Emergency medicine Australasia : EMA
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Emerg Med Australas · Apr 2024
Presence of alcohol and other drug use within youth mental health presentations to the emergency department: A single-site retrospective observational study.
Youth mental health is a growing issue, which can be worsened by alcohol and other drug (AOD) use. The present study aimed to characterise the association of AOD use in youth presenting to an ED with a mental health crisis. ⋯ In New Zealand, it is not legal to sell alcohol to persons under 18 years; however, this was the most commonly identified drug impacting on youth mental health presentations. There is a known association between alcohol use and adverse mental health symptoms; therefore, efforts to decrease access to alcohol in this age group must continue, and harm reduction interventions to reduce clinically significant overdoses recommended.
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Emerg Med Australas · Apr 2024
Musculoskeletal chest pain prevalence in emergency department presentations: A retrospective case notes review.
Musculoskeletal (MSK) causes of chest pain are considered common in emergency care, yet management is limited, reported outcomes are poor and prevalence data in New Zealand are lacking. The present study aims to estimate the prevalence of MSK chest pain in New Zealand EDs and describe the characteristics of MSK chest pain cases. ⋯ These data provide a conservative estimate of MSK chest pain prevalence in EDs within the South Island of New Zealand. The findings highlight MSK chest pain as common in emergency care, providing a basis and justification for further research to improve management and outcomes for people with MSK chest pain.
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Emerg Med Australas · Apr 2024
Are emergency departments leader identity workspaces? A qualitative study of emergency physicians.
Emergency medicine is a discipline with complex leadership demands, which are experienced by junior and senior emergency physicians alike. In this environment, emergency physicians can struggle to work out what it means to be a leader and develop professional identities as leaders, necessitating a leader identity workspace. The aim of the present study is to explore whether emergency physicians view their work environment as leader identity workspaces. ⋯ Our results suggest that neither EDs nor hospitals more generally exhibit the properties of, or are experienced by emergency physicians, as leader identity workspaces.
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Emerg Med Australas · Apr 2024
Modelling a two-stream emergency department segregation and admission system from COVID-19 early rapid antigen testing: A pilot study.
Many factors influence patient flow through an ED, including streaming, treatment spaces and staff resources. This pilot study explored and compared real time patient flow using a single-stream system versus varying configurations of possible two-stream systems using computer simulation. ⋯ Data-driven modelling within specific clinical settings can inform the (in)efficiency of patient flow processes and help clinicians and managers make evidence-based decisions about patient transition through EDs. This can assist with reconfiguration of ED patient streaming particularly during periods of unique need, such as the recent COVID-19 pandemic.
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Emerg Med Australas · Apr 2024
Casemix and performance of Australian emergency departments: A comparison of major city, regional and remote locations.
EDs are an essential service, and higher rates of presentations per population are seen in regional and remote areas compared to major cities. Australia-wide differences in utilisation and performance remain largely unknown. ⋯ Our study highlights ED utilisation, casemix and performance by location. The differences observed, especially areas of inequity and need for interventions, reiterate that imperative regional and remote EDs are appropriately resourced to support the communities they serve.