore, careful consideration should be given to managing heat strain among HCWs when wearing PPE in an ED.
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Emerg Med Australas · Jun 2023
Psychological safety and emergency department team performance: A mixed-methods study.
Team culture underpins team performance. Psychological safety - 'a shared belief held by members of a team that the team is safe for interpersonal risk taking' - is a critical component of team culture for high-performing teams across contexts. However, psychological safety in ED teams has not been well explored. We aimed to explore this core teamwork concept in the ED. ⋯ Familiarity of team members and leaders was critical to the development of psychological safety within the ED. Fostering familiarity should be a focus for frontline leadership each shift and a priority in broader departmental decisions for those seeking to enhance the psychological safety of their teams.