Emergency medicine Australasia : EMA
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Emerg Med Australas · Jul 2024
Risk factors for older people re-presenting to the emergency department with falls: A case-control analysis.
Falls are a leading cause for ED presentations among older adults. Existing secondary falls prevention interventions have not been shown to decrease fall-related ED re-presentation, indicating a need to better understand contributing factors. Our aim was to evaluate risk factors for fall re-presentations among the older patient population presenting to the ED. ⋯ The present study failed to identify factors independently associated with ED fall re-presentation, suggesting that the factors are complex and inter-related. Two high-risk populations were identified - those from RACF and those initially presenting with falls not resulting in serious injury.
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Emerg Med Australas · Jul 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.
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Emerg Med Australas · Jul 2024
Trauma team activation for older patients with pelvic fractures: Are current criteria adequate?
The present study aimed to identify the impact of age on current trauma team activation (TTA) processes and outcomes for patients with pelvic fractures. ⋯ Current TTA criteria based on higher energy mechanisms and traditional vital sign thresholds are inadequate for identifying injury in older patients. Sensitive triage criteria and increased clinician awareness are required to enhance injury recognition and improve outcomes in older trauma patients.
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Emerg Med Australas · Jul 2024
Evaluating soft collars in pre-hospital cervical spine immobilisation: A cohort study on neurological outcomes, patient comfort and paramedic perspectives.
Cervical spinal immobilisation procedures often include rigid cervical collars which, despite associated complications, may provide less immobilisation than previously thought. The present study reports the incidence of worsening neurological outcomes following soft collar application, and additionally reports patient comfort, compliance with spinal immobilisation, and paramedic perspectives on usage. ⋯ Pre-hospital use of soft collars does not appear to increase the risk of significant injury. Patients found these devices relatively comfortable, and clinicians reported overall ease of use with good patient compliance with immobility directives.
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Emerg Med Australas · Jul 2024
Long-term trends in incidence and outcomes of rib fractures: A population-based data linkage study from New South Wales, Australia.
Determine long-term trends in population-based incidence and outcomes of rib fracture hospitalisations. ⋯ Rib fracture hospitalisations have increased with older patients driving this trend.