Annals of emergency medicine
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To evaluate the efficacy and safety of utilizing emergency medical services units to administer high dose buprenorphine after an overdose to treat withdrawal symptoms, reduce repeat overdose, and provide a next-day substances use disorder clinic appointment to initiate long-term treatment. ⋯ Patients who encountered paramedics trained to administer buprenorphine and able to arrange prompt substance use disorder treatment after an acute opioid overdose demonstrated a decrease in opioid withdrawal symptoms, an increase in outpatient addiction follow-up care, and showed no difference in repeat overdose. Patients receiving buprenorphine in the out-of-hospital setting did not experience precipitated withdrawal. Expanded out-of-hospital treatment of opiate use disorder is a promising model for rapid access to buprenorphine after an overdose in a patient population that often has limited contact with the health care system.
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Pregnant women often seek care in an emergency department (ED). We sought to describe the frequency, characteristics, and factors associated with increased ED visits during pregnancy. ⋯ Approximately 1 in 3 women in our sample visited the ED during pregnancy. A higher number of visits occurred in those with rural/remote residence, younger maternal age, and concomitant health conditions.
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Emergency department (ED) COVID-19 preparations required rethinking workflows and introducing the potential for errors. Simulation provides a nimble methodology integrating into situ training and systems testing to prepare staff, detect potential workflow latent safety threats and provide recommendations for mitigation. ⋯ Our study demonstrated that simulation-based clinical systems test methods are adaptable for rapid preparedness evaluation and training. In combination with rapid-cycle deliberate practice, many latent safety threats were identified prior to clinical implementation. Our work highlights a novel application of simulation systems to increase system preparedness and reduce the potential for errors which may be applicable in diverse settings for designing, evaluating, and training staff in new protocols and procedures.