Emergency medicine Australasia : EMA
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Emergency healthcare is a high profile component of modern healthcare systems, which over the past three decades has fundamentally transformed in many countries. However, despite this rapid development, and associated investments in service standards, there is a high level of concern with the performance of emergency health services relating principally to system wide congestion. ⋯ The aim of this article is to stimulate a conversation about the future design and functioning of emergency healthcare systems; examining what we understand about the problem and proposing a rationale that may underpin future strategic approaches. This is also an invitation to join the conversation.
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Emerg Med Australas · Jun 2014
Implications for public access defibrillation placement by non-traumatic out-of-hospital cardiac arrest occurrence in Singapore.
The American Heart Association recommends automated external defibrillator placement in public areas with a high probability (>1) of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) occurring in 5 years. We aimed to determine the incidence rate of OHCA for different location categories in Singapore. ⋯ In this study, we found the categories and individual sites that clearly fulfilled the American Heart Association criteria of at least 1 OHCA per site per 5 years. This study provides a model of how cardiac arrest registry data can be used to guide local health policy on automated external defibrillator deployment.
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Emerg Med Australas · Jun 2014
Ultrasound use in Australasian emergency departments: A survey of Australasian College for Emergency Medicine Fellows and Trainees.
To describe current practice of EDUS by ACEM Trainees and Fellows; to describe potential barriers to US use in the Australasian setting; to determine compliance with current college guidelines regarding US credentialing. ⋯ The present study showed that only a minority of ACEM Trainees and Fellows are credentialed to perform routine ED scans. Many non-credentialed ACEM Trainees and Fellows are performing scans, many without independent confirmation of their findings.
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Emerg Med Australas · Jun 2014
Need to address poor numeracy skills in the emergency department environment.
Substantial evidence exists for lack of numerical skills among many health professionals. Although poor numeracy has long been recognised as a contributor to medication error, other activities for which numerical literacy are required, such as interpretation of diagnostic results, have been largely ignored. Poor self-awareness of lack of numerical literacy increases the risk, especially in the busy and hurried emergency environment. ⋯ In contrast, education for nurses frequently occurs during both pre- and post-registration programmes. Interventions have had mixed success, although additional emphasis in increasing conceptual understanding of numbers is encouraging. The consequences of poor numerical literacy should be addressed in all clinical staff, not only by practice change to remove the potential for errors to be made, but also complemented by self-awareness and education.
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Emerg Med Australas · Jun 2014
Comparative StudyFirst comparison of the Venner(TM) A.P. Advance(TM) versus the Macintosh laryngoscope for intubations by non-anaesthetists: A manikin study.
The present study aims to study whether using a videolaryngoscope (A.P. Advance™) facilitates or hinders intubation by non-anaesthetists inexperienced in its use. ⋯ The use of the A.P. Advance™ videolaryngoscope should not be considered, without adequate prior training and experience, in the management of a difficult airway. The level of adequate training has yet to be established.