Journal of general internal medicine
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To determine 1) whether young adult black patients in an emergency department (ED) are familiar with sickle-cell anemia and 2) how many of these patients know their own sickle-cell trait status. ⋯ Most black patients of childbearing age presenting to the ED have heard of sickle-cell anemia and know that it runs in families, but few know their own trait status. Until access to primary care providers is improved, ED physicians who care for patients at risk for sickle-cell trait have an obligation to ask them about prior screening and either screen them or refer them for screening.
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To assess the numbers of high-risk adult patients presenting to the emergency department (ED) who have not been vaccinated against influenza or pneumococcal disease and whether emergency physicians are willing or able to routinely provide vaccination. ⋯ Significant numbers of high-risk patients who are unimmunized against influenza and pneumococcal pneumonia present to the ED. There is hesitancy among ED physicians about assuming the primary care task of providing such immunizations. Any attempt to institute a large-scale vaccination program in an ED setting needs to be carefully planned in a way to involve primary care providers and to decrease ED physician concerns and reluctance.