Emergency medicine Australasia : EMA
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Emerg Med Australas · Oct 2024
Antivenom surveillance: An audit of antivenom stock within South Australia.
Antivenoms are important emergency medications to be held within Australia, particularly in regional and remote locations. We audited current antivenom holdings in hospitals and health services across South Australia (SA) and compared to recommendations in the 'Snakebite and Spiderbite Management Guidelines' from the State's Toxinology service. The process also assessed the feasibility of 'real-time' remote stock monitoring. ⋯ This audit has demonstrated a significant disparity between recommended and actual antivenom holdings across most sites in SA and has also revealed that 'real-time' remote monitoring of state antivenom holdings is not currently feasible. Correction of stock levels to that recommended may result in financial benefit for State Health while also addressing inequity in regional and remote healthcare provision.
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Emerg Med Australas · Oct 2024
Making the most of what we have: What does the future hold for Emergency Department data?
Over 10 million ED visits occur each year across Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand. Outside basic administrative data focused on time-based targets, there is minimal information about clinical performance, quality of care, patient outcomes, or equity in emergency care. ⋯ The present paper outlines a proposal for a National Acute Care Secure Health Data Environment, including design, possible applications, and the steps taken to date by the Australasian College for Emergency Medicine ED Epidemiology Network in collaboration with the College of Emergency Nursing Australasia. Optimal use of the existing information collected routinely during clinical care of emergency patients has the potential to enable data-driven quality improvement and research, leading to better care and better outcomes for millions of patients and families each year.