The Australian journal of rural health
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Aust J Rural Health · Dec 2006
Suturing as an advanced skill for registered nurses in the emergency department.
Many patients present to emergency departments (EDs) for wounds that require repair by suturing. This study looked at ascertaining the efficacy of Advanced Clinical Nurses' (ACN) suturing dermal lacerations in tertiary, regional and rural ED settings. ⋯ Nurses who complete a standardised training program in wound management and repair are capable of providing high-quality, definitive care for patients who present to EDs with dermal lacerations. This is true irrespective of whether the Registered Nurse is working in a rural, regional or tertiary ED.
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To demonstrate that total joint replacement surgery can be safely and effectively performed in rural hospitals with acceptable outcomes. ⋯ There was a high level of patient satisfaction, low infection rate, acceptable levels of MUA for TKR and dislocation for THR following total joint replacement in our rural district hospital. The surgeons performed a medium volume of total joint replacements and an appropriate multidisciplinary team was in place. In such settings joint replacement surgery can be safely and successfully performed in rural centres to the benefit of rural patients, surgeons and GPs.
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Aust J Rural Health · Oct 2005
Interhospital transfers of patients with surgical emergencies: areas for improvement.
To review mortality associated with interhospital transfers of patients with surgical emergencies from rural and peripheral metropolitan areas. ⋯ Hospital systemic issues associated with mortality included extensive time delays in transfers, an inadequate transport process and frequent out-of-hours emergency operations. Patient features related to mortality included advanced age, significant medical co-morbidity and surgical pathology with a poor prognosis. Improvements concerning interhospital transfers of patients should address both systemic and patient issues.