Annals of emergency medicine
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Observational Study
The NSW Pathology Atlas of Variation: Part I-Identifying Emergency Departments With Outlying Laboratory Test-Ordering Practices.
Abdominal pain and chest pain are leading reasons for emergency department (ED) presentations, with laboratory tests frequently ordered to aid the diagnostic process. Our study aims to identify EDs with outlying laboratory ordering practices for patients presenting with undifferentiated abdominal pain and chest pain. ⋯ Identifying EDs with outlying laboratory-ordering practices is the first step in initiating context-specific evaluation of whether outlying variations are unwarranted.
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Observational Study
The NSW Pathology Atlas of Variation: Part II-The Association of Variation in Emergency Department Laboratory Investigations With Outcomes for Patients Presenting With Chest Pain.
Laboratory test use varies across emergency departments (EDs), yet little is known about the effect of this variation on outcomes. The aim of this study is 2-fold: to stratify EDs into clusters based on similar test use, and to determine whether the clusters differ in patient operational outcomes among patients presenting to EDs with undifferentiated chest pain. ⋯ Our findings suggest that reducing test use may reduce ED length of stay and improve the chance of achieving the Emergency Treatment Performance target.
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Among a comprehensive range of frontline emergency department health care personnel, we assessed symptoms of anxiety and burnout, specific coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) work-related stressors, and risk for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). We also determined whether COVID-19 serologic testing of HCP decreased their self-reported anxiety. ⋯ Symptoms of anxiety and burnout were prevalent across the spectrum of ED staff during the COVID-19 pandemic. One-fifth of ED personnel appeared to be at risk for PTSD. Increased provision of serologic testing may help to mitigate anxiety.