CJEM
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Despite the importance of patient flow to emergency department (ED) management, there is a need to strengthen and expand training in flow strategies for practicing ED staff. To date, there has been limited academic inquiry into the skills and training that ED staff require to improve patient flow. As part of a quality improvement initiative, our team aimed to identify the topics and training methods that should be included in flow training for ED staff. ⋯ Our findings suggest that flow training should teach ED staff how to make decisions that improve flow, work more effectively as a team, manage patient backlog and surge, improve leadership skills, and develop situational awareness. These findings add to a gap in the academic literature regarding the training ED staff require to improve patient flow.
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Multicenter Study
Risk of stroke is low after transient ischemic attack presentation with isolated dizziness.
Stroke presenting as dizziness is a diagnostic challenge in frontline settings, given the multitude of benign conditions that present similarly. The risk of stroke after episodic dizziness is unknown, leading to divergent guidance on optimal workup and management. Prior TIA risk scores have shown a history of dizziness is a negative predictor of subsequent stroke. Our objective was to assess the subsequent stroke risk within 90 days following emergency department assessment (ED) for isolated dizziness diagnosed as TIA during the index visit. ⋯ The risk of subsequent stroke following ED presentation for TIA is low when the presenting symptoms are isolated dizziness.
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This study investigates whether acute treatment with ibuprofen, acetaminophen, or both is associated with resolution of headache or reduction of headache pain at 7 days post-concussion in children and youth. ⋯ Exposure to ibuprofen, acetaminophen, or both in the acute phase does not decrease the risk of headache at 7 days post-concussion. Non-opioid analgesics like ibuprofen or acetaminophen may be prescribed for short-term headache relief but clinicians need to be cautious with long-term medication overuse in those whose headache symptoms persist.