The American journal of emergency medicine
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Observational Study
Does the number of emergency medical technicians affect the neurological outcome of patients with out-of-hospital cardiac arrest?
It is unclear whether the number of paramedics in an ambulance improves the outcome of patients with out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) or not. ⋯ The number of paramedics in an ambulance did not affect the outcome in OHCA patients.
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This study aimed to assess the proportions of injured children transported to trauma centers by different transportation modes and evaluate the effect of transportation mode on inter-facility transfer rates using the US national trauma registry. ⋯ Over one third of US pediatric trauma patients used non-EMS transport to arrive at trauma centers. Moderate to severely injured children benefit from EMS transport and professional field triage to reach the appropriate trauma facility. Our study suggests that national efforts are needed to increase awareness among parents and the general public of the benefits of EMS transportation and care.
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The purpose of this study is to determine the economic value of the Utah Poison Control Center (UPCC) by examining its contribution to the reduction of unnecessary emergency department (ED) visits and associated charges across multiple years. ⋯ Compared to the cost of operation, the service UPCC provides demonstrates economic value by reducing ED visits and associated charges. As the majority of patients have private insurance, the largest benefit falls to private payers.
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Evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of the APPY1TM biomarker panel, previously described for use in pediatric patients, for identifying adult ED patients with abdominal pain who are at low risk of acute appendicitis. ⋯ This biomarker panel exhibited high sensitivity and negative predictive value for acute appendicitis in this prospective adult cohort, thereby potentially reducing the dependence on CT for the evaluation of possible acute appendicitis.
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To calculate the emergency department (ED)-level Escherichia coli percentage of isolates susceptible to commonly used antibiotics and to determine the risk factors associated with inadequate empiric antibiotic therapy among patients treated for urinary tract infections (UTIs) in our ED. ⋯ Development of ED-level antimicrobial susceptibility data and consideration of patients' clinical characteristics can help better guide selection of empiric antibiotic therapy for the treatment of UTIs.