Emergency medicine Australasia : EMA
-
Emerg Med Australas · Aug 2022
Profile and outcomes of emergency department presentations based on mode of arrival: A state-wide retrospective cohort study.
Understanding how people arrive to the ED assists in planning health services' response to fluctuating ED demand. The present study aimed to describe and compare demographics, clinical characteristics and health service outcomes of adult ED patient presentations based on mode of arrival: brought in by police (BIBP)/brought in by ambulance (BIBA)/privately arranged transport (PAT). ⋯ Presentations BIBA and BIBP encountered a longer ED LOS and higher admission rates than PAT, suggesting more complex care needs than those from PAT. Clinical care pathways for specific modes of arrival that support pre-hospital providers and patients and are considerate of the throughput and output stages of ED care may be needed.
-
To explore disparities between Māori and non-Māori patients with respect to triage acuity and disposition based on presenting complaint. ⋯ Māori were less likely to be admitted for similar presenting complaints, despite similar triage acuity. Further research is required to determine the reasons for this apparent inequity.
-
Emerg Med Australas · Aug 2022
Observational StudyRetrospective study of the prevalence and characteristics of adverse drug events in adults who present to an Australian emergency department.
To determine the burden, on the ED, of harm from unintentional adverse drug events (ADEs) in the community. ⋯ There is a high burden on emergency care because of unintended medication harm in the community. Interventions to reduce such harm are likely to require a co-ordinated primary, acute and public healthcare response. The high proportion of presentations with potential ADEs indicates opportunity for harm mitigation in the ED.
-
Emerg Med Australas · Aug 2022
Working towards equity: An example of an emergency department project for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health and cultural safety.
The ED at St Vincent's Hospital Melbourne aims to provide excellent emergency care and cultural safety for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. High rates of people who 'Left Not Seen' and some negative experiences of care led us to improve our performance in this area. Collective desire and strong executive support generated the ED Indigenous Health Equity Working Group (IHEWG) project. ⋯ Initial outcomes have included a focus on cultural safety and trauma-informed care education. Further projects included improving identification processes, creating a welcoming waiting-room environment and fostering strong relationships between the ED and AHU. We have begun our ED journey towards equity and excellent care for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, hoping this collaborative model will enable transformative change.
-
Emerg Med Australas · Aug 2022
Daily reality of violence in a rural emergency department: Is violence becoming the new normal?
Violence in emergency healthcare is a persistent and concerning problem. The objective of the present study was to explore and understand rural nurses' views on the daily experience and impact of violence, and its perpetrators. ⋯ The present study shows that rural workers, like metropolitan workers, feel experiences of violence are a routine part of their roles. Violence in healthcare is a societal issue, that cannot be solved without a multifactor approach that considers the characteristics of the perpetrators.