Annals of emergency medicine
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Multicenter Study Observational Study
Interrater Reliability, Accuracy, and Triage Time Pre- and Post-implementation of a Real-Time Electronic Triage Decision-Support Tool.
The electronic Canadian Triage and Acuity Scale (eCTAS) is a real-time electronic triage decision-support tool designed to improve patient safety and quality of care by standardizing the application of the Canadian Triage and Acuity Scale (CTAS). The objective of this study is to determine interrater agreement of triage scores pre- and post-implementation of eCTAS. ⋯ A standardized, electronic approach to performing triage assessments improves both interrater agreement and data accuracy without substantially increasing triage time.
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Observational Study
The Utility of Midline Intravenous Catheters in Critically Ill Emergency Department Patients.
Midline catheters are an alternative to more invasive types of vascular access in patients in whom obtaining peripheral access has proven difficult. Little is known of the safety and utility of midline catheters when used more broadly in critically ill patients in the emergency department (ED). These are long peripheral catheter, ranging from 10 to 25 cm in length, typically placed with assistance of ultrasound and the Seldinger's technique. We describe our experience with the use of midline catheters in the ED. ⋯ Midline catheters may present a feasible alternative to central venous access in certain critically ill ED patients.