Journal of emergency nursing : JEN : official publication of the Emergency Department Nurses Association
-
Comparative Study
Air Versus Ground Transport for Patients With ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction: Does Transport Type Affect Patient Outcomes?
This study was conducted to examine whether air versus ground transport from non-percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) centers to PCI centers affects the health and quality of life of persons with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) 30 days after cardiac interventional treatment. ⋯ Because "time is muscle" with patients who have a STEMI, it is crucial to perform studies that provide solid statistical data showing that the type of transport affects patient outcome. This knowledge could lead to the implementation of a regional transport protocol between non-PCI and PCI centers to provide a more streamlined plan of care, thus affecting patients' long-term quality of life.
-
False-positive peripheral blood cultures due to contamination pose clinical and financial consequences for patients, families, and hospitals. Educating staff who draw peripheral blood cultures about hospital policy, using a blood culture-drawing kit, having a dedicated team obtaining peripheral blood cultures, and following up with staff who draw a contaminated peripheral blood cultures have been shown to reduce the rate of false-positive peripheral blood cultures. The objective of this study was to reduce the rate of false-positive peripheral blood cultures in a pediatric emergency department using the previously mentioned measures. ⋯ The decline in contaminated blood cultures shows that the interventions described significantly reduced the rate of false-positive peripheral blood cultures in the emergency department.