The American journal of emergency medicine
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Observational Study
Determination of plasma lactate in the emergency department for the early detection of tissue hypoperfusion in septic patients.
To determine the validity of plasma lactate in the emergency department for the early detection of tissue hypoperfusion in septic patients. ⋯ Plasma lactate is useful in emergency departments as a predictive test for the early detection of patients with tissue hypoperfusion that evolve to severe sepsis, septic shock or death.
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Emergency department-initiated physical therapy (ED PT) is an emerging resource in the United States, with the number of ED PT programs in the United States growing rapidly over the last decade. In this collaborative model of care, physical therapists are consulted by the treating ED physician to assist in the evaluation and treatment of a number of movement and functional disorders, such as low back pain, peripheral vertigo, and various gait disturbances. ⋯ Early data suggest that both physicians and patients view ED PT services favorably, and that ED PT is associated with improvement of several important clinical and operational outcomes. Hospital systems interested in building their own ED PT program may benefit from the key steps outlined in this review, as well as a summary of the typical clinical volumes and practice patterns encountered at existing programs around the country.
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Observational Study
Cardiac arrest while exercising on mountains in national or provincial parks: A national observational study from 2012 to 2015.
Previous studies on cardiac arrest in mountainous areas were focused on environmental features such as altitude and temperature. However, those are limited to factors affecting the prognosis of patients after cardiac arrest. We analyzed the cardiac arrests in national or provincial parks located in the mountains and determined the factors affecting the prognosis of patients after cardiac arrest. ⋯ Cardiac arrests occurring while exercising in the mountainous areas have worse prognosis compared to alternative locations.
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Observational Study
Emergency department visits in patients with low acuity conditions: Factors associated with resource utilization.
To identify health beliefs of emergency department (ED) patients with low acuity conditions and how these affect ambulance (AMB) utilization. ⋯ Ambulance use in low-acuity ED patients is associated with misperceptions regarding severity of illness and resource allocation as well as limited access to private transportation. Understanding patient perceptions of illness and other barriers to receiving care is imperative for the development of interventions aimed at enabling change in health behaviors such as the elective use of limited resources.