Journal of emergency nursing : JEN : official publication of the Emergency Department Nurses Association
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Comparative Study
Injuries after Hurricane Katrina among Gulf Coast Evacuees sheltered in Houston, Texas.
After Hurricane Katrina and a decline in the living conditions at a major temporary shelter in New Orleans, Louisiana, residents were offered transport to a Mega-Shelter in Houston, Texas. Approximately 200,000 Gulf Coast residents were transported to Houston's Astrodome/Reliant Center Complex for appropriate triage and transfer to other shelter facilities. The Katrina Clinic was quickly organized to treat evacuees with acute injuries and illnesses as well as chronic medical conditions. Clinic physicians documented 1130 hurricane-related injuries during Katrina Clinic's operational interval, September 1-22, 2005. ⋯ Future planning for hurricanes should take into account nonfatal injuries requiring medical treatment and other supportive care.
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Review Comparative Study
Responding to a multiple-casualty incident: room for improvement.
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Comparative Study
Under-triage as a significant factor affecting transfer time between the emergency department and the intensive care unit.
The purpose of the study was to identify factors that affect transfer times between the emergency department and the intensive care unit (ICU) in a community hospital. Patients who are transferred from the emergency department to the ICU are usually in critical condition and in need of prompt treatment by qualified personnel. As a result of delayed transfers, a patient may experience complications, such as increased mortality rates and longer hospital stays. ⋯ This study provides a more comprehensive view of the factors involved in delayed patient transfer and provides data needed for effective interventions to be developed. The results suggest significant problems with the under-triage of critically ill patients, specifically patients with sepsis. Future research should include a larger group of subjects and a multifactorial analysis.