Emergency medicine Australasia : EMA
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Emerg Med Australas · Feb 2019
Observational StudyPosition of the abdominal seat belt sign and its predictive utility for abdominal trauma.
In a motor vehicle crash, compressive forces from the lap component of the seat belt may produce an abdominal abrasion/contusion known as the 'seat belt sign', and is associated with abdominal and lumbar injuries. Previous research has not taken into account the position of this sign in relation to the anterior superior iliac spine (ASIS). Our aim was to demonstrate an association between the seat belt sign position in relation to ASIS and the presence of abdominal/lumbar injury. ⋯ The seat belt sign is associated with abdominal and lumbar injury; however, the location is important. This association is strong when the seat belt sign is above ASIS, but when the sign is at/below the ASIS the injury rate is similar to participants with no seat belt sign. Routine imaging of the abdomen may be appropriate only for those with a seat belt sign above ASIS.
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Emerg Med Australas · Feb 2019
Building a research-ready database of rural emergency presentations: The RAHDaR pilot study.
A small amount of data from rural emergency facilities is collated with large urban datasets, but there are no dedicated rural emergency datasets. ⋯ The RAHDaR dataset includes high-risk presentations managed entirely at low resource sites and, as further sites are added, will tackle the biases that can misrepresent the performance of small rural hospitals.
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Emerg Med Australas · Feb 2019
Caring for older patients in the emergency department: Health professionals' perspectives from Australia - The Safe Elderly Emergency Discharge project.
To explore health professionals' perspectives about caring for community-dwelling older patients in the ED. ⋯ The growing number of older patients presents numerous challenges for emergency health professionals and necessitates a tailored approach to care. Understanding health professionals' perspectives about caring for older patients can inform strategies that may improve the quality of care. Creating older person-friendly areas, improving transitional care and providing staff with specific education would foster an environment that promotes person-centred care, safety, independence and functional wellbeing.
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Emerg Med Australas · Feb 2019
ACEM involvement in a successful African emergency medicine programme.
In the past 5 years Botswana graduated its first home-grown doctors and emergency medicine specialists for the country. The postgraduate emergency medicine specialist training arrangement between Botswana and South Africa was challenging in development, implementation and maintenance. Numerous varied supports from ACEM and its International Emergency Medicine Network were integral to these successes. This article encourages further investment of ACEM grants and scholarships in Africa by describing how ACEM supported significant advances in Botswana emergency medicine.